Find me a (newish) fast tow car

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MCR01
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Find me a (newish) fast tow car

Post by MCR01 » Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:27 pm

Perhaps it doesn't exist? Minimum requirements: -

* Full size spare
* Estate
* 2000kg tow weight
* Reliable (so no Range Rover/Discovery etc)

Honda Accord diesel - 1700kg tow, SLOW
Ford Mondeo - 2000kg tow, pre 2015, SLOW
Passat - ? - slow
Alpina B10 - old but capable; are they reliable

I know it can be done by going the SUV route (BMW X5) but would rather have a car!

Any good ideas out there, thanks.

Toasey
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Post by Toasey » Thu Mar 02, 2017 5:10 pm

I have a B10 3.3 Touring and it ticks all the boxes in your list and has never let me down in the, er, four months I have had it.

If you are interested in something a little more left field I have always had a sneaking regard for a Subaru Legacy Outback, in their various generations. I suppose the styling has always been enough to put me off.

Some other bloke likes (or liked) them too:
http://www.topgear.com/car-news/jeremy- ... r%E2%80%99
2000 E39 B10 3.3 Touring #10
1993 Eunos Roadster
1993 Saab Turbo 900 Ruby Edition
Gone but not forgotten: Ford Escort Mk 2 1600 Sport, Alfasud, Saab 900 GLS, Saab 900 Turbo (8v), MB W124 E320 Sportline Estate, Honda Accord 1.8S 6th Gen

dodgyken
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Post by dodgyken » Thu Mar 02, 2017 5:51 pm

Assuming you are ruling out SUVs - you are limited to:

Audi A6
BMW 5-series - 525D and up
Merc E-Class - pretty much all of them since the W124 with diesel or 6/8 engines
Subaru Legacy
Volvo V70 and V90 (latest ones only)
VW Passat - W8/R36/later DSG models

However - they are all getting on a bit now.

The 3.0d X3 tows superbly if that helps :)
2010 Aero 8 Supersport | 2008 Alpina B5s | 2004 BMW X3 3.0D | 1996 BMW M3 Evo (non road-legal)

WINNE1
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Post by WINNE1 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:53 pm

B5 Touring 190+mph :twisted:
B6 convertible 4.4 black with silver decals .
B5 saloon 4.4 black with silver decals .

MCR01
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Post by MCR01 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:44 pm

Thanks for the ideas; I am towing with a 3.0Rn Subaru Legacy, I would buy another if they still made them! The Outback is a better tow car as it has self levelling rear suspension. Both of them return about 21/22mpg and (post 2006) £500+ road tax.
As far as the BMW and Merc suggestion go: do ANY of the recent ones have spare wheels? Even 10 years ago the 535d estate couldn't fit the road wheel in the boot well. Nowadays there isn't even a spare wheel well or am I missing something?
The Audi A6 has pretty dismal handling/steering feel.
The Volvo is equally un-engaging and slower too.

Anybody got a Jaguar XF Sportbrake with a full sized spare wheel?

Anyone tow regularly with a B10?

Image

jamesa
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Post by jamesa » Fri Mar 03, 2017 10:28 am

MCR01 wrote:Anyone tow regularly with a B10?
Whilst my B10 V8 Touring has a factory fitted, removable system ... unfortunately not, have only hitched the trailer up once given that the competition car is still `in progress`.

The B10 V8 T`s full size spare fits over the compressor for the self levelling rear suspension. Am currently carrying a 16" spare, not sure if the fitted 19" would fit ?, I do have a spare set of the original 18" and assume that they would fit in the well. NB: both the 18" and 19" sets are `staggered` hence if carrying these as a spare a front wheel `should` be used.

Not sure on the 2000kg max ... will go check the handbook.

Image
Ex. B10 V8 Touring #160 Alpina Blue : Current M2 DCT (OG)

MCR01
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Post by MCR01 » Fri Mar 03, 2017 12:12 pm

Yes, very nice. The (expensive) early B10 V8 Touring currently for sale in southern England has a "full sized" spare which is different to both the front and rear wheels on the car but which has the same rolling circumference; so this would work.

Looking at the maintenance that has been done on this car (and the similar more realistically priced one, also in S England) is a bit depressing. Neither have done stellar mileage but both have extensive work done.

