Towing a 9000

[ksowden1]

How legal/wise/viable would towing a Saab 9000 with a towing brace (not the one man operation one, just a bar rather than a rope) 40 miles with a 4x4 Diesel 1.9 Scenic. The 9000 has no MOT/Tax but has no major faults. However reading the saab manual states with an auto (like it is) no speed above 30 and top ATF fluid up an extra 2 litres. What are peoples opinions with this whole idea....am I being madcap in even suggesting it!

[MikeH]

Legaly I don't think you have a problem,but your gearbox may never be the same again,the same goes for the towing vehicle,the 9000 is a heavy [expletive deleted] and a 1.9 is going to sweat.
mike

[mark e]

I think legally you may have a problem actually if you use a towing brace and don't have anyone in the 9000. You'd be way, way over the towing limit of the scenic.

Rigid towing braces are a good idea to help stop the towed car running into the back of the towing car , but I'd never consider using one for a car that is more than about 75% of the towing car. I'd be more inclined personally with your combination to use a decent tow rope with some give.

Perhaps contrary to what you may think, the only advantage 4wd gives you on the Scenic is prbably more kerb weight. Other than that you're nto going to need the traction and you lose power in it... you should also check on the hill start capability of the Scenic when towing- that info should be in the handbook.

In summary- I wouldn't do it for anything more than a couple of miles as a last resort.

Far better to find yourself a friend with another 9000 (non auto ideally) and get them to tow as the 9000 has a maximum braked towing capability of 1800kg

Mark

[wrighar]

Pay your £35 for an MOT at a garage near you home (book in advance!!!), drive it to the garage, pass or fail and drive it to your home.

Legal I think. (well just about)

Andrew

[markcanderson]

But if it has no Tax.. isn't it the case that it's not allowed to even be on a public road..

Or am I wrong..? (it's been known before )

[JFP]

I must admit i would just drive it (assuming brakes are Ok) if its just that the tax and MOT have run out. Chances of getting stopped ?

If you were a member of the AA and had relay, then depending on what was wrong with it, you could just say it had stopped working.

Having towed cars in the past, personally, I would not tow a big heavy SAAB with a Scenic. The money you save just isn't worth the hassle & potential damage.

[MikeH]

It is legal to drive to a testing center without road tax and MOT,the vehicle must be insured,providing you have pre-booked you are OK,I dont think that you even have to book into your nearest test center.
Mike

[Harvey]

Definitely illegal to tow a car not taxed or MOT'ed on the public highway. It is illegal for it to 'be'on the highway.

I agree with the other negative replies relating to the more technical aspects of your question.

In general, towing using a bar rather than a rope is much the better option imo.

[ksowden1]

All sorted now, thanks for all your replies. It's amazing the varied responses you get!

[MikeH]

So how did you get it to Rugby? First class post?

mike

[gadgeteer]

Bad idea to tow an auto.

The whole thing relies on ATF pressure from a pump on the input shaft.
No engine revs = no pressure = no lube (hence the extra 2ltrs ATF)

Definately wouldn't want to go 40miles.

and BTW - the scenic could pull it no probs.

[ksowden1]

I ended up being abkle to drive it there. The TCS fault on it was strange. It would come on 99% of the time you started the car and would make it run rough (i.e. revs too low) but the one percent you start it and there is no TCS light lit and it runs like a dream, never coming on while you driving it (in fact it never really has ever while we've owned it)...until you turn off the ignition again and restart and then its back to square one. Hopefully ken will be able to to fix it easily and cheaply (finger and toes crossed)