I need something that can reliably get at least 30mpg, is low to the ground, and has four doors. Preferably Toyota or Nissan.

I want something that can tow something at least 1800lbs and would need to tow at most 3000lbs.

A prize to whoever can find me a vehicle meeting this criteria.

 

I'm not kidding about this. I'm assuming this is going to be your tow vehicle. So you can use the van to sleep in at the track.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___Vanagon-Westfalia-Camper-Bus_W0QQitemZ330264077463QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330264077463&_trkparms=39%3A1|65%3A7|240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=22047

 

I dont think you'll find anything that will have enough power to tow that much and get 30mpg w/o being a hybrid suv

They are not low, but don't sit very high for trucks/suvs

suggestions to look at:
Toyota Tacoma 4cyl
Chevy Colorado 4cyl
Toyota Highlander hybrid
Subaru wrx (towing might be a little shy
Subaru forester
BMW x3

My best suggestion would be:
Saturn's Vue red line 30k loaded new, sits low for an suv, handle nice and has Hondas v-6
those are off the top of my head

 

Hmm.. how about a Toyota Matrix? They're rated for 1500lbs. (and I imagine a 4WD one will be good for towing, yeah?) and get about 30mpg. It's also low to the ground, which is good for my two older dogs who might not be able to jump into SUV-height stuff in a couple of years.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___2004-62K-DEALER-TRADE-4WD-CIVIC-COROLLA-NO-RESERVE-LOOK_W0QQitemZ150286137197QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150286137197&_trkparms=39%3A1|65%3A1|240%3A1308&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245#ebayphotohosting

I'm a total noob when it comes to towing, so someone help me out and/or tell me I'm a retard whenever applicable.

 

They have ramps that you can use for older dogs so they can get in and out of cars or SUVs. Have you thought of using that and then getting a taller car?

 

I had thought about that, but then I realized that I just hate driving things at SUV height, and like using my older dogs as an excuse.

Plus, those ramps can be a bit... ungainly sometimes.

I honestly considered getting this, and you're right, it would be the tow vehicle for my soon-to-be-race-prepared tC. I'd have no problem just towing it on the front wheels and putting some high treadwear tires on stockies on the back. The only problem is that I just can't see using a van as a daily driver, which is what this would be. I'm beginning to see the complications in using an economical daily driver as a tow vehicle, but I refuse to believe it can't work.

I'm not above mildly modifying something like a Matrix to have the power to tow a 2500-ish lb vehicle, either.

 

Those old VW buses have the best interior I've seen for a van when it comes to something to travel with. If only the motors weren't so small.

You don't mean you want a vehicle that can pull something and get 30MPG do you? I don't think anything can do that, even hybrids.

 

Not with that attitude.

Also, I don't mean getting 30mpg while towing; I know that's ridiculous. I mean something that I can get 30mpg puttering around town in, and can make itself useful on a race weekend (particularly using it as a travel vehicle on-site; trucks are NOT good for navigating tight spaces!).

I really don't want three vehicles, but I really really don't want a truck or SUV that's going to be unwieldy in the city and get poor gas mileage. If I could ride a motorcycle or a scooter without crashing (which I've done, and severely broke my leg and foot), I'd opt for this and a tow SUV/truck... but that's not an option. So I'm trying to find a tow vehicle that's a good city car and won't blow up if I try to tow something with it.

 

supercharged xb.....

 

Get a Rav4 and slam it.

 

Gasp. You actually might have something here; the Rav4, dimensions wise, has a smaller footprint than the tC does... and gets comparable gas mileage to it.

Fascinating. Kind of ruins my plan of having a fun little STS tow car and an FSP race car, though.