We Need A 7 Seater That Tows

Maybe I've missed it, but I don't see any mention of how often this thing is to get used or how far. If it's solely an occasional use tow wagon, why is fuel use even a consideration. you need to decide your priority. Either it's good economy and a vehicle that CAN do the job (maybe at a push), or it can be the best vehicle for the job, which is unlikely to that fuel efficient for under 20k (the newer stuff can be).

How often you use it also directly effects how many k's on the clock you can get away with. i.e. if you are not going to put too many k's on, you could get a newer model with (say) 150km on it for much less than an older model with less k's.

this is a good clip two. note its AWD not the FWD version Jazz is talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch!v=RvOoKaQ1GCQ

Sure!

Basically the DSG has some considerable advantages over both manual and automatic transmissions for towing this sort of load.

Firstly though, you need to understand what the DSG is (sorry this won't be brief that's why I asked).

While the DSG is exactly the same to use as a good automatic transmission (you wouldn't know it wasn't one unless you were told) it differs a lot in its construction. The transmission itself is built like a manual transmission except it has two clutches instead of one and the clutches and gear-change are operated by actuators controlled by a computer. This might sound complicated but when compared to a regular automatic its actually in principle quite straight forward.

This gives you multiple advantages:

* Economy as good or better than a manual transmission

* Easy servicing that you can do at home if you want to.

* No heat build up like you get from the torque converter used in a regular auto, which is a HUGE advantage for towing.

* Gear changes are literally faster than you can blink so there is no loss of forward motion and progress is ultra smooth.

* 6 Gears makes significantly better use of the power/torque of the engine and means no nasty revving and roaring on hills.

* 6 Gears also means less lwear and tear on the engine.

* You can drive it as a manual or an automatic. As the computer has final say over what you do though, it means the chances of burning up a clutch are less than with a regular manual. Full manual control of every gear is fantastic for towing, imagine descending a very steep access-way for instance. you just drop it into first and let the engine help brake.

* The clutch is bathed in fluid which keeps it cooler than a regular manual

* Because of the pre-engaged nature of the clutches there is far less wear on the clutch pack than towing with a manual.

* Because of the nature of the transmission in the very unlikely event that you did manage to break something from towing it would be the clutch pack. This is designed for cost effective replacement just like a manual transmission (although the clutch is a little dearer being a double unit).

* Because there is no torque converter you don't lose up to 30% of your economy/power during critical times like accelerating.

So yes, basically that's it. That transmission has been around for nearly 10 years now. While its not super common in NZ because its used in so many of the worlds most popular cars it has been about the most popular automated transmission you can buy of the last 8 years or so and its record for reliability is fantastic.

Sure, if you search the web you will find plenty of people with problems but that's simply because of the sheer volume of them out there. What matters is the percentage of failures and that is very very low. Plus, if you do get a failure its usually either the clutch or the valve body. Both are quite reasonable price wise to repair as far as automatic transmissions go, especially if you shop around.

Sorry for the novel.

LOL, that isn't even the same vehicle or for that matter even a close relative! Thats a Touareg not a Touran.

This is what I mean OP, we get a lot of funny trolling on here from people who don't even have the faintest clue or any experience with what's being discussed.

Thanks for the laugh hopie.

I know they are different, what I was pointing out is that you are trying to sell the OP a FWD VW for launching a boat when this AWD VW cant even pull a jet ski.

How do you think it got there! Of course it can tow it.as per the comments on the clip, you can't blame the vehicle for an idiot driver.

Fair enough, here are some real world reviews of people towing caravans (some of which are seriously large and heavy) with a Touran.

Just remember to filter out the 1.9 Diesel and 1.6 Petrol reviews, I have already stated here those engines are not recommended for this purpose, you want to go for the 2.0 Petrol or 2.0 Diesel.

http://www.towcar.info/gebruikservaring.php!merk=Volkswagen&serie=Touran

Hell Im agreeing with you again Jazz I had the same problem the other day in the thread about PT cruisers out of the 30 odd posters on there only 4 of us had actualy driven one too many read stuff on the web and become experts on it

Thanks, and I agree, also the "used Japanese import car dealer stories" are ripe fodder for these types in NZ.
The reviews of actual people doing pretty much the same thing this poster is intending from the link I posted are excellent. Its those commenting from the sidelines with zero actual experience that are the problem.

