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As a taxi operator my vehicle does a high mileage and the Mondeo Mk 2 diesel that I have at present has done nearly 200,000 miles without serious fault. However it is now due for replacement and I am concerned that I may have potentially costly problems with the current practice of manufacturers to use dual mass flywheels. Are any of the makes of medium sized diesel cars less prone to these faults? Or would the purchase of an automatic be a way around the problem?

Asked on 2 January 2010 by W.C., via e-mail

Answered by Honest John
They all have DMFs apart from the latest Fiesta 1.6 diesel that won't be big enough. Yes, a torque converter auto does not need a Dual Mass Flywheel because the torque converter does the same job. But a lot of VAG 'autos' are automated ‘Direct Shift Gearboxes’ and they do have DMFs and DMF problems. Mondeo diesel autos are torque converter.

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