Tow Car - What to buy?

[spookypt]

Thats Ok Phil... I'm enjoying what everyone has to say..... Like most things some people rate cars and otehr don't... But I like the constructive feedback everyone is giving.

Spookypt

[boxhead]

Originally Posted by Philm

Thanks Oz,
Sorry about the hijack spooky.

The Volvo only has a 2000kg towing capacity.

I will check out the Jeeps.

Thanks

Phil

If your keen on a Jeep Phil, let me know as I have a contact in a Sydney dealership. He is in sales too.

[jcraigau]

What - they go off road!

[Pills]

If you can stretch the budget, I would consider the Cayenne, even an older model. I have owned 2 jeeps, the last been the Grand Cherokee V8 (not the Hemi though). The Jeep was a great car to drive , pulled like a train, towsing ability is excellent, but they do have faults, especially the soft slopy ride. They are great value for what you get, but resale value is crap.
I now drive a Cayenne S and there is no comparison. The Cayenne is built like a tank and goes like stink. Every time I get in it to drive, It puts a smile on my face. You cannot believe the handling ability of these big hunks of steel and how easy they are to drive. I cannot comment on their off road ability, as I haven't taken it off road, as its not equiped with the right tyres etc. The Jeep however, I found verry capable off road, although I probably never pushed it as hard as Tomcat has indicated.
As far as the styling of the cayenne, if you like cobra's the cayennes big rear should fit well. As far as the nose, all I can say is you grow to love it, as it provides excellent forward vission, and polishing and washing is also easier due to the flowing smooth curves. My only negative comment would be that maintenance on these cars is expensive. However the 2nd generation cayennes are well sorted and have verry few issues.

[SoTxButler]

Pills is right and made the case for the Cayenne so much better than I did. This is my second Cayenne, the first was an S and this one is a Turbo S. I didn't tow with the S, but I know it had plenty of power to tow the Cobra. I put 68,000 miles on the S and now have 53,000 on the Turbo. Each one went to the dealer once for service other than routine maintenance. Neither item was major. A very reliable truck.

Do yourself a favor and drive one before you make a decision. I think you'll like it. If you decide to look for one to purchase...find one with air suspension. Five adjustable heights and a nice ride to boot.

Good luck whatever you do.

[Towmaster]

Spook,

Why did you not ask the Towmaster???????????????

I have been doing a bit of research for a while......

Value for money, fuel economy when not towing, towing capacity, reliability....

There is only one option....

For me anyway... A second hand option...

2005 onwards Jeep Grand Cherokee.
3 litre Mercedes V6 turbo diesel
510NM torque from 1600 - 2800 rpm.....
Only thing comes close is a V12 Turbo diesel Audi Q& $$$$$$$$$$$4
V10 turbo Diesel Towrag.. (no disrespect)
Yes the V6 turbo diesel towrag has similar figures but have you priced one?
Averages 10 l / 100k city / highway.
There are regularly examples for $30,000 on carsales.
There is one at Stanthorpe for $26,000...... 65,000k 2006.

Just my 2c

[spookypt]

Originally Posted by Towmaster

Spook,

Why did you not ask the Towmaster???????????????

I have been doing a bit of research for a while......

Value for money, fuel economy when not towing, towing capacity, reliability....

There is only one option....

For me anyway... A second hand option...

2005 onwards Jeep Grand Cherokee.
3 litre Mercedes V6 turbo diesel
510NM torque from 1600 - 2800 rpm.....
Only thing comes close is a V12 Turbo diesel Audi Q& $$$$$$$$$$$4
V10 turbo Diesel Towrag.. (no disrespect)
Yes the V6 turbo diesel towrag has similar figures but have you priced one?
Averages 10 l / 100k city / highway.
There are regularly examples for $30,000 on carsales.
There is one at Stanthorpe for $26,000...... 65,000k 2006.

