Hello, after nine years and 130,000 miles I am thinking about changing my 1.3 Doblo multijet for a new 1.6 Doblo diesel. However, I am getting conflicting advice regarding the suitability of the car regarding the dreaded DPF issue. One dealer has said that I need to thrash it down the motorway every fortnight or so to clear the DPF whereas the handbook seems to imply that it will be regenerated during normal driving. The problem is that I will not be living near a motorway, my minimum journey will be 15 miles each way and I am confused as to whether this will be sufficient to keep it clear. I have looked at the petrol version but found it underpowered and the Ford Tourneo Connect uncomfortable so I am back with the Doblo. Any advice from real world drivers of doblos would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
david

I had mine for over a year and did lots of shortish journey with no problems. A few times the DPF was regenerating when I stopped, so I let it finish before switching off. Sometimes I wasn't able to, but I never had a problem: with the DPF.

My new Suzuki has the same engine in 120 bhp form and this regenerates more frequently, but for a shorter time. Again, no problems, but only about 3000 miles so far. Perhaps the latest Doblo is configured similarly?

As long as you drive at decent speed for twenty minutes or so every week all should be well. If you really do nothing but very short journeys get something with a petrol engine. What's wrong with the Ford, its supposed to be good?

Hi, there was nothing wrong with ford, better finished than the doblo, drove okay other than the fact that I could not get comfortable in the driving seat I would have bought one.

I seriously looked at the Ford Tourneo as well, but their seven seater is nowhere near as tall inside with the seats folded as my Doblo is with them removed so will be sticking with the Dobby. I need the height to move three bikes around upright and the Ford was too low.

Ah, being comfortable is so important. Top of my lit of requirements too. The new Doblo should be fine, I hardly ever went on a motorway in mine and the engine ran like clockwork.

Not had any dpf problems with my new shape Doblo. I have noticed it doing a regen only twice in the last two years. Mine does get regular 20 minute sessions on the motorway though so it is unlikely to give problems.

I have a colleague with a new Clio Diesel. She lives a steady 22 mile run from work and had never experienced her DPF cutting in. One night, at work, a colleague smelt a burning smell from her car and refused to go in it. She was then asked by management (all female) not to use her car as it was unsafe. When she told me I said it would be the car regenerating - I explained the process - and I was told by everybody that no, it was burning and therefore not safe (the colleague had later driven home carefully with no problems by the way).

Anyway, one evening we were out in mine and when I stopped it was doing it's regen thing: "is that what your car was doing?", "oh, yes, well I never".

Motto, don't let women drive cars or manage people driving cars. Especially if said managers can't drive!

Admittedly the regen smell is disconcerting if it the first time you have ever experienced it. Even now having witnessed it in several cars I ask myself if it is something else overheating that I need to look at.