Economical Tow Vehicles?

[Elumia]

seems that in considering a tow vehicle, width of the tear should be part of the decision - a 4 wide sure has a lot less drag behind a small narrow economy car regardless of weight.

I saw somewhere, I think it was a boating mag, that one vehicle I think it was a Honda Pilot had a greater to rating for a boat that a travel trailer. I suspect the frontal area of the TT was harder than the pointed end of a boat for towing.

Mark

[Duane King]

Mike,
I drive a Honda Odyssey minivan. I can't find any vehicle of this type on your list. Have you got numbers for that vehicle?

[QuietOutdoorsman]

No longer available new in the US, but the Ford Fiesta....

The Fiesta is still available new in the UK, here are some specs from Ford.co.uk

1.4L Duratec (4 cyl, gas): 4.9L/100 km Highway, 6.0L/100 km mixed driving fuel consumption. 4.9L/100km --> 48 mpg US.

1.4L Duratorq (4 cyl, diesel): 3.8L/100km Highway, 4.5L/100km mixed driving fuel consumption. 3.8L/100km -->61.9 mpg US.

Max braked tow capacity:
with 1.4L Duratec & 5 speed manual: 900 kg (1980 lbs)
with 1.4L Duratorq & 5 speed manual: 750 kg (1650 lbs)

The lowest price is the Fiesta Studio at 8,850 Pounds (basically double that to get US dollars right now).

http://www.ford.co.uk

[mikeschn]

Okay, I added the Scion, the Odyssey, and the Fiesta, the PT Cruiser, the HHR & the Smart

Smart $11590 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 33/41 annual fuel: $1551, 5 year total: $19345
Aveo $12170 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 27/37 annual fuel: $1824, 5 year total: $21290
Ford Fiesta (UK) $17700 Max tow(unbraked): 1650 lbs, 50/61.9 annual fuel: $1208, 5 year total: $23740
Cobalt XFE $15070 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 27/36 annual fuel: $1844, 5 year total: $24290
Ford Focus $14395 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 24/35 annual fuel: $2000, 5 year total: $24395
Matrix/Vibe $16190 Max tow(unbraked): 1500 lbs, 26/32 annual fuel: $1976, 5 year total: $26070
Corolla $17550 Max tow(unbraked): 1102 lbs, 26/35 annual fuel: $1908, 5 year total: $27090
Scion XB $15650 Max tow(unbraked): not rec'd lbs, 22/28 annual fuel: $2305, 5 year total: $27175
Prius $21500 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 48/45 annual fuel: $1177, 5 year total: $27385
Ranger 2wd 4cyl auto $14330 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 19/24 annual fuel: $2677, 5 year total: $27715
HHR $16730 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 22/30 annual fuel: $2243, 5 year total: $27945
Tacoma 2wd 4cyl auto $14965 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 19/25 annual fuel: $2634, 5 year total: $28135
PT Cruiser $15955 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 21/26 annual fuel: $2441, 5 year total: $28160
Camry 4cyl $18570 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 21/31 annual fuel: $2273, 5 year total: $29935
Element $18980 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 20/25 annual fuel: $2553, 5 year total: $31745
Jetta TDI $23000 Max tow(unbraked): 1560 lbs, 30/43 annual fuel: $1899, 5 year total: $32495
Silverado 2wd 6cyl auto $18515 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 15/20 annual fuel: $3320, 5 year total: $35115
Fusion Hybrid $28000 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 33/34 annual fuel: $1660, 5 year total: $36300
Fusion $25000 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 20/28 annual fuel: $2441, 5 year total: $37205
Forester $25000 Max tow(unbraked): 2400 lbs, 20/26 annual fuel: $2515, 5 year total: $37575
Forester Diesel $28000 Max tow(unbraked): 2400 lbs, 26/33.8 annual fuel: $2279, 5 year total: $39395
Honda Odyssey $25860 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 16/23 annual fuel: $3018, 5 year total: $40950
Volt $40000 Max tow(unbraked): ? lbs, 150/150 annual fuel: $368, 5 year total: $41840

Mike...

