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• Citroen DS3 - New small car - shortlist help 5 Mar 2016 (Forum)
  . - probably only 6,000 a year if that (and not as many long journeys as I used to, so worried about DPF or EGR problems creeping in). I'm torn between going with something (hopefully) reliable and I suppose fairly dull (was thinking Toyota Yaris Hybrid) or something a bit different with a kick to it (e.g.
• Mazda CX-7 - Mazda 2.2 diesel issues 30 Oct 2015 (Forum)
  We're seeing more and more of these now - seems to be a real problem". Really? (Shame it's out of warranty) 2. Flashing DPF light which diagnostics have revealed is a stretched timing chain, "sorry sir, that's a £1000 repair for new chain & tensioners - we're getting more of these recently". Really? Hang on - CHAIN not belt, surely that's life of the engine?
• Reliable diesel for a budget of 4k? 20 Sep 2015 (Forum)
  (the kia felt sluggish today, it may just of been a bad example though). I almost went for another ford again but don't like the sound of the 1.6 engines with dpf and various other issues. I guess Hyundai i30's could be an option? Many thanks and apologie for the length of the post, I'm really hoping for some decent help.
• Audi A4 TDI 143 S Line 2008 onwards - buying advice 4 Jul 2014 (Forum)
  Hi John I am keen on getting a Audi a4 s line 2008 onwards tdi model. looking to spend 10k I have seen many examples on trader and elsewhere...couple of concerns hope someone can answer when exactly does the cam belt, tensioners and water pump need changing on this car ? mileage wise Are there any DPF issues I should be aware of ? some of these cars seem like spaceships 4 year old models with 150,000+ miles on the clock, suspect they are sales people driving these up and down the country is these anything specific I should be looking out for ?
• Mazda 3 - Skyactiv 2.2 diesel engine-low mileage suitability 17 Apr 2014 (Forum)
  However, I've come across a number of HJ comments (see links below) reassuring potential buyers that the new Mazda 2.2 Skyactiv diesel engine should not suffer DPF problems thanks to its exhaust manifold in head configuration. I have a choice between an automatic 120 PS petrol Mazda 3 2014  and a manual 2.2 150 PS diesel. The cost is about the same but the petrol comes with leather interior.
• VW Golf Estate 2.0 tdi 2009 - EGR 20 Feb 2014 (Forum)
  The car has 46.5k miles on the clock and has been regularly serviced at a main dealer. In August 2012 there was a fault with the DPF regeneration, which was fixed under warranty. Otherwise, nothing else to report. The car is regularly used on motorway/main road runs and infrequently for short, or traffic snarled hops. I have been in discussion with VW Cutomer Care, who admit that this fault usually occurs at mileages around the 100k mark, so my car is unusual.
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  How much should a replacement cat converter cost? 13 Oct 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I have been quoted £2000 to replace the catalytic converter on my Toyota Verso by a main dealer - is this a fair price, It seems a lot.
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  diesels 8 Jan 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I'm looking for a second hand car - a smallish but stylish family hatchback - and am keen on diesel's mpg and torque but am mindful of the cautionary...
• Audi A3 1.9 TDI - Shudders at speeds over 65 mph 10 Sep 2012 (Forum)
  Hi I bought a used 2008 Audi A3 1.9 TDI mid June from an independent dealer, it's an ex fleet with a full Audi service history and 79,000 miles. I've got copies of the history from the fleet company and DPF and cambelt have been replaced on schedule. Within a week of buying it a slight shudder was happening over 60 mph and the brakes were knocking too. The garage replaced the warped brakes straight away and a few weeks later all 4 tyres were replaced - garage was saying that the back tyres had been worn in a way that was causing the vibration.
• Merc B class - Manual -v- Automatic, Diesel -v- Petrol 7 Aug 2010 (Forum)
  Every 2 months it will get an 80 mile motorway run. Total about 6,000 miles/year. Even so, the salesman insists that there are no problems (DPF or glow plugs) with modern Merc diesel engines and that as petrol and diesel cars cost the same, the diesel works out cheaper to run. We’d be very grateful for any advice on those two questions for the B class: Manual –v- Automatic Petrol –v- Diesel   With many thanks    
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  Why is the EGR on our car repeatedly getting blocked? 11 Apr 2025 (Ask HJ)
  My son's 2019 Ford Focus 1.5 diesel shows an EGR restricted flow light every 8000 miles. We clear this by dismantling and clearing a metal mesh filter...
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  Is the Vauxhall 1.6 CDTi engine reliable? 29 Sep 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I am debating getting an Astra 1.6 CDTI but have heard some horror stories regarding the chain rattle and DPF issues on this engine. Am I just seeing the...
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  What is the best replacement for my Skoda Yeti? 23 Aug 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I need to replace my 2012 Diesel Greenlife Skoda Yeti, mainly because of the ULEZ ruling and worries with the DPF due to low mileage. I have tentatively...
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  Can you recommend a petrol hybrid under £40,000 for towing? 10 Oct 2022 (Ask HJ)
  I currently drive a 2016 1.6-litre diesel Nissan X-Trail doing about 10,000 miles a year in total, of which 75 per cent is short urban journeys, the remainder...
• Skoda Karoq - Possible Purchase 30 Jun 2021 (Forum)
  However it's a big heavy brute and you just don't get that impression that there are supposed to be 200 horses there.. Especially with the annoying turbo lag that is has, and I read somewhere that the DPF strangles it (don't know if true or not) our 2017 2.0d Focus ST rated at 180 BHP had way more torque and felt a lot more powerful . However I have grown used to it so I know what to expect from it.  But I can see some big bills coming up soon (DPF is getting clogged up, the rear ARB bushes are mentioned by the garage as to need replacing in the future) and I can seem to get a good price for the Mondeo, so now is as good a time as any.
• Volvo V60 - Mad to buy a used diesel? 30 Jul 2020 (Forum)
  My commute is short (about 15 miles each way) but is 90% motorway and I don't tend to do lots of short trips so I don't see DPF problems being a major worry. What I'm not sure on are: Increased servicing costs - do diesels actually cost more to service as a rule, or do they just have more to go wrong in terms of DPF, EGR valves etc?
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  Which cheap car will be best for my 80-mile commute? 21 Nov 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I need a car for my daily commute of 80 miles. The journey is packed with traffic and usually involves a lengthy motorway crawl. I'm thinking I need an...
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  Is there an inherent oil pump defect on the Mazda CX-5? 25 Jun 2018 (Ask HJ)
  My wife has recently purchased a second-hand Mazda CX-5. We now have an oil pressure warning light (which sounds a serious problem) and despite two oil...
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  Should I trade-in my diesel Volkswagen Passat for a petrol model via a scrappage scheme? 8 Nov 2017 (Ask HJ)
  My Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 TDI is six years old with 55,000 miles done, in good condition and DPF in good order. When would be sensible to replace...
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  Why does our diesel Nissan X-Trail need work done because we don't drive it enough? 8 Nov 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I was sold a brand new Nissan X-Trail diesel almost two years ago. I told the dealer that we only travel around 8000 miles a year and now I'm being told...