VW Passat Estate

VW customer services have chosen not to do me the courtesy of a reply to my question about clearance between the factory fitted towball and the bumper on the 2018 Alltrack. Even a "no idea" would at least be an honest answer.

I am therefore choosing to infer that the car indeed has insufficient clearance  and VW do not want to admit it. Or, perhaps they are simply uninterested in an individual sale/customer. It is (literally) their loss.

Anyway, they have lost an imminent order and a £35K sale but who cares? Not VW it seems.

Thanks again to those who tried to help. It is appreciated.

I understand your frustration but to be honest I am not sure an email to any car manufacturer would elicit a response. Personally I would phone. However given the number of towing reviews on the internet for the current Alltrack and I believe it was a past tow car of the year I cannot believe there would be a problem. If you are ordering from new simply make sure the contract order is clearly worded. 

I've emailed both Kia & Jeep direct asking about their auto boxes  ie proper or not and had a positive reply.

 Just had a reply from 'vw customer services.

They say the clearance is "at least 65mm".

Good job I have been like a dog with a bone over this, Alko require at least 68mm. Don't buy an Alltrack 2018 if you want to tow a caravan with the factory fitted towbar!

get the disco sport it tows like a dream and much better fuel consumption than a freelander

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I am wondering what you don't like about the Disco Sport. We changed from a Freelander 2 to a Disco Sport over 2 years ago and find it a superior tow car, more economic, with more boot capacity and generally more luxurious. Have you driven one

Fysherman, something doesnt add up about the information you are using. i have checked my Alltrack and the clearance between the bumper and towball is 55mm and there is still room to play with the Alko so at 65mm you have ample clearance. I think the measurement you are using is from the bumper to the centre of the towball which on mine is 80mm.  My Alltrack is the second VAG car i have had with a factory tow bar and both had sufficient clearance. HOWEVER neither came wired for a UK caravan (fridge/battery charging).

Fysherman - maybe a bit late on this thread but i can relate exactly to your dilemma and my story goes as this... Audi's factory fit detachable swan neck is a Westfalia bar which doesn't give enough clearance off the rear bumper of the A4 S-Line models for the Alko hitch period. I know this having had one factory-fitted by Audi. This was subsequently changed for a detachable swan neck from Tow-Trust that had a longer reach. All electrics etc were installed by Audi so could all be coded... Moral of the story is that although all tow bars (factory or retro-fit) will be to EU standards & regulations - there is no such legislation that they have to be compatible with Stabilisers like the Alko hitch.

Thanks for the replies

I dismissed the disco sport because I want a factory fitted towbar and a full size spare wheel. Not possible on the 7 seater! Dealer still looking into the 5 seater. ( 3 months now. Useless and expensive dealer I am afraid. Won't be darkening their doors ever again. Shame as the DS was nice to drive but needs an update in some areas.

Agree flatcoat. Seems bonkers but I was very careful to put my request in accurately an the answer came back from VW customer services "at least 65mm". Thats just not enough but I would still like to measure one myself as I am shocked by this.

Perhaps I should not be shocked given your experience with Audi.

Car dealers have no idea and even asking the right questions to the customer service departments is getting no where fast.

Why is the caravan club not all over this problem? Not interested in tow car of the year as I can work that out for myself but I do want know if the car can tow with the factory towing kit.

Too much to ask?