Should I use a diesel or petrol car as a driving school vehicle?

I am a driving instructor and I do about 700 to 800 miles per week. My question is, would a diesel car be better for me? At first glance at my weekly mileage the answer would seem obvious, but here are...

Why does our Volkswagen Polo diesel hold its revs when I lift my foot off the accelerator?

In January this year we bought a new 3-door Polo SEL 1.6 TDI, downsizing from our long-lived, and immensely practical, Saab. In most respects the Polo fits our present needs very well indeed and we have...

What do you think of plug-in diesel upgrades to improve fuel economy?

What is your opinion of plug-in diesel upgrades kits for increased mpg? Bearing in mind the high cost of diesel, are they worthwhile? How many miles would it take to recoup the initial layout cost? If...

I'd like to buy a MINI or Audi A3 for a 14-mile commute - will a diesel be reliable for such short journeys?

Now that a nice lady has written off my Mercedes-Benz SLK I am looking to replace it with a diesel convertible. Due to the weather I haven't been able to test-drive yet, but I like the MINI and Audi A3....

Supermarket Diesel?

My brother has a '10 van that has been running rough, loss of power etc. He returned it to the dealers and they have told him the roughness is due to him using Supermarket diesel (in this case from Tesco's),...

Why don't salesroom staff do more to inform customers about the need to regenerate diesel DPFs?

I’m no great fan of the EU, but I think your reply to GR of Warrington blaming them for the clogging of particulate filters was a bit off the mark. Yes, the EU called for better street-level air quality...

How can I minimise damage to my MINI Countryman diesel's DPF on short journeys?

On 2 December 2010 I bought a diesel MINI Countryman ALL4. This is the first diesel-engined car I have ever bought. I am delighted with it as a car. It is comfortable and the performance is lively and...

Why are short journeys in my BMW 118d insufficient to charge the battery?

I drove to Colchester in my 2008-registered BMW E87 118d on 20 October. The journey of 70 miles return was achieved without mishap. However on 21 October, whilst entering a car park, the malfunction display...

I've had no DPF problems with my Nissan Qashqai diesel over 20,000 miles, despite using it for short trips.

I owned a Nissan Qashqai Acenta 2.0 DCI Turbo for 31 months during which time it covered 20,000 miles. It averaged 40mpg (according to the computer). At no time did I have any issues with the DPF. At each...

I'm thinking of replacing my Mercedes-Benz E280CDI with a BMW X3 - does the X3 have a chain cam and DPF?

I am retired and do approx 9,000 miles per year (mixed miles, mainly short) and am thinking of trading my Mercedes-Benz E280CDI for a new BMW X3. Does it have a chain cam engine, and what about a DP filter?