Tow Car

No not Town Car, TOW car. What interesting, fun cars actually have a rated towing capacity in the US? So far, the best I've found is that the 3rd gen Supra is rated for 2k lbs, Turbo K-cars are rated the same, and many Saabs and rwd Volvos are rated at 3k lbs. Some of the large American barges are rated for 5k+, but those really aren't that much fun. This would be for towing a small trailer with either a motorcycle, FSAE/F500 car, or shifter kart on it.

Now, before we get 15 people saying it: I know any car will do it. I know I could tow 2k lbs with a Metro if I wanted to. But in today's absurdly litigious society, I want the numbers on my side when some dumbass plows into me while twittering about the crazy old sportscar towing a trailer.

Hmm... WRX? I only say that because that's what one of the Philly guys used his to haul around his F-Mod when he first got it. It's a wagon, so he carried spares in the WRX. The car was prepped for STX, so it had some power adders and stiffer suspension. He causally mentioned the car being for sale, but IIRC, he's still using it.

To my knowledge, the WRX has no manufacturer rating. Some Legacies are rated as high as 3500lbs though.

EDIT: seeing 2k lbs listed in some places now... that would be an interesting option.

The Allroad is good for 3500 lbs.

A friend of mine used to tow with a late Fox Mustang. Pulled his Alfa around with it.

Kinda interesting car.

you need to ask lucy and ricky.

Last generation Celica had a 1500 or 2000 towing capacity, IIRC.

Volvo 240, JVAB rally suspension, 230F+T, a hot cam, oil cooler and 4.56 rear end

There's an '05 GTO for sale in the open classifieds. The GM manual says don't tow with it. From what I've read on the Internet, the Holden manual says up to 3500 lbs. Chocking that one up to the lawyers. 'murica!

I know all about the GTO tow rating annoyance- I even went so far as to call my insurance company and ask if there was any way I could get them to support the Australian rating (of course not).

Nobody else? I expected more from you guys

boat is Chrysler too lol

The Magnum was rated up to 3800lbs when equipped with the tow package says the internet.

My Canadian Saab 9-3 is rated to 3500 LBS per the manual. I don't know if that covers the US spec. I don't think it was the lawyers btw. I blame the marketing guys and the love of selling high profit trucks.

NONACK wrote: Nobody else? I expected more from you guys

Well, as soon as you want a "legal" tow rating, the options become limited. My TDI wagon would easily tow a 2000 lb trailer (it's rated for over 3000 in Europe with trailer brakes), but the US rating is between "not recommended" and 1500 lbs (with no "with brakes" rating).

I know, and that's what sucks. I'm not even sure what the penalties for "unrated towing" are, but I'm pretty sure at the very least it would make me the at fault party in any accident

In reply to NONACK:

Yeah, I think that's the big issue. As along as it doesn't "look" too out of the ordinary, you probably wouldn't get hassled. However, should something go wrong - even if it's not your fault - you may very well be F'd.

If you really need to tow anything more than a tire trailer on a regular basis, a car isn't your answer.

The Forester is rated at 2,000 but there are some crazies near me that pull full car trailers, sometimes with other Foresters on them. Braking would be scary.
The Curt tow hitch on my Foz is rated at 350 tongue/3,500 lbs. and I'm sure it would manage that on short in-town trips.

In reply to Klayfish:

I'm aware that a pickup would do all of this without a trailer, but I already made a thread for those.

My Mark VII is rated at 2k. I wouldn't tow with it, though, because Fox 4-link.

fornetti14 wrote: The Forester is rated at 2,000 but there are some crazies near me that pull full car trailers, sometimes with other Foresters on them. Braking would be scary.

Trailer brakes and a good controller make it a non issue.

I towed my gokart/trailer with my MG 1100.

Maybe that is why the clutch started slipping.

Caprice/Roadmaster......such an easy button

Boxy & aero crown vics were rated for 5k