will tow. go off road, carry 5, 4wd, and does 40+mpg
I know this is a question that would be very much down to individual taste, but is there a car that covers all bases? I.e for me:
If your not worried on fuel consumption costs, i think an Audi S4 covers all your points!
Impreza
Octavia 4x4 Turbo
Golf VR6
Good shout, I've just been looking at a couple on pistonheads. Mpg wise I usually see around 27 ish to the gallon from the mondeo so economy not an overly massive issue. I think that insurance costs might be an issue with the S4 though.
Guy at work's wife has an X5 which he says was absolutely bloody useless in the snow last year. giant wheels and low profile wide tyres probably
don't help. Not a proper 4 wheel drive really. His Suzuki Jimny ran rings round it and would go anywhere.
If you want decent towing capacity then it really has to be a 4x4 really. My mondeo estate is enough to tow my Indy on a lightweight trailer
though.
I quite fancied an A6 all road but doubt they tick the fun box.
Rich
Subaru legacy estate?
quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
Impreza
Octavia 4x4 Turbo
Golf VR6
quote:
Originally posted by rb968
Subaru legacy estate?
Passat comes in 4x4 flavour doesn't it?
Also if 300+bhp isn't good for towing then an Evo's off the table.
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Passat comes in 4x4 flavour doesn't it?
Also if 300+bhp isn't good for towing then an Evo's off the table.
The problem with modern cars, including some 4x4, X5 and 4 motion Passat, already mentioned, almost entirely comes down to weight (can’t do much about
that) and tyres.
Peoples instinct is always to go big, safe 4 wheel drive, truth is an old 80’s fiat panda on decent tyres would get you through worse conditions than
almost any luxury 4x4 on its stock tyres.
Why can’t you tow with your current car, lack of power or lack of rated tow weight?
As to tow/winter vehicle, how about a Nissan Terrano (Ford Maverick) not too big/ungainly, has decent off road performance including a limited slip
diff and reasonable towing ability
[Edited on 18/12/11 by orton1966]
[Edited on 18/12/11 by orton1966]
get a diesel forester, ace!
will tow. go off road, carry 5, 4wd, and does 40+mpg
have you seen current PPC mag top ten ? - most sensible car 2.5 XT subaru forester - ticks all your requirements depending how serious you want the
handling. Handling kits are available if you want to lose your fillings.
Has all the running gear from the impreza, but attracts far less attention from the rozzers, and is an estate type so more practical. Looks are a bit
Marmite hate it/ grows on you. Fuel consumption - 20mpg towing trailer with locost, 25 ish normally. Previously won towing car of the year, and
sprints to 60 in a respectable 6 sec as standard (propaganda says 227BHP). XTEN top of range has all the toys.
I've had one for three years now, price of petrol isn't too much of a problem because I only do 7k miles/year. Road rent is a bit keen at a
shade over 400 quid last year. Insurance is relatively cheap for this sort of performance.
If you can cope with fuel economy issue, these things are cheap for that reason.
worth a look
quote:
Originally posted by rb968
Guy at work's wife has an X5 which he says was absolutely bloody useless in the snow last year. giant wheels and low profile wide tyres probably don't help....
Volvo V70R plus a set of winter tyres. 4wd, 300bhp, pipe and slippers image keeps insurance lower than some, plus one of the best factory sound
systems around (Dolby pro logic 10 speaker).
Or get the 1.6d version like me! The fun comes from the comically bad perferormance! Although with winters tyres on, I can drive like like an arse
whatever the weather!
Lee
You'd probably get a half decent Alfa with AWD for your money in the form of the 156 and you can get a v6 if you do without AWD. Have you considered a Hot Volvo or Saab? You'd be able to buy a top end Cadillac BLS with your budget, worth a look if your not familliar with the car.
Jeep Patriot 2.0 ltr Diesel, this is mine in the Snow last Year.
Its fairly nippy - has the same engine as VW Passat, does 42mpg to the Gallon and will go anywhere in the snow.
It has selectable 4WD so you can turn it on/off and when its on its an intelligent system.
Loads of room inside
[img]
Jeep
[/img]
quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
Jeep Patriot 2.0 ltr Diesel, this is mine in the Snow last Year.
Its fairly nippy - has the same engine as VW Passat, does 42mpg to the Gallon and will go anywhere in the snow.
It has selectable 4WD so you can turn it on/off and when its on its an intelligent system.
Loads of room inside
[img]
Jeep [/img]
No need to get insulting, at least it is a proper go anywhere 4WD rather than one that pretends to be - I don't particularly think its a looker but that is not why I bought it.
quote:
Originally posted by sdh2903
quote:
Originally posted by rb968
Subaru legacy estate?
Not quite ready for the pipe and slippers yet
Is there such a thing as a perfect "allround car"?
NO
How round where you thinking perfectly or just roughly?
[Edited on 18/12/11 by Talon Motorsport]
quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
No need to get insulting, at least it is a proper go anywhere 4WD rather than one that pretends to be - I don't particularly think its a looker but that is not why I bought it.
quote:
Originally posted by big-vee-twin
No need to get insulting...
Cold weather tyres will help point 4 so my vote is Jag s-type. Mine is an 05 3.0 which i brought in the summer for 7.5k with just 35k oin the clock!
V70R or a 156 GTA sportwagon (and staying in when it snows ;-))
There is!
BMW E30 325iX Touring.
Glorious sounding straight six engine that loves to rev, a slick manual gearbox with perfect ratios, reasonable space inside, excellent on road
manners and enough ground clearance for road snow use.
Awesome without being a mini truck. Downside for some would be LHD only.
Some great suggestions there!
With regards estate cars, I really can't see me in one I'm afraid unless it had an rs4/6 badge on the back!
I quite like the S60 as my dad has got a d5 at the min and its a cracking car, only downside is the rear legroom is shocking for such a big car. The
S60r falls into budget so could be a contender with its AWD. And as someone has already said one of the best standard fit stereos.
With regards the mondeo, the st220 isnt type approved for towing, standard mondeo towbar will fit but I wouldnt want the hassle if anything ever
happened whilst towing.
Just out of interest just how bad are RWD cars in the snow? I haven't had a Rwd car during winter before and wondered are they as bad as have a
reputation for? More specifically E46 3 series or E90 5 series?
Merc G55 AMG.
3 locking diffs.
unless you have 3 locking diffs, there's still a chance it might go pear shaped in the snow.
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
quote:
Originally posted by rb968
Guy at work's wife has an X5 which he says was absolutely bloody useless in the snow last year. giant wheels and low profile wide tyres probably don't help....
This makes me cringe whenever I hear it!
Tell him to fit winter tyres / wheels!!! It will be a more bloody useful in the snow with them!
if s4 doesn't work for you then maybe
audi a4 3.0tdi quattro