Which 4x4?

[Guest Gimlet]

Merc M class. ML270 or ML320

 

Nice to drive on road. Stacks of grunt for towing and pretty bullet proof. You'd get a nice one within budget. 

A mate in the building trade has an old 2002 ML270 which he uses for towing a 12' Ifor Williams tipper trailer for moving rubble, collecting loose gear etc. I've used it loaded to the gunnels with heavy brick rubble and it pulled like a train. The 320 is noticeably quicker but low 20's mpg is all you'll see. 

 

Pretty good off road but not the best for ground clearance or tyre options. Still a proper 4x4 though and not some poncy X5.

Popular cars with city yummy mummies for ferrying spoilt brats. Buy a pampered town car from some sharp elbowed Annabel who's never done a days work in her life and it'll last forever.

Edited May 4, 2020 by Gimlet

[IronMike]

“Sharp elbowed Annabel” ???

[monkeybusiness]

On 04/05/2020 at 11:26, Big J said:

I have a one owner, 55 plate V10 Touareg, which I bought in November for £5k. I then spent £1300 on it going over everything with a fine tooth comb, and touch wood, it's going well. 

 

Compared to towing with the 4x4 Sprinter (160ps), the Touareg (370ps) floats up the hills like they aren't even there. There is a hill I fairly regularly traverse called Hembury Hill. It's 110m of climbing, rearing up to about 1 in 8. Not hugely steep, but very long. The Sprinter (when towing the forwarder, at 3.2t) would be reduced to 20-23mph with my foot stapled to the floor in 2nd. It'd only just manage it in second. Same load, same hill, but in the Touareg and I'm cruising all the way to the top at 40mph (maximum safe speed with a trailer) on half throttle. So much less stressful, and only giving away a 2mpg penalty. 

 

So whilst I'd never pretend it'll be a cheap vehicle to run, the Touareg has to be more reliable than a Landrover and having owned a Disco 4, it also tows more adeptly too. 

 

That said, it depends where you are in the country. You don't need the horsepower if you're somewhere flat. It's just that Devon is the automotive equivalent of a rollercoaster ride with the inclines.

How’s the Touareg going @Big J? Any issues? I really fancy one.

[monkeybusiness]

7 minutes ago, Big J said:

Had it for a year now. Just had to do the starter motor at £1300, which was nasty, but otherwise fine. Even with the trailer fully loaded (3500kg) it's nowhere near challenging the motor on any hill. It does make towing a damn sight easier around here.

 

Generally 25mpg on normal driving, up to 30mpg on runs, down to 16-18mpg on heavy towing.

How much is it to tax?

Was the starter motor an engine-out job? I’ve heard they are a nightmare to work on and labour bills end up being very expensive for some jobs.

I’m not really bothered about fuel consumption, more concerned about massive unexpected bills on a cheap old car tbh!

[monkeybusiness]

Has it been chipped to 370bhp? Was it a bit underpowered before?!..

[carmst74]

I have a 3.0 touareg tdi. Awesome car. Does everything I ask it to do. Had it for about 2 years or so now. Only thing I've done is a starter motor. Mechanic recommended engine out job same as the v10. I did it in the yard by taking drivers front wheel off and going in that way. Still a pain in the arse but doable.

 

It has towed anything and everything with no issues. Towed a 4t forklift on a 900kg trailer (private road of course) with no issues. 

 

We have taken it off roading a few times and its great. 2007 model so has locking centre diff and proper high/ low gearbox. 

 

Anything post 2010 came with an "off road" mode only. Never driven one off road so can't comment on what they are like. But the pre 2010 ones are brilliant off road and will easily embarrass plenty of landys.

 

At the same time, put in on a motorway for 10 hours straight and you wouldn't even think you had been driving when you get out at the other end.

 

I never thought I would ever buy a touareg. Now that I have one, I'd buy another tomorrow without a second thought.

[Will C]

We have found much the same, we have locking center and rear diff on the v10. Bloody thing doesn’t stop off road till it’s really bad, then it’s a long walk back ?‍♂️
As to towing it’s effortless by far the best truck we have had, the air springs keep it level as well so it’s not quite so fussy on trailer nose weight

[carmst74]

You need a winch ?

[carmst74]

[Will C]

10 minutes ago, carmst74 said:

You need a winch ?

Looks smart being hidden in there rather than sat out front. What did you wire into and how do you get to the clutch lever?