Experience and expertise of Volvo is reflected in its lineup of vehicles. In fact, its reputation has been recognized in the recent towing competition. Volvo V50 D5 Sport was tagged as ‘The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2007′. Said car from Volvo also won the ‘£25,001 to £33,000′. Said towcar competition was joined by 41 vehicle models including rivals from Lexus, Saab, Jeep and Mercedes.

The Caravan Club chairman, Bob Black MBE said, “The Volvo V50 D5 Sport displayed poise and elegance. Its modern good looks will turn heads and Volvo maintains its reputation for quality and safety. The Volvo V50 is a pleasure to drive and it really is a superb towcar. This vehicle is sure to be popular with our members, both as a new and used car in future years.”

In said competition, experts commend V50 D5’s crisp acceleration, smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission, confident brakes, easy to use handbrake and fantastic stability’. These qualities were attributed to powerful Volvo parts which include the 2.4-litre D5 turbodiesel engine. The latter delivers 180PS and with the standard Geartronic transmission can achieve 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds. Its power plant can be controlled to achieve the right torque levels.

“We are delighted to win the Caravan Club Towcar of the Year award. These awards are a great recognition of Volvo’s commitment to developing good towcars and carry a great deal of respect from the public and our retailers,” said Hugh Reid, managing director, Volvo Car UK.

Volvo’s commendable towing capabilities are well known. In fact, it performs towing tests for all its new models. These tests are done both in Sweden and Arizona. Said tests also include measurements and calculations to optimize its towing performance.

Mark Blundell, the former Formula One driver also noted, “It was an eye-opening experience to see how the cars are tested so rigorously and professionally. I am delighted to be involved with The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year competition as caravanning is hugely popular with motorsport fans and thousands of them travel to racing circuits with their caravans as they provide the perfect mobile accommodation for a race weekend.”

My C43 was totaled so I’m trying to decide which car to get for $11 to maybe $16k (fifteen k is probably safer). I’ve been looking at used luxury sedans from 2000 to 2003 for the most part, with 80 to 100K miles. My top choices right now are the 2001 Mercedes e-class and 2001 Lexus gs430. Reliability is pretty important so BMW is out. I love to 03′ e-class but it’s a little out of budget and I couldn’t afford to fix the numerous problems they have. I place highest priority on exterior looks, interior looks and comfort, brand name, safety, and reliability. Sporty is good but luxury is better IMO. A combination is best. What should I get?
Feel free to suggest something other than the 2 cars i mentioned.
Andrew, I'm talking 11,000 to 16,000 not 160,000! A Bentley is way over budget. And a Lexus for $2,000? Uhh…
Hamn, ya I agree on the older Lexus's. Only the newer ones look good. I have a 2008 G35 as a rental, it's amazing bang for the buck. I think they are out of my price range but I will do some more searching.

A Lexus is your best bet especially when it comes to reliability.

Vehicles are more than just heavy steel; it means unleashing torque and horsepower to make a whole new difference in driving. And they are in for a treat! This year, automakers roll out the red carpet to flaunt their power lineup with incredible levels of styling, performance and nuance. For that reason, what wheels are hot for the year 2007?

According to auto analysts, this year is going to be a good year for cars. From trend-setting superminis to breathtaking supercars and everything in between, the needs and whims of the aficionados will certainly be answered. The auto industry is showered by lots of choices and that fact alone makes 2007 a very interesting year.

First on the desire list is the Audi R8 supercar which is scheduled to go on sale this summer. The car is priced at $120,000 to $130,000. It is based on the 2003 Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, not the automaker’s R8 race car. It comes with a striking headlight design that uses LED technology. Audi said the internal reflectors of the new car resemble those found in miniature Sydney Opera Houses. Compared to conventional auto headlamps, LEDs used in the Audi R8 are smaller hence they do not occupy a great amount of space much to the pleasure of Audi designers.

Next on the must-drive list is Volvo S80. Bits of ridiculously sophisticated auto materials are put together by Volvo’s pool of designers to come up with a functional luxury sedan. The all-new sedan from the automaker is equipped with one-of-a-kind features like the in-car heartbeat monitor that alerts the driver through key fob when there is a person approaching the car. Volvo auto parts in the Volvo S80 are aftermaths of meticulous testing to boost performance, styling and safety.

What makes the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG coupe a standout? Enthusiasts say it is the cruise control integrated in it that delivers an autopilot function for stop-and-go traffic. This is Mercedes’ way of aiding drivers to pay attention on the road ahead. The system is equipped with radars to monitor the distance of the car with other cars. The coupe steers, brakes and accelerates when required to trail another car.

Another irresistible lure to auto aficionados is the inclusion of mind-boggling upgrades to the automakers’ lineup. The upgraded models boast improved technology to make fanatics unable to resist. Come Lexus LS Hybrid, a vehicle that runs on gasoline or electricity. The regular version of the vehicle is powered by a V8 engine that produces 380 horsepower. The electric motor in the hybrid version assists the V8 to generate more than 430 units of horsepower. So far, the hybrid version of the Lexus LS is deemed a status symbol of choice.

Lexus is not the only automaker which has the nerve to show off its innovative prowess. Aston Martin, Maybach and Rolls-Royce also exhibited their pride vehicles. Aston Martin boasts of its V-8 Vantage Convertible. Maybach 62 S was also unveiled to create a hot-rod version of the 62 sedan. The Bentley Azure drop-top version is also made more captivating than before.

2007 is a year of remarkable auto innovations that could etch a worthy milestone for the industry. Aficionados clamoring for hot, high-end cars would be very much benefited.

am worried that at this milage parts are going to start needing replacement. are merc spares expensive? does anyone have a high milage merc and experience of how these cars run?

depends on what service history is on the car. Merc engines are generally bomb proof and I believe the diesels have no timing belts only timing chains which is a big plus. good service history at 110,000 would not normally be a problem on a Merc. saw one on e-bay last week an s- class with 244000 miles for £4000

My husband and I are considering buying a used BMW. A local dealership has a great price on a 2002 model, but my husband is having second thoughts because he said we'll spend a lot of money when it breaks down because parts are so expensive. I said BMW are better made, so we won't have to worry about that so much. Any used BMW owners out there want to comment? (I asked the same question of Mercedes owners because we've looked at both).

Both are some of the best cars in the world. That said they both can be very expensive to repair. If you are asking the question then you probbably wouldn't like the repair costs. There are reputable independent shops that work on them for reasonable rates but in general the parts are definitely more expensive. The 3 series bmw has been consistently rated very good for repairs. In the end it boils down to what are you priorities in purchasing a car? If repair cost is at the top of the list then buy Honda or Toyota. If prestiege/unique driving experience is the priority then these high end models are for you. You may want to consider purchasing a used BMW from a BMW dealership because they have a very good used certifacation program.