Pls Help! Towing weight woes!!

[cm2581]

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 may only be capable of towing 1.7 tonnes!!! Therefore it is totally useless for towing my horse trailer with two big horses 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. Does anyone know where or how I could find out for certain what the towing capacity is? 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!! :-(

[lacroupade]

towing weight for the automatic is much lower than the manual and exceeding it will shag the gearbox eventually.

Its 2800 kgs on the manual and around 1750kgs on the auto from memory.

And if you specified the requirement during negotiations then the contract of sale is invalid.

[cm2581]

so how easy is it to remove the towbar I had fitted?!!! I suppose i'll just have to suck it up and loose the £168 for the two new tyres I put on it!

[lacroupade]

Originally Posted by cm2581

so how easy is it to remove the towbar I had fitted?!!! I suppose i'll just have to suck it up and loose the £168 for the two new tyres I put on it!

six bolts and chop the wiring as close to the bodywork as possible.

As for tyres, potentially, unless you can swap them somehow, its a loss. Any chance the tyre depot still has the old ones at this time of year? For £10-20 to swap them its worth it? But see what the garage says first, they may wriggle a lot, especially if its the salesmans word against yours.....

[lacroupade]

http://www.parkers.co.uk/advice/Towi...px?mode=choose

Its actually only 1700 kgs.

and thats braked....

[cm2581]

Thanks for your help! It's a pity - it's a great car!! I just really need it to tow!That's why I bought it! But it is great in the snow! Will speak to trading standards before I speak to the garage and see what they say.

[lacroupade]

Originally Posted by cm2581

Thanks for your help! It's a pity - it's a great car!! I just really need it to tow!That's why I bought it! But it is great in the snow! Will speak to trading standards before I speak to the garage and see what they say.

Right thing to do, but they should tell you the same - if you specified a technical requirement clearly during negotiations and that requirement turns out not to have been met, then the contract has not been met and is invalid. But making that happen in the real world is a different kettle of fish, especially with a motor dealer who has banked his profit. You may need to be persistent, depends how reputable the dealer is.

But you are in the right and this is a significant enough issue, not like say expecting leather seats and getting cloth instead; this issue makes the vehicle unfit for purpose.

How much did you pay out of interest? The amount could mean that Small Claims Court is the best option.

[briggie]

just done a bit of searching .... it seems nissan japan are very customer focused , unlike nissan europe and nissan uk .

worth an e mail ?

http://www.nissan.co.jp

[briggie]

http://www.nissanpress.co.uk/press_s...sions_2003.pdf

[lacroupade]

Originally Posted by briggie

http://www.nissanpress.co.uk/press_s...sions_2003.pdf

actually while that link doesn't cover the 2.7 auto it DOES confirm that internet data for the 3.0 ltr is wrong and that, like the 2.7, the 3.0 ltr auto version has a LOWER towing weight.

[Deleted account DD]

This is getting surreal and possibly for some a bit disappointing

[rustic]

Originally Posted by briggie

http://www.nissanpress.co.uk/press_s...sions_2003.pdf

This states gross trailer weight for automatic is 2000kg
Maximum load on hitch is 120 kg.

What happens to the weight on the rear axle if 120 kg is placed on the hitch, since this is behind the axle, it may increase rear axle load by say 150 kg, and reduce front axle by 30kg. ( leverage effect).

The trailer axle weight(s) will now be 2000kg - 120 kg. = 1880 kg

So if only axle loadings are looked at, there could be an overloading of the rear axle on the vehicle. Do any of us consider this when towing?

Or is this a reason the law allows a percentage overload before prosecution.

Would the law disconnect the trailer to weigh it or use axle loadings?

If ever you are weighed on a Public weighbridge it must be trade approved and in calibration, check their certificate at the weighbridge.
If not approved they cannot use the weights in court.

[briggie]

if you look under " dimensions " on the following link , it gives some interesting figures

http://www.lestacarcentre.co.uk/used...01050375342294