Vehicle for occassional towing

> I've noticed the differences in opinion. I was speaking to someone last
week
> though with a P reg Discovery diesel which they loved and which they
> reckoned gave nearly 40 mpg - a good bit higher than the figures I seen
> written. That would have been a strong contender but for all the bad press
> they get on Usenet.
>
> So what is the best 4X4 estate for towing 1.5 T? Economical, durable,
easily
> maintained?
>
I think Paul gave you the honest answer re economy of a Disco. I tend to
disbelieve all economy figures unless someone has measured carefully the
amount of fuel they have put into the car compared to miles towed. I have a
Nissan X-Trail which is fun to drive and an excellent tow car but as far as
economy I get 24/28 mpg around town. Have achieved 40mpg on a long solo run.
However towing is very similar to the around town figure and a lot worse
that my previous Citroen Xantia. I think that if you go for a 4 X 4,
especially for towing, economy will suffer more than a conventiional sallon
but you have to weigh that against the benefits of a more comfortable tow
using a 4 X 4


David - Milton Keynes
www.caravantravels.co.uk
Site Reports and Stories of our Travels in the UK and Europe

"rivenglo" <[email protected]> wrote
>
> Legacy 2.5i Outback/33.2 mpg, can tow 1800 KG - but insurance group 13
>


Ten years old = purchase price of less than £2k. Insure third party, fire
and theft only.

Huw

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "rivenglo" <[email protected]> wrote
>>
>> Legacy 2.5i Outback/33.2 mpg, can tow 1800 KG - but insurance group 13
>>
>
>
> Ten years old = purchase price of less than £2k. Insure third party, fire
> and theft only.

Yes, I expect I would do that. I'm currently paying just over £100pa 3rd
party, fire and theft for my current group 2 vehicle.


You said buying an LPG Range Rover would be russian roulette. What would be
a safer buy?? Trooper, Shogun, Landcruiser, Hilux OK ? What questions should
I ask? What are the pitfalls?

"rivenglo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "rivenglo" <[email protected]> wrote
>>>
>>> Legacy 2.5i Outback/33.2 mpg, can tow 1800 KG - but insurance group 13
>>>
>>
>>
>> Ten years old = purchase price of less than £2k. Insure third party, fire
>> and theft only.
>
> Yes, I expect I would do that. I'm currently paying just over £100pa 3rd
> party, fire and theft for my current group 2 vehicle.
>
>
> You said buying an LPG Range Rover would be russian roulette. What would
> be
> a safer buy??

Anything.

> Trooper, Shogun, Landcruiser, Hilux OK ?

Do you really want a pick-up truck? If not, forget the Hilux.


What questions should
> I ask? What are the pitfalls?
>

Just the normal precautions when buying any second hand vehicle. General
mechanical condition and look out for dodgy steering boxes and chassis rust.
Some rust can be acceptable as it can be patched welded but there are some
vehicles out there that are beyond economic repair, especially late Eighties
and early Nineties Shogun and Trooper.

Huw

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "rivenglo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...


>>
>> You said buying an LPG Range Rover would be russian roulette. What would
>> be
>> a safer buy??
>
> Anything.
>
>> Trooper, Shogun, Landcruiser, Hilux OK ?
>
> Do you really want a pick-up truck? If not, forget the Hilux.

The Hilux serf looks ok, but I haven't ridden in one.

>
>
> What questions should
>> I ask? What are the pitfalls?
>>
>
> Just the normal precautions when buying any second hand vehicle. General
> mechanical condition and look out for dodgy steering boxes and chassis
> rust. Some rust can be acceptable as it can be patched welded but there
> are some vehicles out there that are beyond economic repair, especially
> late Eighties and early Nineties Shogun and Trooper.

I think I misunderstood - obviously the roulette related to the Range Rover
bit and not the LPG. Thanks for the warning about rust in the older Shoguns
and Troopers though. I've had enough of welding.

> The Hilux serf looks ok, but I haven't ridden in one.

The Toyota Hilux Surf is a good towing vehicle. Avoid the 2.4L diesel as the
head has a tendancy to crack (unless it has been replaced with new design
head). The 3.0L TD is a cracking vehicle though for towing- prices start
around £3K these days. More info here on the UK owners website:

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/

Ecconomy wise expect around 25mpg.

Nevillef

"nevillef" <F_CK@FF_SPAMMERS.COM> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>> The Hilux serf looks ok, but I haven't ridden in one.
>
> The Toyota Hilux Surf is a good towing vehicle. Avoid the 2.4L diesel as
> the head has a tendancy to crack (unless it has been replaced with new
> design head).

I notice that quite a few of the ads mention its had a head replacement. I
suppose they are OK if they've had that?