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We currently own a 17 year old Mitsubishi RVR that has travelled 230,000km's which is still reliable and has plenty of power.

A recent purchase has been an ancient 12 foot ply caravan which is easily towed by the RVR. Due to the car starting to use oil and the lack of ground clearance, we may look for a replacement, probably diesel, manual transmission and with the same economy as we have now.

Any ideas?

Tony

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 30 September 2009

A number of vehicles will tow a 12 foot caravan but you may have to consider additional gear you may want to carry to your favourite camping spots. Bikes, barbecues, golf clubs and outdoor furniture can all add extra weight and not everything will fit into the caravan.

If you want a diesel I would strongly advise against an old, high mileage vehicle unless you see evidence of a proven service history. Diesels are fantastic for towing and the fuel is cheap but running costs can be double that of petrol if something major was to go wrong. Even normal servicing can cost a lot more than an equivalent petrol vehicle.

As a total curve ball I would encourage you to have a look at the previous model Ford Falcon. It will tow the caravan with ease and they are reasonably economical if driven carefully. Rear wheel drive is another advantage. These cars have suffered significant depreciation from new and some great buying can be had if you shop around. Auto will be your only option however. It would also be a very comfortable car to drive when not towing.

If you want a manual and good ground clearance I suggest the following ; Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV, Suzuki Vitara, Hyundai Tucson (2.7litre), Mazda Tribute or Ford Escape. All are small SUV's and have the luxury of on demand 4WD (possibly not the case if you are looking at imports) and can absorb a reasonable amount of gear. Manuals will be hard to find as the automatics have been the most popular seller by far.

If your heart is set on a diesel then consider a Hyundai Tucson 2.0 litre.

What is available to you, will depend very much on your budget.