Best TOAD Light & Easy

Topic: Best TOAD Light & Easy (Read 1663 times) previous topic - next topic

Best TOAD Light & Easy

July 28, 2013, 10:43:10 am

Time has come to point where the F150 with the heavy ATV has an end in sight, so for a proper, light, easy, simple I think VW Bug or other very light type.
Any great suggestions ?
Thanks

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #1 – July 28, 2013, 11:04:03 am

We love our Honda CR-V for a toad as well as an excellent general purpose car. A little heavier than a VW probably.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #2 – July 28, 2013, 11:22:59 am

I test drove a Fiat Arbarth a few days ago. What a blast. Dave with your need for speed this may be a good choice for you. It only weighs about 2300LBs and no limits for towing speeds. This may be our next Toad.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #3 – July 28, 2013, 11:29:07 am

If you want to retain some of the ATV lifestyle then you can move to a Jeep Wrangler. Our 1999 2-door soft-top weighs in at 3100lbs. Easy to tow 4-down and a good trail exploring vehicle even with standard tires. Legal to drive to the mall everywhere. Fuel mileage not the greatest (our 4-cylinder gets 16-17mpg) but I hear the new ones are better.

You can actually see the spark plugs and wires and work on them yourself. Heck, I can weld on mine.

So many options and after-market devices and doodads it can be a hobby all by itself.

Craig

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #4 – July 28, 2013, 01:56:50 pm

Honda Element the "Swiss Army Knife of Tows"

best, paul

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #5 – July 28, 2013, 04:27:40 pm

the Hyundai Elantra Touring, was designed and sold in Europe for a couple of years, before sold here during 2009-2011. Neat little VW/volvo look alike that has lots of space inside, fun to drive/5spd manual, 32 mpg so far.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #6 – July 28, 2013, 04:45:07 pm

Tow a Miata, you never get the grin off your face, about 2400 lbs, tows 4 down with a manual

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #7 – July 28, 2013, 04:55:54 pm

We're right at this point ourselves. The Smart is towable 4-down as is, and at first we were leaning that way. Our trip to Michigan knocked it out of further consideration, though. It is strictly a two-pace car, and there were three of us on that trip. The FIAT 500 was next, and we still may end up going that way. The manual transmission models are towable four-down. We've also considered VW diesels with manual transmissions. They would give us the fuel economy of the Smart but with more seats. They are scarce as hens' teeth, though, and priced accordingly. We're now looking more at the Honda CR-V. That would use more fuel than the others, but would give us lots more flexibility. A shopping trip to Springfield is in the works for later this week.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #8 – July 28, 2013, 05:01:02 pm

Our personal choice is Honda CR-V. It's fairly easy (there is a shift/idle in neutral procedure to follow), a fantastically useful vehicle (ours is our primary daily car as well), but it may not be what you consider "light".

Honda's Fit is towable with an automatic transmission 4-down as well (officially approved by Honda). Smaller, lighter, might be worth a look.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #9 – July 28, 2013, 05:35:21 pm

Quote from: Michelle – July 28, 2013, 05:01:02 pm

Honda's Fit is towable with an automatic transmission 4-down as well (officially approved by Honda). Smaller, lighter, might be worth a look.

We've towed a Fit for about 15k with no issues. 2500-2600 lbs depending on model/options. Most of our miles are suburban/rural and we average 36-38 mpg. Similar shift/idle in neutral procedure as CRV. And there is the Honda reliability factor. But it is significantly lower to the ground than my pickup.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #10 – July 28, 2013, 05:41:46 pm

For us, the CR-V is a better choice than the Fit just because of the size factor. Jo Ann loves her Town Car, but we're both getting tired of climbing out of it. My Mountaineer is much easier to get in and out of.

Dave, funny you should mention the Renault. My best friend in high school had one. It was one of the few automatics (early 60's, as I recall), and a blast to drive. The transmission was electro-magnetic, and when it went out the car was scrap. Another fun car was the Austin America. Again, though, the automatic transmission was the weak point (used the engine oil as the transmission oil).

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #11 – July 28, 2013, 05:41:53 pm

RAV4 AWD manual. Goes anywhere on or off road in any condition and weights 2990 lbs. Stop every 300 miles to idle for 5 minutes. 27 mpg highway. Last year 4 down is 2005. No more sticks imported to U.S. after that. 8 7/8" ground clearance.

Pierce

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #12 – July 28, 2013, 06:03:47 pm

We were hoping to tow our '07 Rabbit but no go with an automatic. Never really got a straight answer for a Jetta Sportwagon TDI manual. We settled for a '98 Wrangler. Seems like the best of all worlds for us. We have gone where no Rabbit could have ever taken us.

Roger and Susan

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #13 – July 28, 2013, 06:14:31 pm

Remco says they have no information on any of the VW lines, but the VW dealership in Springfield told us that the manuals ARE towable. My cousin has a gas New Beetle with manual transmission that still has the baseplate on it from the previous owner who did tow it four-down.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #14 – July 28, 2013, 07:27:21 pm

Dave M,

I have 1995 suzuki sidekick 2dr 4w/d 5 speed and it is a great toad and a tough little trucklet. It's not a jeep wrangler but it does have 4wheel low and the same stock ground clearance and can go anywhere they go. Only 2700lbs, 1.6 liter, 16valve, fuel injection, and 95 hp, and a lot of fun to drive to drive! It has both hardtops (light and easily removable), a/c and 27+mpg highway. Simple blue ox towbar and no auxillary braking necessary. Lots of aftermarket goodies available such as an OME suspension Tracker Lift: Suzuki Sidekick, Vitara, XL7 & Tracker Lift Kits which makes it great for offroading and smooth for highway driving. It currently has 120,000 miles with about 60,000 towed miles from prior owners. With manual locking front hubs and larger all terrain tires it will go just about anywhere. It's actually the most versatile and fun vehicle I've ever owned. I've towed it with a 29' minnie winnie with no problems and can barely feel it back there. They are easy to work on and I've only had to replace the front wheel bearings and the necessary maintenance items.

