Best car for towing

[Tarw Coch]

I’m in need of a new car, or new to me at least and looking at buying something capable of sharing the towing with my ageing Land Rover for the longer journeys, basically the luxury suv type, and something I can see over hedges more easy to see what everyone else is up to. Looking at something reasonably new, 3 to 6 years and something that will last so was looking for some opinions of what’s good and perhaps more importantly what’s not.

BMW X5, they seem popular but somehow just don’t float my boat.

Audi Q7……..mainly because I’ve seen a 4 litre V8 for sale, 0 tp 60 in 4.9, should be fun with a stock trailer behind or more seriously would that V8 actually be just the job plenty of grunt for low Rev towing coupled to an auto box, it’s probably only that V8 that’s got me interested.

VW toareg nice enough motor but again no special appeal

Volvo XC90, same as above

Mercedes GLE now these have a bit more appeal and I know a couple of farmers running older versions, 270’s and 320’s they seem well capable of their towing duties although the older versions do seem on what may be more practical wheels, smaller diameter, deeper side walls on tyres.

Then there’s the Toyota Land Cruiser, I’ve had a thing about wanting a land cruiser for a while now and there’s a feeling that this is the one that would be the most suitable and capable of towing a fully laden trailer……….but it’s the only one that isn’t capable of legally towing a 3500 trailer. Not only that but it’s got a smaller 4 pot engine and has poorer fuel economy than the others yet in the age range I’m looking to buy is probably the most expensive.


Not sure what to do so looking for opinions, it’s currently between the LC and the ML in my mind but happy for others to convince me otherwise, indeed it’s almost a case of why should or shouldn’t I buy a land cruiser, are they really as good as their reputation despite all the obvious downsides on paper? It will be a vehicle I intend keeping for the long term, the longer the better until it either fails MOT or gets to be a financial burden in maintenance costs.

All opinions much appreciated

 

[Cows 'n grass]

You'll struggle to find something that's more comfortable and capable of towing than a LR Discovery 4. I'd much sooner drive one than anything else you've listed apart from the land cruiser.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

You'll struggle to find something that's more comfortable and capable of towing than a LR Discovery 4. I'd much sooner drive one than anything else you've listed apart from the land cruiser.

The LR 4 is a great car, but we got a 3 year old one and it had £13,000 worth of work done on it in 2 years, (under warranty) we don't have it anymore

 

[Will 1594]

Had a m l ,soft gearbox for towing , watch anynof these fancy 4/4 Will gearbox stand it ,
swap your land y in for a fresher one ,yes deep pockets but what else will stand abuse ,but crap driving position ,
our navara has done sterling service ,on road towing ,but the landys go off road ,
just done head on old td5 99 plate 315000 mile now ,
land cruisers ,please find me a 6 straight with manual box and good chassis , you wont find a good one now unless££££££££££

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

I’m in need of a new car, or new to me at least and looking at buying something capable of sharing the towing with my ageing Land Rover for the longer journeys, basically the luxury suv type, and something I can see over hedges more easy to see what everyone else is up to. Looking at something reasonably new, 3 to 6 years and something that will last so was looking for some opinions of what’s good and perhaps more importantly what’s not.

BMW X5, they seem popular but somehow just don’t float my boat.

Audi Q7……..mainly because I’ve seen a 4 litre V8 for sale, 0 tp 60 in 4.9, should be fun with a stock trailer behind or more seriously would that V8 actually be just the job plenty of grunt for low Rev towing coupled to an auto box, it’s probably only that V8 that’s got me interested.

VW toareg nice enough motor but again no special appeal

Volvo XC90, same as above

Mercedes GLE now these have a bit more appeal and I know a couple of farmers running older versions, 270’s and 320’s they seem well capable of their towing duties although the older versions do seem on what may be more practical wheels, smaller diameter, deeper side walls on tyres.

Then there’s the Toyota Land Cruiser, I’ve had a thing about wanting a land cruiser for a while now and there’s a feeling that this is the one that would be the most suitable and capable of towing a fully laden trailer……….but it’s the only one that isn’t capable of legally towing a 3500 trailer. Not only that but it’s got a smaller 4 pot engine and has poorer fuel economy than the others yet in the age range I’m looking to buy is probably the most expensive.


