stanmo

iTrader: (1)

Had to get rid of my wife's RAV4, which started to fall to bits after 3 years; c/locking was acting up, alarm never worked properly, loads of punctures, needed new pads, 4 new tyres, etc, etc (plus it got acquainted with a low wall).

We wanted a largish family car for the little monsters, plus dog, and heavy enough to tow a caravan (not my idea....). We got the choice down to a 9-5 Estate Aero or v6 3.0 TID (Isuzu TD lump) or the Legacy H6, which I personally didn't favour due to the auto box.

My wife eventually settled for the Legacy, due to comfier seats, better visibility, good trade in for the Toymota and dislike of diesels (none of the things that I particularly consider important).

After having to drive it myself, it's not as bad as I expected.
It isn't a patch on my MY99 Impreza, but it does build up speed deceptively, and feels like a big comfy cruiser. Down a favourite road, it piched and rolled like a barge, but still pulled away from the Primera 2.0 GT that was chasing (I had just dropped the caravan off for a service) much to the annoyance of the little blond driver who then appeared to be trying to get into my boot for the remainder of my journey. Hustling it down a twisty single lane A road, the vehicle damping control frequently cut in to tell me I was skidding (can be switched off), but I was doing 80-85ish, similar to what my MY99 was capable of (uphill).

Towing compared to the Toymota is almost tolerable. It can still accelerate like a 1.0 micra with a 1200kg trailer on the back, and once up to 60, can terrorise the 1.3 Escorts that HAVE to overtake, pull in front of you, then slow down.

The silly thing about it is the fuel consumption. The in-laws have a 2.5 Outback, and get similar figures. On a mixture of A roads and town driving, the H6 got 27mpg, I get 24-25mpg with my Impreza on a long, congested run. This probably won't help residuals, as everyone will consider it a depreciation disaster, being such a 'large' engine, but for now, it's not bad family transport, preferable to the 'lifestyle' pseudo off roaders like the freelanders due to the power and handling, and more reliable than the discoveries and range rovers. Plus not so many locals curse and swear at you for dropping of a child in a huge 4X4 that has never even driven on a grass verge, let alone through mud and fields.

bob

Just got rid of my H6. I have a dog gaurd for it,if you want it.

Toerag

Wasn't the H6 the caravan club towcar of the year this or last year? Also, a colleague of mine has a SWB trooper with the 3 litre turbo diesel for towing his van and reckons it's brilliant.

stanmo

iTrader: (1)

No idea what car the clubs prefer, as I tend to distance myself from the true enthusiasts; though I read a review of the new shape UK WRX and they complained that not one of their testers could fit in the front seats properly ...

All I know is that you need adequate weight (there's some rule about the caravan not weighing more than 85% of the kerbwt of the car), and rear / four wheel drive is preferable to front because you can lose traction if the van pitches forward, pushes the bar down, tending to lift the front wheels. And as much low down torque as possible would help, I'd imagine.

At the risk of sounding like a FHI fanboy, the in-laws had a 2.8 diesel trooper, before their outback, and that towed very well too.
Certainly the 3.0TD Citation I had a go in as a courtesy car was quite nippy once it got moving, though it couldn't corner very well.

Judging from what I see at campsites, there's quite a range of cars, Nissan Terranos are common, lots of vectras, diesel peugeots, volvos and the odd merc or BM (spit ). Very few troopers and outbacks; possibly due to IM marketing. No underpowered 'lifestyle' 4X4s like freelanders or CRVs, either.

RichieB

Two issues Stanmo

- comfier seats than a Saab ? Surely not !!

- performance of the Saab is in a different league ! a 9-5 Aero on the move is a SERIOUS performer

Don't get me wrong, I understand why you went for the H6....

Cheers, Rich

stanmo

iTrader: (1)

Comfier seats, wrt the headrest in the Aero not suiting my wife. The Aero would have been her choice, if it were available in Arc trim (which has slightly different seats), only vector as it happens. This was more important to my other half than decent performance.

The 3.0TID would have been fine, as that did have Arc trim, but had disappointing initial acceleration from standstill, plus it was slightly more expensive to run on pcp than the outback.


[Edited by stanmo - 7/22/2002 11:37:45 AM]