I'm thinking of changing my 06 MKII 4x4 estate for a MKIII scout. Has anyone got much experience of towing with both and is the MKIII much better? DSG Vrs Manual?

 

I've been looking at 2nd hand scouts for a while but as they all seem expensive to me. I've been drawn towards a Passat Alltrack or maybe even a 3 Series X Drive Touring or X3. All three are much more expensive new but only maybe 1-3k more at 4 years old ish. 

 

I got a Scout Auto last year purely because the right ups were so good about them. They were top for towing in one of the caravan mags for three years running. 

Towing is so easy, mine changes gear up and down exactly when needed. 

One guy on another post on this site said, towing with these is so easy you have to remember sometimes that your towing, some thing like that. 

I manged to get one with a car designated tow bar. 

Anyway thats my take. 

I've a superb 4x4 so not a direct comparison. I can comment on the DSG for towing however, having towed a lot of things with manual cars before i got the DSG Superb. I'd say its easier and just better all round than a manual.

 

The only thing I ever do differently to normal driving is to click the selector back to get sport mode on leaving a roundabout sometimes,  just to get up to speed quicker, but I will be honest that isn't really necessary.

 

After 20 years of towing with a manual, I won't be going back to one any time soon.

 

I'll admit having the 280 petrol does help with towing too, but the above is exactly right, you have to take care to remember you are towing sometimes especially with smaller trailers.

 

Good to hear people are all fans of the DSG for towing. My MKII has a very low 1st gear (Annoying in normal driving) which helps out a lot on the slipway launching boats and I think the 1st on the DSG is lower than the 1st on the MKIII manual scouts. What do you tow with your Scout NZ100?

 

I sometimes have to drop off the end of the slipway onto gravel, rocks, seaweed and mud etc depending on the tide and my MKII 4x4 with the rough road pack just clears it without grounding. Basically I need to decide if I can live with a little less ground clearance and sometimes waiting for an hour or two for the tide.  

 

Superb 280 has been on my radar for a while but lack of a lifted 4x4 model and the high prices 2nd have put it in the cross hairs of a 330 or 335d X drive touring which is plentiful on the used market. I'd struggle to fit the superb in my garage too without getting rid of all my storage racks at the back.

 

Still love the old MKII but fancy a change after nearly 10 years, managed 900 miles in a day recently towing 1300kg with no problems which isn't bad for car just coming up on 15 years old.

Hi M, i have a Eriba 320gt. Its not a big van but i got it when i had a 1.9tdi Roomster manual. 

60mph on cruise control on the motorway, you just have to sit there and steer(ok there's a little more to it) but you get what i mean. 

4 hours ago, MarkyTDI said:

I sometimes have to drop off the end of the slipway onto gravel, rocks, seaweed and mud etc depending on the tide and my MKII 4x4 with the rough road pack just clears it without grounding. Basically I need to decide if I can live with a little less ground clearance and sometimes waiting for an hour or two for the tide.  

 

Superb 280 has been on my radar for a while but lack of a lifted 4x4 model and the high prices 2nd have put it in the cross hairs of a 330 or 335d X drive touring which is plentiful on the used market. I'd struggle to fit the superb in my garage too without getting rid of all my storage racks at the back.

 

 

Comes with a caveat that mine is a Sportline so its 20mm lower than stock. Ground clearance would be an issue I think. I have had mild issues just on Scout campsite fields with mine. I do have the luxury of t'missus's  towbar fitted Karoq which I sometimes pick in those circumstances.

 

I have recovered a RIB with my Superb without issue, but the dive group have a 4.8m steel beam with a hitch on one end and a ball on the other so I was 5m from the slippery bits and the slipway is smooth concrete. I wouldn't even try it on a lot of slips that a proper lifted 4x4 wouldn't even notice.

 

On road towing with the 280 is really good, can't fault it at all.

 

I tow a 2020 Xplore caravan with a 2017 1.5TSI DSG Hatch and, as a poster above said, I too sometimes almost forget the caravan is there so good is the Octavia for towing.

 

Before I bought the 1.5 I had a 2 litre TDI DSG Estate also excellent towing vehicle although towing or solo the hatch gives the better ride.

On 07/08/2020 at 14:24, edwards said:

 

Comes with a caveat that mine is a Sportline so its 20mm lower than stock. Ground clearance would be an issue I think. I have had mild issues just on Scout campsite fields with mine. I do have the luxury of t'missus's  towbar fitted Karoq which I sometimes pick in those circumstances.

 

I have recovered a RIB with my Superb without issue, but the dive group have a 4.8m steel beam with a hitch on one end and a ball on the other so I was 5m from the slippery bits and the slipway is smooth concrete. I wouldn't even try it on a lot of slips that a proper lifted 4x4 wouldn't even notice.

 

On road towing with the 280 is really good, can't fault it at all.

 

I had an Octavia MKI before the 4x4 so I know I can survive without the extra clearance but it is good to know its that bit more capable when you need it to be. The small lift and a metal sump guard make a huge difference, It is about a 7-8 inch drop off the slip and taken at a slight angle it does not ground out. 

 

I think much of my problem is wanting an engine a little more interesting than another 4 pot TDI hence the 280/330d/ X3 30d thoughts. If I went for another 2.0 Diesel then It would be between the Scout and a Alltrack but I think the Alltrack looks better value 2nd hand really. 

 

 

Scouts do seem to hold their money a bit.  Ive had two MK2 and one MK3 and all were manuals.  I only towed a little trailer so probably not much help, the 4wd is different and you get the off road button on the MK3 Scout which may be beneficial for you.

Edited 10 August, 20205 yr by ScoutCJB

I don't have a Scout but can vouch for the general towing performance of the mk3. Mines a medium size caravan (1420kg max) and having loaded it correctly to achieve the 75kg nose weight, so far, I have had no stability issues.