2t Tow car longevity

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Livestock or general goods, I think there's so much bunk written on here. A car with appropriate driving should be able to cope no problem

Im keen to hear what your best tow car has been - especially in terms of longevity. Thanks in advance.

TSS

 

[JP1]

Im keen to hear what your best tow car has been - especially in terms of longevity. Thanks in advance.

TSS

BMW 520D Touring but crap in the ice

Mondeo best except too tall first gear

I'd buy a Superb

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

BMW 520D Touring but crap in the ice

Mondeo best except too tall first gear

I'd buy a Superb

We nearly bought a BMW once, then quickly changed our mind when we remembered their reputation in ice/snow.

5 series touring with xdrive could be a beast....but probably over budget
I bet.....

TSS

 

[Highland Mule]

We nearly bought a BMW once, then quickly changed our mind when we remembered their reputation in ice/snow.

5 series touring with xdrive could be a beast....but probably over budget
I bet.....

TSS

They're fine in snow - they get more in Bavaria than in England - but only when driven properly and on the right tyres.

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

They're fine in snow - they get more in Bavaria than in England - but only when driven properly and on the right tyres.

I’m not in England though! But I get what you mean re tyres - the BMW we looked at was on some strange run flat things so I don’t think could even have been readily upgraded.

Michelin Cross Climate are my new car tyre of choice.

TSS

 

[Highland Mule]

I’m not in England though! But I get what you mean re tyres - the BMW we looked at was on some strange run flat things so I don’t think could even have been readily upgraded.

Michelin Cross Climate are my new car tyre of choice.

TSS

Without your location on your profile, I made a guess - statistically you're most likely english on here.

Mrs HM runs an X1 on winter run flats - they're easy to buy especially if you use my tyres.co.uk which seems to be run out of germany.

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Without your location on your profile, I made a guess - statistically you're most likely english on here.

Mrs HM runs an X1 on winter run flats - they're easy to buy especially if you use my tyres.co.uk which seems to be run out of germany.

Sorry, thought I had sorted the location thing on here a while back.

Will get on it now.

TSS

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Sorry, thought I had sorted the location thing on here a while back.

Will get on it now.

TSS

That should be it now = “dweller of the Borders”

TSS

 

[Highland Mule]

That should be it now = “dweller of the Borders”

TSS

Not seeing it where I have 'Scottish Highlands'. Which border anyway? Welsh, Scottish or Irish?

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Not seeing it where I have 'Scottish Highlands'. Which border anyway? Welsh, Scottish or Irish?

Leave it with me, not sure what I have done wrong.,,,

TSS

 

[Fergieman]

Ford Edge.

 

[Cowabunga]

Ford Edge.

Edge should be a great tow car. However, and it is a BIG 'however', the automatic version is a six speed DSG [dual clutch robotised manual], which is really not suitable in my opinion. The reason being that there is no torque converter to aid starting and creeping, only a computer operated clutch, which is prone to 'abuse' if not driven very carefully and with special mechanical sympathy when starting off. Creeping or slipping of the clutch must be avoided at all cost, otherwise big bills will accumulate sooner rather than later.

Only now with the very latest 2019 model year have Ford dumped the DSG type box in favour of a far superior [in my opinion] torque converter eight speed automatic. If this is within financial reach, it is the Edge to have, especially for towing but for all driving. Or a manual earlier model.

 

[Lincsman]

Edge should be a great tow car. However, and it is a BIG 'however', the automatic version is a six speed DSG [dual clutch robotised manual], which is really not suitable in my opinion. The reason being that there is no torque converter to aid starting and creeping, only a computer operated clutch, which is prone to 'abuse' if not driven very carefully and with special mechanical sympathy when starting off. Creeping or slipping of the clutch must be avoided at all cost, otherwise big bills will accumulate sooner rather than later.

