What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Taxi collector

I am a taxi driver, currently running a 2004 Vectra 2.0l DTI (chain cam). What car purchased for £5,000 should be the best buy for taxi use. I am wary of dual mass fly wheel problems, and wonder if automatics would be better, but I don’t know whether to go for Toyota, Ford or Volkswagen, or something else.

Asked on 10 September 2011 by TV, via email

Answered by Honest John
If a car has a torque converter automatic transmission it doesn't need a dual mass flywheel. Ford did a Mondeo 2.0TDCI (chain cam) auto. Test here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/ford/ford-mondeo-t.../ (TC later wrote to tell me she had purchased an 2004 Mondeo TDCI 130 Zetec auto with 60,000 miles and service history for £4,500
Similar questions
I've been reading about the problems with dual mass flywheels on diesel cars, but had thought it was only manual models that were susceptible. However, I've since heard that automatics can also be affected....
We want to buy a 3-4 yr old diesel auto and have narrowed the choice down to a Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Ghia or Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI PD Elegance with 12-month manufacturer's warranty. In either case we...
Do you know of any forthcoming changes to VAG diesels, such as chain cam and/or less problematic DPF? Are DMFs used on automatics/DSGs by VAG or Hyundai? Will VAG be introducing the more efficient 7-speed...
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer