Good Tow Cars?

[260DET]

Euro mate said both the Toerag and the Howdy were good tow cars, his opinion on maintenance etc is based on his own experience, he runs a euro workshop in Sydeney. I asked him about the little VW diesel SUV, whatever it's called, for towing but it's too light. And probably too fragile.

Have driven a Santa Fe, not bad if you don't mind the FWD bias. My searching for 'what tow car' is over, will post once the buy is done

[Marlin]

Fathom said his was a water pump failure. Apparently ALL of them required replacement, but VAG gambled. Rather than issueing a recall that was unmanagable, they elected to instead replace the pumps when the vehicles were seen for service. Fathom's was one that failed prior to be replaced.

So, given that was a couple of years ago, one would assume all the pumps have been done by now.

[260DET]

Mitsubishi Challenger SUV, 2.5 turbo diesel, five speed sequential shift auto, 2WD, three tonne towing capacity Only thing is with the auto torque is reduced from 400nm to 350, no LSD but I assume that the electronics sort that out. Everything else looks good, these would be the cheapest diesel SUV with a serious towing capacity around, by a big margin.

[samstain]

Mitsubishi Challenger SUV, 2.5 turbo diesel, five speed sequential shift auto

Make sure you take it for a test drive - on a flat 100 - 110k road.

A guy here at work has the Triton version (diesel + auto) and it has a massive surge problem where it refuses to sit on 110... on a dead flat road, without moving your foot (or in cruise) it will hunt between 105 and 115. It has been back to Mitsubishi dozens of times over the last 2 years where they have swapped everything imaginable, including re-flashing the ECU with a custom program from MMC Japan... and then replacing it when they bricked it on one attempt.

I think he is basically now at the stage where he has given up on it and is just waiting till it is due to be replaced.

Apparently there was something strange about his combo from memory though, he appeared to get the motor from one series coupled to the GBox from a different series or something along those lines - not that it is actually changing gears when it happens.

Edited October 31, 2012 by samstain

[260DET]

Good advice, will take it for a 100kph run as soon as I get it. If it is not 100% right then back it goes to the dealer to cancel the sale. Think I have five days to do that.

[Marlin]

Good luck with it Rich, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Good specs, I'd not considered one as an option. All your research paid off

[AngryRB]

how about a toyota landcruiser,

195kW/650Nm 4.5-litre twin-turbo V8 diesel

[260DET]

The diesel Land Cruisers are not bullet proof despite what the Toyboys may like to think. Talking with a bloke out at Lakeside the other day, he bought one new and at 140K the fuel system dropped it's guts, had to be towed. Cost $7K to have it rebuilt. 650nm would make one a monster tow car though.

[boxheadmr]

Mitsubishi Challenger SUV, 2.5 turbo diesel, five speed sequential shift auto, 2WD, three tonne towing capacity Only thing is with the auto torque is reduced from 400nm to 350, no LSD but I assume that the electronics sort that out. Everything else looks good, these would be the cheapest diesel SUV with a serious towing capacity around, by a big margin.

Interesting, had a look at the nt model pajero as well which looking at car sales is a slightly dearer price for an 09model about 30k

[260DET]

Challenger can be bought new for mid $30's, depending on the specs and the deal of course. Got mine today, so far so good

[10 4]

What about these things

&sort=default"]http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/audi-allroad-2002-13143249?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=0&eapi=2&__N=1246+1247+1252+1282+1216+937&num=15&silo=Stock&items=[Make:AUDI,Model:ALLROAD,Series:C5]&sort=default

Towing Braked (kg) 3100

[260DET]

Read back a bit, euro coolness seems to be related to the amount of $ you are prepared to drop in depreciation to own a one, crazy stuff.

[fatz]

f**k just replaced the rubber on the q7

Nothing but the best china high load shit

780 fitted foR 4 tires. 275/45/20's

f**k yea

When did rubbeR get so cheap?

[260DET]

China rubber on a Q7, shame Should havve the best most expensive euro rubber otherwise you void the?????hehe.

[fatz]

Will do some bends to see if its death rubber

[evil_weevil]

do some skids too

[phunky_monkey]

f**k just replaced the rubber on the q7

Nothing but the best china high load shit

780 fitted foR 4 tires. 275/45/20's

f**k yea

When did rubbeR get so cheap?

Cheap cheap!

I was surprised at how cheap you could get them too, especially for such a ridiculous size. I can get Yokies for under a grand. Crazy!

[MBS206]

Make sure you take it for a test drive - on a flat 100 - 110k road.

A guy here at work has the Triton version (diesel + auto) and it has a massive surge problem where it refuses to sit on 110... on a dead flat road, without moving your foot (or in cruise) it will hunt between 105 and 115. It has been back to Mitsubishi dozens of times over the last 2 years where they have swapped everything imaginable, including re-flashing the ECU with a custom program from MMC Japan... and then replacing it when they bricked it on one attempt.

I think he is basically now at the stage where he has given up on it and is just waiting till it is due to be replaced.

Apparently there was something strange about his combo from memory though, he appeared to get the motor from one series coupled to the GBox from a different series or something along those lines - not that it is actually changing gears when it happens.

Does it happen to have a snorkel fitted?

[samstain]

Does it happen to have a snorkel fitted?

I like your thinking, but no I don't think so... it is all very stock - just dealer fitted times such as a canopy and bull bar of some description from memory.

[MBS206]

I like your thinking, but no I don't think so... it is all very stock - just dealer fitted times such as a canopy and bull bar of some description from memory.

It would be interesting to see where the air intake for the stock air box is. I've seen certain 4WDs have them in a wheel arch, which caused pressure issues at speed.

Might be worth having said person investigate and see what happens if a snorkel is fitted (Or an air intake from somewhere else)