So as the mileage on my Outback creeps up (only at 134K) I've started thinking 4-5 years out. I'm also 6-7 years out from retirement so I'm thinking I'll want to thin the fleet as well.
I like the Outback as it doesn't suck to drive and can actually be hustled along on a curvy road. It's rated to tow 2700lbs but my Datsun & trailer combo weigh in at 2450lbs.
Now I do have the van which will tow 5000lbs but as part of thinning the fleet I thought that maybe we can turn two cars into one.
So what sort of things are out there that could tow 3200lbs (I like to leave a lot of margin) and still fun a little bit fun to drive?
Good luck finding one with low miles, as the last one was made in 2007. But, rated to tow 3500 because, to paraphrase "Carl" from Terminator: Dark Fate, it's a Volvo.
STM317
PowerDork
4/11/23 4:24 p.m.
A Macan can tow 4400lb and you can manually shift the PDK
There was that Roadmaster for sale here with a manual and an LS. Probably tow just fine.
Driven5 said:
STM317 said:
A Panamera can tow 4400lb and you can manually shift the PDK
FTFY.
Not that same..............and remember I instruct at PCA events so I've actually driven them.
The Volvo 240 is rated for 3300 if I recall. I used to tow a camper and it was pretty good.
Crosstrek wilderness is rated for 3500. Not sure if you can get that specific trim with a stick though.
In reply to spandak :
Not a manual................
Racebrick said:
The Volvo 240 is rated for 3300 if I recall. I used to tow a camper and it was pretty good.
Sadly you could probably buy a pristine manual trans S60R for what a pristine manual trans 240 goes for nowadays.
A 240 with good suspension under it IS a beautiful thing, too, so it's worth the price of entry for that alone.
I think that is the box that we're put in, here... towing capacity means truck or Volvo, manual trans narrows that down to older Volvo, or decidedly non-sporty truck like an older Ranger or something.
Impala SS with a T56 swap? Crown Vic with a T56 swap?
What will a LIncoln LS tow? Not sure I'd call that fun, but some extra damping might liven it up.
GMC did a Sonoma with the ZQ8 package. It was the S10 "Extreme" minus the 80s ground effects. I had one with the automatic and it was a hoot (sorta). I can only imagine what a 5-speed with a short shifter would be like.
buzzboy
SuperDork
4/11/23 7:46 p.m.
GMT400/800 with a lowering kit?
I second T56 swapped Impala SS
STM317
PowerDork
4/11/23 7:52 p.m.
They're old now, but Tacoma X-Runners had optional 6 spd manuals
Mustang GT.
Ill probably be close to 3k on a class 1 hitch for dragndrives.
dps214
SuperDork
4/11/23 8:38 p.m.
Tom1200 said:
Driven5 said:
STM317 said:
A Panamera can tow 4400lb and you can manually shift the PDK
FTFY.
Not that same..............and remember I instruct at PCA events so I've actually driven them.
Yeah I'd honestly take the macan.
2GRX7
Reader
4/11/23 9:02 p.m.
How about a C5 Audi Allroad? The 2.7 and 4.2 are rated at a 3300lb towing capacity with the European rating at 5000lbs. Airbag suspension. Manuals are rare though.
In reply to STM317 :
A buddy has one of those and the handling is decent. I've never actual driven it though.
BMW 320 sedan in years like 2018-2020 with 2.0L turbo. Internet says they are rated for 1800kg braked capacity = 3,900 lbs. More like 750kg w/o brakes or 1,650 lbs. BMW 4 series coupe with same engine too.
Kia Stinger offered manual trans and a braked tow rating of 3,300 lbs. Given its 4 door hatch design it offers some SUV-ish utility w/o the height.
I should add Cayennes came with manuals and I have actually driven one of those on track........but I am always very cautious about German cars.
The other alternative is I could lighten up my trailer; if we fabricated an aluminum tilt deck it would take 240lbs off the trailer. There's also another 75-100lbs that could be taken out of the Datsun. So in theory the Outback would only have to drag around 2100lbs.
Naturally a Macan would be more exciting.
Go weigh your car and trailer again. A WRX is rated for towing 2500 lbs when the trailer is equipped with brakes.
STM317
PowerDork
4/12/23 8:18 a.m.
John Welsh said:
Kia Stinger offered manual trans and a braked tow rating of 3,300 lbs. Given its 4 door hatch design it offers some SUV-ish utility w/o the height.
No manual trans option for the Stinger that I'm aware of. It's platform sibling the Genesis G70 used to offer a manual, but only with the 4 cylinder engine. It's also a smaller, more traditional sedan with less functionality.
E39 5 series. Not the smallest and sportiest, but still a good handling car. Can be had with a manual, and they're rated to tow 4400 lbs (with trailer brakes) from what I can find. Only problem is finding a suitable hitch. I don't think anyone makes an aftermarket hitch rated for more than 2000 lbs, and the OE BMW Euro hitch is basically impossible to find. So you might need to have a hitch custom made for it.
I've had ~2000 lbs behind my E38 (which is just a slightly bigger version of basically the same chassis) and it towed quite nicely. Same issue with hitch ratings though.
The GTO/G8's aussie cousin has a silly high tow rating and you can get a Class IV tow hitch as a result. Your insurance coverage may vary.
03-10' BMW X3 manual can tow 3500. Preferably 2007+ with the n52.
