eBay Challenge: $15k Tow Vehicle That is Fun in the Twisties

"Michael Cohen" (hofmeisterkinky) 09/30/2016 at 08:16 • Filed to: None

0

65

Oh Oppo, you are about to enter a topic more controversial than abortion, Israeli-Arab conflict and the DH combined: what vehicles are suitable suitable for towing. I’m looking for a car (as in not not truck, not SUV, but wagons are welcome) that can tow 2,500 lbs of travel trailer and camping crap and still be fun on twisty roads (though not necessarily doing both at the same time). Budget is $15k. Also, three pedals.

“Why don’t you just buy a $2000 Suburban and leave the fun car at home?” Its a reasonable question. The answer is that 10,000 years ago glaciers flattened the Chicago suburb where I live and everything else within 150 miles. I can’t drive a fun road except when I travel.

Pictured: E39 M5 hauling wooden tear drop trailer and a 1976 Beemer R90S. The trailer is a work of art. More here:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Berang > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:20

1

2,5000lbs trailer? How big is this trailer? Are you sure that’s a trailer and not a small house?

(and if you meant 2,500, isn’t that still huge?)

Alfalfa > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:23

2

Volvo S60 has a 3300 lb towing capacity. I’m assuming you mean 2500 lbs not 25000?

Echo51 > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:24

1

Find what car you want for 14k$, then spend the last grand on a hitch for it.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:28

2

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Closer to 100. The Driftless Region is well within a day’s drive and back from Chi-town. SW Wisconsin, NW IL, NE Iowa all have some nice twisties.

AkursedX > Alfalfa 09/30/2016 at 08:31

2

That was going to be my suggestion. An S60r or even better, a V70r comes with 3 pedals, enough towing capacity, are fun drivers and can be had for under 15k

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:31

0

Miata with a V8 swap and chassis reinforcement?

3point8isgreat > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:35

1

When I had to make this decision I ended up with a Magnum R/T. Lost the three pedals, but got a V8 at least. Used it to pull Uhaul trailers 2000 miles a couple times. Car was sufficiently fun on twisty mountain roads in Colorado, and was hilarious at autocross. Mine has AWD so it’s an inch higher ground clearance. If you find one with RWD I hear the steering feels better, and the handling should be better. Basically it feels like driving an old E-class with a truck engine, because that’s what it is.

I know people like to complain about interior quality on magnums, but they must just be seeing the lower V6 trims. In R/T trim I’ve got comfy seats that feel like you’re on a huge leather sofa, and few if any interior squeaks and rattles (Mine is a 2005, so 11 year old car). Most people are surprised to hear that the car is 11 years old when they ride in it, because it all still feels and looks a lot newer.

Also as a note, I got 16 mpg with a 5x8 trailer completely filled, going about 60-65 to avoid tire blowouts on crappy uhaul trailers. Get about 20 mpg at 75 mph without a trailer. RWD should be slightly better.

Again, had to give up 3-pedals for it. But when I was looking at tow capable wagons for moving, I didn’t have many options to work with in the first place.

punkgoose17 > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:35

0

Manual Transmission Jaguar S-Type 4000 lbs tow capacity. You can use the remaining budget for you teardrop, Beemer, and car repairs.

Edit: https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-2003-Jaguar-S-TYPE-c7913#listing=149111490

DipodomysDeserti > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:38

1

You can probably find a used 335d for around that price now. It would be a lot more fun than the Volvo options.

bob and john > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:40

3

oh. my. god.

that guy. that guy has it fucking made.

Stapleface > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:44

1

I know it really doesn’t meet the criteria at all, but what about a Trailblazer SS? They handle pretty well, and it certainly would be able to pull the trailer without issues.

Michael Cohen > Alfalfa 09/30/2016 at 08:47

1

Bro, if I want to tow a four bedroom house that’s my business and who are to judge me? Thanks, I fixed the weight. Good call on the Volvo.

Michael Cohen > Berang 09/30/2016 at 08:49

0

Fixed the weight. Thanks. I’m guessing the dude in the picture is right around 2,000 lbs. I’m looking at bigger trailers that you can stand up in, not a teardrop.

Hoccy > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:49

0

Something RWD or AWD is a must. Was a passenger in a FWD Passat towing a loaded caravan this summer, that wasn’t fun to drive at all. The cars that come to mind is the Volvo S60/V70, BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class and the Subaru Legacy. You could also be the coolest guy in the world and buy a Volvo 940 with a turbo redblock engine and spend the rest of your money making it fun to drive.

Michael Cohen > DipodomysDeserti 09/30/2016 at 08:50

1

Swing that big D. I like it.

