It seems silly to me to compromise fuel economy, comfort, parkability, etc on a vehicle that you 're in every day, just so it can excel at something like 8-12 days/year. Keep the tow pig. It's the right tool for the job, even if the job doesn't come up super frequently.
Can't believe that nobody has mentioned it yet, but just get rid of the wife. You'll instantly be down to 2 rigs, maybe even 1.
mtn - your situation is why we own a 2015 Explorer, that replaced a 2007 Explorer, that my wife drives about 50 miles a day to work and to pick up the kids most days. The Explorer is the travel vehicle, dog vehicle and tow one of several boats vehicle. There are rare times I wish it was an Expedition to gain a bit more interior space, but rare. Wife actually prefers driving this to driving the car. I did the math on fuel and have gotten into several arguments with others about the true cost of fuel economy. If you aren't a pizza delivery driver, don't have trouble rubbing 2 nickles together, or aren't trying to burn as little fossil fuel as you can get away with to save the planet, the delta between 20 and 25 or even 30 mph really isn't worth suffering in a crapcan or paying to maintain the occasional hauler. If I were towing a 28' RV or something, I'd demand a real truck that might end up being a 3rd vehicle.
I was driving about 100 miles a day and bought a 2012 Sonata for that purpose (that now has 118K on it). I'm now driving 25 miles a day, but still drive the Sonata. I do have a 3rd vehicle, a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 189K miles on it that will go away when it eventually dies or rusts back to the earth. I can't justify killing it yet. I probably won't replace it until my now 8.5 year old is closer to driving age.
The limiting factor, in her mind, is money. In real life it isn't, but she isn't good with finances and freaks out when she thinks of three cars. Keep in mind, she grew up in a family of Toyota's. She's not all bad and does not consider my passion asinine--she is trying to convince me to buy a new Miata as my only car, but I just can't stomach the depreciation. I think about things differently. A well bought 4Runner, Bronco, or Blazer can be had for $3-4k and not have much if any depreciation. Same goes for a Miata. Total cost to own then is just maintenance, insurance, and registration (yes, that is a simplification). But she just sees another thing to potentially break. I see "insurance" for when that thing breaks. But we're not going into the shoe's. I'll lose that one too, as I have more shoes than places to put them; hers at least all fit on her shoe rack. At last count I am at around 14 pairs of dress shoes.
I'm just saying, I'm insulted for you for it being called asinine. I once dated a girl in college who made a statement to the effect of 'motorcycles are dangerous, you shouldn't do that.'
That was our last time hanging out. Current gf (of 5+ years now) fully supports whatever toys I have since they make me happy and I spend less on them than she does on the payment of her Crosstrek. Hell, I even bought her an NA a few weeks ago to drive this summer.
If it's really a matter of money, then just lay out the finances. An NA miata and a cheap tow rig costs far less than the average car payment, no matter how you spin the numbers. They're fully depreciated and a tow rig that's not driven much will need a proportional amount of maintenance (not much). Take it on yourself - "Baby/honey/darling, why don't we just spend the same amount per month on vehicles."
Buy her a $300/mo economy car and then match that with your used tow rig with plenty of cash left over to play with the miata. Boom. Done.
Don't do it. I currently have the problem (my DD, my project cars and wife's vehicle doubles as my tow rig (Sequoia). It constantly turns into a hassle. When I need her truck to tow, she's annoyed and doesn't want to drive my car. Or sometimes she needs the truck the weekend I have to tow, so I have to do a lot of deal-making.
So...first of all the "combo wife's car and tow rig" thing is sure to be a disaster at one point or another when schedules clash.
Secondly....nothing that tows well gets good MPG. And nothing that gets good MPG around town will tow well. And a minivan is a lousy vehicle to tow 5k around with (especially since 5k always ends up being more once all your gear, spares, passengers, etc are counted).
PS: My wife will be getting a Minivan this spring for her needs and I will just keep the paid-off Sequioa as a general utility vehicle. I'm willing to deal with the extra payments/insurance/maintenance to have this arrangement over what we haev right now. It's that much of a hassle.
irish44j wrote: Don't do it. I currently have the problem (my DD, my project cars and wife's vehicle doubles as my tow rig (Sequoia). It constantly turns into a hassle. When I need her truck to tow, she's annoyed and doesn't want to drive my car. Or sometimes she needs the truck the weekend I have to tow, so I have to do a lot of deal-making.
Before I bought the truck, I spent a while investigating the idea of using my wife's minivan to tow my Miata. Ultimately this was the deciding factor -- if I took the minivan and the Miata to the track, she was left with my Audi as the only car available and she hates driving manual transmissions.
If i had to pick a car i've already owned it would be the GS450h. If i had to pick what i think a stereotypical wife (considering i dont know yours) would go for, i'd say the diesel grand cherokee. If i thought you were right on the cusp of getting over the minivan thing, i'd say Pacifica Hybrid!
