Small automatic car that can be flat towed

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MartinS889

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My wife is thinking of buying a new car to replace her 17 year old Skoda Fabia VRS. We are wondering if we should aim for one that can be flat towed behind the motorhome. Any thoughts on a smallish automatic that is good for flat towing? I think electric cars are a non-starter as I do not think they can be flat towed. I am assuming that conventional automatics can be flat towed in neutral. Is that correct?

Martin
 
True aotos cannot be towed, but there are a few of the "robotised" gearbox type that can, Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 / 108, Skofda Citigo, Towbars to Towcars, are a good source of info on this question, and they have a good selection
just trying to help
Joe
 
I also believe Smart Cars are OK to be flat towed, as they are really manual gearbox with electronic operation.

Geoff
 
My 2016 was certainly OK, obviously not sure about latest versions. Great little pocket rocket, wish I still owned it.

Geoff
 
donkey said:
I also believe Smart Cars are OK to be flat towed, as they are really manual gearbox with electronic operation.

Geoff
Click to expand...
Lenny HB said:
Not the later ones I think Minxy knows which ones.
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AFAIK the older style ones are okay so long as they are correctly set-up (ignition in correct position etc) so as not to cause issues, as for the newer style ones, some say you can other says not, whether this depends on pure manual or semi-auto/auto I'm not sure as it's not something I'd ever do anyway so have never delved into it in any detail. There have been threads on the forum though about towing the new style one so a search may find them.
 
From what I understand the only safe to tow smart is a 451 the others will tow its not recommended

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Hi
We have a 2021 Aygo automatic. Can it be fitted with an A frame and towed for UK use?

Thanks in advance.
Kev
 
As pappajohn said, traditional autos with a torque converter need the engine running to keep the oil circulating to prevent it cooking when towed.

What about CVTs and DSGs?
 
We have been using a VW up auto for the last 4 years
IMG_1146.jpeg
 
There are now a number of micro cars on the market, and more are arriving every year.
Like most new vehicles, they are all EV's

There are also an increasing number of companies producing trailers for small EV's some of which fold flat for storage

As my next new car is liable to be a small or micro EV, I'm seriously going to be looking at a matching folding trailer for it so we can take it with us.
 
MartinS889 said:
My wife is thinking of buying a new car to replace her 17 year old Skoda Fabia VRS. We are wondering if we should aim for one that can be flat towed behind the motorhome. Any thoughts on a smallish automatic that is good for flat towing? I think electric cars are a non-starter as I do not think they can be flat towed. I am assuming that conventional automatics can be flat towed in neutral. Is that correct?

Martin
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Normal Aytomatics can not be towed full stop,The likes of the Toyota Aygo have an automatic clutch.and can be towed,I have one and iI have towed it several thousand miles,The only thing is you must make sure it is in neutral if not when you tow it it will spin your engine and probably destroy it.Several people have done that.just be very careful.

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Brains said:
There are now a number of micro cars on the market, and more are arriving every year.
Like most new vehicles, they are all EV's

There are also an increasing number of companies producing trailers for small EV's some of which fold flat for storage

As my next new car is liable to be a small or micro EV, I'm seriously going to be looking at a matching folding trailer for it so we can take it with us.
Click to expand...
FYI:
A pair of Harley's (250 to 400 kg, each) are heavier and bigger than one EV microcar such as the Microlino (600kg)
So I'd have thought it would not take a lot for the manufacturers of folding motorbike trailers to adapt the bed to (also?) take a micro car.

It looks like an untapped market at the moment.
 
Suzuki Ignis, CVT but great little car. We tow it on a trailer, and it can also take a tow bar.
 
Towing with an A frame is fine in the UK. But in most of Europe, isn't it technically illegal?
 
Brains said:
To resurrect a 3 year old thread:

By default most automatics can't be flat towed.
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I think the Aygo the OP is asking about, and which he already owns, is apparently already being flat towed by other funsters in automatic form.
 
I've been towing my 09 reg Smart car for 6 years, it's a dream on an A frame.

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Guigsy said:
Towing with an A frame is fine in the UK. But in most of Europe, isn't it technically illegal?
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No, because adding a A Frame turns the car legally into a trailer, and they're not illegal to tow in the EU.
From LNB Towbars...

Is My Towcar Legal In Europe?​

Some European countries have local laws that state you may not tow a motor vehicle
with another motor vehicle unless you are driving an authorised breakdown recovery vehicle.
  1. You will not be towing a motor vehicle. You will be towing a car that is converted to a trailer. That complies with all European trailer legislation. That is identified as a trailer by the reflective triangles, the towing vehicle’s number plate, the brakes operated solely by braking in the towing vehicle, and the lights duplicating that of the towing vehicle.
  2. Local laws (not European laws) apply if you are a resident and have lived there greater than six months, or if your vehicle is registered in that country. In which case A-frame towing would be illegal.
  3. If you are travelling/holidaying for less than six months in that country then: no state has the power to reclassify a vehicle travelling from another state. As a visitor from another state you are legal under the powers of international traffic as defined in the Vienna convention, as long as your combination of vehicles are legal in your home country.
  4. Your local police officer may not be familiar with international traffic and far more familiar with their local laws, and as such it is possible you may get stopped. This is why we provide translated documents explaining what you are towing and its legality, to produce if needed. The reality is that far fewer people are stopped than is suggested by word-of-mouth and internet posts. And often the people that are stopped are either not compliant and therefore rightly stopped, or are stopped for some other reason.
  5. Despite installing hundreds of A-frames each year, we have only a couple of our customers being stopped abroad. One situation was because they had a brake light out on their towcar. After the light was sorted and the police officer was shown the braking system working, they were permitted to continue without a problem. Another was the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which upon presentation of their provided international traffic documentation, the towcar was permitted to continue. The truth is we get far more reports of successful trips passing numerous authorities without being stopped. The law is on your side if you do things properly. As a holidaymaker staying less than six months in a European country YOU ARE LEGAL provided your A-frame system complies with the required trailer legislation to be legal in UK.
 
Freerace said:
Hi
We have a 2021 Aygo automatic. Can it be fitted with an A frame and towed for UK use?

Thanks in advance.
Kev
Click to expand...

Kevin,

The answer is yes. The Aygo has a 'dry' automated gearbox, and can be towed (do not tow with a 'wet' automated manual). The dry ones are the Aygo, Citroen C1, Pug 108 (all from the same stable) and the Fiat 500.

We towed an Aygo automated manual (also known as semi-automatic) behind our last motorhome for about 4 years. Conversion done by TB2TC at Grimsby. Never a problem.

PXL_20230515_093109640 (1).jpg
 
nexxo698 said:
No, because adding a A Frame turns the car legally into a trailer, and they're not illegal to tow in the EU.
From LNB Towbars...

Is My Towcar Legal In Europe?​

Click to expand...
The popcorn emoji is for LNB not you, they've been spouting that for years but it doesn't wash in mainland Europe, you cannot tow another motorised vehicle with another in many of the countries regardless of what LNB say.
 
Have towed my Toyota Aygo thousands of miles without any problems because it has the MMT gearbox which was stopped in 2021. There are some good low mileage ones about in the 2020 vintage.
BW Gover
 
I have a semi automatic citiego no intentions of towing but it is lovely to drive and surprisingly easily fits 4 adults they are like hens teeth though and a few dodgy ones about

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