Test for best towcar

Press, 23 August 1979, Page 12

Test for best towcar

Caravan makers tell us they know all about cara-« vans but C.l. Caravans, arguably the largest world wide caravan maker, is now making an effort to find out about cars. Last year, C.L Caravans (Caravans International, in business here with the Munro brothers at Otorohanga) sponsored the first Towcar of the Year award. They invited five journalists and two caravan and camping club members to be the judges of a bevy of cars eagerly delivered by British and European car manufacturers. The winner was the Rover 3500,. a car which apparently easily beat the opposition. Other class Winners were the Ford Cortina 2000 S and the Ford Granada 2.8 automatic. Also scoring highly were the Renaults 30TS and 20TS, Vauxhall Cavalier 1.9, Chrysler Alpine, Peugeot 504T1. The Citroen CX 2400, Volvo 244DL and Jaguar 3.4 also got a look in in the larger capacity class. Of interest last year

was the performance of the Renaults. Judged third over all last year was the 20TS. This year it won the award. The reason it was eligible two years in a row is that the rules have been changed. Last year’s model was a pre-launch car. This year cars were restricted to models introduced in the 12 months prior r to judging date. As well as basic criteria, such as acceleration, braking, handling and ride plus value for money, tfie judges paid careful attention to factors which mean much to the touring tower — whether he is hauling caravans or boats, i Such factors as climbing and overtaking performance, fourth gear flexibility and general gearing suitability were all considered. “We hope that the results indicate to car buyers who are intending to tow that, in any price bracket, it is not always the most powerful car that will do the job best,” commented the judges in a written report to contestants.

“How that power is delivered, the suitability of the gearing and so on can be of more importance in terms of both performance and ease of driving.” Characteristics which enabled the Renault to score highly were excellent engine performance which gave an easy crusing speed of 116 km per hour, swift acceleration and arrow straight braking. Under towing conditions, the car exhibited total control. The only area in which it feel short was a l-in-4 hill start. Even the sprightly engine coqld not overcome the fact that ' front wheel drive is always under strain with steep hill starts. Other cars to show up well in this year’s results were the Peugeot 504T1, Opel Record Estate and, in the small capacity class, a new Peugeot 305 and a Honda Accord impressed the judges. All cars were towing C.L caravans loaded to 75 per cent of the cars’ kerb weight.