Selecting a Toad November 27, 2007, 09:32:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86408We are trying to narrow our choices for a toad. We have a 30' LD. We want one with an automatic and as light as possible. Ideally you can add a hitch to it with a 2" receiver and, of course, we want good gas mileage. The closer to 30mpg on the highway the better. Having said that we are currently considering the Saturn Vue 05 and up and the Chevy HHR. Does anyone have any input on these two vehicles or any others to recommend? The hitch is for a bike rack which we already have and while I understand that you can get adapters to go from a 1 1/4 to a 2 inch there are reasons that I don't want to. That is one issue with the HHR.Jim[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #1 – November 27, 2007, 09:52:03 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86409You might try a Honda Element.Rob 2000 26.5 MB
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #2 – November 27, 2007, 10:05:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86412Personally, I like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But it meets basically none of your requirements, especially the 30mpg. Mine gets about 17. But, they are built to flat tow, they have 4x4, which is great for getting out into the country, and they are very luxurious inside, if you get the Limited.Quote On Nov 27, 2007 8:52 PM, robhaerr no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:You might try a Honda Element.Rob 2000 26.5 MB
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #3 – November 27, 2007, 10:17:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86413Jim - We also have a 30' IB and we tow a 2005 Saturn Vue. It is a 6 cylinder automatic because when we're home we live in the mountains of Pennsylvania and needed the power. Even so, we get about 27 miles to the gallon highway. We are very pleased with our choice. It tows nicely behind the LD, and has a comfortable back seat (for when we carry guests) we also checked out the 2005 Honda CRV but found the back seat very uncomfortable. The last time my husband had our Vue to the dealer for oil change etc. he was looking at the 2008's and informed me that we'd better keep this one because the newer ones are made out of steel rather than plastic/fiberglass and would weigh too much to be towed behind an LD without beefing up the hitch. Ours goes just about 3,500 pounds, which allows us to put 500 pounds of miscellaneous stuff (bikes etc.) in it. We had our local dealer install an SMI brake system, which has worked very well. We have taken our unit to California, Florida and New England and it has performed flawlessly. We never wished we'd gotten another toad instead.Marv and Dell Kline Silverbelle NE 51 Mountaintop, PA Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #4 – November 28, 2007, 01:50:32 am Yahoo Message Number: 86422Quote You might try a Honda Element.Rob The Honda Element is no longer considered towable 4 down by Honda. They have also eliminated the Civic from this list. However, the CR-V is towable. I am referring to the cars with an automatic tranny. You would have to check with Honda regarding the towability of their cars with manual transmissions.Roz the W
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #5 – November 28, 2007, 02:00:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 86424"Does anyone have any input on these two vehicles or any others to recommend?"JimYou cannot beat the dependability of a Honda Element or CRV. We love off-roading and winter camping and would not be happy without our Jeep Cherokee.Larry
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #6 – November 28, 2007, 09:14:00 am Yahoo Message Number: 86427We have the HHR. Light, quiet, and "fits" with the LD retro look. Spouse is vertically challenged and loves "her" HHR except for the poor rear view. Dropping the rear seats flat eliminates most of her problem. OTOH, I'm vertically enhanced and the only problem I have is with stoplights that hang
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #7 – November 28, 2007, 09:19:49 am Yahoo Message Number: 86428Quote We have the HHR. Forgot to mention: The 08's come with Onstar and if you have Verizon's cell phone "family plan" you can add the car phone onto the share plan for under ten bucks/month and it's totally hands free. We call forward to the car phone if we're gonna be in the HHR for any length of time.Onstar also offers "Directions and Connections" which is like an external GPS system. Call them with a destination and they download directions to the car. It then talks you to your destination. You can also ask for the nearest fuel stop, specific restaurants or the nearest Walmart and they'll direct you. Cool.Don
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #8 – November 28, 2007, 09:44:10 am Yahoo Message Number: 86429Quote"The Honda Element is no longer considered towable 4 down by Honda. They have also eliminated the Civic from this list. However, the CR-V is towable. I am referring to the cars with an automatic tranny. You would have to check with Honda regarding the towability of their cars with manual transmissions."Roz the W Does anyone know what changes in these two Honda brands made them nontowable/untowable/intowable(take your pick)?Chris
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #9 – November 28, 2007, 10:25:24 am Yahoo Message Number: 86432QuoteDoes anyone know what changes in these two Honda brands made them nontowable/untowable/intowable(take your pick)? Chris, I've asked this question of the Honda Element and have never received an answer. We towed a 2003 Element which, at the time, was recommended for 4-down towing. As far as I know, the Element is still made on the CR-V chassis...and the CR-V is STILL recommended for 4-down towing, so go figure!Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #10 – November 28, 2007, 11:25:53 am Yahoo Message Number: 86436QuoteDoes anyone know what changes in these two Honda brands made them nontowable/untowable/intowable(take your pick)?Chris Hi, I've never sent a message to this group before but have been lurking for a long time, so hope I'm doing it right. Anyway, I wanted to respond to Chris's question about towing a Honda. My son is a Master mechanic for Honda in Ocala, Fl and a few months ago I asked him the same question. He said nothing has changed with Honda vehicles, but Honda Corporation has stopped endoresing towing to remove themself from any liability to damage. He said it would be perfectly ok to tow any Honda vehicles, just be sure to follow the exact same procedures for towing as in the previous Hondas.Ruth Fulltimer in a 23.5 TK
