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• 1.2 TSI vs 1.6 CR 105 - Skoda Fabia - advice to a colleague 6 Aug 2012 (Forum)
  I asked her "How long are you going to keep it?" About 10 years. I immediately told her about the DPF and DMFs and what they do and how much they cost and how long they last. "But the tax is cheap and it does 67 mpg". I further explained that any tax savings would be gobbled up by maintaining the vehicle and one will not get anywhere near 67mpg - the VED system is based on totally inaccurate data" I asked her why the dealer did not persuade her to go petrol?
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  The emissions fix caused an EGR fault with my Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI - should I push for a FoC repair? 8 Mar 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I've just had the EA189 emission fix on my 2012 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI, 52,000 mileage. Got the dreaded glow coil warning light within 2/3 days of service...
• MPG Petrol & Diesel Figures/Car Economics 17 Nov 2021 (Forum)
  Are the servicing costs higher on a diesel car? What about consumable items I assume they are the same either way ? There is also the dreaded DPF/DMF/EGR issues, or are they overrated? I should add, not in a ULEZ zone. What I am therefore asking is; where does MPG rank in the overall costs of ownership? Is a diesel as economical as they sound for MPG?
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  Is there a diesel PHEV on the market? 5 Jun 2019 (Ask HJ)
  I need to change cars as my working and domestic use is changing. My domestic local use suits an EV but my work use a diesel for a 10,000/30,000 split....
• VW Passat - Scammed by (deleted) 15 Jun 2017 (Forum)
    I paid £2000 for a recon engine in my passat and regretted it badly, the car came back with endless problems which ultimately lead me to trade the thing in for a big loss on what i could have got for it because of all the fault lights up on the dash- DPF filter, glowpugs (engine management), i count myself lucky to have made it to the dealer without breaking down AGAIN!!   The thing kept going into limp mode and cost me loads of money as i kept having to go to my local garage to have the thing seen to.
• Advice on a future used car purchase 31 Jan 2017 (Forum)
  I did consider buying another car last year, but after suffering 'paralysis through analysis' decided to stick with my 07 plate GTD Golf (no-dpf). Sadly the Golf's electrics/central locking is playing up and I'm concerned it may lead to a more serious, show stopping issue. I'm caught in two minds whether to buy something roughly 10 years old - petrol, FSH, maybe 1 owner, a brand/model thats generally considered reliable or go for something like a 3 year old Auris (maybe a Civic) and keep it until it dies - I've always kept my cars a long time, better the devil you know!
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  Volkswagen Scirocco turbo failure 13 Jul 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2012 Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TDI BlueMotion. It broke down last week with plumes of white smoke coming from the exhaust. It was towed back to...
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  Ecoboost vs TSI reliability 10 Oct 2015 (Ask HJ)
  I drive a 2013 Focus 1.6 TDCi with 30k on the clock which is mechanically sound. Though I enjoy a solid 54mpg in mixed driving and expect at least 10mpg...
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  How can you be so dismissive of the problems caused by the emissions upgrade? 1 Apr 2017 (Ask HJ)
  How can you be so dismissive of the problems your readers are reporting shortly after implementation of the VAG emissions upgrade? We know that soot increases...
• Dilemma of dilemmas of dilemmas 2 Feb 2012 (Forum)
  After all, if my situation continued for 4 years, I'd have added a further 100k miles onto whatever I started with. A QUESTION: Does the Toyota 2.0 D4D have a DPF? Do the Hyundai and Kia 1.6 CRDi have a DPF? And then I found the the thread about Ethan Edwards's Nissan Note 1.6 petrol that he'd had converted to LPG by a reputedly-reputable firm. Seems as though if you can get a decent installation, there aren't too many drawbacks, and if the LPG system goes wrong, unlike a complex diesel going bang, you can usually just revert to petrol operation until it gets fixed.
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  Skoda Octavia 1.6 TDI CR or 1.4 TSI which to buy? 6 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I want to purchase a Skoda Octavia and I’ll be grateful for any advice that you can offer on whether to buy a diesel or a petrol model. I’m looking...
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  I have £3000 to spend on a daily driver. What's your advice? 12 Sep 2020 (Ask HJ)
  I'm about to be made redundant, which means handing back the company car. I'll be using the redundancy cash to pick up a sub £3000 car until I find another...
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  I have just bought a 31-year-old Citroen 2CV - how much is it to tax and insure? 13 Aug 2019 (Ask HJ)
  I have just bought a 2CV in good condition. It is 31 years old. How much is it to tax and insure? The MoT advises constant velocity boot deteriorated both...
• Ford C-MAX - C-Max 2016 - 1.5 TDCI, 1.0 Ecoboost or 1.6 Ti-VCT 24 Mar 2019 (Forum)
  We are not going to use the car inside big cities. Pros- Low consumption, low tax. Cons- I'm afraid of the DPF regeneration. My current car doesn't have it, I don't know if driving on the motorway on weekends will regenerate properly or will drive me mad.   1.0 Ecoboost 125HP? I think there is some other version of power, but honestly, the power or tri-cylinder I don't care a bit if it takes me from A to B.
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  My car will fail it's MoT if I put winter tyres on - what's the alternative? 21 Dec 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I've had my Hyundai i30 from new in December 2009. Each winter, I put on my set of steel rims shod with winter tyres with a result that my TPMS amber warning...
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  What SUV/crossover will offer the most comfortable ride and best back support? 11 Jul 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I want a new Crossover/SUV and it has to be a petrol automatic. I'm not concerned about handling or how fast it can go. I'm after a vehicle with the softest...
• Help with replacement car choice 16 Feb 2017 (Forum)
  Has anyone (other than HJ) tried a 1.2 PureTec 308 and like it? Perhaps I should be looking at diesels- we have had two with DPFs and had no emissions systems problems and I will be getting rid at c. 75k-80k miles perhaps before any problems would emerge? The Hyundai has been generally reliable with only two faults fixed under warranty, a failed propshaft bearing and failed reversing camera.
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  Volvo V70 D4 reliability 27 Aug 2015 (Ask HJ)
  My new May 2014 Volvo V70 Diesel (D4 181) has been extremely plagued with faults. The repairs were carried out at two separate Volvo dealers. I was told...
• Ford Focus Saloon 1.6 TDCI - Stumbling whilst accelerating or Cruising - Help 19 Aug 2015 (Forum)
    It has a brand new (12 months or so) DPF and I run it regualrly about once a month in 4th gear to burn of the carbon, because most of its werkly 2xdaily journeys are about 7 miles each. I know, I know. LOL  (Wifes work car). Should have got a Petrol one etc for short journeys.
• mazda 6 diesel 2000cc sport diesel - mazda 6 2008 2000cc diesel noisey engine 13 Aug 2014 (Forum)
  Went to buy some stock from Cheetam Hill approx 13 miles from where I live which is Partington as I got near deatination the DPF light was flashing but car was driving fine so wasnt overly concerned.     On the return journey I came off the m60 was in 2nd or third gear when the car began to accellerate on its own at maximum revs looked at my feet took foot off accellerator and the car was still accellerating put clutch down and coasted to a set of lights approx 800m down the road revs still at what I recall as being maximum, Forgot to mention the clouds of thick black smoke pouring out of the exhaust.