Are they a sensible choice? Here's a list of things that have been done on my 98K mile Subaru Legacy 3.0: fan belt tensioner pulley (it didn't fail it was just making a noise); front wishbone bushes (2); the CD changer was replaced under warranty.

I'm sure B10's are lovely to drive but are they reliable? Any input from long term B10 owners would be appreciated.
Dave Walsh

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Post by jamesa » Fri Mar 03, 2017 3:54 pm

Hi Dave,

I purchased five years ago at 144k and have put 10k on it. The maintenance history is excellent with nothing other than expected replacements given age / mileage. The `suspect` head gaskets had already been changed by a previous, caring owner.

The only thing that initially bothered me was the steering feel, a little vague and twirly at low speed. It being a steering box rather than a rack, due to the V8 lump. Now, I`m just used to it and have found that the quicker one goes the better it is, even on wet Welsh B roads :D

With lack of use the throttle response can default to vague but can be reset by "ignition on for 10secs - ignition off for 10secs - start it" , spirited use in `manual` mode also helps it`s `memory` ...

I have considered selling it many times but as soon as I climb aboard those negative thoughts vanish :lol: ... but everything has it`s price :wink:

Look up my thread / ownership history on here for more info.

http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/vie ... highlight=
Ex. B10 V8 Touring #160 Alpina Blue : Current M2 DCT (OG)

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MickB3
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Post by MickB3 » Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:30 pm

I know you said Not SUV but i have just bought the Wife ( :twisted: ) a
X3 3.0SD Msport and it is awesome. Feels like driving a normal car unlike the monster X5, or RR.
E46 B3 3.3 ALPINA

MCR01
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Post by MCR01 » Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:46 pm

Jamesa: Well I've just read your B10 thread end to end, while it's obvious you enjoy the car the problems make depressing reading. I'm in the depths of rural France where getting anything done (except lunch) is a struggle. My nearest BMW dealer is 20+ miles away with a pricing structure that wouldn't be out of place in Chelsea. My other half has a new 118d; they didn't even do the first annual oil change correctly! Would I want to let them loose on a B10?
I think, after 10 years of Subaru ownership, I am loth to return to unreliable cars, especially when I have a 10.5 meter trailer on tow.
Much of my early life was spent under various Lotus, later Jaguar, Renault & Mercedes: I swore I would never buy Japanese now I'm not sure I would buy anything else.
I will drive a B10 and see if head and heart can be reconciled.
Thanks for the advice; it's appreciated
Dave Walsh

PS I'm sure the B5 would make a (very) fast tow car but does either the B5 or the D5 have a full sized spare wheel?

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Post by Hodge » Fri Mar 03, 2017 5:49 pm

Now that is a PROPER trailer😵

Cheers
Mark Hodge

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Daily -
TTS DSG (Not for carrying dogs)
X5 M50d (For carrying dogs)
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Post by jamesa » Fri Mar 03, 2017 6:16 pm

MCR01 wrote:Jamesa: Well I've just read your B10 thread end to end, while it's obvious you enjoy the car the problems make depressing reading.
Fair enough Dave, I obviously omitted the rose tints and blinkers that come with Alpina ownership :wink: :lol:

Have had a few Subaru`s but never kept for more than a few years from new, can`t fault their reputation though.

Best wishes on your search ...

Glider or portable wind turbine ?
Ex. B10 V8 Touring #160 Alpina Blue : Current M2 DCT (OG)

MCR01
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Post by MCR01 » Sun Mar 05, 2017 1:46 pm

It's an electric self launch sailplane and, no, it's not reliable. But reliable self launch gliders simply do not exist.

I'll try an X3; thanks for all the advice, keep it coming.
Dave Walsh

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Post by Broch » Mon Mar 06, 2017 2:12 am

I can vouch that the X3 will be more than enough for what you require, especially if in 3.5 variant :wink:

Onzie
B6 Convertible
B3s Bi-Turbo Tourer

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Post by jamesa » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:13 am

Have also run an X3 (3.0d) ... was reliable over it`s three years from new, with rear seats in place the boot space is limited.
Ex. B10 V8 Touring #160 Alpina Blue : Current M2 DCT (OG)

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