What car will give me credibility?

[Browser]

Realistically speaking though, You have made an investment in this vehicle which is fit for purpose, and has the extra mass to give both you, and those around you a greater margin of safety when towing. I've seen some small cars towing larger caravans and trailers before now, and the consequences of it going wrong because the weight of the towing vehicle is inadeqaute for purpose is quite scary (likewise when they don't bother to set the tow ball height correctly, and this moves the centre of gravity of the tow car when the weight of the hitch is on it). I did it myself when I bought my trailer and towed it witha regular car - scared the crap out of me TBH.
In the 9 years of towing a 2 tonne trailer with my 4x4, I've never had a 'moment' with stability issues, as the homework was done when the tow bar was fitted, and it was set up correctly.
You pay the price for doing the right thing if you are being vilified for running it, but it isn't your fault if the ignorance of others blind them to that point.

Should have added a 'tongue-in-cheek' smiley Linford as I was being my usual sarky self. I'm with you on the towing, I read an article on the Practical Performance Car forum about a guy who bought an old Ford Thames camper to restore, and towed it back to his house on a nice twin axle Brian James............behind a bloody Fiat Punto diesel the same as ours! He made mention of the 'snaking' and hinted that it made the drive 'fun', lethal more likely. I love towing with the Kia, rock solid and far more power than the Citroen. Mind you, it'd be nicer with an ECU remap.........

 

[Arfcollins]

Choose the car that meets your needs. I'm a cyclist and have a Subaru Outback AWD - practical, economical at 45mpg and safe and roomy for my family and dog. Our smaller Kia Cee'd serves duty for more local runs.

The car isn't The monster, The driver can turn it into one though.

... every day is a winding road...

The MOT came in at just over £300, including a bit of welding needed to keep the 1989 Volvo together for another year and a bracket for the exhaust to replace my temporary lash-up with fence wire.

Yes, the monster is the driver. I'm obviously not the only one who is jaded by the lazy categorising of dangerous drivers by the cars they wear, BMW/Audi/Golf/4x4 etc etc. VamP has listed a number of offending motors that don't often appear in the horror stories here, and I'm sure if we listed all cars mentioned we'd have a full set. With the exception of the motorised sofa - or does someone have a really interesting tale to tell?

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions, and offers - I hadn't expected so may second-hand car salesmen to come out of the woodwork! I'll stick with the Volvo estate for now. Many's the time I've thrown 2 or 3 bikes in the back and bimbled down to the New Forest in the middle lane of the M27 - a grand day out! Do flash me if you see me, you'll be my first CCer spottted.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

What's wrong with public transport

 

[Arfcollins]

What's wrong with public transport

Do I detect bias?

 

[helston90]

Excellent, 48 replies and you pull out at the last minute when the cars fine? Good job it was an amusing thread!

I was going to recommend a Peugeot 406 estate, until my engine went pop, now I'm not so sure it's that good! lol

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

Do I detect bias?

More people on public transport means fewer cars on the road,which can't be a bad thing i think.

 

[Arfcollins]

More people on public transport means fewer cars on the road,which can't be a bad thing i think.

Agreed, I'd just thought you might be promoting bus driving in Leeds.
We do make use of the local trains and buses when it makes sense, and because I use the bike for work I think we only drive about 4000 miles a year. I say I think this because the mileometer on the car doesn't work. The last 4 MOT cerificates have the same mileage on them - 213174.

 

[G-Zero]

We have two cars, a Kia Sedona for hauling the caravan and for owning which we should be roasted by the environmental and cycling gods in hell as it is a thirsty old bus and quite large, but we've only done about 2500 miles in it in a year

Chances are you don't fly, which more than makes up for any extra carbon that the few miles in your 4x4 kick out.

We gave up our 3 times a year, family flying holidays and started towing a big caravan (needed for size of family) which needed a 4x4 to legally and safely tow it. The 4x4 was on the drive most of the year and was used responsibly when not towing, ie in snow and ice and on trips to the tip.

We were fortunate that we had and still have the Toyota Aygo runaround, for the commute and run of the mill trips.

Personally I don't think your lifestyle and tow vehicle can be criticised

 

[asterix]

White van. You can get loads of bikes in and camp in the back if need be. Some give 40+ mpg these days.

 

[BentMikey]

Hahahahaha! I was gonna guess Volvo when I first saw this topic.

 

[Browser]

Chances are you don't fly, which more than makes up for any extra carbon that the few miles in your 4x4 kick out.

I tried flying once, but it hurt like buggery when I hit the ground
Looks like we've similar views on vehicular transport G-Zero i.e. have a small fuel-efficient runaround and something big enough to tug our 'vans which is well within the advised 85% of your vehicles gross weight limit.

 

[Linford]

I tried flying once, but it hurt like buggery when I hit the ground
Looks like we've similar views on vehicular transport G-Zero i.e. have a small fuel-efficient runaround and something big enough to tug our 'vans which is well within the advised 85% of your vehicles gross weight limit.

Flipping heck, I've got an A class merc as a frugal runaround as well. I don't think I'm going to save the planet by running a less thirsty car as a daily drive, but it is a heck of a lot cheaper to run.

How times have changed here

 

[Bicycle]

I'm guessing it's a 740, probably with an LPT motor.

Am I close?

 

[paulw1969]

The MOT came in at just over £300, including a bit of welding needed to keep the 1989 Volvo together for another year and a bracket for the exhaust to replace my temporary lash-up with fence wire.

Yes, the monster is the driver. I'm obviously not the only one who is jaded by the lazy categorising of dangerous drivers by the cars they wear, BMW/Audi/Golf/4x4 etc etc. VamP has listed a number of offending motors that don't often appear in the horror stories here, and I'm sure if we listed all cars mentioned we'd have a full set. With the exception of the motorised sofa - or does someone have a really interesting tale to tell?


Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions, and offers - I hadn't expected so may second-hand car salesmen to come out of the woodwork! I'll stick with the Volvo estate for now. Many's the time I've thrown 2 or 3 bikes in the back and bimbled down to the New Forest in the middle lane of the M27 - a grand day out! Do flash me if you see me, you'll be my first CCer spottted.

I guessed a old 740 soon as i saw the post....nowt wrong with them had one for several years ....sold it about two years ago....next to nothing to keep on the road compared to other cars.........like the new Volvos for instance.....and you can just stand there throwing more and more and more in the boot!

 

[Arfcollins]

Hahahahaha! I was gonna guess Volvo when I first saw this topic.

Bugger!

I'm guessing it's a 740, probably with an LPT motor.

Am I close?

Except the LTP, you're close.