Your Caravan Towcar Views, please. .

[outnumbered]

that picture paints more than a thousand words

[Ian HT]

Here's my car and caravan. Loaded with family and our things for 2 weeks in France. We used motorways a lot this year and kept around 65mph where sensibly possible. When towing we averaged 25mpg. Sightseeing solo we averaged 45mpg. Normal everyday use at home averages 40mpg.
The cost of changing car - and to one you do not know inside out already - is however a factor, as is the fact that you can get a good petrol version cheaper than a diesel. You may have to do a lot of miles to justify the cost.
Our petrol automatic S70 is "only" a 10 valve 2.5 but it towed our previous caravan (900kg max weight) very well. Not tried it with the 'van in the picture yet though.
Ian

[*Big Al*]

We tow our Compass 544 with a 2006 S40 2ltr D
The caravan weighs in at 1350kgs and is 24ft overall
we get between 30/33mpg towing
which cannot be too bad can it ?

[Clan]

The 2001- V70 2,4 140 bhp is a great tow car , it almost seems as if it is programmed for towing over the 2.4 170 bhp , the torque is in the right place ... ... ..

[myshed]

Wow!!
Thanks

[evoblade]

Originally Posted by Clan

The 2001- V70 2,4 140 bhp is a great tow car , it almost seems as if it is programmed for towing over the 2.4 170 bhp , the torque is in the right place ... ... ..

totally agree, i ve had both the V70 p2 2.4 auto 140bhp the the 170bhp and yes the 140 tows so much better, touque in right place, gears in right place. On the 170 it always seamed to be in between gears. Was getting 28mpg towing also. Which is about the same as i get now in my V50 2.0d. Only reason i changed was coz the V70 had then got 224,000 on the clock, but is still going strong, and towing well.

[volvo145]

My nephew said the 140bhp was the worst car he has ever used for towing.
He ended up buying a kia which was far superior,he now has a little jeep.

[JIM C]

I find my S60 D5 to be an excellent towcar and get any place between 28 to 32 mpg. Gear ratio`s are great with a 5 speed manual box.

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by JIM C

I find my S60 D5 to be an excellent towcar and get any place between 28 to 32 mpg. Gear ratio`s are great with a 5 speed manual box.

Same here.

I have a S60 D5 185bhp with 6 speed manual and tow an Elddis Odyssey 544 which is about 1340 Kg MIRO .

It does the job very well and fuel economy is superb all things considered.


Darryl

[Clan]

See if you can stretch to the V70 D5 you will have the best of both worlds , the sparkle of the 850 AND economy better than the TDi.