Will the Porsche Cayenne stop-start system damage the battery or DPF?

A friend is purchasing a Porsche Cayenne diesel with a stop-start fuel saving cut-out facility. Firstly, does this rapidly destroy a battery (with all the re-starts)? Secondly, as a diesel with a DPF,...

I would like to buy a new BMW 520 - should I get a petrol or diesel version?

It is now time to change from my nine-year old BMW 525 diesel. I am retired and do about 4000 miles per year. I do lots of short journeys of around seven miles, with very occasional longer trips. The dealer...

Buying a SEAT Leon - petrol or diesel?

I am buying a new SEAT, but am undecided between buying a Leon 1.4TSI 140 or the 2.0TDI 150. I lean towards the petrol version but plan to keep the vehicle long term and wonder about the potential longevity...

What's the best cleaning products for diesel engines?

The emissions warning light is illuminated on my BMW 5 Series diesel. My local garage has said it is due to carbon deposits in the manifold and wants more than £2000 to clean it. Can I do it myself? I...

Dacia Duster - do they suffer DPF problems?

My husband is thinking of buying a diesel Dacia Duster, but is hesitating because of the DPF - he is a mechanic so is aware of the problems they can cause. He’ll drive around eight miles a day and the...

Audi A7 or Golf GTI?

I am in the market for an up market executive car. I really like the Audi A7 and used values for low mileage example are within our £35,000 budget. The big "but" is that it would mean diesel. We do under...

Is this Subaru Forester a good purchase?

I am considering a 2009 Subaru Forester Suretrac, which I have seen at a local 4x4 Independent Specialist who has a good reputation. The vehicle was previously driven by a company rep and has covered 101,000...

Will the DPF on our new Qashqai develop problems following 20 minute trips?

Despite planning to buy a new petrol car because of our average annual mileage of 8500, we have chosen the Nissan Qashqai 360 1.6 dCi 130PS + with 'stop-start' system. The most regular journey will be...

Can I have the DPF removed from my Volkswagen Golf estate?

A local company has offered to remove the DPF from my Golf estate, reprogram the ECU and leave it looking identical underneath. They claim better mpg and power and, obviously, no blockages caused by short...

Should I buy a diesel Citroen DS3 for short journeys?

I am thinking of replacing my Peugeot 206 with a Citroen DS3 and had been intending to purchase a petrol model. However, the salesman is recommending a diesel on the basis that fuel consumption is more...