Recommend a small 4x4 for towing one horse

Ah_Yeah

My Kia Sorento has given up the ghost on me, and the cost of replacing the engine is almost the same as the value of the car at this stage. So I am looking at buying a replacement 4x4 to tow.

I need to be able to tow my Ifor Williams 505 (950kg) and one horse (600kg), and whatever gear I have in the car, so need something rated to tow 2 tonne. There are hills around where I live so needs to be gutsy enough to get up the hill. I live in town so the car needs to also be compact enough to park on a narrow street and be OK enough on fuel to get around town.

Not asking for much, right?!

For reasons outlined above I have to discount the Disco, Landcruiser etc as they are all just too big and as a private vehicle the tax is astronomical.

I was looking at the following:
- Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2
- LandRover Freelander 2 2.2
- VW Touareg 2.5
- Nissan XTrail 2.2

Budget is about €10k but would go up a bit for the right vehicle.

Thanks in advance!

colm_mcm

Outlander?

Think that has a 2000kg towing capacity on the diesel.

There is the whole issue of licences too but maybe you have that covered.

Ah_Yeah

colm_mcm wrote: »

Outlander?

Think that has a 2000kg towing capacity on the diesel.

There is the whole issue of licences too but maybe you have that covered.

Yes I have my full BE licence so all good on that front.

Outlander looks nice aesthetically (it does have to be my day to day car after all!), are they very long? I'm terrified I'll have nowhere to park it as my Sorento is fairly compact both in length and width so trying to find something similiar so I dont take half my road with me on the way out

colm_mcm

They're long enough but not that wide. They are 7 seater.

Would you get another sorento altogether?

Ah_Yeah

colm_mcm wrote: »

They're long enough but not that wide. They are 7 seater.

Would you get another sorento altogether?

I thought about it as I loved my one but I'm terrified to have the same problems again... my car was well minded, serviced regularly, and only 110kmiles on the clock... mechanic said no reason for the engine to go only that Sorentos have been known to give engine trouble. So concerned to go and get another one to have the same thing happen!

bazz26

You'd get a second generation X-Trail for that money, it's more compact that the others on the list:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Nissan/X-Trail/2.0-DSL/3461083027554406436/

Ah_Yeah

bazz26 wrote: »

You'd get a second generation X-Trail for that money, it's more compact that the others on the list:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Nissan/X-Trail/2.0-DSL/3461083027554406436/

That looks good - ideally go for the 2.2 if I could as it's got a better towing capacity. Are they reliable enough?

bazz26

There was no 2.2 litre engine in the second generation X-Trail. The 2.0 litre actually had 150bhp compared to 136bhp in the old 2.2 litre first generation X-Trail. The 2.0 litre is supposed to be a bit more reliable too.

Ah_Yeah

bazz26 wrote: »

There was no 2.2 litre engine in the second generation X-Trail. The 2.0 litre actually had 150bhp compared to 136bhp in the old 2.2 litre first generation X-Trail. The 2.0 litre is supposed to be a bit more reliable too.

Thanks Bazz - do you know what the towing capacity is in the 2l?

colm_mcm

towing capacity in a 2.0 dci is 2200KG AFAIK

peasant

2nd gen-x-trail is a fine car, have one myself.
Just make sure to check the motor tax on it before you commit. Depending on year and engine (150 or 173 hp) it's between 750 - 1200 for the 4*4

colm_mcm

The one in the link is €750

peasant

The x-trail is about 10 cm narrower than the rest of the list...makes quite a difference on narrow roads/in town

racso1975

How about a santa fe

Gets good review here http://www.thetowcarawards.com/tow-car/hyundai-santa-fe-2/

and the above is a handy website as you can input and vehicle and see results. If size is an issue would you consider and 4x4 car/estate some get good reviews on that site too

TigerTim

Left field suggestion. I've been driving a 2008 Citroen C-Crosser for past 5 years. 2.2litre with 7 seats, Have had very little issues with it. I tow a large caravan during summer with no issues. Tax is the only big drawback.

T.

colm_mcm

TigerTim wrote: »

Left field suggestion. I've been driving a 2008 Citroen C-Crosser for past 5 years. 2.2litre with 7 seats, Have had very little issues with it. I tow a large caravan during summer with no issues. Tax is the only big drawback.

