All useful stuff guys, for which I thank you. Unfortunately, I've had a change of heart. As I can't afford anything much newer than 9 years old (these things are damn expensive!) with about 100K+, I was getting a bit twitchy, so I've dismissed the idea of a Skoda. I'm now scouring the market again looking for inspiration, so watch this space (A Zafira keeps cropping up though!)
Quote: BHP is not the be all and end all of towing, what matters is stability, adequate power and torque at towing speeds, and well matched gear ratios are all more important than the absolute figures.
How true - well said. My Rover 45TDI due to it being a fairly small car has a max tow weight of 1000kg, only a bit over 70% of the kerbweight. The car had the dealer option taken of the 113BHP ECU map. The power band is perfect for towing that max weight, as it starts to come in before the magic 60mph - all one has to do is keep the revs at or slightly over 2000 and it will sail up the hills, proportionately opening up as required for the angle of gradient to maintain 60. The camper we have (going tomorrow) is 1000kg max, and I do realise that it doesn't have the drag of a 'van but the bhp/ton seems just right. I know of a couple of people towing 'vans with these cars.
(after I've said all that I will now be looking for something like an Audi or VW estate, TDI cos we want a nice 'van up to 1300 MTPLM.......)
Pete
Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.
I had one as a company car from 2001-2005 (never towed with it) - they are a practical car but not brilliant mechanically, get one with a good SH if poss. They drink oil (a can every 5k miles) but as I worked for Castrol at the time it did not really bother (or cost) me!!
Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.
That must be the same scenario as with my Rover, eg a nice gutsy engine but not very sustantial car, so wisely the car maker sets a sensible towing weight to stop the tail wagging the dog.
Pete
Be careful with the original model Zafira 2.0DTI diesel, it had an enforced tow limit of 1050kg.
That must be the same scenario as with my Rover, eg a nice gutsy engine but not very sustantial car, so wisely the car maker sets a sensible towing weight to stop the tail wagging the dog.
Pete
The problem wasn`t that it was an insubstantial car, but cooling issues with that particular engine installation. The cooling must have been insufficient to allow it to pull heavy loads.
As has been pointed out, other models aren`t so restrictive.
Quote: Originally posted by namreg on 23/7/2009
All useful stuff guys, for which I thank you. Unfortunately, I've had a change of heart. As I can't afford anything much newer than 9 years old (these things are damn expensive!) with about 100K+, I was getting a bit twitchy, so I've dismissed the idea of a Skoda. I'm now scouring the market again looking for inspiration, so watch this space (A Zafira keeps cropping up though!)
For towing with a pre 05 Zafira you are better with the 2.2 petrol (if you can find one) failing that a 1.8 petrol.
Ah well. Pumped up the budget (felt I had to in the end) and just bought a 53 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi Elegance 130bhp. That should do the trick. Put my foot down in second on the test drive and the bloody thing nearly took off (by my standards that is). And the dealer's going to put a twin electrics tow bar on it, so all in all I'm happy. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the Vectra Estate 1.9 CDTi 120 I'm driving at the moment.
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Topic: Octavia 90bhp as a tow vehicle
