Wagons used for towing in Europe

Eric,

I don't know if it's available in Europe, but another
wagon to consider is the Dodge Magnum.

You can get one with all wheel drive and a 5.7 liter
V8. Mileage is rated at 17 mpg and 24 mpg. Horsepower?
345.

Towing capacity is up to 3,800 lbs.

It might, almost, keep up with an average Gee 29.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
I don't know if it's available in Europe, but another
wagon to consider is the Dodge Magnum.

I believe it's called the Chrysler 300C Touring in Europe, and they even
get the option of a Mercedes diesel. But in any case, it's a still a
frackin' huge vehicle if you're used to something smaller.

Two potential tow cars I haven't heard mentioned:

Volvo V50
Volvo C30 (for the bleeding edge types)

I use a '97 Volkswagen Eurovan (Transporter) Camper myself, with the VR6
engine. It pulled our Duo with ease over the steepest western US
mountain passes, while delivering a little over 20 MPG...

Marc

Erik,

One other thing you might consider: Required octane.
I believe the turbo Subaru's require the expensive
high octane gasoline.

The Volvo V70 wagon with the five cylinder non-turbocharged
engine tows well and the Volvo web page shows a 3,300
lb towing capacity for all their engine variants (in
America). A friend previously had a V70 non-turbo,
front wheel drive wagon and pulled his glider with
it. I drove it a few times, with and without the glider
in the trailer :-) and it drove nicely. But, the
thing required high octane fuel. On one retrieve,
he left the car with the tank mostly empty. I was
not a happy retrieval person, so I ordered a bigger
steak and a couple of glasses of wine upon our eventual
stop for dinner.

He is the pilot who now tows with the V6 RAV4. The
Volvo got taken out by a wreck (nobody injured, and
the car didn't look that bad, but the insurance company
totalled it out.) The V6 RAV4 requires only regular
fuel.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

On Aug 24, 2:22 pm, John Galloway wrote:
The UK magazine 'What Car' published a supplement magazine
on towcars a month or so ago. They tested 50 (non
US) vehicles in the full range of sizes from Golfs
up to Range Rovers. The 'clear winner' (their words)
overall was the VW Passat 2.0 TDI Sport 4motion wagon.

(kerbweight 1609kg, Max towing weight 2000kg, Max hitch
weight 85kg)

John Galloway

I currently tow with the VR6 version of the Passat 4 motion wagon.
It's a great towcar. I suspect the TDI would only make it better.
Unfortunately, I suspect there's pretty much no chance of that
configuration making it to the States.

P3

On Aug 27, 10:47 am, Papa3 wrote:
On Aug 24, 2:22 pm, John Galloway wrote:

The UK magazine 'What Car' published a supplement magazine
on towcars a month or so ago. They tested 50 (non
US) vehicles in the full range of sizes from Golfs
up to Range Rovers. The 'clear winner' (their words)
overall was the VW Passat 2.0 TDI Sport 4motion wagon.

(kerbweight 1609kg, Max towing weight 2000kg, Max hitch
weight 85kg)

John Galloway

I currently tow with the VR6 version of the Passat 4 motion wagon.
It's a great towcar. I suspect the TDI would only make it better.
Unfortunately, I suspect there's pretty much no chance of that
configuration making it to the States.

P3

This may be an idea if you can hold out for a while:

http://tinyurl.com/3dh24f

Why would someone even think that a BMW is a good car for towing?
The first gear is too long and all gas engines do not have enough torque
at low rpm's.

Best for towing are Common Rail Turbo Diesel cars.
These cars offer best torque at low rpm and best economy if not used
for towing. I used small cars like the VW Golf TDI, Fiat Punto TD,
Peugeot Station Wagon HDI, all with 2 liter common rail turbo diesel
engines, to tow up to 1000kg braked Cobra trailers. I drove over many
passes in Switzerland, France and Italy and newer could complain and
never had an accident, even driving with 130km/h (80 miles/h) on French
highways.

These 4cyl cars make more than 40 miles/gallon without trailer and
about 30 miles/gallon with a 900kg trailer. The newest Fiat Punto
Diesel JTD tows 1000kg braked and has makes more than 58 miles/
gallon and 35 miles/gallon with the trailer on the hook. Your wife will
even love it for shopping ;-)

My philosophy
get a good braked cobra trailer
which takes care of your glider, your back and runs very stable
tow it with a economic common rail diesel car with good suspension
and spend the money you save on fuel cost flying.

