Mary is a Peuguet 206 (already mentioned elsewhere.

With regards to the sports car question. I used to tow my A Cat with a Nissan NX (Targa top). People, your boats weight less than 3 adult passengers sitting in the back sit would. You don't need a big car to pull a beach cat.

Yeah, we don't need huge cars to pull our boats but....what about all the gear and stuff, plus gas is replaceable, right??
I am pretty happy with what I tow with, I can manage over 20mpg while still having an SUV with a V-8. I think I have the best of both worlds with my ford explorer.

I have a Ford F250 with the 6.0 liter diesel. I get about 15 m.p.g. on the highway with just the boat if I keep the speed at or below 75. I usually tow a 27-foot 5th wheel (maybe 8,000 pounds) with the boat behind that. It's reasonably comfortable and is a four-door so I can carry the family or crew and still have lots of room for gear. I drove it to Texoma and got 9.5 to 12.5 m.p.g. at 70 m.p.h. It has trailer brakes so control is really good, even with the train, and power is never an issue. I can go way faster than I'd ever want to with all that stuff hanging off the back and I can still pass pretty easily. Without anything on it, I get 21+ on the highway and 16 around town.

I must agree with Scarecrow. You dont need a V-8 or even a V-6 to pull a beachcat. Not even over mountains.. My Ford Focus 1.6liters is sufficient even with a Tornado+tools/spares on the trailer and camping gear in the back. Milage is good even then. But I would not choose a french car for it, Scarecrow <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mary: Check http://www.peugeot.com/en/default.htm for more Peugeots.

Automatic transmissions use about 5% more fuel.

My first car a Mercedes 200 (very used... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />) had a fantastic manual. It gave fuel mileages throughout it's speed range. Best mileage was around 30 mph or 50 km/h.

If there is a headwind, try driving at night as there is normally less wind. This will save fuel and make for a lot less road weave. Also less traffic. Also air is denser, so you have more power.

I have a question. I have never towed my Tiger on the highway but may be doing so next summer. How is it in the wind? Will be using a Toyota Rav4

Mary, the air tabs? www.airtab.com sounds like a great idea. At USD $ 2.50 each, you need 3 per foot, so for a van or truck the investment would be low. Just a matter of having to answer all the people who say... "whas dat?"

So wait, my Mountain Dew bottle is 3 litres and your engine is only 1.6?

Yet again, people telling us that we don't need our big cars.

WE KNOW WE DON'T NEED THEM. WE LIKE THEM AND THATS WHY WE HAVE THEM.

I mean jesus, I drive a 2 door, AWD gas-guzzling SUV thats about as practical as a football bat and I love it to death. I baby it. I sing lullaby's to it at night to make sure it gets to bed ok. It takes $50 to fill it up, but guess what, every penny of it is worth it because my vehicle is part of who I am.

So yeah, I don't need a 3.5 litre forced induction V6 on 32"x12" tires, but I LOVE IT AND YOU'LL HAVE TO PRY IT OUT OF MY COLD, DEAD HANDS YOU COMMIE BASTIDS!

(last line embellished for effect)

Yes yes, I hope you enjoy it just as much when your government buckle in to the pressure and triple the cost of gas, and put extra taxes on all fun cars. I would like to drive the same kind of car as you have, it would be great fun. But I can not afford it, and after some consideration, its not really neccesary either.





Please grow up.

One word...... Methanol
It is now cheaper than fuel. Just don't get caught with it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Steve,

that technology is coming trough here in scandinavia as well (or better Ethanol?). Think about it, destilling your own fuel <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Should make for some really great parties if ethanol is used, but take care to lock your fuel tank.

Your tone rings of jealousy.

HAHA HAHA HA HAHAHA. Man I feel sorry for you.

Wait till they unveil the "Ford Excuse". 37mpg, soda can sheet metal, and the briggs and stratton v2 engine!

I'm in the market actually right now for a H2 SUT. I'll have big gas guzzler and small gas guzzler!

(fwiw, my fiancee drives a 2004 honda accord. Well, she DID until she hit a pothole and bent the frame on the stupid thing)

For the record, Maugan20 does not speak for all of us in the States.

I think gas should stay at, or get above 3$ a gallon. But me thinks we have had this discussion before.

Truely it is a sad day when even my close buddy Jake cannot see the latent sarcasm and over-the-top embellishment of my posts.

Anyone familiar with current tax law? Time was, gas hogs were getting favorable treatment. Maybe that will change and gas misers will get the favorable treatment.

And, what's the smallest car you could tow a beach cat with? Used to tow a H16 with a '78 Corolla.

You will like it a whole lot less when you pay the gasprices we do overhere. ($6.48 for a gallon of gasoline(Euro95)).
Just so that i'm not making this up: http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9006568&contentId=7013213

Do your own math: Currency Converter

Misc. conversions: http://www.onlineconversion.com/

MauganN20: Just how much food does a troll need nowadays? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Since it wasn't apparent that my former posts were meant to be read with a fleck of humor (something thats severely lacking around here btw) here's how I really feel. And no, not every American agrees with me. We're all unique individuals with our own ideas.

1) I drive a gas-inefficient car because I can, and I like it.

2) I can afford to drive it until gas hits about $7 a gallon. Why? Because I work from home and my commute consists of walking to the coffee maker and back to my office.

3) I don't think the government should artificially tax gasoline. People forget that hard-working people like truck drivers, landscape workers, delivery truck drivers, etc depend on *AFFORDABLE* gasoline.

4) *AFFORDABLE* is a relative term. 100 years ago, $50 could buy you a house. Artificially plucking at the threads of the free market economy can have disasterous results. (FWIW, I think the minimum wage should be abolished as well) Gas prices naturally rising to $3 due to market forces is understable, and adaptable; prices naturally inflate over time.

5) I will not be pontificated upon by a snotty, "smartest guy in the room" foreigner who has little, if any idea what everyday life in America is all about. Respectfully sirs, if you want to drive smaller cars, by all means, have at it. But when you sit there and tell me that you hope people "wake up" and tax "luxury" vehicles you need to realize the implications on our economy/society beyond just taking behemoths off the road.

****. People drive what they want/can afford to drive. That's the way it is.
Off to the gas station now...

Maugan I totally agree with your statement regarding humor around here. Seems to me people dont smile very often here. Its funny because I was just thinking about this. People when sailing barely have fun. WHY? Why cant we have fun in the threads as well? What is the big deal?

I drive a Twin Turbo charged V6 500+ all wheel horsepower vehicle as well. I get around 12mpg because of all the stuff I have done to it (I am into cars as well) oh but I dont tow my boat with it YET! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I believe he speaks for all younger, male, unmarried, no kids, "living-life-to-the fullest", extra cash, advertising influenced people in the US.

More power to him! It will make my fuel futures contracts go up... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

As of late, ethanol still takes more "energy" (in the form of fertilizer, tractor fuel, processing energy, etc.) to create than it delivers. There is work to reduce the energy input, through more efficient ethanol fermentation.

Also, without subsidies, it is still more expensive than gas

There is no widespread distribution infrastructure, either.

It is unlikely we will run out of fossil fuel in our lifetime, so the urge to change the system is largely ignored by consumer nations.

Is China developing ethanol? Their energy needs are skyrocketing, and they'd stand to benefit most from starting "fresh" with alternative energy strategies.

Maugan (Tad) is a DINK.

Same here.

*waits till someone asks what a DINK is <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />