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Quote: Originally posted by Big Al on 21/11/2009

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 hey its alot quicker than the old smoker I used to own !

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Yes Jon

but for the last 4 years I have pulled shed loads of cars Caravans Motorhomes and the odd land Rusty Rover out of the mud on many occasions

So I have kept my tow strap and shackles and put my tow pin in my glovebox ready !

Regarding DMFs - a lot depends on the usage. I have heard of them lasting well - if you get one from new and do not regularly 'launch' it (Petrol-head-speak) it should last a long time (but if I ever got a used car with one, if it ever failed I would get a one-piece flywheel fitted). The main reason quoted for their intruduction was the very high torque of modern diesels; I still can't justify that as the heavy-duty clutches I have seen all seem to have quite robust shock springs in them.

As for other matters - on my Focus I had and on my current Rover I blanked off the EGR which has resulted in nice clean intake and only a slightly longer warm-up time in the winter months. At 132k plus miles no smoking under any acceleration and the two MOTs have shown excellent smoke test results. AFAIK even the latest diesels have blanking or bypass kits available. However, I am still apprehensive of the occasional problems people experience with, for example, some sensors and injectors. I reckon that up-to-date cars should not have to suffer with such things considering that the engine in my Rover is archaic by modern standards but is on all the original sensors (well, those that are fitted, not many!) and injectors. Progress? Bah...

Pete

PS and autos - how about £200 for the VAG DSG transmission oil change every 80k miles (so I am led to believe) Either very expensive oil or high labour charges....

diesel all the way for me better mpg both towing and solo

 just as quick as a petrol on take off and over taking

Got a Omega TD estate. Also got a 2.2 Omega petrol saloon.........it's got to be the diesel everytime for towing, for power and economy.

Mick

Our previous Frontera diesels had lots of torque,pulled several FWD cars off wet pitches.

Our current Sorento has loads of mid range power and will easily get you into trouble if you don't watch your speedo!

We tried a Volvo XC60-they have some power(2.4TD) expensive though!

Petrol wise, I have had a 73 Land Rover 2.25, slow but would tow all day at 50mph, then a Range Rover 3.5 efi -that had some grunt and a thirst to match!

Ultimate for me is Range Rover TDV8.

We tried a RR sport with a twin axle Swift on the back at the NEC show a couple of years ago-awesome!!! ( Lot of cash to buy and run though!)

Quote: Originally posted by Petemate on 23/11/2009

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Regarding DMFs - a lot depends on the usage. I have heard of them lasting well - if you get one from new and do not regularly 'launch' it (Petrol-head-speak) it should last a long time (but if I ever got a used car with one, if it ever failed I would get a one-piece flywheel fitted). The main reason quoted for their intruduction was the very high torque of modern diesels; I still can't justify that as the heavy-duty clutches I have seen all seem to have quite robust shock springs in them.

As for other matters - on my Focus I had and on my current Rover I blanked off the EGR which has resulted in nice clean intake and only a slightly longer warm-up time in the winter months. At 132k plus miles no smoking under any acceleration and the two MOTs have shown excellent smoke test results. AFAIK even the latest diesels have blanking or bypass kits available. However, I am still apprehensive of the occasional problems people experience with, for example, some sensors and injectors. I reckon that up-to-date cars should not have to suffer with such things considering that the engine in my Rover is archaic by modern standards but is on all the original sensors (well, those that are fitted, not many!) and injectors. Progress? Bah...

Pete

PS and autos - how about £200 for the VAG DSG transmission oil change every 80k miles (so I am led to believe) Either very expensive oil or high labour charges....

Post last edited on 23/11/2009 14:41:27

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Pete - VAG DSG is not an auto, but essentially a robotised twin clutch manual, so you still have clutch issues.  A full auto should irradicate these.

As an example, if you have a Zafira 120 bhp diesel you have a 100 kg higher tow weight if you plump for the auto.

Re the extra sensors, blame the tighter EU emissions laws, I too doubt that Euro IV and Euro V rated engines will do the 500k miles that were possible 10 or so years ago.

Quote: Pete - VAG DSG is not an auto, but essentially a robotised twin clutch manual, so you still have clutch issues.  A full auto should irradicate these.

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