Chris
CH
__________________________________________________ ___

"Papa3" wrote in message
oups.com...
That's an interesting rub. I've had the same experience in
Germany. My cousin's BMW 325 wagon had the standard gooseneck
hitch. Talking to the US BMW reps results in a blank stare.

The problem I have is that several manufacturers threaten to void the
warranty if you tow with an unapproved vehicle here. On the one
hand, I'm not overly concerned with that. On the other, if you do
happen to get unlucky and get a lemon, you could be in for a real
hassle.

The Subaru has been in the lead in my short list, but I may wait and
see whether any of the TDI engines make it back for either the early
2008 or mid-season 2008 release.

Anyone specifically towing with the BMW 3 series wagon?

BlueCumulus wrote:
Why would someone even think that a BMW is a good car for towing?
The first gear is too long and all gas engines do not have enough torque
at low rpm's.

Best for towing are Common Rail Turbo Diesel cars.

We currently can't get diesel cars in several parts of the US, as the
current models don't meet the more stringent emissions regulations in
California and other highly populated areas. This will change in a year
or two, but meanwhile, we have to make do with gas engines...

Marc

All European Diesel cars have particle filters installed for
meeting highest emission standards. Maybe dear Arnold
Schwarzenegger should look over his shoulder back to his
home country Austria and crosscheck.

Chris

"Marc Ramsey" wrote in message
...
BlueCumulus wrote:
Why would someone even think that a BMW is a good car for towing?
The first gear is too long and all gas engines do not have enough torque
at low rpm's.

Best for towing are Common Rail Turbo Diesel cars.

We currently can't get diesel cars in several parts of the US, as the
current models don't meet the more stringent emissions regulations in
California and other highly populated areas. This will change in a year
or two, but meanwhile, we have to make do with gas engines...

Marc

BlueCumulus wrote:
All European Diesel cars have particle filters installed for
meeting highest emission standards. Maybe dear Arnold
Schwarzenegger should look over his shoulder back to his
home country Austria and crosscheck.

The more difficult issue is nitrogen oxide emissions.

Marc

On Sep 2, 6:48 pm, "BlueCumulus" wrote:
Why would someone even think that a BMW is a good car for towing?
The first gear is too long and all gas engines do not have enough torque
at low rpm's.

Best for towing are Common Rail Turbo Diesel cars.
These cars offer best torque at low rpm and best economy if not used
for towing. I used small cars like the VW Golf TDI, Fiat Punto TD,
Peugeot Station Wagon HDI, all with 2 liter common rail turbo diesel
engines, to tow up to 1000kg braked Cobra trailers. I drove over many
passes in Switzerland, France and Italy and newer could complain and
never had an accident, even driving with 130km/h (80 miles/h) on French
highways.

These 4cyl cars make more than 40 miles/gallon without trailer and
about 30 miles/gallon with a 900kg trailer. The newest Fiat Punto
Diesel JTD tows 1000kg braked and has makes more than 58 miles/
gallon and 35 miles/gallon with the trailer on the hook. Your wife will
even love it for shopping ;-)

My philosophy
get a good braked cobra trailer
which takes care of your glider, your back and runs very stable
tow it with a economic common rail diesel car with good suspension
and spend the money you save on fuel cost flying.

Chris
CH
__________________________________________________ ___

"Papa3" wrote in message

oups.com...



That's an interesting rub. I've had the same experience in
Germany. My cousin's BMW 325 wagon had the standard gooseneck
hitch. Talking to the US BMW reps results in a blank stare.

The problem I have is that several manufacturers threaten to void the
warranty if you tow with an unapproved vehicle here. On the one
hand, I'm not overly concerned with that. On the other, if you do
happen to get unlucky and get a lemon, you could be in for a real
hassle.

The Subaru has been in the lead in my short list, but I may wait and
see whether any of the TDI engines make it back for either the early
2008 or mid-season 2008 release.

Anyone specifically towing with the BMW 3 series wagon?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yo Chris,

What makes you think Diesel and BMW are mutually exclusive. I
understand that BMW is introducing Diesels in the US for the 2008
model year; reviews I've read on these vehicles in Europe have been
very impressive indeed. Anyone out there know if the 325xi wagon is
available in Diesel engine in EU Land?

P3