[s-cars] Work vehicle advice needed

[Tom Mullane]

Taka,

You'd probably be OK with a Tahoe, but that would be the minimum I would go.

My hauler is a 1999 Suburban 5.7 gas 1500 4 x 4 with a 6000 lb max towing
capacity (I think the Tahoe is 7k).  It's more than adequate for the Miata
and the 22 foot open deck trailer.  It also absolutely rocks to have all
your stuff (and half a dozen other people's laptops and cameras) dry and
secure inside the Suburban on a rainy day at the track yet still be able to
pile 5 people in and go to lunch somewhere.  Planning is required to crest
hills on the way to the Glen at over 70 MPH, but that goes with territory.
A heavier S-car was a challenge to tow, but mostly due to our hasty,
unbalanced loading; the 'burban was still up to the task over hill and
valley.

I'd skip the Toureq.  Sure, the 'burban is not exactly a teetotaler, but
it's appetite for fuel is offset but ridiculously low repair costs (for
those of us who worship at the temple of the four rings).

As others have said, do not buy an undersized tow vehicle.

Tom

Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 08:49:13 -0500
From: "Taka Mizutani" <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Work vehicle advice needed
To: "calvinlc at earthlink.net" <calvinlc at earthlink.net>
Cc: S-CAR-List <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Message-ID:
       <79698a910612180549x39022bb2pe38811de7b698d90 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Thanks Calvin-
I won't buy a Ford older than 2004 because of the crash protection- the
earlier
trucks have horrible crash protection.

With a 6000lb. load, do you think you really need a 3/4 ton truck? F-150s
are
pretty inexpensive and available, but 3/4 ton (esp. diesel) are expensive.

Is the suspension issue fixable w/ shocks or springs or both? I'd consider a
Suburban-
the Excursion is too expensive and rare, I'd rather get a Tahoe, Armada or
something
a tiny bit smaller.

Taka