Just my 2c

HI TM. I've been waiting for you chime in.... I found the the car you mentioned above I THINK but it had 75thousand K's and he wants $31500....
I assume you've done a deal...??? If so, great price as there are alot there in the mid 30's ++++++.

I've decided to not do anything for a while. My FILaw is loaning me his 08 Ford Ranger for a while so I'm not rushing out to buy anything until I sell the house.... SpookyPT

[Towmaster]

If you think about what we used to tow with.... My parents used to tow a 2 horse float with an 1800cc 1979 Sigma.... Admittedly at 80klm/hr.
Every car can have it's flaws, no matter how expensive it is.
Although I think when you are comparing $100,000 plus cars with ones about half that price..... Should they do the job twice as well?

[spookypt]

Originally Posted by Towmaster

If you think about what we used to tow with.... My parents used to tow a 2 horse float with an 1800cc 1979 Sigma.... Admittedly at 80klm/hr.
Every car can have it's flaws, no matter how expensive it is.
Although I think when you are comparing $100,000 plus cars with ones about half that price..... Should they do the job twice as well?

I should really have listed a budget when I started this thread.... The ole Portch Kayan and Range Sport has got alot of + feedback.

If I had the $'s and inclination I'd by A Dodge Ram V10 Ute.. All comes down to $'s and preference I guess.

thanks again everyone for their suggestions.

SpookyPT

[boxhead]

I still say my 1972 Valiant Station Wagon is the go, towed the Cobra to and from Melbourne with no issues apart from a failed 38 year old fuel pump.

[tomcat racing]

Originally Posted by boxhead

I still say my 1972 Valiant Station Wagon is the go, towed the Cobra to and from Melbourne with no issues apart from a failed 38 year old fuel pump.

those old vals are tough old girls

[boxhead]

Here ya go Spook, this one is a newer model than mine, but it has the big block 265 fitted and auto trans.
It is also an X cop car with heavy duty suspension, slightly different color to mine.


http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....tchlink:top:en

No need to worry about warranties or $24K repair bills.

[OZCOBRA]

Can you imagine the cry at the Nationals..."Hey everybody the TWINS are here"....."Aren't they just the cutest!!!"

[jcraigau]

How about a crewman?

Seats min 3, tows 2100kg (or 2500kg in the V8) comes in the lazyman auto config.

[Towmaster]

Yeah I looked at the crewman too. Cross 8 is good, all wheel drive, relatively easy to get parts if it breaks. Thirsty as all hell.... I would have to drive it a round trip 170k every day. At 14lt/100k it gets a little expensive.....

[OZCOBRA]

Not really on any use to the OP.......But I know you love your F350 Duellys ......I came across this SWEET FORD PORN Tow package ,I had seen this picture before then lost it...
[IMG][/IMG]

Is the proud owner a CC member in the States????
Would love to hear some specs on the duelly !!!

[sjelby]

Being a tradie, i got myself a new Crewman to tow the tandem full of scaffold and mixer ect.
Talk about being thirsty........ it got traded in before it had its first service.
And the workers needed chiropractors after sitting in the back for more than 30 mins.
And im a holden man.
Traded it in on a Nissan d22 4x4.
Had no problems in the 110k i have put on it in 3 yrs.
Stan

[HSVREDSLED]

Might just be me, but the Val seems to be the best option here. We hired one about 20 years ago from a dodgy hire car place in Qld where the owner actually challenged us to destroy it. (mechanically) We tried...and couldnt. Damn thing near indestructible.

[John Seagraves]

Hey, I have a 1997 GMC Suburban 454 ci., dulie conversion, that tows a 20' Halmark like it wasn't there. I get about 15mph on the open road and about 10mph around town. Except for the gas, it is great. Lots of room for Cobra stuff and 8 people or take out the third row of seats and carry more stuff and 5 people. It tows like a dream.

[Modena]

Originally Posted by John Seagraves

I get about 15mph on the open road and about 10mph around town.

your 454 must be running on 1 cylinder....

I assume you mean mpg!