Down to 3 dinghy choices

[Happily_Retired]

Hi All,

We have decided to purchase a new toad plus try to reap the benefits of better gas mileage! We are looking at new hatchback automatic vehicles. Down to choosing between a C Max hybrid, Focus, or Sonic. Any thoughts on ease of towing? We do realize the C Max is the heaviest, but still considerably lighter than the Dakota we towed with our 37 foot A. Would not consider towing the Dakota with our Axis!

Many thanks for any advice!

[Happily_Retired]

And the decision is.......bought a C-Max Energi tonight!

Can't wait to tow it!! Thanks for all of your responses!! Now to decide on a braking system!!

[super_camper]

Happily Retired 2 wrote:
Hi All,

We have decided to purchase a new toad plus try to reap the benefits of better gas mileage! We are looking at new hatchback automatic vehicles. Down to choosing between a C Max hybrid, Focus, or Sonic. Any thoughts on ease of towing? We do realize the C Max is the heaviest, but still considerably lighter than the Dakota we towed with our 37 foot A. Would not consider towing the Dakota with our Axis!

Many thanks for any advice!

The C Max has a CVT transmission and is towable 4-down and actually makes for a great tow car. As for weight, our last toad was a Flex so for us the C Max is much lighter.

[eheading]

Some good friends of ours have a C-Max that they tow 4 down and love it. As far as I know, they have had no problems towing with it.

Ed

[DouglasC]

To tow a Focus you need to disconnect the negative battery cable at the battery. As has been previously mentioned, some Focus owners who tow have installed a cut off switch. But with the battery disconnected, you still loose a lot of computer info like average MPG and also you have to have the computer re-learn the one touch up/down feature on the power windows. Really a nusiance in my opinion. Yes, I owned a 2012 Focus for a year before I bought my current Fusion hybrid.

All Ford hybrids since the introduction of the Escape hybrid in 2006 have been towable 4 down by just placing the transmission in neutral and turning the key back as far as it goes towards "off". That's it - - and away you go. No fuses to pull or battery cables to be disconnected!

I LOVE my Fusion hybrid - - wish I'd never bought the Focus in the 1st place.

[Happily_Retired]

We drove a Sonic hatchback yesterday. Nice little car that feels roomy on the inside. Also has plenty of headroom when getting in car! A consideration for us taller folks! Apparently you do have to pull a fuse on it. Chevy is not dealing much on them!!

Have done considerable research, and all of these are towable automatics. I believe the Focus needs a battery switch, and as far as we can tell, the C Max needs no modifications. We also drove the C Max and really liked it!! 🙂

Would be grateful to get some feedback from anybody currently towing any of these, too.

Many thanks for your responses!

[mikebreeze]

I know that the Sonic is tow-able 4 down. When and if my 2006 Saturn Vue toad gives up the ghost this is probably what I will get.

[Bumpyroad]

what do the owner's manuals for those you have chosen say about towing 4 down?
is any modification necessary? do you want an automatic transmission, etc.?
bumpy