Only now with the very latest 2019 model year have Ford dumped the DSG type box in favour of a far superior [in my opinion] torque converter eight speed automatic. If this is within financial reach, it is the Edge to have, especially for towing but for all driving. Or a manual earlier model.

I have an "old" version, didnt know how many gears it had until now as its hard to detect changes.

You say creeping is bad for it, but if its running and you move to drive without throttle it starts to creep building up speed.. just like a torque converter teleporter etc... what harm is it actually doing?

 

[ollie989898]

I have an "old" version, didnt know how many gears it had until now as its hard to detect changes.

You say creeping is bad for it, but if its running and you move to drive without throttle it starts to creep building up speed.. just like a torque converter teleporter etc... what harm is it actually doing?

I don't know about the Ford but the VAG DSG type box contains two little robot-clutches. When you are holding the car on the brakes the clutches are disengaged. When you let your foot off the brake the clutches partly engage and begin to slip- just as if you were creeping forward on the clutch in a fully manual car. These clutches are smaller than a regular manual version and lots of slipping is not conductive to their long term health. Obviously if you were pulling a heavy load with the car the workload and slipping is even more extreme. You don't really want to be getting a DSG box refurbished. A torque-converter slips but the fluid in it does the slipping which is what it is designed to do.

 

[Cowabunga]

I have an "old" version, didnt know how many gears it had until now as its hard to detect changes.

You say creeping is bad for it, but if its running and you move to drive without throttle it starts to creep building up speed.. just like a torque converter teleporter etc... what harm is it actually doing?

It is slipping the clutch. Just as you would slip a manual clutch. They can and apparently do wear out if slipped excessively and a sure way of doing so would be to slip the clutch with a load behind. Most people, like you, are oblivious to how these transmissions work, although there is plenty of information available should anyone care to find it.

I agree that the gearchanges are smooth and rather nice. I really do like the Edge on the whole. The new 'conventional' torque converter eight speed unit should be far more suitable for towing than the DSG though. Having said that, if care is taken not to slip the DSG's clutch, then it should last an acceptably long time before overhaul.

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

Whilst on tech talk. Is the clutch in an auto Volvo any good?

TSS

 

[Highland Mule]

Was thinking about the car options and wanted to throw a wildcard option in - VW transporter with seats and tons of storage. I do huge mileage consulting but still quite fancy the idea. Thoughts from the experts ?

 

[Cowabunga]

Whilst on tech talk. Is the clutch in an auto Volvo any good?

TSS

Volvo are long-time users of the AisinWarner torque converter type planetary automatic. So pretty conventional. The only clutches are for engaging various gear sets. Starting off from a standstill is taken care of by the torque converter, which is virtually wear free.

AW transmissions are used almost exclusively by Toyota, Lexus, Volvo and in some Audi, like the diesel Q7. Older model Volvo used the six speed AW, which Volvo call the 'Geartronic', which is apparently not quite as reliable as the current eight speed unit. Not troublesome or unreliable, just not as 'bombproof' as the current version. The units used by Toyota and Lexus transverse engine installations is identical to that used by Volvo.
Audi use a longitudinal version which is less compact and uses an extra brake pack, while the transverse units use a shorter mainshaft with an external [to a clutch pack, not transmission housing] brake band substituting for the pack.

 

[ollandroverman]

Was thinking about the car options and wanted to throw a wildcard option in - VW transporter with seats and tons of storage. I do huge mileage consulting but still quite fancy the idea. Thoughts from the experts ?

In my opinion....there are better vans.
The Transporter is a very old design underneath the regular headlight and grill changes, and it shows compaired to the competition.
The Transit custom certainly has more room in the rear.

 

[Highland Mule]

In my opinion....there are better vans.
The Transporter is a very old design underneath the regular headlight and grill changes, and it shows compaired to the competition.
The Transit custom certainly has more room in the rear.

Can you get a transit 4wd? And one without a “Transit” badge on it? The badge alone (and I’m not normally a badge snob) would put me off it.