Need SUV size +towing ability +mpg for cheap?

[theholycow]

So I was just leafing through my 1980 Buick Lesabre's manual, and it's rated to tow up to 6000 pounds. That's a damn lot for a 3500 pound car!

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Yup older full frame cars got high tow ratings... then a few people jacknifed or rolled their overloaded uhaul trailers driving at 80mph and decided it must be the car companies fault... lawyers got involved... and they don't rate anything worth crap any more. Marvin could probably tow 5000lb, but it ain't legal. Most midsize cars could handle 2000lb rather than 1000. Europeans won't bat an eyelid about towing a 18ft travel trailer with something that would be a compact here and probably has a 1.6-2.0 motor making 90-120HP

Just looked one up, the Vauxhall Vectra is rated for 3500lb in the UK, sold as a very similar model the Saturn L series over here it was rated for 1000lb

[trollbait]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Considering that you probably drive every day but tow the camper no more than a few times per month, does it make sense to have a DD that can also tow the trailer? Why not have a tow beast? Or, OTOH, why not have an ultra-efficient car for undemanding trips where it's appropriate?

The extra insurance cost of a second vehicle could end up wiping out any fuel savings. Plus, sitting isn't good for vehicles. Mandy's caliper pins started sticking while she sat. Just replaced the resulting warped rotors.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by trollbait

The extra insurance cost of a second vehicle could end up wiping out any fuel savings. Plus, sitting isn't good for vehicles. Mandy's caliper pins started sticking while she sat. Just replaced the resulting warped rotors.

Ah, that makes sense. I have a truck and a car, but the math works out better for me, probably due to different variables. I do drive the truck at least once a week.

[dieselbenz]

Volvo turbo wagon, any model, any year.

[GasSavers_RoadWarrior]

Yeah, thats the rub, if I'm gonna have something I need to drive it. I've seen rust just eat a standing car far quicker than if it were driven. I got issues with marvin standing a couple of months. I'm expecting issues getting Wile-E moving. Would cost me ~$1000 a year to have an idle vehicle, and it would still need oil changes, brakes would probably wear as fast due to rusting...

Insurance here is ridiculous, need to start having an accident a month to get my money's worth It's a high rated area, because tourists have a lot of fender benders in packed holiday traffic and leave expensive crap in their cars in high risk parking lots....

[VetteOwner]

OR how often do u camp? is ti somehting you could RENT a suv or the like?

[jcp123]

Considered an early-mid 90's Buick Roadmaster/Cadillac Fleetwood/Olds Vista Cruiser/Chevy Caprice? Full-framer V8 cars, I've heard they can pull mid-20's on the highway unladen, especially if equipped with the LT/1 small block, basically the cop-spec V8, with port injection and roller cam. On the same token, a Ford Crown Vic,
Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car should do similar. If you're looking for new, maybe look into a Tahoe hybrid? None of these really beat the minivan, though. Methinks you're in for a long look...

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Considered an early-mid 90's Buick Roadmaster/Cadillac Fleetwood/Olds Vista Cruiser/Chevy Caprice?

1994 Roadmaster in great condition:
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=149785