Help!! 4x4 woes!

C

cm2581

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 April 2008
Messages
1,027
Location
Edinburgh
Visit site
I've just recently bought a Nissan Terrano from a reputable car dealer. It is 10 years old and is a top spec model (2.7 Tdi SE+) and is an automatic. I missed the fact that the car was an automatic when I read the advert (doh!!) but wasn't put off by this fact when I saw it. I did however say to the salesman that I needed to know the max towing weight as although I knew the manual was 2.8 tonnes, I didn't know the automatic's towing capacity. I clearly stated that I needed a vehicle that towed AT LEAST 2.5 tonnes. He looked in the manual and couldn't find details. I said think there is a plate on the vehicle sometimes that says it. Found a plate with numbers under the bonnet but not telling what the numbers were. Top number 2580, then 4280. I said I think that is towing weight (top) and gross train weight below. He said I will check on a website we use to confirm. He went inside and returned in a few mins to say that the 2580 was the max towing weight. I subsequently bought the car but have just found out through a few internet searches that it only is capable of towing 1.7 tonnes!!! Therefore it is totally useless for towing my bateson ascot with a 16.2 and 15.2 in it!!!! I traded in a mondeo as it could only tow 1.8 tonnes!! I would never have bought the monstrous thing if I'd known it couldn't tow my two in the trailer. Thankfully both my boyfriend and father were present and whitnessed the salesman confirming the 2580 being towing weight. Does anyone know where I stand? Trading standards and consumer direct are on holiday till wednesday!! :-(
 
I couldnt tell you exact towing capacity but Ihad an terrano same spec. I did not like towing with it as it was automatic, i towed a IW505 with a TB and welsh sect C in it, mainly motorway driving.
I prefer my (old) discovery tbh
 
If it's this model
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Detail.aspx?deriv=18207

Then braked max tow capacity is 1700kg.
Lots of other models listed too.
I don't know much about your position legally, but I would've thought you had a good case if you were specific about what you needed the vehicle for and have witnesses. Sadly, I've found many dealers don't have a clue about towing.
 
If you could prove that (1) you said that you needed the car to tow at least 2.5 tonnes (or you wouldn't buy it) (2) that the car salesman told you it would tow at least 2.5 tonnes (or words to similar effect) and that (3) that you relied on his statement and bought the car because of it then I think you would have a good case for misrepresentation.

I would make a note of the conversation that you had with the salesman (just in case). I would then go back to the salesman and tell him your issue. He may just accept the problem and give you a refund, but you won't know until you ask. If he is difficult you may have to escalate the issue (letters etc). Worse case scenario would be court, but sure it won't come to that.
 
I think your best option would be to contact Nissan UK and get official confirmation. I suspect that 1700kg figure is the one arrived at using the 85% rule of maximum kerbweight or something like that. And I recalll from all the countless discussions on here that if you applied that rule, there is really very little you could actually tow a trailer with.

The 2800kg figure is the probably the correct one. Are you sure that the maximum towing weight is not buried somewhere in teh car user manual?
 
If you have stated that you need to tow a certain weight then the Sale of Goods act comes into play. Get in touch with Consumer direct on Wednesday (I think thats when they next open) and check your situation, but I am very sure that I am right. Unfortunatley for the dealer he will have to reverse the deal but probably won't want to and it could become messy.
Then speak to the dealer and explain that the braked towing weight is only 1700kg which isn't suitable and you specifically needed a car to tow 2500kg. The rights are on your side and if he doesn't react then court action may be the only other way forward. They have to put you back to the position you were in when you bought it - no haggling!!

Figures for a 2.7TDi SE+ Auto
Wheelbase 2650 mm
Luggage Capacity -
Fuel Capacity 80 L
Turning Circle 11 m
Unbraked Towing Weight 750 kg
Braked Towing Weight 1700 kg
 
Thanks everyone. I have got conformation from a terrano owners enthusiast type forum. It is indeed 1700kg braked towing weight!! The manual of the exact same spec is 2800kg. Very odd indeed for there to be such a diff between the manual and auto in this model as it's not that much in other vehicles! Trading standards and or consumer direct on Wednesday then see what the garage have to say! Such a shame as I really love the car!!!
 
Really bad luck and hope you get it changed. Presume the car is not fit for purpose anyway (legally speaking) plus which if you check your paperwork, you might even have a warranty/exchange in there regardless. I, with no legal background, would really have thought you had a strong case!

Not that this is any help to you but how did you arrive at 2.5 as your final towing weight? I also have a bateson - so allow 985kg, my 16.2 mw is max 600Kg so how did you end up with 2.5?
 
Luci07, you vehicle must be capable of towing the plated weight of the trailer, so for example my trailer, cheval liberte 2003 has a plated weight of 2000kg so my car must have a maximum towing capacity for braked trailers at 2000kg or higher otherwise it would be illegal and you can get nicked
 
Dizzy The Blonde Reindeer said:
Luci07, you vehicle must be capable of towing the plated weight of the trailer, so for example my trailer, cheval liberte 2003 has a plated weight of 2000kg so my car must have a maximum towing capacity for braked trailers at 2000kg or higher otherwise it would be illegal and you can get nicked
Click to expand...
sorry that is total tripe and not the law!!! light trailers under 3500kg are Not plated they only show design weights... you need to be able to tow your load not the maximum, however its a good idea to have a little extra capacity in hand ...
 
Last edited:
Get it checked quick, I only tow with Automatics and find them just as good and often better than manual. Depends on make and model tho. I use Jeeps.
 
Luci07 said:
Really bad luck and hope you get it changed. Presume the car is not fit for purpose anyway (legally speaking) plus which if you check your paperwork, you might even have a warranty/exchange in there regardless. I, with no legal background, would really have thought you had a strong case!

Not that this is any help to you but how did you arrive at 2.5 as your final towing weight? I also have a bateson - so allow 985kg, my 16.2 mw is max 600Kg so how did you end up with 2.5?
Click to expand...

Trailer as you say is 900ish. My 16.2 is around 550kg - allow 600kg. My 15.2hh however is normally 630-650 (as per weighbridge) but at the mo could be pushing 700kg!! She's a 'big wuman'!!! No she's not grossly over weight - she is genuinely a 10 tonne tank! Think charging warhorse!!! So anyway that would take me somewhere between 2.1 and 2.2, the max laden weight for the ascot is 2.3. I chose 2.5 as a mimimum for some leeway and so I can get up the biggest mammoth steep gravelly driveway at Brenfield if I ever go again!! Even so, 1.7 is NOWHERE near enough!!
 
Nimrodell said:
Get it checked quick, I only tow with Automatics and find them just as good and often better than manual. Depends on make and model tho. I use Jeeps.
Click to expand...
The recomended towing weight is decided by the manufacturer and is based on things like its abillity to do a hill start of a certain gradent.It sounds like the auto version's gearbox isnt up to much hence the low tow rating ....
 
Thank you massively for that website. I needed to re read it a couple of times for it to sink in. I knew I was OK with my Jeep as I have the 3.7 which has a MTC of 3.3. However I only ever tow my (large) horse in it as we have a very steep hill to get to the yard. I have towed 2 on the flat which was fine but even this forum couldn't work out a way of testing my cars ability to pull 2 large horses up a very steep hill - yes it was legally covered, but no way of really working if I could do it without endangering horses/me/other roadusers!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top