Whats your towcar?
Turbo Mini Forums

Who tows there Mini to trackdays etc, what do you tow with? whats the fuel comsumption like??, any tips on looking for a good towcar?
Looking at Audi A3 / A4 Avant 1.9tdi's (high mileage so cheaper)

Any info welcome

PS 1996 Impreza Sti Version 2 now for sale

Rich

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

XANTIA ESTATE HDI , 30mpg + towing .don`t knock till you`ve tried it!!
funny suspension is brill , corners like a new car every time ( till it fails )

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

you don't want to know...

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

when you get a old as me you droll over td estates

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

I tow with my trusty Subaru Legacy Turbo. Still does 0-60 in around 10 secs with the trailer on. 15mpg is not so good though.

My Bro used to use a Fiat Bravo JTD 35mpg when towing, sadly his missus smashed it up so now he is thinking of replacing it with a Toyota Avensis Turbo Diesel (Boring but good value). The latest Multi-jet Common-rail diesel engines are the best to go for by all accounts.

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I used to have a Legacy Turbo.....although you must drive it a bit more carefully than I used to to get 15mpg.....I think one day on a few b roads towards wales to watch a stage rally it did 9mpg......but good fun aren't they!

I've got a Mk 2 golf, and the towbar is coming tomorrow.

Not got a trailer yet but found a woodford one that looks just the job so we'll see how it all goes...

Jeep Cherokee 2.8TD 18-19 towing usually but this weekend did 21 and that is with cruise control at 68mph.
I did have a Merc Estate C220CDI and you could get 29-30mpg.

But the winner is Minimark's £350 Zantia for sheer value for money!!!!

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know

I use focus tdci estate, get around 35 mpg @ 70mph towing, does not slow down for hills

Team Racing

As already mentioned I am also in the market for a tow car. Just to put the record straight I did have a Fiat Bravo JTD (100bhp) and it towed a treat it did about 44mpg when towing and between 50 and 55mpg normally.

I have been looking for an Avensis D4-D, but since the good lady had a look round one last night and decided she did not like the look of it I am looking for something else. Favorite so far is a Peugeot 406 HDi (136bhp, 40mpg normal, so not so good) or a Renault Laguna dCi (120bhp, 50mpg normal). All the cars I have looked at so far have been high milage ex fleet cars from car supermarkets. Still not found the one I want yet though.

Other cars I have concidered are the Seat Leon TDi and the Skoda Octavia TDi, but I want something a bit bigger.

I still think it is hard to beat the value of the Fiat, if it was just a little better built it would be fantastic. The new Stilo is apparently better and an early JTD is quite cheep.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Have you thought a Citroen Xsara Estate?

Similar size to the Fiat Bravo you had and dirty cheap to buy as well, they also have the HDi engine but the smaller 2.0 one, not the 2.2 like the 406.

Not a bad car to drive either. Admittedly I am only suggesting the Xsara as I have got a Xsara VTS Coupe but for £2200 on a 1999 T reg I think pretty good value for your money, and the estates and diesels are similar money.

I use a 1.7td astra van. not too bad really. struggles every now and then but thats with 500kgs of trailer + the mini. i think with a lighter trailer and the mini being lower (i.e. behind the vehicle rather than above it) it would tow 10 times better.

just to get on my soapbox .
i was at anglesy the other week in the padock , with the £350 xantia and £xxx mini and trailer, bloke pulls up next to me with brand new X5 brain james trailer and a newish tvr , £140k worth of kit !!!!!!!!!!Tvr never got the track cos it won`t run , different world I live in.

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

Old phrase

"All the Gear.......No Idea...."

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

Passat diesel estate 2.0 better than a Volvo anyday plus very good value cheep to run almost bullet proof.

http://www.avonbar.com

I wish i had the room for a trailer:(

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

We don't but thats another issue!

Can't buy anything till i sell the scooby, but at least i've got some good ideas as to what to look out for.

Rich

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

I don't use red, kero is the choice in my area, not that I've ever tried it, obviously!

Mark, git! I know where I'm going as long as I ignore the GPS

Team Racing

I've got a toyota Hilux.
Don't even ask about the mpg, it's scary when driving normally, let alone towing.

oh yeah and it's non turbo so its very, very sloooow

Too many projects!

volvo 740, 6cyl turbo diesel estate, fuel consumption n/a, driver 10 pints then collapses

Well I finally have my new tow car. A big thanks to Mr Fenton who guided me in the right direction. I decided to spend less money in the end and picked up a 3 year old Citroen Xsara HDi 110bhp for 3K...perfect.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Blimey, I don't know what to say, you have taken a recommendation from me and bought a car as a result!! Well I hope you are pleased with it anyway!!
Like I said, I have a Xsara and more than anything else I think you can get an awful lot of car for your money, and espcially a 3yr old car for 3k, can't beat that....

Cheers!!