Tow car on a budget needed - any recommendations?

System

Nagme wrote: »

I'm just wondering if he will miss the torque of a diesel if he goes for a petrol Honda FRV.

Yes. Most definitely yes. Torque is more important than BHP when it comes to moving a heavy weight such as when towing.

Rolandtheroadie

Looking at Mondeos just now as a second car/towcar.
One with an 1800kg or 2000kg towing capacity.

daveyjp

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Volvo V70 D5. All the car you'll ever need.

But not if your maximum budget is £2500! For that it may not have an engine or gearbox.

n217970

daveyjp wrote: »

But not if your maximum budget is £2500! For that it may not have an engine or gearbox.

Pfft, Just broken in at that price point.

Nagme

Well he bought a car Saturday.
Here's what we looked at;
Nissan Xtrail 2.2 diesel, £2,300 as needed new suspension. Walked away as rear wheel arches rotten.
Ford Smax £3k, mot history had some issues about oil leaks and was bubbling with rust. Nope.
Honda FRV, turned up and it was sold. Smaller than DH would like, too. That was the end of that.
Lastly, private seller, '02 Mercedez E class 3.2l diesel estate, £1950, 1 family owned since new, 106k miles, mot history good. Not the most economical of vehicles to own, however DH is pleased as he's had one before and likes them. It'll probably pull the front off the caravan.
We looked at Volvo and Mondeo but he found them "boring" (sigh). I tried, but we've bought sensible before and it lasted 7 months and we lost thousands changing cars so quickly. I guess it could have been worse but hes happy he has an old wallowing Merc again :undecided

BeenThroughItAll

daveyjp wrote: »

But not if your maximum budget is £2500! For that it may not have an engine or gearbox.

Cobblers, both of mind cost me under that, and both came with two keys, full service history, excellent MOT history and under 110K miles.

onomatopoeia99

Nagme wrote: »

Lastly, private seller, '02 Mercedez E class 3.2l diesel estate, £1950, 1 family owned since new, 106k miles, mot history good. Not the most economical of vehicles to own, however DH is pleased as he's had one before and likes them. It'll probably pull the front off the caravan.

What's the road tax and fuel consumption like, as you stated those as important factors in your opening post?

forgotmyname

£240 - £280 a year ish? And they wanted to avoid cars with poor fuel consumption? yet bought a 3.2 diesel Merc that weighs 1.7tons?

They can have a party if it cracks 40mpg. At 20k miles a year they will be friendly with their fuel station.

jimjames

Passat 2.0 TDI, you'll definitely get one inside that budget and a great tow car.

Nagme

forgotmyname wrote: »

£240 - £280 a year ish? And they wanted to avoid cars with poor fuel consumption? yet bought a 3.2 diesel Merc that weighs 1.7tons?

They can have a party if it cracks 40mpg. At 20k miles a year they will be friendly with their fuel station.

Agreed!

DH has decided to mainly use his motorbike for commuting so that will make a difference. I'm a bit gutted tbh, I would have been happy with a Mondeo.