I ogled a friend’s cute two-seater sports car today, briefly fantasizing about pulling something like that behind my RV, but I came back to reality pretty quickly.

Some RVers are attracted to the idea of towing a subcompact, such as a Smart car. I don’t find these vehicles practical. I need room for cargo (groceries, renovation supplies, luggage, etc.) and must be able to transport two cats in their carriers. Therefore, I need a back seat and a trunk.

While I didn’t know I would end up towing it, my car is the perfect toad for me. It is a 2008 Hyundai Accent and has the following features:

-A standard transmission that allows me to tow it ‘four down’ without any modifications or a dolly, meaning that my only towing costs were for the baseplate installation. The standard transmission is also cheaper to start with by several thousand dollars;

-It is a three-door hatchback, which gives me all the cargo space I need, but in a smaller package than a five-door version. The front seats slide forward, making it easy for the odd backseat passenger to slip inside. This feature also means that I can get into the back to buckle the cats in, something that I could not do when I had a four-door sedan;

-The car was relatively inexpensive, which makes it easier to accept road dings and self-stupidity;

-This model is very popular, so parts are available all over North America at fair prices and just about any garage can service them.

Hyundais do not have a very good resale value, but when you consider the cost and hassle of getting a tow plate installed, it’s worth trying to drive that car into the ground.

I’m not enamoured with my car (I much preferred my 2004 Accent!), but it suits my needs perfectly and I am grateful that even though it was bought before I made the decision to RV, it would have been my chosen toad anyway.

As an aside, I love the fact that my toad is green. 🙂