Not sure which car???

knightstyle

Ok so we have retired and want to go to more festivals etc. Always camped but now want more comfort, had a folding camper but problems drying it in damp/wet weather so it looks like a dreaded caravan for us!
Trouble is our reliable economical Toyota Auris is not good for towing with a weight limit of 1000kg.
So what to get to tow up to 1200kg
Budget around £6k, raised comfortable seating position (same as our old Mk1 Scenic would be ideal) economical automatic or modern clutchless (we get over 50mpg from our Auris) could be Diesel or petrol (perhaps with LPG)
So what do you think?

forgotmyname

Mondeo estate or similar.. 2L diesel effortless towing.

High 30's towing, Close to 60mpg on a run. Around town and heavy traffic
it will use a fair bit more fuel though.

But it depends how often your going to be towing. Even though i dont tow that often i still wanted something that does the job well rather than just adequate,

A smaller less powerful car may actually use more fuel when towing.

System

forgotmyname wrote: »

Mondeo estate or similar.. 2L diesel effortless towing.

High 30's towing, Close to 60mpg on a run. Around town and heavy traffic
it will use a fair bit more fuel though.

But it depends how often your going to be towing. Even though i dont tow that often i still wanted something that does the job well rather than just adequate,

A smaller less powerful car may actually use more fuel when towing.

Mondeo wouldn't have the high seating position though.........

OddballJamie

Walcott wrote: »

Mondeo wouldn't have the high seating position though.........

Don't worry about that, he recommends a Mondeo for every scenario.
:rotfl:

skivenov

How about a small camper? Something like a VW Transporter or Mazda Bongo? Convenient enough to use as a car, good driving position, and when you're going away, it's all there already.

bigjl

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/pda/detail.asp?id=613271&mk=Vauxhall&md=Zafira

You could consider an ex motabilty Zafira from one of the car supermarkets.

Avoid the 1.9 diesel and anything with several owners. Though sometimes motabilty vehicles are registered to the dealer to change the taxation class from disabled.

Stick with 1.6 or preferably the 1.8 petrol with a manual box.

OddballJamie

bigjl wrote: »

http://www.cargiant.co.uk/pda/detail.asp?id=613271&mk=Vauxhall&md=Zafira

You could consider an ex motabilty Zafira from one of the car supermarkets.

Avoid the 1.9 diesel and anything with several owners. Though sometimes motabilty vehicles are registered to the dealer to change the taxation class from disabled.

Stick with 1.6 or preferably the 1.8 petrol with a manual box.

Not sure if an auto NA petrol Zafira would have enough power to tow 1200kgs.

OddballJamie

Focus C-Max? The ride height should be better for you.

knightstyle

Thanks all for your ideas, thinking of a Rav 4, CRV, Juke.
Definitely not a Range Rover or similar 4x4. Not a motorhome as it will be our only car and we often have to drive 220miles to aged parents without towing. The Auris is ideal for this.
Your experiences/ideas welcome.

forgotmyname

OddballJamie wrote: »

Don't worry about that, he recommends a Mondeo for every scenario.
:rotfl:

Not quite. I have recommended Fiesta's and a Focus before. But they will be disappointed because they really should have gone for a Mondeo.

More car for less money. Shame they dont do a 4x4 estate version with the diesel engine.

bigjl

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks all for your ideas, thinking of a Rav 4, CRV, Juke.
Definitely not a Range Rover or similar 4x4. Not a motorhome as it will be our only car and we often have to drive 220miles to aged parents without towing. The Auris is ideal for this.
Your experiences/ideas welcome.

I think you will get tired of the Juke trendy interior and marmite looks.

The last generation CR-V has a really notchy gearchange, have driven old ones with big miles and low mileage minters, both like stirring porridge full of metal lumps.

Never driven a Rav4 but they do seem to have a good reputatation.

You also won't get a Juke in your budget for several years yet.

CR-V and Rav4 you should find a few, probably more Rav4s if i'm honest.