Re: Old scope, new scope, stand alone, pc-based scope...

>>Fact is pretty much ANY car is capable of towing
>>1000-1500lbs. While
>>most cars do have a tow rating in the manual, most
>>dealerships will
>>claim it's not a good idea. That's rubbish.

> I'm driving a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.  Both my car owner's
> manual and
> the dealership say that while the automatic transmission
> version of
> that vehicle is OK for trailer towing, the manual
> transmission
> version is NOT suitable for towing.  I truly wish I had
> known that
> before I purchased the car - I wouldn't have.

There is about zero chance of their claim being realistic.
While getting a load "off the line" may require a bit of
care, once rolling the clutch should not be overly more than
normally stressed by a sensible trailer load. I've towed all
sorts of loads with all sorts of cars over many years and
have had no more problems than common sense would have lead
me to expect. eg I did manage to do some damage to a clutch
once while trying to back a trailer loaded with gravel from
a more or less standing start over an existing gravel heap,
but it would have been a medium miracle not to have.

Long ago I towed a medium sized caravan (maybe not
substantial by US standards) on a 2 week holiday using a
1600 CC car (Ford Mk2 Cortina manual). No problems at all.
Slower on hills than without a caravan :-).

At a quick look the Pontiac Sunfire is far more capable than
the Ford Mk2 Cortina mentioned above. Unless it's US
practice to install clutches markedly inferior to thos used
in rather small cars 30 or so years ago you should be OK if
using common sense.

Another issue with some cars is body stretch, but as in your
case its a manual/auto issue that shouldn't apply there.



        Russell








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