T.

See post #2.

Ah_Yeah

Thanks everyone. Struggle to find an Xtrail that can tow more than 1500kg bar that one you shared with me bazz, so think I'll look at the Hyundai Santa Fe 2008/2009 model which seems to get good reviews and has become more reliable over the years. Tax 750 to 950 depending on model which is better than the Sorento at 1100!

mullingar

Why a 4x4?

Depending on versions, a 2.0 TDCI Mondeo will tow 1800-2000kg.

Ah_Yeah

mullingar wrote: »

Why a 4x4?

Depending on versions, a 2.0 TDCI Mondeo will tow 1800-2000kg.

Personal choice. I've been driving a 4x4/SUV for over three years now and even driving a friends car I don't feel quite as comfortable as I did in the SUV. I like the height and the stability of the SUV/4x4 over a car.

fits

You won't get much of a Touareg for that budget. How about some thing like a Volvo XC70. ?

These are rated for 2000kg towing, the 2.0s are less iirc...

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-grand-vitara-1-9-ddis-nct-till-5-18-taxed/13955000

colm_mcm

Theyre a pox of a yoke though

The OP has quite a list of nice to have's though.

bazz26

Another X-Trail here from the North:

http://www.usedcarsni.com/2009-Nissan-X-Trail-SPORT-DCI-MINT-FULL-LEATHER-FINANCE-OPTIONS-173036841

Your looking at €8k plus around €2.7k in VRT.

Ah_Yeah

Augeo wrote: »

The OP has quite a list of nice to have's though.

I know I'm asking for a lot but I just can't afford to run a 3L. The Kia was great as it was 2.5 and relatively ok on fuel. I don't even mind compromising on fuel efficiency to an extent to get the right vehicle, I just don't want to invest in something I don't need as I only tow the one horse once a week and won't be driving to and from work.

If I can't get what I need with an X trail or Santa Fe I may just go back to the Sorento but I'm a bit concerned about replacing the engine given we don't know why it went in the first place.

What are people's views on the Touareg?

Ah_Yeah

fits wrote: »

You won't get much of a Touareg for that budget. How about some thing like a Volvo XC70. ?

A quick search on used car sites gives me up as far as 2008/2009. Plenty Touareg for me if they are reliable!

s14driftking

Touareg not a good jeep and hard on fuel. I was in a simuluar position to u and bought a e53 x5 in the end. Good on fuel and reliable. 30 to 35 without the trailer and about 25 with a trailer and car and loads of tools and spares. Not much bigger than a sorento.

selectamatic

Op just seen your Sorrento thread and tbh I can see ya being as well off cut your losses on it.

Moving on what sort of annual mileage do you do? Long or short journeys and also how long would your trips be with the horse and box in tow? Petrol could be an option if the answer is "short" to all of the above.

Also are you sure you need a 2000kg towing capacity a 1600kg would cover you just fine for your box and horse. (600kg is a fair animal is he 17+hh?)

Finally is it private or commercial vehicles that you are after?

Ah_Yeah

selectamatic wrote: »

Op just seen your Sorrento thread and tbh I can see ya being as well off cut your losses on it.

Moving on what sort of annual mileage do you do? Long or short journeys and also how long would your trips be with the horse and box in tow? Petrol could be an option if the answer is "short" to all of the above.

Also are you sure you need a 2000kg towing capacity a 1600kg would cover you just fine for your box and horse. (600kg is a fair animal is he 17+hh?)

Finally is it private or commercial vehicles that you are after?

Thanks for the reply! Yes think I am best cutting my losses!

He is 550kg at the moment but has more weight to put on still. My horsebox is almost a tonne and with him in it too that wouldn't leave much room for all my extras like tack etc for a 1600kg towing capacity. Also there are long steep hills where I am based so I would prefer the extra capacity so they are less of a strain on my clutch.

Annual mileage is about 15- 20,000km, my driving during the week is from my house to the yard which is mostly city and about 30-40mins each way, my trips to shows would be 45mins-1.5 hours each way and a good bit of motorway driving. I'd prefer diesel if I could.

It will have to be private.

I am looking at the Santa Fe in a 2008-2012 model as they seem to have a decent towing capacity and be reasonably efficient to run as a 'normal' car too!