Towing: Mazda CX-9 vs Nissan Pathfinder

[seahouse]

Probably totally irrelevant to your decision making process, but it might be good to know, if you don’t already, that Volvo is a Chinese company.

[romandesign]

Probably totally irrelevant to your decision making process, but it might be good to know, if you don’t already, that Volvo is a Chinese company.

XC90 came out in 2003, I think they weren't chinese yet, and parts are the same. They lost their legenday reliability by then already...

[seahouse]

All true! Wasn't aware that they were ever overly reliable, though. They did have a reputation for giving safety a high priority, and still do.

[mastreb]

Volvo's parent company is Chinese. They are still made in Sweden and the Chinese parent has yet to do anything but own them and conduct a quarterly meeting with management. So far.

The motor in the XC90 is a Yamaha high output V8--same one that Ford used in its Taurus SHO.

Traverse sure looks good on paper. That would be the top of my list given your requirements.

Matt

[Divecoz]

Premium: Versus Low End Regular: here outside Chicago, is about 30cents a gallon?? It does vary station to station..
My Tow rig uses regular and as stated it's a gas hog! BUT it tows the Mac like a Dream...I am fortunate that I drive it VERY LITTLE! I wanted a Full Size Quad Cab Pickup with 4x4..One of my buddies with more money than sense.. sold a F 250 King Ranch for a Lexus SUV and is now sorry he did.. At least every-time he tows his Huge Go Fast Boat.. He lost his butt on the King Ranch and paid out the nose for the Lexus and is saving a few miles per gallon..
One Thing is for sure.. The only way to tow the Mac better and safer than what I am using , is to spend more on a "better" Vehicle.. $$$$$$$
My personal experience has been .. The Longer the wheel base ? The better the towing.. Then Add Additional H.P. and Tow Vehicle Weight.. I "believe" a lot of issues , save the HP when needed..... can be overcome by adding a 2nd axle.. HOWEVER.. That 2nd Axle restricts maneuvering the boat considerably..
The Tail Waging the Dog Issue... FOR ME ... was too profound.. we have a 2nd vehicle and its a Ford Taurus.. we use it, ALMOST Exclusively...
But as seldom as I tow my Mac ? Its a safe and comfortable Journey.. That's Very Important to me.. When I need to haul Big Stuff? There she sits..
The Boat and My Tow Vehicle are BOTH Compromises.. IMHO... Safety HAS to Trump MPG even if it means YOU have to rent a vehicle Every Time you move your boat.. I don't want it on my conscience........ that I saved a few miles per gallon but we had a wreck and someone was hurt or killed.

[Sea Wind]

Coincidently, I just replaced our Pilot for a 2012 Dodge Durango and if you are in the market for a new SUV that is intended to tow, you cannot miss this one. The V6 can tow 6200lbs while the V8 can tow over 7000lbs which is comparable to a Suburban for around $20k less. The third row has more space than the 2010 Pilot we traded, not to mention better handling, breaks, much longer wheelbase and electronic toys. It is based on the Mercedes GL platform as is the new Grand Cherokee.

Sea Wind

[mastreb]

Coincidently, I just replaced our Pilot for a 2012 Dodge Durango and if you are in the market for a new SUV that is intended to tow, you cannot miss this one. The V6 can tow 6200lbs while the V8 can tow over 7000lbs which is comparable to a Suburban for around $20k less. The third row has more space than the 2010 Pilot we traded, not to mention better handling, breaks, much longer wheelbase and electronic toys. It is based on the Mercedes GL platform as is the new Grand Cherokee.

Sea Wind

I have a GL and it's fantastic for towing the Mac. If you can get the same platform for 30K, you'd be be making a mistake not to.

[Divecoz]

I guess have to go back and sit on the porch I cannot run with the big dogs... I bought mine about 4 years ago..( 2005 Dodge 1500 V-8 Quad 4x4 ) it was 2 years old.. paid $13,500.00 out the door with 23K on it..

[robbarnes1965]

Don't feel bad. I haven't had a tow vehicule since the ex won it...

I may be trading my little Subaru for an F350 though. High gas prices are making my little Impreza more interesting The 350 sill be able to tow a few Macs!

[romandesign]

Just an update: because both me and my wife didn't like Pathfinder as a car, it's off the list... The choice as it is now is between getting Mazda CX-9 and hoping for the best in regards to towing or getting a Chevy Traverse or GMC Acadia (virtually the same car inside) that can tow 5200 lbs and has more room. I guess we're in no hurry so we have time to search for one with towing package (without it can only tow 2000 lbs). It's not as good in handling as Mazda, but it's not dull - it has a quiet but controlled ride, more room, more convenient seats, longer wheelbase but the design is well... not as good as Mazda, 6-speed automatic is not as responsive and GM reliability while decent is not as good as Mazda.

