Can I get a vote on this? or opinions at least

P_Cash

The Issue.
need a second vehicle at the house.

• 60% of me thinks it should be a private vehicle, ie not a van (for the kid etc only 4 months old)
• It must be able to tow a cattle trailer/twin wheel with two animals etc. max weight of the animals 400kgs each. . around ten times a year..
• budget is 5/6k, but want to spend as little as possible, but get value for money, and would prefer to buy for 6 than pay 4 and put 1600 in to it in the first 18 months.
• at this budget im accepting ill be in old tax bands and high tax.
• This Vehicle wouldnt be doing much milage as it would be the second vehile left at home for the wife, the odd run to town 3 miles away etc..

The ideas so far

• Ford Mondeo 2lt, 06. but the max towing rate i think is 1800kgs.
• Santa fe, maybe an 06. its 2.2.
• Xtrail, 2.2 again maybe an 06.
• Sorento, which is 2.5..

thoughts,

1. tax rates are €710 for the 2ltr, €951 for the 2.2ltr and €1,080 for the 2.5ltr. . . difference from 2ltr to 2.2lts is extra €241 but €370 comparing 2ltr and 2.5ltr
2. The Santa Fe certainly looks out, as ive read too much on here about clutch and flywheel issues. not to mention soft on towing.
3. having real thoughts about the xtrail.
4. mondeo was my first choice, but afraid of towing that kinda weight with a car, . if a trailer is 900kgs and two animals in that, then ur close to the max weight.

then the odd time i would think, buy a commerical drive it myself to work, 45kms per day *5. . and leave the car at home, but the savings id have on tax might be robbed in the diesel...

this is bothering me for months, but need to make a purchase now in the next 2 months.

Help lads would be welcome.

thanks
P_Cash

Anan1

The one that jumps out at me is a Subaru Forester 2.0XT, auto would be nicer for the towing. They're safe, they'll tow up to 2000kgs, they're reliable, good to drive, and they're cheapish to buy. They're hard on fuel, but that doesn't sound like a big issue for your use.

P_Cash

Anan1 wrote: »

The one that jumps out at me is a Subaru Forester 2.0XT, auto would be nicer for the towing. They're safe, they'll tow up to 2000kgs, they're reliable, good to drive, and they're cheapish to buy. They're hard on fuel, but that doesn't sound like a big issue for your use.

just had a look on DD, a lot of the 05/06 seems to be petrol,
while it wont be doing hight miles i think id like to keep it diesel

seems a solid machine besides

Anan1

P_Cash wrote: »

just had a look on DD, a lot of the 05/06 seems to be petrol,
while it wont be doing hight miles i think id like to keep it diesel

seems a solid machine besides

They're all petrol up until 2008 - that's a large part of the reason they're cheap! Do bear in mind that a diesel car is more expensive to own than a petrol if you're not doing the miles.

Renegade Mechanic

The Mondeo and Santa Fe are definitely the worst two there..

My vote would be the Sorrento. Both that and the X-trail have their pros and cons.

The X-Trail would be livelier, unladen and a little lighter on juice. Tyres are a bit smaller so will be cheaper. However they can give out under heavy towing if you are too hard on them, the dual mass flywheel in particular though not on the scale of the Santa Fe. They handle very well on road with independent suspension all round but suffer off road for it. Turbo trouble is unlikely but not as strong as the Sorrentos. I think the brakes and bearings are prone to sticking and wearing respectively but stand for correction.

The Sorrento is bigger, tougher and less refined but it is much more suited to towing. Separate body and chassis and a large solid live axle on the back though its comfortable on road, you have to be more careful on bends than the X-Trail.. They have a reputation for gearbox trouble because so many people leave the centre diff locked. Mind it and it should last the life. Bigger and lazier engine will be harder on diesel but more effortless under load. They are better off road. I know someone who regularly uses one with a car transporter and with 170k on it at last check it was on its original turbo, clutch and box. He does drive it very properly though. Tyres are large and will cost and the front coilovers have cracked on some so be sure to check that (the leak when they do).

Id go Sorrento if mileage isnt huge as it will be the more reliable, despite Nissans great reputation imo.

P_Cash

this wouldnt be a bad deal, if it was minded.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-x-trail-2-2d-elegance-4wd-sale-n/5769907

P_Cash

Bump

ninty9er

Audi Allroad
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-allroad-quattro-2-5tdi-180bhp-auto/6197681

Renegade Mechanic

Whoops, forgot about this:o
That X-Trail looks clean from the pics mate. Its at a mileage now where its life prior to your ownership is more important. Passing an NCT is a reasonably good sign at least where the emissions, and by extension the fuel system, turbo, exhaust and monitoring electronics are concerned as long as it passed it recently. Find out as much as you can about its history. Did it tow a lot or was it a school bus? The latter or anything close is desirable but the former, at this mileage means youll need to drive with your drivetrain's age a little more in mind. And find out about the dealer too. Ask around if that's possible or just type them into Google or something and see what if anything comes up, review wise. All that should help make your decision either way easier.

Toyota 1976

Ford mondeo 06 i would go for the last of that shape untill the changed in 07, so might get a slight better spec one usually they do that, good to drive and own, the newer one if you can is better again, X trail i would not really recomned, as it has or they did have Renault diesel engine 2.2 did anyway poor... i did have one as a nissan had bluebird and the99/00 primera they were nice but the ones from 03 i thhink they came out were poor, hardly see them on the road it was a company car though and was not spared, try honest john. com english website great

Satanta

What about a crew cab? Commercial tax and with back seats. Here's a navara. Not sure about this particular one but you get the idea

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-navara/5930987

My brother has a pathfinder and it's some car for towing. I used it last month to tow my Touareg on a car transporter no problem. That a 2.2 ton car plus trailer.