new tow car ideas?

[ebv8]

I found an ok 2012 SZ rwd TX, i wasn't really interested in a TX but its not white and i kind of like the colour (Havana)
its got higher km's at 240,000 and has service history and a bunch of new suspension parts, still had a clunk in the rear though, diff bushes looked ok and he said at last pink slip they said it needs control blades
anyway its $6000...
i'm pretty keen but anything i should be worried about (ZF lifespan maybe)

out of my current 3 cars they are all off the road so i'm borrowing an old ford focus
Adventra is out for a few more weeks getting a new trans
GT rear wheel bearing failed and should be back together this weekend
HX holden exhaust fell off and waiting on parts

[Citroënbender]

You’re nearly bad as me. I’ve got three regos that need repairs; a trans, a clutch, a crash. I look at them and think “There’s $6K in rego/insurance, just going stale”.

European wisdom on the ZF says over 160K is a bonus.

[ebv8]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

You’re nearly bad as me. I’ve got three regos that need repairs; a trans, a clutch, a crash. I look at them and think “There’s $6K in rego/insurance, just going stale”.

European wisdom on the ZF says over 160K is a bonus.

If i get a territory i'll let the rego lapse on the GT and i'll sell the HX, the HX is on club rego so cheap enough but its still a money pit and i could get $20k for it.
I was daily driving the GT and now its got a damaged front bumper and a scrape down the side skirt, and a tiny bubble of rust in the boot... i need to get onto those repairs and park it up as soon as.

and a cheap SZ i can park anywhere and not worry about it.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by ebv8

I'm between cars right now after selling my 2008 SY AWD ghia
that was a POS but it was cheap and did the job

The wife has a 2005 VZ LX8 adventra, tows great but have just killed the auto again luckily under warranty so not looking forward to using this as a tow car again. Once I get it back its going to be for school runs only.

Then I have a BA GT manual and HX holden 202 auto and both are no good for towing and not great for daily driving.

I need to tow my AU racecar which is 1400kg, plus parts/fuel 200kg and trailer is about 500kg so about 2100kg max.

whatever car i get will be a daily (well a few times a week to the office about a 20km round trip) and to the shops and kids sport and so on.

I don't like dual cab utes, I want more ground clearance than a falcon, rwd or 4x4 (no awd) and no diesels and i guess would have to be auto to tow.

The only car I can think of is another Territory, maybe an SZ RWD petrol.

What other cars am I missing that would fill the hole that's around $10-15k?

I would have a good look at that HX Holden you have and put a 350 in it and a old 3sp T400 auto behind it with say around a 3.36 ratio diff all for around that price ?

Why are you destroying the Auto's in the 2005 Commodore ? You should have a good auto transmission cooler on it and do not tow such weight in drive use 3rd gear only on the highway or you will flog the auto out.

[ebv8]

I passed on that territory, i didn't need another project car and a territory with 240,000km would be a project.

[ebv8]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

I would have a good look at that HX Holden you have and put a 350 in it and a old 3sp T400 auto behind it with say around a 3.36 ratio diff all for around that price ?

Why are you destroying the Auto's in the 2005 Commodore ? You should have a good auto transmission cooler on it and do not tow such weight in drive use 3rd gear only on the highway or you will flog the auto out.

my brother is building a 500hp 355 holden motor, he offered me that for cost of parts only, but i'll need a T400 and converter ($5000), 9in diff ($4000), exhaust ($3000) mounts, radiator, so-on ($2000) thats almost $15k plus the cost of the motor for something i'll use once every weekend or so.
i can't afford to keep that running and the BA GT is my weekender that i love and will never give up plus i have a bike...and a boat so the kingswood must go

also no idea why the trans went, it lost fluid 5000km after its build and they topped up and said that was strange, now the pump has gone and he blamed low fluid, so no idea why it went but i guess they did something wrong with the build... plus i don't trust it, so many story's of 4l60e's repeatedly failing in adventra's. and dailying a car that doesn't get much better than 20l/100km on 98 is not great.

[Citroënbender]

What about a late production Cherokee XJ? Too thirsty/primitive?

[ebv8]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

What about a late production Cherokee XJ? Too thirsty/primitive?

I don't mind them but don't think i have ever seen a decent one forsale. simple plenty of parts if you don't mind buying from the US

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Territory for the win. Cheap and easy to fix all the issues they have, which is many.

Prado will be our next family car, for the 10k price difference of petrol vs diesel, there is years and years worth of fuel, also cheaper to maintain the petrol. Impossible to find anything well priced with under 200km though.

I have a 150 series petrol Prado and it’s good, but it sure likes a drink. My least fuel efficient car I’ve owned by a long shot and I’ve owned several V6 petrols and a V8

[smoo]

Could also pick up a 1998 - early 2000s Lexus LX470 for around $15k.
Full time 4wd but there are aftermarket part time conversion kits available.
Free up the exhaust and they sound decent.
15l/100km empty or 19-20 towing, to offset that they probably share the top spot with the AU coon as the most reliable vehicle on the road.

[Swordie]

The below Volvo XC 90 has braked towing capacity of 2250 Kg.

It's a 2006 2.5L Diesel with 143k km at $7,999.


https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...5246466/?Cr=97

https://www.carsguide.com.au/volvo/xc90/towing-capacity

[ebv8]

well i bought a car but its not a tow car, has a big towbar but i don't think it would tow the 1500kg limit it has. The Adventra will continue as the tow car this is just a cheap run around.

its AWD 2l and manual can anyone guess?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by ebv8

well i bought a car but its not a tow car, has a big towbar but i don't think it would tow the 1500kg limit it has. The Adventra will continue as the tow car this is just a cheap run around.

its AWD 2l and manual can anyone guess?

Subaru Forester?

[ebv8]

I showed the wife and she said "GET IT!" she paid for it but ill drive it to work and use the adventra for heavy towing. Save putting too many kms on the holden and I can park it anywhere. Bit of a novelty I guess
Bloody Facebook Marketplace

[Citroënbender]

Nice hill in the background.

[ebv8]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Nice hill in the background.

534m high that one and covered in smoke in that photo

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

You’re nearly bad as me. I’ve got three regos that need repairs; a trans, a clutch, a crash. I look at them and think “There’s $6K in rego/insurance, just going stale”.

European wisdom on the ZF says over 160K is a bonus.

Did they mean miles? Ours lasted 330,000.

[Sprintey]

Interesting thread ebv8.

I reckon the Territory with Barra still answers so many questions, your requirements are pretty similar to ours really. Petrol Prado is considered but don't really see it as value for money used.