If I knew 100% that we're getting a Mac soon the choice would be easy. But I never sailed in one yet (I'm sure I'll like it) and neither did my wife or older daughter. If it turns out that they can't handle the waves and get sick - the whole idea of a sailboat as family vacation vehicle will be scrapped and it would be stupid if I got the car based on towing ability and didn't get the boat after all. I have to figure out what to do...

Anyone has any opinions about Chevy Traverse / GMC Acadia / Saturn Outlook / Buick Enclave as a tow vehicle? When equipped with a towing package they have a "tow" button which changes when gears are changed.

[gabid]

If I knew 100% that we're getting a Mac soon the choice would be easy. But I never sailed in one yet (I'm sure I'll like it) and neither did my wife or older daughter. If it turns out that they can't handle the waves and get sick - the whole idea of a sailboat as family vacation vehicle will be scrapped and it would be stupid if I got the car based on towing ability and didn't get the boat after all. I have to figure out what to do...
.

Hi romandesign

Yeah, I guess that would be stupid. Here is my story:
I got my last year with the idea that I will trailer it wherever I want. I can see you are in Oakville, I am in Toronto. So having the Great Lakes around us I thought that was good planning ... I gave up after 2 weekends spending time in overcrowded ramps with line ups, and quit a lot of work for one day, mast up, going out, waiting again in line for the ramp, mast down, boat back on the trailer, etc.
So I ended up, lucky me with the Admiral suggesting that, in a marina in Georgian Bay at the slip. Initially I said I will be there only for a week, then a month but I stayed the whole season and will be back in the same place this year. The nice part: the boat is ready to go each time, the social life at the docks, many new friends and helpful people.

Regarding pulling the rig, I am using a Pontiac Aztek, 3500 lbs tow capacity, and it works just fine for a few hundreds km we have here to get from one lake to another.
If you never sailed in one you are welcome to join me after I put it back in the water, May 1, workers' Day.

Gabriel

[romandesign]

Regarding pulling the rig, I am using a Pontiac Aztek, 3500 lbs tow capacity, and it works just fine for a few hundreds km we have here to get from one lake to another.
If you never sailed in one you are welcome to join me after I put it back in the water, May 1, workers' Day.

Glad to hear someone is doing it with modest towing capacity. That's something I'm looking for: lake Ontario, Simco, Georgian Bay and smaller lakes in the area. If you can tow it OK "for a few hundreds km" I should be OK with the Mazda. And if it doesn't work out and I won't gate a Mac after all - at least I won't feel stupid about the car.

Thanks for the invitation, sounds like a great idea.

[abruzzi]

I'm from New Mexico where we do crazy insane things with our cars (once towed a 20,000lb single wide with a F250...) so I'll be Mr. Contrary here. I would say that a vehicle with a 3500lb tow capacity should be fine, just make sure you have enough tongue weight, and if you are close to the capacity (or over) just drive slower and more carefully. I towed my Mac 25 home 500 miles with a 125hp/209ft-lb truck with a homemade hitch. Other than slower acceleration and reduced top speed I hardly noticed it was there.

Geof

[kevinnem]

Just an update: becauso...

Anyone has any opinions about Chevy Traverse / GMC Acadia / Saturn Outlook / Buick Enclave as a tow vehicle? When equipped with a towing package they have a "tow" button which changes when gears are changed.

I have not towed a mac yet, but in 3 months I will be towing one about 2000 KM, going to be my first experience towing them, and will be using a 2003 4-runner. We will be taking a little risk, as there is no brakes on the trailer. For this reason I am waiting until the snow clears to move it from the USA to Calgary.

I have only 2 comments, firstly the Darango , about 2004 my dad bought one, and although he usually holds on to cars for about 15 years, or more, this one he sold after 1 year because it was REALLY REALLY bad on snow/ice. a year later, I was working up north, and a fellow I was working work had rented one to use. The same issue and he made the company rent a second vehicular (truck of some sort) while this one sat in the parking lot, because it was so bad on the snow/ice. I do not know if the current ones, are as back, but this is the only times I have heard people sell cars cause they are so bad on snow/ice.


as for the enclave - my dad has one, and there are 4 issues with it. 1) seat belts are very small, don't fit larger people, most dealerships will give you "extensions" for them. this is not just for fat people, the belts are just real small, and they have gotten a ton of complains about this. 2) He says it is always changing gears, this annoys him. 3) the seats, for me are very uncomfortable (mostly it is the head rest that sucks), I highly suggest you test drive it for a while before you buy. 4) fuel economy is REALLLY bad. it is far far worse then I imagined it would be.

[RobertB]

I would really reconsider this setup - towing a without trailer brakes with a vehicle that is close to the same weight as the trailer/boat setup seems a bit too exciting. I have a 4,000 pound Volvo and things got way too interesting when I had to stop quickly on the highway and found my trailer brakes had failed.