Xc60

TomKat · 17 January 2013, 22:13

Thinking about buying one, does anyone run one? Especially interested to see if anyone has experience of slips using the 2WD one as much cheaper for me due to company car tax. Had convinced myself that 2WD would be fine but now dithering.

Budget is £30k and must be new.

2nd option would be Freelander 2 then A6 or 520d. Any other suggetions?

mister p · 17 January 2013, 22:26

Get the Freelander 2. No contest. Your plan "B" is better than plan "A".

Gilles · 17 January 2013, 22:30

i would prefer a 4WD always better on slipway, maybe you aren t no obliged to buy 13 loudspeaker system etc ....

mister p · 17 January 2013, 22:39

The F2 is seriously good...........you won't be disappointed, the spec is far higher than Volvo and it's a properly capable machine. Seriously well developed as well. The Volvo is a pretender by comparison. Good on the road but not as good as the F2. The F2 is a machine that won't disappoint you, on or off road. As with anything though, get the tyre choice sorted with a slight hint of multi tasking, nothing heavy just an all terrain with road bias and you'll be fine.

mick · 17 January 2013, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

The F2 is seriously good...........you won't be disappointed, the spec is far higher than Volvo and it's a properly capable machine. Seriously well developed as well. The Volvo is a pretender by comparison. Good on the road but not as good as the F2. The F2 is a machine that won't disappoint you, on or off road. As with anything though, get the tyre choice sorted with a slight hint of multi tasking, nothing heavy just an all terrain with road bias and you'll be fine.

I will have to frame this post mister p recommending a Land Rover although I will say the F2 has some good torque and will tow 2000 kg

ppenman · 17 January 2013, 23:14

What about the vw tiguan? Not quite as good off road but in my humble opinion (and those of the few LR2 owners I know) a lot quieter and more comfortable on road. Depending on spec but the manufacturer max towing limits are 2000kg for the LR against 2200-2500kg for most of the tiguan range.

TomKat · 18 January 2013, 09:32

Cheers Chaps, have organised an extended test drive for next weekend with the F2. I really liked it but wonder if its just slightly too small but the GS spec has most of what I would need and the list price is OK.

If we get a snowy weekend it may colour my choices!

mister p · 18 January 2013, 16:09

If we get a snowy weekend?
Fair enough, may have passed you already.
BTW, LR are loading the Freelanders with free kit now. Take advantage.

TomKat · 18 January 2013, 19:24

Has hit here now! Looking forward to trying out the winter tyres on the Legacy!

T 15 · 18 January 2013, 19:37

Been using winter tyres for the last 3 years on a 3 touring....found them great, in Dec 2010 my car was the only car that did not require help to get in & out of our development up or down hill, but must be good ones. But I am sure someone will differ.

Into The Blue · 18 January 2013, 19:42

Got winter tyres on the 5 series, been a bit sceptical until today, bloody awesome. Grip where it just wasn't there last time it snowed. I'm a convert

T 15 · 18 January 2013, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Into The Blue

Got winter tyres on the 5 series, been a bit sceptical until today, bloody awesome. Grip where it just wasn't there last time it snowed. I'm a convert

Plus 1.....Christmas 2010 we booked into a hotel for Christmas and we would not have got to the hotel without winter tyres or away, think I am correct to say that when tyre thread is below 3mm they lose some "grip" in snow ???? But when new the thread is very deep and in snow they hold the snow on/in the tyre & thats what provides the grip in snow.

TomKat · 18 January 2013, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by T 15

Been using winter tyres for the last 3 years on a 3 touring....found them great, in Dec 2010 my car was the only car that did not require help to get in & out of our development up or down hill, but must be good ones. But I am sure someone will differ.

That's great to know if I go down the 520d route!

mister p · 18 January 2013, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

I will have to frame this post mister p recommending a Land Rover although I will say the F2 has some good torque and will tow 2000 kg

I'm flattered, however I speak from experience as have owned an F2 for four years and have an F1 3 door TD4 also. Those engines are BMW btw. I also have a Safari S111 V8. Still entitled to an opinion though, no?????

Into The Blue · 18 January 2013, 22:43

I use a 520d to tow a 7mtr RIB. So far I've not had any issues towing, launching or recovering. Tyres do make a difference especially given it's rear wheel drive.
It's not a patch on the Discovery 2 I had before for towing but I have to live in the real world of 20k miles per year and maybe a dozen days out on the RIB.
Every car choice is a compromise and I chose road bias with the right tyres and a healthy respect for slipways and the physics of a tonne or more of trailer. However i only have to tow 3 miles to the slip. But the 5 series is the best driving car I've ever had.

mister p · 18 January 2013, 23:14

BTW I've just done a shoot with a tyre manufacturer whose name begins with D and we've been using their new winter tyres called something like a colour beginning with B and the sky is sometimes this colour and the rest of the name is what you get if somebody answers your 'phone call, begins with R and is sometimes associated with "armed".
It's like being glued to the road........forget snow on the tarmac, just drive like it wasn't there........with caution though. They really are that good, hill starts, emergency stops.......astonishing. And that was in Chamonix after driving on normal tyres for a day.
Proper winter tyres really make a difference.
Get some steels and fit winters on and do the tyre thing a la europe.

Searider · 19 January 2013, 10:17

What are you towing and what's your slipway like?

If its a light boat and a well maintained slip FWD should be ok.

Used to tow my 4m with a 205 no problems.

Friend of mine has BMW 525d for towing a 6.5m - no problems on a steep but very clean concrete slip.

I chose an XC70 for my 6.5m and muddy slipway.

Duncan

TomKat · 19 January 2013, 10:39

My slips are pretty good, only once did the AWD in the legacy come in handy and that was with a mates 6m humber. Even then a rope would have likely worked.

My boat is a humble 4.8m one so in reality anything would tow it. Swinging back to the 520d touring after reading the comment above! Like the F2 and the XC60 but the company tax is wild!

macattack101 · 21 January 2013, 11:23

I have used a 520 touring for 3 years with a 620 rib no problems apart from climbing up the steep hills through glencoe heading north where it smelt hot when I stopped. I will be going back to a discovery for the 7 seats but the BMW has been the best driving car I've had. I even have found it ok in the snow.

mick · 21 January 2013, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by T 15

Been using winter tyres for the last 3 years on a 3 touring....found them great, in Dec 2010 my car was the only car that did not require help to get in & out of our development up or down hill, but must be good ones. But I am sure someone will differ.

Well known fact that winter tyres are the dogs danglies should be made compulsory like some places in Europe
I always had a full set on when I had a 2 wheel drive and if it was rear wheel drive I would stick some weight in the back as well