In all cases i would recommend obtaining strong warranty coverage. 
Can you build it?
The Volvo 740 is a very nice car. It's rated to tow 3300lbs, but I've done way more than that. Swap out the four for a truck V-8 with an overdrive. Should get 25+mpg if you stay out of the throttle.
If you can make 3500lbs do the trick, Highlander Hybrid.
My 6.0 vortex is a hybrid. It burns gas and oil... . 
Ya I know don't quit my day job. I will see my self out.
Tahoe or Yukon Hybrids get 20mpg, combined. If you can find one.
Well, my parents may have just forced my hand. We’ll see what the actual deal ends up being, and I need to crunch some numbers for this, but my dad has been wanting to get a new 4Runner for a while now. That means that moms 4Runner would be available, and knowing my parents, it would be available to me slightly less than trade in price. For a 2007 4Runner that has been meticulously maintained and has brand new tires.
The problem with this is that my wife doesn’t like it—she wants leather (I don’t blame her) and she doesn’t like the color. Frankly, I’m not a huge fan of the color or the seats either. That being said, it probably makes sense at this point for me to take this one, buy the Miata when I find it, and then she just keeps her TSX (or we trade TSX in on something else—Prius or similar).
The current V6 Grand Cherokee tows 6200 pounds. A buddy just bought one to be family truckster / tow beast for race car. fueleconomy.gov says 20/27 mpg for the 4wd V6
LuxInterior wrote: The current V6 Grand Cherokee tows 6200 pounds. A buddy just bought on to be family truckster / tow beast for race car. fueleconomy.gov says 20/27 mpg for the 4wd V6
I had one for a rental for 2 weeks. I averaged 23mpg in it. It was a loaded model with 30k miles. My wife wants one. But, she ain't getting one lol
Buy one of these.
With 440 cu in and a cooler on the Torqueflite, it will tow that much with a proper hitch, although you'd need top rate brake pads if you tow up and down mountains.
Classiest tow car I ever saw locally was a Mk 9 Jag - 4 wheel discs were stock and the engine had been replaced with a Chev V8 and automatic.
This is the idea:
Jensen Interceptor for the win! Tows 40,000 lbs and gets 53 mpg while doing it! 
Ford Flex ecoboost 4500lbs
In reply to mtn: The medium sized SUV's of the early 2000's Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick and Olds variations come the closest. That in line six cylinder is darn near unbreakable, get's 22 running around town and 25-27 on the highway in my hands.. It's pulled my tandem axle enclosed trailer all over the country.
It is a all aluminum 4 valve six with chain driven cams so no timing belt to replace.. the first versions had 270 horsepower while later ones got 285 with all sorts of grunt..
I'm currently turning over my fleet with basically the same requirements, however only one driver. Three uses: commute, tow/dog, track. I have a 99 Miata to cover the last one.
I really don't want to maintain 3 vehicles, but it is the cheapest solution. I'm either getting a 2017 Mustang GT plus a beater truck, or a new Ridgeline. 5000lb is the stated and likely practical limit for a Ridgeline / Pilot. I wouldn't worry about a hill, any modern v6 has plenty of power. Dynamic stability on the highway is the real safety concern for short wheelbase / weak rear spring tow vehicles.
The other thing I considered was the Mercedes Metris. It is like a modern Astro. Can be had in Cargo or Passenger versions. Tows 5000lb. Don't like the turbo gas engine, and I'm guessing it would depreciate like the Hindenburg. If I was fully committed to the bachelor / weekend road trip lifestyle, I'd want one of those in a "crew" version (cargo plus bench) not sold in US, as a mini Sprinter. Motorcycle fits in the back, with a drop down sleeping space above. Low 20s mpg, low $30k cost.
We towed over 800 miles in our Metris this past weekend. Just set the van on cruise and it took care of the rest, never felt under powered on the hills and a lot better passenger experience than my old E350 powerstroke. Averaged 16.5mpg with a 1100 lb trailer 2500lb rally car behind and spares in the back. Expect high 20's if you were just putting a bike in the back and not towing.
V6 Dodge Durango comes close. Gets something like 26 mpg on the highway. 6k towing capacity.
Why not have her drive the sportscar during the week since you're not driving it that often with the SUV as a backup/boat hauler?
The new Honda Ridgeline is rated to tow 5000lbs and achieve 25mpg highway, both with AWD. For me, that's a nice sweet spot for a family hauler, daily driver, work truck and race support vehicle.
It's a stretch but a 1999-2003 Excursion 7.3 Powerstroke thats detuned might work.
BWahahahaahahaaaa!!!! I'm sorry I'll calm down and try to respond in a more civilized manner...........or not
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