Not sure what to do so looking for opinions, it’s currently between the LC and the ML in my mind but happy for others to convince me otherwise, indeed it’s almost a case of why should or shouldn’t I buy a land cruiser, are they really as good as their reputation despite all the obvious downsides on paper? It will be a vehicle I intend keeping for the long term, the longer the better until it either fails MOT or gets to be a financial burden in maintenance costs.

All opinions much appreciated

Sure you wouldn't be better with a good p/u? I think my Ranger Wildtrack is as comfortable and as well equipped as any car, (including the LR Disco 4 we had) and it is much more tax efficient

 

[aangus]

Friend is on his third VW Toureg, loves them

 

[Wellytrack]

ML are good value. LC would be the pick of your list IMO.

Just be wary a big repair in those big boats can have them parked up for good.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Had a m l ,soft gearbox for towing , watch anynof these fancy 4/4 Will gearbox stand it ,
swap your land y in for a fresher one ,yes deep pockets but what else will stand abuse ,but crap driving position ,
our navara has done sterling service ,on road towing ,but the landys go off road ,
just done head on old td5 99 plate 315000 mile now ,
land cruisers ,please find me a 6 straight with manual box and good chassis , you wont find a good one now unless££££££££££

But I’m not looking for a replacement for my Land Rover which is the perfect works vehicle for mucky clothes and mucky dogs, to carry feed into a field full of young heifers who have no idea of stopping distances when the land gets soft but ain’t the place for a night out in your bed clothes

 

[Tarw Coch]

Sure you wouldn't be better with a good p/u? I think my Ranger Wildtrack is as comfortable and as well equipped as any car, (including the LR Disco 4 we had) and it is much more tax efficient

No , certainly not sure and as you say much more tax efficient with legitimate buisness use but it is predominantly a car use I’m looking at and as nice as modern pick ups are they’re still a pick up.
Not ruled out but not top of my like’s list

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Discovery 4 nowt else like it, can be expensive to run like owt else there lemons and good ones… if you can do a bit your self there fine and I find not bad to work on

So far ‘touches lots of wood’ ones I’ve had have been very good (1 d3 2 d4’s)

 

[Tarw Coch]

ML are good value. LC would be the pick of your list IMO.

Just be wary a big repair in those big boats can have them parked up for good.

By big boats I take it you mean the full fat LC’s, they’re getting older now and big money, I was looking at the LC’s currently available

 

[Chae1]

Wouldn't describe any of your choices as a car.

 

[Chae1]

Best, performance, luxury SUV for towing would be more apt.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Best, performance, luxury SUV for towing would be more apt.

Yes, wouldn’t disagree at all .
Yet nowadays just about everything seems to be described as a car including things like my Land Rover truck cab with for Williams top or someone running around in a pick up yet they call it their car, just seems to be modern terminology

 

[Highland Mule]

Worth a test drive in a new style Defender, I'd say. I've sat in one and it was nice enough, but never driven one.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Don’t forget the Disco 5. Ours cost £52k when they came out in 2017 and yesterday dealer told me I will be lucky to get £30k. Slight problem is a 9 month wait for a new one. Far better on the tarmac than a Disco 4. Towing just fine for our occasional use with 14 ft IW. Electric tow bar wouldn’t be my choice if lots of towing.
Our 10 reg D4 was poor, 13 Reg a lot better.
This D5 has touch wood been brilliant. And it’s just the 4 cylinder engine. Disappointed to have to go back to a 6 cyl. Hope it’s better than the ones in the D4. They are easy to get stuck off road if you don’t get the off road tyres.

 

[Two Tone]

If you want real value for money, buy a 2010 series Range Rover Sport. I think they stopped that series in 2014/15.
Same mechanicals as the Disco 4 but more comfort and many thousand less than a D4 to buy.
Don’t be put off by those buying any LR 3 years old and no end of warranty work having been done. This is how LR dealers earn their money. Mostly from stuff that never needed replacing. It’s a huge con.

Once out of warranty, NEVER use a franchised LR dealer. There are lots of really good firms that will ok after it for you for a fraction of the cost.

I have had a 2010 RRS for 9 years. I’ve never had any vehicle for so long and can’t find anything else that I’d be remotely interested to change it for. It is worth far more to me than I could ever sell it for. Nothing out of the ordinary has gone wrong with it and it goes like sh!t of the proverbial!

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

This is how LR dealers earn their money. Mostly from stuff that never needed replacing

Our engine certainly did

 

[Two Tone]

Our engine certainly did

Oh bugger! When was it first registered for the road?

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Oh bugger! When was it first registered for the road?

Feb or March 2016