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #11 – November 28, 2007, 11:37:02 am Yahoo Message Number: 86438"Does anyone know what changes in these two Honda brands made them nontowable/untowable/intowable(take your pick)?"ChrisIf you read Honda's instructions on flat towing, you will see a particular way the transmission must be shifted into park, before towing. It is easy to get it wrong. Honda got stuck with warranty repairs that were probably caused by this so they remove their approval to flat tow. If in doubt, buy a used Honda, one that still has the procedure in the owner's manual. Buying used is not a bad idea for a toad. The car's front-end paint will get chipped by thrown stones, unless you want to fool around with a guard of some sort. Even the guards have problems and are not foolproof.Larry
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #12 – November 28, 2007, 12:31:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86441Quote QuoteDoes anyone know what changes in these two Honda brands made them nontowable/untowable/intowable(take your pick)?"ChrisHi, I've never sent a message to this group before but have been lurking for a long time, so hope I'm doing it right. Anyway, I wanted to respond to Chris's question about towing a Honda. My son is a Master mechanic for Honda in Ocala, Fl and a few months ago I asked him the same question. He said nothing has changed with Honda vehicles, but Honda Corporation has stopped endoresing towing to remove themself from any liability to damage. He said it would be perfectly ok to tow any Honda vehicles, just be sure to follow the exact same procedures for towing as in the previous Hondas."Quote Ruth Fulltimer in a 23.5 TK Ruth, thanks for unlurking to answer my question. Your answer is pretty much what I thought Honda is doing. I'm guessing the reason they endorse towing the CRV is because they know it's a widely used tow vehicle and potential tranny problem claims from towing are offset by increased sales to RVers.Chris
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #13 – November 28, 2007, 01:11:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86446"I've asked this question of the Honda Element and have never received an answer." I'm not surprised. I never could get my Honda Accord to talk back to me either. ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #14 – November 28, 2007, 01:16:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86447Did either of you try asking in Japanese?TinaP Andy Baird andybaird@...> wrote: "I've asked this question of the Honda Element and have never received an answer." I'm not surprised. I never could get my Honda Accord to talk back to me either. ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #15 – November 28, 2007, 01:40:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86451"Did either of you try asking in Japanese?"Good, point! I'm afraid my Japanese is limited to a few words, so I wasn't able to communicate in its native language. Maybe if it had been a German car, I'd have been able to get a conversation going. ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #16 – November 28, 2007, 06:01:36 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86463Don, thanks for the reply. I assume your HHR is an 08 and thus you haven't had problems?We liked driving it, handled well and was very quiet. Checking with an online HHR group they were complaining about the hood and lifgate sheet metal. It seems they dent with very little hand pressure. Do you know if they have improved that on the 08?Jim[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #17 – November 28, 2007, 06:04:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86464Does anyone have a manual for an Element with the instructions for towing? If so, could you scan those pages and put them in the files section? I would like to read that first before putting it on our list. I like the Element and know that the last time the Element was listed in Motorhome magazine dinghy guide was the 2005 model.Jim[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #18 – November 28, 2007, 10:34:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86480-My 2003 Saturn Vue got 35mpg with a 4 cyl manual trans; my 2007 Vue gets 30 mpg with a 4 cyl and manual trans. The 2008's are quite a bit heavier with the steel bodies. You may get a good rebate on a new 2007 if a dealer still has one. Vues can be towed with 4 wheels on the ground. The 4 cyl has a cha
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #19 – November 29, 2007, 08:09:18 am Yahoo Message Number: 86493Yes, I waited for the 08 and still got the 07 rebates. The only change I could see was Onstar standard with one caveat; To have the Directions and Connections feature the HHR must have the ABS option installed. Odd but true. I also saw the comments
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #20 – November 29, 2007, 10:30:44 am Yahoo Message Number: 86506QuoteActually, had the Honda FIT been towable, that would have been our first choice but Honda seems to have it's skivvies permanently in a bunch over 4 wheel drive towing and I couldn't find anybody that towed a FIT in spite of Honda's new found reluctance to appeal to the toad market. Don, did you check with Remco Towing -- www.remcotowing.com ? Just because Honda doesn't advise the Fit for 4-down towing doesn't mean it can't be towed that way.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #21 – November 30, 2007, 09:07:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 86570Quote Actually, had the Honda FIT been towable, that would have been our first choiceDon, did you check with Remco Towing -- www.remcotowing.com ?Linda Hylton Yah I did, Linda. At that time only the manual transmission FIT qualified and Remco didn't offer anything for the automatic. If truth be told, I'm not fond of some of the Remco workarounds. Don't take this as a criticism of Remco though - I think they're a great company where personal and high quality support is still king. The problem is more with SWMBO who could be a valuable manufacturing beta tester/test engineer for any mechanical or electromechanical device. If it can jam, be made unworkable or otherwise become unuseable it will be! 'Druther live in peace and simplicity....Don
Re: Towing Honda Element and Civic Reply #22 – November 30, 2007, 09:43:14 am Yahoo Message Number: 86575I have placed a file
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #23 – November 30, 2007, 02:39:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86591We have been very happy with our manual transmission Suburu Forester. It is about 3K lbs, gets good milage, all wheel drive, and is highly rated by Consumers Reports. Jack
Re: Selecting a Toad Reply #24 – November 30, 2007, 02:50:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 86592Beware of the Subaru. I understand that the Œautomatic transmission¹ Subaru has to be trailered.I love my 2001 Outback Wagon. Great car!Neil
Topic: Selecting a Toad (Read 11 times)
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Topic: Selecting a Toad (Read 11 times)
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