Xc90 towcar
 

Currently have a V70 d5 and bought a caravan, although it did a sterling job on our recent 1st outing I'm thinking an xc90 might be better suited, thoughts on a 2005 xc90 facelift 185bhp in auto flavour that's on 160k?... my v70 is a 2003 163bhp with 175k on it....

There aren't many better tow cars around than the XC90, the Nivomat self leveling rear suspension (fitted to all UK 7 seat cars) does a brilliant job. The extra 22 BHP is useful but the extra 400 Kg will hide it... the 6 speed box is better for towing too. Other than that the cars are based on the same mechanics so you will feel at home in it...

Towing is hard on the gearbox and brakes. If you buy one at that mileage suggest you get the brakes checked over and change the transmission oil.

I'm thinking along the same lines.
I currently tow with a 2003 V70 170BHP petrol.
It towed the last van like it wasn't there, but we've just changed van and this is 200Kgs heavier.
It towed fine on our first outing, but is missing some torque, so was a little heavy on the fuel.
The Mrs likes the XC90, so we might start looking in the autumn.

I have a 04 xc90 163 d5 and tow with it regular and can hadly tell i have a trailer on sometimes,

Towed this from darlington to barnsley in gale force cross winds on A1 and it towed fine and didn't feel like it was unstable once,

Exactly my thoughts, the V70 handled it very very well, just feel an xc90 would be more suited and more relaxing with an auto box....
Hoping to use the van into November weather permitting and think the 4x4 would be useful too on wet slippy sites..

Can't think of anything more relaxing than a XC90 auto... other than chair by the fire in the pub on a cold Sunday....

Ditto - Edinburgh to Hull down the A1, no issues, more stable than with my Discovery (old 300 Tdi). The rear suspension looks lower in the pic as I'd just loaded the car, within a few hundred yards the Nivomats had sorted it.

http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...psswd6ympd.jpg

Might look into it towards end off the year, thanks for the replies, most helpful

Towing with XC90
 

Hi,
We have recently changed our 54 reg V70 D5 163 manual for a59 reg XC90 185 automatic.
Our caravan is I think 1300 max weight loaded.
The V70 pulled it very well, kept up with the normal traffic and did 29 mpg (according to the computer) on our usual trips from Leicester to Norfolk or to Sutton on Sea.
We went to Cromer last week with the XC90 - 23/24 mpg but well worth it.
However good we thought the V70 was, the XC90 is so relaxing to drive that we are very pleased to have swapped. Compared with driving solo you couldn't tell the caravan was there, apart from the slightly slower acceleration.
We changed, partly, to get better space for the dog's cage and he definitely had a better journey than before as well!
Ian

Well, we didn't wait till the autumn. Pick the XC90 up on Saturday and will tow with it on Sunday.!