Hang, we wouldn't have had 4 of these in the family if they were not good! (Technically ours were and are A3's/Golf's but you get the idea).

After a quick look the heaviest caravan I could see was 1485kg.
No what I would call " seriously large and heavy".
I still think most 5.3m fibreglass boat, motor, fuel & trailer in NZ would be much heavier.

Haha, what a joke.

ANYTHING with road tyres in sand that soft is a fail. I dont see the point.

Do those Toerags have a low range diff lock! That's what was needed I reckon.

Not an El Grande. If the engine gives out on you it is nigh on impossible to replace and is a BIG job to repair. Same goes for most if it's parts. Territory is great but I think only high end models have 7 seats and there is not alot of room in the back row. Really only seat a small child comfortably but probably the same goes for any 7 seater SUV.

That reminds me of Riding my Xr 500 down at the local river. I saw two girls in a toyota hilux 4x4 that they were trying to get out of the mud .I bet them the bottle of Jim beam on the front seat that I could get it out they agreed I locked the front hubs and drove it straight out best bottle of beam Ive ever had

Shows what a fool you were. Dumb choice going for the Jim Beam.

I think you may mean 1600kg. Or you have some pretty big horses!

Nah I wouldnt have touched them with bellkys dangler they had fallen out of the ugly tree and they were round

Not necessarily, according to this link even a 21ft Bayliner including trailer is only 1360KG. So given the OP's boat is less than 19ft it could actually be well under that.

http://www.rainbowcycle.com/showcaseproductdetail.htm!ID=17393290

(BTW, if you are wondering why I picked a bayliner, its because they give a trailer weight and being inboard I think its safe to assume that includes the engine).

Feel free to post your own links if you disagree.

Also. don't forget that big Caravan's are notoriously un-aerodynamic, especially when compared to a boat. So. over 70km/h a 1500KG Caravan is going to be a LOT harder to pull than a 1500KG boat.

There is only one way to be sure though, its easy enough to run the rig over a weigh bridge. I am sure a bored transfer station attendant would happily weigh your car with and without the boat on in return for some chocolate biscuits for morning tea!
(Otherwise throw some rubbish in your boat and legitimately dump it)

Or perhaps this poster took trojan trailers at their word!
http://files.coloribus.com/files/adsarchive/part_1410/14101705/file/sony-micro-vault-trojan-horse-small-59467.jpg

A Mercedes ML would do the job. They come in a seven seater.
Cheap enough to buy now too.

Definitely in price range in the Diesel too, which would be the way to keep running costs down. Being common rail the likes of the ML270 are surprisingly good on fuel too.

I would have suggested these as well, except I lack much in the way of first hand experience with them so didn't want to risk steering the OP crook. Being the same legendary engine as the Mercedes Sprinter though I would definitely have enough faith to give one a go myself.

These people need something MORE than capable of towing this boat, let's face it most cars on the road are going to be able to tow it, but what this family needs is something that can SAFELY transport 7 people AND tow the boat on challenging NZ roads as well as launching and towing out of boat ramps and the like, this clearly excludes your everyday car.

Hence my suggestion of an ML.

That's why a Touran is good, anyone who has towed with one understands how well they tow and how safe they are.

Some boat launching sites will admittedly be too much for any FWD but the OP is not concerned about that, I suspect that like me they have access to good ramps where FWD is no issue. (I have only ever launched with FWD cars here).

A bigger but lower technology vehicle is not necessarily going to be safer at all. I would have the Touran's trailer stability control over quite a bit of extra weight and size in a tow vehicle.

There is no need to go to one extreme and make a massive running cost sacrifice to do it IMO.

I will happily concede that the ML might be a great option if they find the reality of FWD dosn't suit their intended launch locations though.

What's best probably just comes down to where they are actually going with the boat, how much the vehicle is also their every day car and what they are willing to pay to run such a vehicle. From what I have heard so far they are more concerned with running costs than the very last word in traction and towing abilities.

Pretty much all of the Touran owners towing big caravans on that website are raving about its towing abilities, its really their opinions that count most.