Advice on 2.2 & 3.2 engines & boot space for a extra seat

[Sean-2012]

Hi there iv always been into my vauxhalls and now i require a 4x4 im deciding to go for a 2nd gen Frontera iv been looking at the 3.2s ad i will be towing a caravan and a trailor with some farm gear in but i see quire a few 2.2 engined ones how do these compare are they good for towing or are they a little engine in a big car as i had a Mitsubishi pajero once with the 2.5 and it was the worst underpowered thing in the world so im after some advice really.

Also is there much space in the boot of a Lwb model to add a optional rear seat as i will require a 6th seat some times so i wondered if say a boot seat out of a pajero shogun or a zafira would fit and make it mot safe of if theres a 7 seat conversion i can always think about doing cheers for any info given

[gregster]

There wasnt a boot seat option for the B series fronty I dont think....and I would look into the legal/liability issues surrounding making something fit, as it could get really unpleasant in the case of an accident.

2.2 is ok if well maintained, but loves a headgasket and its party piece involves a con-rod making a bid for freedom through the block...

3.2 is quick and powerful, but juicy and complicated/expensive if/when it goes wrong...more so if its an auto too...

[AskDean]

rear seats for the 3.2 a no no the option 7 seat from the a series are rare as rocking horse doodo and legal as they where never an option for the b series your insurance wont cover you in the event of a crash i looked into this last year and only the a series are classed as having a 7 seat option according to adrimal. just to let you know

if your think 3.2 v6 go for lpg only to make it cheap to run

[adyclemo]

We tow quite a bit and always found the 2.2 petrol a little under powered and when I say tow I don't mean a small caravan etc, 16ft car trailors, horse box etc, 2 years ago we had need to change the engine due to cam belt breaking pretty much scrapping the engine, the new engine performs better than the old ever did but we think we may have put in the older 2.2. The 3.2v6 is a popular choice for towing as is the older 2.8 tractor that will pull anything but is a plodded. We have had the older 2.4 aswell which was awsome for towing and never gave us any problems at all. The 2.2dti is a popular tow vehicle but suffers fuel pump failure. The old 2.3 is a little under powered. The 2.5 seems to get mixed oppinions.

[Sean-2012]

Ok thanks very much for your replies yeah ill be doing some big towing a few times a year with a caravan and some farm stuff. So looks like ill be heading for a 3.2 or a 2.2 diesel then if the fuel pump is ok or has been changed.

As for the option7 seats iv found a company that will make them specific to the car but that depends on price i have seen a couple of frontereas with the option 7 kit fitted one day one may turn up on ebay or something.

Also when i go and look around of of these cars what engine temp should the fan kick in so i know. And is there any common problems with rust around them thanks