Need new utility type vehicle

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by Google

2013 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid Review - Review | Hybrid Cars
2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid [HCTITLE] [HCDATE] The Volkswagen Touareg ... The powertrain has the added bonus of a 7,700-pound towing capacity.

How far are you towing? Across town or interstate? I once pulled a dead 1951 Ford pickup with a canopy stuffed with junk, on a rope, from a dead stop, up and over a freeway overpass and across town. The only problem I had was at a traffic light where I found myself next to a hot Mustang coupe. I forgot I had the pickup behind me and snapped the rope. In a 1961 VW panel van.

They go for $12-15K and up restored. With a 1-ton rear axle they can carry their own weight. Your wife would love you for it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

A clean-Diesel Touareg is better than a hybrid one.

[user removed]

Nissan warrantees their CVTs for 120k miles. The Murano with a 250 HP V6 is rated to tow 3500 pounds, at least our 06 was rated for that weight. Not trying to really influence your decision but some of the hype about CVTs seems unwarranted, at least to me and CVTs are fairly simple compared to regular autos, but there are shops that can fix either as long as the parts can be purchased separately. Also, many manufacturers will offer or be offering remans in the near future, if they are not already doing so.

regards
Mech

[TheEnemy]

Thanks for all of the responses.

Euro: I use it quite a bit myself, like I said we live in a pretty rural community which means that many things we might need we have to go get. Yes keeping the truck and getting something more efficient is on the table as well.

Freebeard: Freeway, if it was just arround town I could just use Ugly.

Toureg starts at $42k for the TDI, or $62 for the hybrid, thats a bit pricy.

[Frank Lee]

Friends don't let friends buy new VWs.

[freebeard]

I was just pointing to Google's first result as a talking point. I should have high-lighted the towing weight in blue—like:

The powertrain has the added bonus of a 7,700-pound towing capacity.

I'm skeptical of the Toureg because a replacement key costs like $300.

If you think outside that tiny little box of years, you could have a Vanagon with a Subaru engine and a Porsche 901 transaxle with a transmission cooler in the front bumper. Or 4-wheel drive.

Think of the look on your wife's face when you brought *that* home.

[TheEnemy]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I was just pointing to Google's first result as a talking point. I should have high-lighted the towing weight in blue—like:


I'm skeptical of the Toureg because a replacement key costs like $300.

If you think outside that tiny little box of years, you could have a Vanagon with a Subaru engine and a Porsche 901 transaxle with a transmission cooler in the front bumper. Or 4-wheel drive.

Think of the look on your wife's face when you brought *that* home.

She would shake her head and roll her eyes

Thinking in that sort of box though,
I would import a smallish @150-200 hp turbo diesel, then build it up.
take 2 compact to midsized pickups, one with the long bed, and one with the quad cab. Chop the frames and weld the two sections I wanted together.

Strip it down to the frame and go over every joint and section and improve it stronger than stock.

Stick a custom Dana44 under the rear with an air bag helper.
Geared so that the final drive will have the engine turning at approx 2000
rpm at 75mph.

Rear disk brakes, upgraded front brakes.

Beef up the front suspenssion (for the heavier engine).

Take it to a friends brother to have the interior done up nice (to make wife happy)

Mate a nv3500 or equivalant manual transmission, or find another nv4500 (granny first, 26% od)

I should be able to haul 2000lbs+ cargo, and tow well over 5000lbs while still getting low to mid 20's in town, and high 20's to low 30's on the highway (unloaded)

However the time and work required are way up there.

Edit to add: Any new electronic security key will cost that much

[freebeard]

She would shake her head and roll her eyes

It would be worth it just for that, right?

Thinking in that sort of box though, I would import a smallish @150-200 hp turbo diesel, then build it up.
take 2 compact to midsized pickups, one with the long bed, and one with the quad cab. Chop the frames and weld the two sections I wanted together.

Strip it down to the frame and go over every joint and section and improve it stronger than stock...However the time and work required are way up there.

The best plans start with the drive-train, build the chassis around it and add body as necessary. It's the long way around the barn, though.

Edit to add: Any new electronic security key will cost that much

Sometimes the old ways are the best.

Hydraulic dump stake bed.

[chrisgerman1983]

If you are wanting a car that can tow, The new magnums have a surprising towing capacity. Almost 4000lbs! Or a caravan if you need bigger. They both have the same max. towing capacity.

[TheEnemy]

It looks like the magnum has been discontinued, the only one htat meets the towing is the Durango and it falls short on the FE.

Thanks for the thought though.