Dingy towing
I presently own a 2000 Mazda Protégé 5 speed standard. This vehicle is a front wheel drive. I have heard from various sources that I can flat tow it and also that I can't flat tow it. Being a standar...
Forum Discussion
jerseyjim wrote:
Back in 2000, I bought a used 1996 Ford Contour with a 5 spd stick with 22K showing. It was really a Mazda with a Ford badge. I towed it 4 down cross country 3 times and up and down the east coast any number of times. Never a problem. Started doing the nickel and dime dance around 150,000 so, time for new one. Contour no longer made, went to Mazda for a new one (in 2007). Dealer AND Mazda engineering dept. told me NOT to tow ANY Mazda 4-down. Things change, I guess. So, research....came up with a 2007 Chevy HHR AUTOMATIC! Tows 4 down just fine. Put the tranny in "N", pull a fuse. That's it. Now that car has 78K showing, must have at least 100,000+ "real " miles.
The key here is RESEARCH. I found that GM has the most vehicles (in size and price) that can be towed 4-down with minimal mods, if any. Ford, much less and has things like a 2-wheel drive (automatic) cannot be towed 4 down, but a 4WD automatic (with proper Ford-only ($$) mods) can. I have no idea about Chrysler, not interested in them. RESEARCH...and good luck. But even then,y'gotta be careful. Here on the forum, many posts about a Chevy that the owners manual and dealers said could be towed 4-down...ended up with blown-up trannys. Something about a mid-year change from a 5 spd to a 6 spd auto tranny. I think GM made good. But...again, research.
We tow a 2007 Malibu 4 down. Kept it for towing when we bought a 2013 Malibu, it can't be towed 4 down. Most newer Ford and GM automatics cannot be towed 4 down. They both use the same 6 spd auto, co-developed by Ford and GM.