[H@nk]

What about the Smart and the Volks Wagen Fox? New Beatle?
I think, and its not only my meaning, common-rail technics are the most economicals at this moment. This in combination with 5 or even 6 gearbox manual.
Most of the European builds are availeble in diesel. Also some convertebles like Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot, Mercedes, Audi and Opel (GM)

[NWsage]

Prius $21500 Max tow(unbraked): 1000 lbs, 48/45 annual fuel: $1177, 5 year total: $27385

I just noticed that you have a Prius on you list. I have an '04, but didn't think you could tow anything with it. Is there anyone here towing a td with a Prius?

Suanne

[mikeschn]

Check this out...
http://tnttt.com/viewto ... =tow+prius

Mike...

[2bits]

I am surprized that the ultimate Teardrop towing vehicle (visually speaking), a PT Cruiser is not on the list. I looked them up today as I was considering trading my daily driver 86 Jimmy up to one, and I was disappointed to see that it got 17mpg/24mpg with an auto trans, and a penny more with a manual... I would think it would do better being a light 4cyl car.

I was looking at the TX "Vehicle replacement program" from the dept of Transportation site where they will give you up to a $3500 voucher for your old car if you buy a new one up to three years old. They have a sheet that compiles all the eligible of models and their mileage, seems like everything is one there (Including Ferrari's and Aston Martin's lol). Here is the link maybe it will be of help:

Scroll to the bottom of the page and the links with the year model cars will bring up 40pg PDF docs!
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/mobilesource/vim/driveclean.html

I don't suppose you have a 1971 Chevy Truck with a 250 block, 292 head and a 400 tranny listed do ya?

[angib]

Max braked tow capacity:
with 1.4L Duratec & 5 speed manual: 900 kg (1980 lbs)
with 1.4L Duratorq & 5 speed manual: 750 kg (1650 lbs)

But those are European tow ratings and they are much higher than the same vehicle gets in the US.

For example, the Focus here is rated up to 1500kg for a braked trailer - that's 3300 pounds and I bet Ford US wouldn't let you tow that with a Focus!

Andrew

[nikwax]

Hi Mike,


I can see the rationale for your numbers (purchase price + fuel costs = total) but I think if you're going to include the purchase cost then you would want to include the residual value of the vehicle to get a more complete picture, for example:

Corolla $17550 .......fuel $1908, value after 5 years $12115, 5 year total: $15,435



on the other hand, this gets tedious rather quickly ;-)

[mikeschn]

Nikwax,

I couldn't agree with you more. My biggest problem is getting the actual numbers to plug into the spreadsheet.

Fuel Economy numbers are not too hard to find. I go to the gov website for epa ratings.

Starting prices are not too hard to find. A search usually takes me to a manufacturers website with the number I am seeking.

But once you start talking about trade in values 5 years down the road, I have no clue where to find such a number. Same thing with scheduled maintenance, repairs, etc. Now I know someone publishes a true cost of owning a vehicle... (was it Edmunds.com or cars.com?) But in the interest of keeping things simple, I just used the base level suggested retail price and the published EPA figures.

It gets you pointed in the right direction I hope. Further analysis has to be done on your own.

Mike...

P.S. Thomas, I've added the Smart, PT Cruiser and the HHR. Anything else I should add?

[DougH]

How about the Honda Element? I've got an SC which lists at $$22,775 but the regular 2wd Element starts at $18,980. MPG rating on both 2wd is 20/25 with an auto tranny. Just returned from a 4th of July camping trip and got 20.5 towing. Resale value will be pretty good as its a Honda.

[mikeschn]

Okay, I added the Element!

Mike...

How about the Honda Element? I've got an SC which lists at $$22,775 but the regular 2wd Element starts at $18,980. MPG rating on both 2wd is 20/25 with an auto tranny. Just returned from a 4th of July camping trip and got 20.5 towing. Resale value will be pretty good as its a Honda.

[angib]

I would be surprised if resale values aren't much more important than fuel economy - I appreciate the US market is quite different from the Yurpeen one, but here the big differences in depreciation between makes outweigh the effect of fuel economy.

Of course, fuel cost feels significant because you buy fuel so often whereas depreciation only hurts once every few years (or decades!).

Andrew

[DougH]

The Element has a 1500lb tow rating