What do you tow 4 down?

[Jayco-noslide]

What are some of the sub-3000lbs. compact or sub-compact vehicles you flat tow without modifying the trans? I tow a 2012 Chevy Sonic auto trans. and it works great. But someday I will need to trade.

[eheading]

We're towing a 2015 MINI Cooper Roadster, with a manual transmission. One thing I like about the MINI is that it does not have a locking steering wheel. So when we get hitched up, we just take off the emergency brake, put the gearshift in neutral, and remove the key. Never any problem with pulling fuses or draining the battery.

The only disadvantage is that the Roadster is very low at the front, so I have to be extra careful that I don't straddle any debris in the road.

Ed Headington

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I usually tow cars on my flatbed trailer, but I do sometimes tow 4-down.

1986 Suzuki Samurai, 5 speed manual, part-time manual 4wd.

1998 Ford Ranger, 5 speed manual, 2wd. I disconnect the driveshaft, if I'm going farther than just around town.

[Restless_Diesel]

2006 Mazda Miata manual transmission = approx. 2600 pounds.

[mockturtle]

lanerd wrote:

mockturtle wrote:
With my Born Free I towed a 2002 Honda CR-V. Great vehicle to tow and to drive.

you need to read the OP's post again... he specifically said "sub 3000 lbs".

I don't think there many sub 3000 lb cars that are 4-down towable...probably can count them on one hand.

Ron

Yeah, I see the curb weight of my Honda was 3328.

[lanerd]

mockturtle wrote:
With my Born Free I towed a 2002 Honda CR-V. Great vehicle to tow and to drive.

you need to read the OP's post again... he specifically said "sub 3000 lbs".

I don't think there many sub 3000 lb cars that are 4-down towable...probably can count them on one hand.

Ron

[mockturtle]

With my Born Free I towed a 2002 Honda CR-V. Great vehicle to tow and to drive.

[2_Retired]

We tow a 2012 Ford Fiesta, equipped with what the salesman jokingly called the "Amish Package". No power anything! Manual transmission. Easiest toad ever! No lock on the transmission, so all we have to do is put it in neutral, hook up the braking system, attach the car to the MH, and we're off! Don't even have to have the key in the ignition. Takes us less than 7 minutes to hook up, start to finish, and about 3 minutes to unhook! Room for 4, decent trunk, over 38 MPG when on the highway, about 30 around town! Love it!

[LakeN]

2014 Ford Focus Titanium Requires a battery disconnect switch and a 12 volt connection run from battery.

[tatest]

I'm towing a manual transmission Honda Fit. 2012, so it could have been an automatic. I like the amount of space and flexibility. 2-3 people and huge cargo space, 4 people with luggage for 3 (including the toddler), 5 people with a couple suitcases or lots of groceries. 35 mpg average over the past 3 1/2 years, 40+ on highway trips with just me. Almost enough power to be fun to drive, but tempted by Focus ST which has twice the HP but only gets 22 MPG (my brother bought one, I'm jealous how much fun it is to drive a manual transmission compact with about 12 pounds/horsepower instead of 20 pounds/hp).

Just what are you seeking in a subcompact/compact? Performance, economy, space, fun, low cost? There are lots of choices out there, and most of the manual transmission models are towable. Almost anything is a step up from a Sonic.

I don't expect to trade the Fit before 250,000 miles. The 1999 CR-V I bought for my daughter went 297,000 before the engine blew an oil seal, my SIL was disappointed about not getting to 300K. Your Sonic might be good for another 10 years, if Daewoo builds cars as well as Honda does. I know they make good fishing reels.

[the2sharps]

2015 Ford Focus Titanium hatchback automatic

[K_Charles]

Hyundai Elantra stick shift.

[j-d]

Corolla, stick shift. Also a Frontier pickup, stick shift, but heavier than you're looking for. There are good cars like Honda FIT, Corolla, others, if you can drive a manual shift.

[Bobbo]

Subaru. Manual transmission only. Automatic transmission must be towed 4 up on a trailer.