Why has the Vauxhall Insignia, which suffers DMF and clutch faults, been selected as 'Car of the Year'?

Can anyone explain to me why the Insignia was awarded the 2009 "Car of the Year Award"? The more I read about faulty Vauxhall DMFs and clutches, the more I despair. A pity the senior management didn’t...

Buy parts now, or wait til they fail?

I purchased the Mondeo on your recommendation new in 2004. I have been very pleased overall with the car. It's reasonably ecomomical, fast enough, comfortable and spacious for its size and I want to...

Buying back my company car

I am retiring in January next year, my current company (lease) car (Skoda Octavia L&K Estate 20. DSG) expires when 4 years old in December. Mileage at that point will be around 32,000. I am considering...

Does my Volkswagen Passat DSG have a dual mass flywheel?

I have a Volkswagen Passat diesel with DSG gearbox. I believe that you have suggested that there is less likelihood of damage to a DMF with an automatic gearbox. Does this apply also to a DSG? You have...

Do our Jaguar X-Type diesels have DPFs and how do they work?

When my wife's 12-year-old BMW needed replacing she was delighted to acquire an 18-month-old Jaguar X-Type diesel. The car joined my own 9-year-old petrol X-Type, which is still going strong after 120,000...

A new mid-sized car

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...

DPFs and DMFs still an issue?

I've read with interest your advice regarding low mileage and the problems with DPFs and also your view of the potential expense of failing dual density flywheels etc. for diesels - would these be issues...

Faulty Gear Change

My daughter kept complaining about driving along a dual carriageway, approaching a roundabout and not being able to select any gears at all, works fine around town and short trips on Motorway / Dual carriageway. I...

Noisy clutch

Recently when I change gear (any) it makes a kind of clicking (well makes some sort of noise which is hard to explain) noise everytime i change gear. The car seems to be running fine, but I am worried...

Shifting problems

Do I have a transmission problem or a "dual mass flywheel" problem if the engine over revs when shifting from 2nd to 3rd? It's also noticable once and awhile from 3rd to 4th? Seems to stick in 2nd and...