Tow cars and trailers

On May 17, 6:07 pm, "Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote:
Well, gas is $3.50/Gal in many parts of the US and who is to say it won't be
$4/gal next summer. This is starting to hurt - and getting me to think of a
more economical vehicle.

Yes, go for a more economical car. As others mention, the Passat and
Volvo XC wagon both make good tow vehicles. A few members from my club
use them to tow from the midwest out to Utah every year. One reported
that his Passat 1.8 T tiptronic with a Cobra trailer averaged 25-27
mpg at 75 mph, AC on. They get 32-34 mpg without the trailer.

My Audi A6 quatto wagon with 2.8 gas V-6 will get 20 mpg with a boxy
Minden-fab trailer, 27 mpg without at 75 mph. Not great, but not too
bad either.

I will consider a TDI for my next vehicle. The torque is massive and
the economy unsurpassed. If you ever drive the autobahn you will soon
notice that TDI's are typically going faster than gas. They work just
fine at high load and speed. Hybrids only pay-off around town.

One small note on the Passats: the older 1998-2005 model years used a
wonderful 4 link front suspension, the same as found on the Audi A4
and A6. The ride and handling is far superior to a MacPherson strut
design, IMO. The new 2006+ Passats went back to MacPhersons.....too
bad.

Good luck to you,
Adam