Michael Cohen > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/30/2016 at 08:51

0

Always the answer.

Ssfancyfresh > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:52

1

1st gen cts-v

Michael Cohen > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/30/2016 at 08:55

0

Driftless Region for the win! I should have done a check on Google maps. It makes for a long day of about, what, 6 to 8 hours just for the there-and-back. Having said that I need to take the S2000 there before winter.

Michael Cohen > bob and john 09/30/2016 at 08:55

0

IKR. What a boss!

bob and john > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:57

0

admitingly, I’d change out the R90s for something more along the lines of an S1000R/rr. or an HP2 sport. other then that, pretty spot on.

duurtlang > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 08:57

0

2500 lbs in the US or in Europe? Huge difference. Hell, my 138 hp coupe is legally allowed to tow (a little bit) more than 2500 lbs.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > DipodomysDeserti 09/30/2016 at 08:58

1

That’s what I was going to recommend

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=80234&endYear=2017&modelCode1=335D&showcaseOwnerId=57746900&makeCode1=BMW&startYear=1981&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&showcaseListingId=406047780&mmt=%5BBMW%5B335D%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=438968955&Log=0

Michael Cohen > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 09/30/2016 at 09:08

0

Did they make one with a manual? My Autotrader search came up empty.

Michael Cohen > Stapleface 09/30/2016 at 09:09

0

Very cool car. I’ve thought about it.

shop-teacher > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:09

1

Be sure when you’re shopping campers, you pick by loaded weight and not dry weight. It makes a BIG difference.

shop-teacher > duurtlang 09/30/2016 at 09:11

1

“Chicago suburb where I live”

Is there a Chicago in Europe? :)

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:12

1

I had the blessing of growing up there, but the curse of wondering why everywhere else was so flat and boring.

HammerheadFistpunch > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:13

0

Sg Subaru Forrester xt, naturally. Though its limited to 2400 lbs towing. No, it’s a wagon.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > duurtlang 09/30/2016 at 09:18

0

Has the exchange rate between American and European pounds changed post brexit?

duurtlang > shop-teacher 09/30/2016 at 09:19

0

Possibly. It’s a suburb somewhere in South Africa.

I overlooked that line of text though. Point taken.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:20

2

Jeep SRT? An older 5.9 R/T Dakota? I’m under the exact same conundrum you are right now. I got rid of the truck for a fun car but now I miss being able to tow easily.

Apparently the Porsche 928 can tow like 7000lbs.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Stapleface 09/30/2016 at 09:22

0

Along the same lines, what about an SRT Cherokee?

Berang > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:22

0

Most tear drops are only around 1000lbs. Pop-ups are still under 2,000 even for large ones. A dual axle travel trailer would probably be well over 2,500, and I don’t think there’s much in between.

boredalways > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:26

0

http://www.theusedcarsuperstore.com/inventory/2009-volvo-s80-v8-awd-4d-sedan-yv1ar852891099154

Michael Cohen > Berang 09/30/2016 at 09:28

0

You’re right about most of the contemporary trailers. I’m thinking about a small fiberglass RV that’s like a ton or one of these: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/rvs/5795539790.html

Michael Cohen > boredalways 09/30/2016 at 09:29

0

D’oh! Automatic.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:29

2

Even the base 4.2 is fairly quick(sub-7 second 0-60) and nimble. I thoroughly enjoyed driving ours. On that note, what about a Saab 9-7x. Same platform, better materials.

Berang > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:30

1

Then you need a Studebaker Avanti.

duurtlang > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/30/2016 at 09:32

0

Ask the Brits. We don’t really use pounds in continental Europe. I’m only familiar with those legacy units because I frequent websites with many Americans.

Michael Cohen > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 09/30/2016 at 09:34

0

There’s also the Aero version of the Saab that also has the Vette engine. I love the nickname: Trollblazer. Saab’s headquarters was in Trollhatten.

random001 > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:36

0

2010-2012 Subary Legacy 2.5 GT

1996 Roadmaster with a little suspension work.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:38

1

Having driven a few LS powered vehicles, honestly I’d rather just have the six. It’s nearly as quick, gets better gas mileage, is very reliable, is quite unique, is super smooth, and powerful enough. It has character that an LS just seems to lack in my opinion. Sure it’s faster, but that’s all the LS does well in my opinion. It feels lacking in soul, soul that at good straight six(which the Atlas is) has.

Michael Cohen > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/30/2016 at 09:39

0

We drove the Honda to North Carolina for a three day trip and I wanted to cry when I got home. The driftless area is awesome. I’ve been to Galena which I had no idea had great roads and we’ve done the Kettles a couple times. Not this year though since we’ve been visiting my wife’s family in Indiana.

