All manufacturers have to specify a maximum towing limit and if there isn't one specified then the car maker doesn't recommend the car to tow - think Cooper S with its central exhaust where any towbar would be.

It still doesn't answer my question as to why the limits are so low. You'd expect a van to be able to pull large weights but these are miniscule.

I've just checked the Ford van website and the van versions appear to all be limited to 1200kg towing, so it's not just the car version. I wonder how many will be used in future years for pulling 2000kg loads of bricks by builders who'll have no idea of its limitations? Ford even offer to factory fit a towbar, which sort of reinforces the belief that it's a good towing vehicle.

I appreciate your points but the low limit is an absolute and nothing to do with the car/caravan weight ratio. Sure there are a number of small caravans available, although recent Eriba Trolls have a 1300kg limit but my point is the Tourneo Connect makes an ideal towcar with masses of storage space and surfaces that will withstand a relatively hard life, but it can only pull less than 10% of the caravans sold in the UK. I'm certain there's a massive towcar market waiting for it, if only Ford would beef it up to pull 1500kg, oh and offered an automatic diesel drivetrains as in option too.

The best offer I've had so far is a discount of 12% for cash and 16% if I take Ford finance.

That equates to £2,200 off a 115PS diesel manual Zetec for cash and £2,950 off for Ford finance. That's £16,295 for cash and £15,545 for finance.

How does that compare to a Berlingo?

I've just checked on DtD and their best price for a 115PS Berlingo is £16,152, so they're close, but the Ford has more luggage space and is a 2013 launched design whereas the Berlingo hails from 2008. Plus it's a Ford.

That looks pricy compared with Perrys advertised prices for 'in stock' models. One at MK is £13,495 though I suspect they'd add someting for the metallic paint that the car is practically unobtainable without.

The 'lingo also has its own towing trap as vehicle's max gross weight plus max towing weight bust it's plated gross train weight. Can only tow up to a tonne wihout losing payload from the car. No way it can tow a 1300kg 6 berth Adria 'van AND accomodate the family of five it can sleep.

I understand this is a French 'thing'.

As to reasons for the Ford's low tow weight I'd suggest structure, weight/balance/traction issues or limitations in transmission (potential DMF troubles).

OK, so I've decided not to tow with a Tourneo Connect, but it still makes an excellent dog van. I've gathered in some good quotes from dealers, but Ford don't play fair.

My wife won't drive anything but an automatic, so I have to get automatics, just in case etc.

Ford, in their wisdom, only make automatic available in the top trim spec., which all reviews agree is OTT and the mid spec would suffice. So when I do the costings an automatic costs more to purchase, costs more to tax AND does v poor mpg. No wonder they appear to have sold none, or at least there are none on Autotrader and if I want one it's a factory order, delivery mid January.

As to the costs - on my mileage the running costs of a TC manual 115PS are £1,250 a year and the full costs are about £4,000 a year. The automatic, on the same mileage, has running costs of £1,750, or 40% more whilst the full costs are £5,350, or a third more. That does seem to be a helluva premium just to be able to avoid using a clutch.