The demise of the tow car?

mdr replied on 13/12/2016 10:30

mdr

Posted on 13/12/2016 10:30

The PCP on my car is shortly coming to an end, and I was wondering whether to swallow the pill and pay the balloon payment or change it for another one. Looking around and reading the news I saw that our humble hobby is in danger of becoming a thing of the past due to the changes that are occurring at the moment, for example:

1. Germany and Norway have set a date to ban the sale of Fossil fuelled cars, in the not too distant future. The Netherlands are on the verge of doing the same.

2. France is bringing in an act that everyone must show a clean vehicle sticker and that anyone without it will be prevented from entering the cities.

3. London and Manchester are talking about pollution levels, and looking at banning diesels. And how long will it be before the UK follows the EU and sets a date to ban the sale of fossil fuelled cars?

4. Traditional big cars like the LR Discovery are shedding 1/2 a ton to be more fuel efficient, making finding a tow car for the 2 tonne vans more of a challenge.

5. Electric cars have a minimum range (some up to 200miles), I bet that this decreases significantly if you stick a caravan on the back. Then imaging trying to charge your car at Motorway services with a caravan hooked up!

So where does that leave us and our hobby? Will we still be able to buy a tow car in 5 years? If we have a diesel car will we be able to use it to tour around once we have parked up our caravan?

So what does the future hold for us? Any thoughts?

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45 replies

Lutz replied on 20/12/2016 21:59

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 20/12/2016 16:33 by SteveL

Not sure where you got that I had an obsession with changing gears from my post. It is just, in my opinion, the high torque, at relatively low revs, makes a diesel much more efficient for tackling gradients than most petrol cars of the same engine size / horse power. This is particularly the case if you ever need to come to a halt on a gradient.

Posted on 20/12/2016 21:59

I'm not quite sure how efficiency comes into it and indeed what sort of efficiency is meant. The days when only diesels had flat power curves which allow lazy gear changes at low rpm are long gone.

madhouse4 replied on 20/12/2016 23:00

Member

madhouse4

Caravanner

Posted on 20/12/2016 23:00

the lexus rx300 used to be a fantastic tow car, admittingly i never towed a caravan but plenty of car trailers with cars on there back, it pulled fantastically proves you don't need a diesel, but i must admit if i'm driving a manual, i do prefer a big engined diesel

geoffeales replied on 05/02/2017 15:36

Member

geoffeales

Caravanner

Posted on 05/02/2017 15:36

Looking for our next tug and her indoors is very concerned about the effects of diesels on health etc. A quick search on Auto Trader for a petrol alternative that would match the power/torque of say a 2.0 diesel with anything like the same mpg is frightening. I think the whole industry would have to make sea changes to catch up with demand as I reckon diesels currently outnumber petrols by about 4/1. Besides, particulate filters have been compulsory since 2009 and I notice Peugeot now claim that their 5008 filters 99.9% of all the soot - that's quite a claim. Surely the future for the good old oil burner isn't numbered quite yet?

flatcoat replied on 05/02/2017 18:01

Member

flatcoat

Caravanner from West Yorkshire

Posted on 05/02/2017 18:01

I think your OH should be more concerned about the increase in pollution from so called environmentally Wood burning stoves which is leading to the rise in particulates. But why let the truth get in the way of clobbering the motorist again?

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JCB4X4 replied on 24/02/2017 23:49

Member

JCB4X4

Posted on 05/02/2017 18:01 by flatcoat

I think your OH should be more concerned about the increase in pollution from so called environmentally Wood burning stoves which is leading to the rise in particulates. But why let the truth get in the way of clobbering the motorist again?

Posted on 24/02/2017 23:49

Excellent point flatcoat and one that I find myself entirely agreeing with. We live in a 'Smokeless Zone' in a 'Conservation Area' but if you open a door or a window in the evening at this time of year, you would think you were living in Native American village back in the days of the Old West.

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G Cherokee replied on 25/02/2017 00:06

G Cherokee

Caravanner from West Midlands

Posted on 25/02/2017 00:06

Well I guess if the tow car vanishes, we'll all have to drive hybrid motorhomes! 😂😂😂😂

IanH replied on 25/02/2017 08:02

Member

IanH

Posted on 25/02/2017 08:02

Chris Grayling (Transport Sectary) put out a comment today that people should think long and hard before buying a diesel car.

Is this the first warning shot across the bows that they are going to be taxed out of existence?

David2115 replied on 25/02/2017 08:37

Member

David2115

Caravanner from West Yorkshire

Posted on 25/02/2017 08:02 by IanH

Chris Grayling (Transport Sectary) put out a comment today that people should think long and hard before buying a diesel car.

Is this the first warning shot across the bows that they are going to be taxed out of existence?

Posted on 25/02/2017 08:37

It's sounding that way to me Ian. I currently have a ssangyong Rexton. Currently £500 a year tax. I won't want to pay anymore so will have to look for alternatives.

dmiller555 replied on 25/02/2017 09:37

Member

dmiller555

Caravanner from Northamptonshire

Posted on 25/02/2017 08:02 by IanH

Chris Grayling (Transport Sectary) put out a comment today that people should think long and hard before buying a diesel car.

Is this the first warning shot across the bows that they are going to be taxed out of existence?

Posted on 25/02/2017 09:37

It may well be but according to the stirring article in the Daily Hate today this is his personal view according to 10 downing Street, and not government policy; but then what do they know.

Given the amount of money this country has invested in diesel engines I can't see anything happening soon. They have to get rid of the wood burners first it seems.