Replacing my Freelander tow car

Posted on 03/02/2020 15:11 by JVB66

Our Sportage KX4 auto is seven years old this month I have  never  used up to now,  park assist,4x4 lock ,down hill "assist?,but do appreciate the rear camera when hitching up c/van,it has nearly 35000 miles on the clock,my dealer will yet again  try to get me to get a newer model when it has its service and Mot next week ,but as i have told them when they go back to having a full size spare wheel as standard , we may have a chat

Posted on 03/02/2020 14:27 by Rufs

was in the local Kia showroom last week getting a headlight bulb changed on OH's Carens (as you can see i do not have a mechanical bone in my body), looked over the latest Sorento, I have a 2013 model, what a great car, but do i need all those bells & whistles?, and at what price , Yes i currently have a reversing camera which i do use but still a mirrors man, yes i use cruise control, (would like adaptive) i have a standalone sat nav, I never use my phone whilst moving, i go forwards always in drive/eco mode, never used manual, i go in reverse. Never used lock 4wd, diff lock, radio sometimes for news, lane control seems like a bad idea to me, read about a Merc last week that nearly caused a serious accident because lane control mistook a couple of bad skid marks in the road for lane markings , and when all these gizzmos start to go wrong they go wrong big time.

Would like a good reliable basic tow car at a sensible price that would tow my 1575kg caravan, but cant find a new/second hand car of todays era that fits that bill.

7 year warranty on my Sorento runs out soon, have i ever used it, NO, thank goodness, but how much did i pay for this when i bought the car?, (second hand), I am sure the old girl has got a few more years left yet, so if it is not broken why try to fix it.

Posted on 03/02/2020 16:07 by EmilysDad

My 2nd hand car came with an off road pack (I can lift it higher, front/rear diff lock + other stuff ??) that I'm never likely to use. 

When you say 'park assist', do you mean where it'll do the steering when parallel parking? Mine will too, it's clever, but I rarely have the need to use it. Try it on yours ... you might like it .. you'll never know till you do 

Posted on 03/02/2020 17:07 by JVB66

With the rear camera and all round i have never found the need to use pa

Posted on 03/02/2020 17:34 by Stewart P

Thanks for all of your comments and advice.

I am still investigating and have a few vehicles to look at before making a decision whether to change or keep my Freelander for a while longer, (it's likely to be far cheaper than changing even with any unexpected repair bills!)

The car I want ideally doesn't seem to exist and most of the better options are well over the £40k threshold the government has set for new cars above which they take an extra £320 a year on the road fund licence for 5 years!

I nearly bought a well equipped one year old Skoda Kodiaq but then found out the max tow ball loading is 80kgs and not only think this will be hard to keep under without emptying the caravan front locker, but also wonder what the reduction in stability will be. I tow at around 95kgs with the Freelander.

Another frustration is the lack of rear visibility with the latest generation of 4x4 SUVs with thick pillars, dipping roof line and high door waists and I am not a big fan of privacy glass that doesn't help either.

I don't need 7 seats but most suitable vehicles seem to have these as standard at the detriment of tow ball max loading weight and spare wheel. I don't like the idea of a tin of glue in the boot if I have a puncture and find the tyre is too damaged to repair!

Ah well I'll keep looking.

P.S. The J. D. Powers reliability report also makes interesting reading, the car with most faults per 100 is German!

Posted on 02/02/2020 22:14 by Metheven

People and 'my cars more superior than yours', I bet the previous one was at the time, along with the next one in the future.

BTW, my neighbour has an alluminium catch tray he used under his previous Touareg to catch the oil, its for sale if needed.

Posted on 03/02/2020 18:52 by derekcyril

 My local pub full  of farmers . I have 2 old discos , love em to bits they mainly have defenders ,but wifes cars are freelander .Double use , small enough for wife and kids , but can tow well . They have not upgraded ,  40 k you could keep yours going for many a year .There is always a proper mechanic doing these cars that doesnt charge stupid money . Derek

Posted on 03/02/2020 17:56 by davetommo

Which one car or tray