Any favorite roads in the Driftless?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:48

0

Mk4 TDI wagon, or a Sedan/golf with wagon rear springs. It’ll need some mods, and good tires to be fun, but it’s still in budget.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 09:59

2

I’ve never had a good ‘carving’ car, so I’ve never really had a critical eye for that type of road, but for scenic, yet not boring drives, particularly in the fall, I like the drive north out of Dubuque on the “great river road” thru Sherrill and Balltown (which is not too far from Dickeyville, WI), Waupeton and Buenie (North Buena Vista), come back down 52 thru Holy Cross, Rickardsville (nice overlooks on the ridge road) and Durango. Honestly, you could probably take the Great River Road (it’s a designation, covering several different roads that hug the river) all the way up to McGregor and not get bored. As for food stops, in Balltown there’s a restaurant (Breitbach’s) that was featured on Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt. Also just south of Dubuque is another, Kalmes’ in St. Donatus, but that’s not as twisty of a road.

Michael Cohen > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/30/2016 at 10:23

0

Thanks! I’ll check those out.

Michael Cohen > duurtlang 09/30/2016 at 10:26

0

Let’s walk the wild side and say European ratings.

boredalways > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 10:27

0

dammit.

I could be mistaken, but I think they have flappy paddles.

Michael Cohen > shop-teacher 09/30/2016 at 10:27

0

Well, we like to think of her as Paris on Lake Michigan.

shop-teacher > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 10:37

1

That’s news to me (I’m in the Western Chicago ‘burbs myself)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 10:39

0

So apparently these do not come with a manual option. That sucks, other than that it would be a perfect car. A good drivers car, a diesel with ample torque for towing, and good gas mileage.

Michael Cohen > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 09/30/2016 at 10:43

0

Why would you do this to me? I’m already seriously thinking M5 which is dumb enough and you bring up a car my dad had two of (!) AND Risky Business was filmed in my childhood town.

Michael Cohen > shop-teacher 09/30/2016 at 10:44

1

I guess that would make Aurora like the Bourdeaux region.

shop-teacher > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 10:45

0

HA!

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 13:56

1

Lol I’m full if bad ideas

ranwhenparked > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 20:02

1

British tow vehicle, or American? Because, if British, you can basically pick whatever car you want from a MINI Cooper on up.

If American, you’re pretty much limited to at least an F-250 SuperDuty or equivalent for that size load. Maybe you can step down to a half ton, if you want to live on the edge a bit.

torque > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/30/2016 at 20:21

0

Can confirm (grew up in the area & 1st car was a TR7). Lots of great twisty roads around Galena and Dubuque (only 13 miles apart).

Above suggestion is spot on, lots of great roads in Northeastern Iowa (at least north of Dubuque) + Northwestern Illinois + Southwestern Wisconsin area on both sides of the Mississippi. + Western Wisconsin is famous for their “Letter / Alphabet” roads

Breitbach’s is indeed famous (3rd or 4th) family place. They had a really bad fire, (burned the place down) in 2007 but it has since been completely rebuilt on the old location.

wafflesnfalafel > Michael Cohen 09/30/2016 at 23:08

1

I work with a lady who has one of those teardrop trailers and tows it with her 07' Mustang GT Cali Special.

Michael Cohen > ranwhenparked 10/01/2016 at 01:06

0

We have thought about getting a really small, light trailer and towing it with a my wife’s Cooper S cabrio.

Michael Cohen > wafflesnfalafel 10/01/2016 at 01:08

0

The teardrops are cute but they’re not that cheap and you can’t stand in them. There are 1500 pound trailers which are a lot roomier.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > torque 10/01/2016 at 11:49

1

It actually burned twice. They were either almost done rebuilding, or were done, but hadn’t been that long and it burned again.

wafflesnfalafel > Michael Cohen 10/01/2016 at 12:17

1

yeah.. I agree with you on those tear drops. It’s basically tent camping with a door. But some folks love them - it’s more of a hobby.

Michael Cohen > wafflesnfalafel 10/01/2016 at 20:14

0

A base model Fiberglass RV like a Scamp is something like 1500 pounds and a lot more functional than a tear drop which sometimes weigh just as much. They’re cute though.

DipodomysDeserti > Michael Cohen 10/03/2016 at 08:16

1

The manual 335d wasn’t sold in the US. My wife had one and despite being auto was still fun to drive. Torque for days.

Michael Cohen > Michael Cohen 07/18/2017 at 12:44

0

The answer was in my garage the whole time. Here’s my Honda S2000 with a teardrop trailer, approx 700 lbs fully loaded. We took her to Kentucky and back without a hitch. Well, of course, there was a tow hitch but yeah.