The sidekick/tracker/x90 are identical as far as drive trains and good ones are getting harder to find because they are inexpensive and great for offroading. Check out this website for a lot more info. ZUKIWORLD online | Your Suzuki 4x4 Resource - Editorial and Forum

Jerry

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #15 – July 28, 2013, 07:35:01 pm

Another vote for the Honda Fit - pulled one for two years - fun to drive, great mileage and has room for 4 real people - "Smart for 2, Fit for 4". Switched to a CRV as my bride thought the Fit's ride was a bit choppy. For me, I think a Subaru WRX (manual) would be my car of choice if I were a solo Rver. Those things are crazy fast and very reliable.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #16 – July 28, 2013, 07:52:38 pm

I have the 97 Tracker which is same as Jerry's Sidekick (just not as nice looking). I have a problem I can't get to the bottom of though. Drive it on expressway for 20 minutes or so and the A/C compressor stops kicking in and it wants to idle so low at a stop that the engine will shut off. Next outing won't do it at all. Then it does it again. As far a toad...you don't know it's back there and it will go anywhere. There is a big market for tricking these jeeplets out with all kind of aftermarket stuff so they are in demand for that purpose. If I can't get to the bottom of my situation soon I'm going to sell it and look for a mid-2000's Grand Vitara 4WD which can be towed four down with the auto transmission but I'll need a brake-buddy or something. My wife won't do a stick. Her current vehicle is a 2002 XL-7 which is the stretched version of the Grand Vitara (smallest 3rd row seat vehicle ever produced) but it is not 4WD so can't be towed. Bought it new and never had a moments trouble with it...pity that Suzuki never really took off like Honda or Toyota. My wife's sister has a Honda van about the same vintage and it is always in the shop.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #17 – July 28, 2013, 10:22:00 pm

Dwayne, we just sold our '97 Tracker ($1900) but had the same problem as you are encountering with the engine quitting at a stop. Another Tracker owner told me that when I first started it up to keep my foot as lightly as possible on the gas for about two minutes. Then put it in gear and go. Worked for me as I never had the engine stop on me if I did the start procedure. I also told the new owner he must do this also.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #18 – July 28, 2013, 10:41:31 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – July 28, 2013, 10:22:00 pm

Dwayne, we just sold our '97 Tracker ($1900) but had the same problem as you are encountering with the engine quitting at a stop. Another Tracker owner told me that when I first started it up to keep my foot as lightly as possible on the gas for about two minutes. Then put it in gear and go. Worked for me as I never had the engine stop on me if I did the start procedure. I also told the new owner he must do this also.

Sounds like the idle air control (IAC) problem I had in a previous vehicle.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #19 – July 28, 2013, 10:44:48 pm

Yeah, our Honda Element had a 5 speed. The gears are so fun I go thru all 5 in a city block.

best, paul

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #20 – July 28, 2013, 11:47:23 pm

Too bad VW is not selling their 1900lb 261mpg car in the US yet.

261-MPG Volkswagen XL1 Entering Production In 2013: Report

best, paul

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #21 – July 29, 2013, 11:50:28 am

Quote from: Dwayne – July 28, 2013, 07:52:38 pm

I have the 97 Tracker which is same as Jerry's Sidekick (just not as nice looking). I have a problem I can't get to the bottom of though. Drive it on expressway for 20 minutes or so and the A/C compressor stops kicking in and it wants to idle so low at a stop that the engine will shut off. Next outing won't do it at all. Then it does it again.

Dwayne,

When I first got mine it had a rough idle and the code light was on. I thought I had a problem with the EGR system. I took it off and cleaned it and then used Sea Foam in the gas tank and through the air cleaner. I also changed the O2 sensor. This helped but didn't stop the rough idle and the code light was still on. It's supposed to idle at about 700 rpm and when the a/c compressor kicks in it should idle up to about 1000 rpms. I brought it to Robert Greenberg owner of Top Performance Auto Service. He is one of the top mechanics here on the Ms gulf coast and is familiar with trackers and zukis. He quickly found a small rubber vacuum hose leak, replaced it and and it has run like a top ever since even when I let it sit up a week.

The idle is factory set but can be changed and and it should never just quit idling when the a/c compressor kicks in. The other problem I had later on was a bad heater a/c fan resistor that caused the blower to work intermittently or not at all. Changed it and no problems since. Also the code light will need to be reset at certain mileage intervals.

Hope this helps,

Jerry a.k.a. Murph

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #22 – July 29, 2013, 11:55:38 am

Honda Element is towable four down (automatic) in earlier years (2003-2006?) As documented previously, "Swiss army knife" of Toads, about 3200 lbs (I tow mine w/o aux brake. decent mileage, AWD version available, seats fold up, come out, or fold down to make two bunks. We have used that feature to expand the sleeping capacity of the coach on NASCAR weekends.

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #23 – July 29, 2013, 11:59:42 am

any stick shift Subaru a great choice, cant go wrong with any of them

Re: Best TOAD Light & Easy

Reply #24 – July 29, 2013, 12:12:34 pm

For us, the big problem is even hybrid vehicles is that we'll be running on the gasoline engine most of the time, so why carry the extra weight of the batteries? A trip to church, for example, is approximately 30 miles one way. Going to Sam's is 50 miles one way. Our plan for full-timing is to stay in one place long enough to see and do all that we wish to before moving on. That means that we could be driving up to 250 miles in one day, which is far beyond the electric range of any vehicle.

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