looking for a used tow vehicle

TomC

TomC

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Hey folks,

I'm looking for a new tow vehicle and winter beater, preferably a suv or wagon of some sort. My budget is 5k and under, seems like there is serious $ depreciation with cars like the nissan murano and the hyundai santa fe, any issues with them?

Not interested in trucks, I dont tow anything other than the bike so I don't feel its very worthwhile.

Other comments or suggestions are welcome.
 
For just a bike almost any car will do. I say imprezza wagon. The awd will come in handy in the winter.
 
We barely get enough snow to need awd anymore. I drove a solstice gxp modified to 472whp that was about 3.25 inches off the ground through the winter. I never had an issue. Most streets are plowed before anyone goes anywhere nowadays.
 
Careful with Subarus in the 4-5K range. Alot of them have headgasket issues that can get very costly. There is a reason why the value drops significantly from 1999 - 2003. That being said, I have an 03 forester that serves well as a tow vehicle. My main complaint is the road noise caused by the frameless windows.

Although not exciting, a rust free Honda CRV would be a good chocie.
 
yes i currently tow with my camry, but im also looking for something that can handle snowboard trips, so spacious interior would be nice...4wd would be handy but I can live without.
 
Dodge minivan.

Bike goes in the back, can use the van to sleep in.

Less hassle than using and storing a trailer.
 
Jayv said:
Dodge minivan.

Bike goes in the back, can use the van to sleep in.

Less hassle than using and storing a trailer.
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Second this!
 
cant do the minivan thing...its just over kill for my winter activities.
 
TomC said:
Hey folks,

I'm looking for a new tow vehicle and winter beater, preferably a suv or wagon of some sort. My budget is 5k and under, seems like there is serious $ depreciation with cars like the nissan murano and the hyundai santa fe, any issues with them?

Not interested in trucks, I dont tow anything other than the bike so I don't feel its very worthwhile.

Other comments or suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...
The Santa fe (older than 2013) has depreciated because it was completely re-designed for 2013. Hyundai has improved greatly over the past few years

2012
2011_hyundai_santa_fe.jpg


2013

2013-hyundai-santa-fe-front-2-450x337.jpg
 
daisoman said:
Plus it's a minivan.
Click to expand...

Its a lot cooler looking when there is a bike in the back of it. Last year I didn't even unload the van between race rounds. The added interior smell is a bonus.

Functional that's all that counts for anything with four wheels
 
Jayv said:
Its a lot cooler looking when there is a bike in the back of it. Last year I didn't even unload the van between race rounds. The added interior smell is a bonus.

Functional that's all that counts for anything with four wheels
Click to expand...

I put my CBR in the back of my brother's 09 Caravan, it would not have fit with the fairings on.
I also found there's really no room for much else. (gear, cooler, etc.)
I ended up using a Nissan Pathfinder and rented a U-haul trailer.

Back on topic, the Muranos have transmission issues, the Santa Fes are honestly as good as their Japanese competitors.
I would look for a Santa Fe before a Murano any day, I would also consider the Honda CRV and finally the GMC Envoy.
 
Mina said:
I put my CBR in the back of my brother's 09 Caravan, it would not have fit with the fairings on.
I also found there's really no room for much else. (gear, cooler, etc.)
I ended up using a Nissan Pathfinder and rented a U-haul trailer.

Back on topic, the Muranos have transmission issues, the Santa Fes are honestly as good as their Japanese competitors.
I would look for a Santa Fe before a Murano any day, I would also consider the Honda CRV and finally the GMC Envoy.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.
 
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Mina said:
I put my CBR in the back of my brother's 09 Caravan, it would not have fit with the fairings on.
I also found there's really no room for much else. (gear, cooler, etc.)
I ended up using a Nissan Pathfinder and rented a U-haul trailer.

Back on topic, the Muranos have transmission issues, the Santa Fes are honestly as good as their Japanese competitors.
I would look for a Santa Fe before a Murano any day, I would also consider the Honda CRV and finally the GMC Envoy.
Click to expand...

Very strange I would have thought the new ones would be more spacious. I can bring everything I need for a race weekend with an 01-07 generation.

I don't understand why you woukd have to remove the fairings?? Windshield maybe.
 
TomC said:
Thanks for the input, with respect to 2004-06, what do you also think about the subaru forrester, outback, rav4, and crv, any other competitors of worthy note?
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The thing with the CR-Vs and RAV4s, is that they're over priced. Yes, they're built extremely well, but you pay a premium for that. So your budget of $5K will be stretched to $6-8K if you're looking for an 04-06 models.

If you're willing to spend that much, I would look at the Nissan X-Trail, great little truck and unlike it's competitors, you have the option to choose between 2WD and 4WD. I was driving an 05 stick shift and I was getting ~10k/L. Even though the CRV has a similar size motor, it's AWD system really kills the gas consumption.

The Subarus are great cars, I would go for the Outback over the Forester, mainly due to styling. However, they do have headgasket issues as mentioned earlier in the thread.

You take a risk with whatever you buy, there isn't a single car that is problem-free.
 
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Jayv said:
Very strange I would have thought the new ones would be more spacious. I can bring everything I need for a race weekend with an 01-07 generation.

I don't understand why you woukd have to remove the fairings?? Windshield maybe.
Click to expand...

Well, to be honest, the fairings were off the bike anyway. I just mentally pictured how much space it would take when the bike is fully assembled and it didn't look like there was much room for everything else.
 
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