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Honest John Ask Honest John » February 2011
Trending topics in February 2011
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Questions from February 2011
Going abroad and need to sell my 51-plate Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.0 - Superb condition - leather seats, alloys, Green Metallic, new tyres, FSH, average mileage. Want it to go to good home for a fair price -...
Any comment on the new legislation re all vehicles have to be taxed unless SORN'd? Scenario: I buy another car but have not yet sold my 'old' car. It's taxed & MOT'd and sat on the drive, not in use....
How do I check the fuel pump is working e.g pressure without a gauge?
I have 2005 Nissan Navara for towing a 2.5 ton trailer. I find the leg room very small, the ride harsh and the rear seats unusable. Can you recomend any vehicles that can replace the Navara? Budget £8000-...
Volvo are heavily advertising their V50 DRIVe model as congestion charge exempt claiming figures of 99g/km CO2 and that it meets Euro 5 standard. However, search the database TfL uses (vcacarfueldata.org.uk)...
I have just started a new job that is offering a company car with a £330 monthly lease, or £385 cash allowance. Whether I take the car or the cash, I am tied in for four years. I have four children...
My old banger was written off recently and now I need a new car. My situation is I don't (currently) have a drive or garage, I get the train to work everyday but I do need a car to get to the shops and...
I have removed my Pierburg 2e carb to clean but when I opened the carb I noticed that some kind of gasket was split and needs replacing, but having trouble finding this part. Would be grateful if you could...
Quick advice required please: I am going to buy a car ASAP & have the following in mind: 2006/VW Jetta 1.9 TDI SE DSG (105K) 2005/Ford Mondeo ST TDCI (145K) 2005/VW Passat 2.0 TDI SE (80K) 2004/ Volvo...
I have a 1995 Lexus LS400 done 80000 miles. I only do about 2000 miles per annum. I am getting less mpg than I used to. An item in Sunday Times motoring section advised a reader with similar problem to...
At present I own a 2000 Ford Focus estate which has easy flat access to boot space. I have back problems from time to time. I am going to change my car for a used small/medium sized vehicle. I would...
I bought a Megane at a Renault dealer as it was marked as a *Star Buy*, but has a few problems like: .Driver seatbelt has stopped retracting .Dented door sill .Broken AC radiator .Handbrake handle getting...
Where do I stand...? The people who live opposite me persistently park their motor home across the gate blocking access to my field. I live in the house next to the field, however, it is not part of my...
Can my employer say that I cannot return to work, due to the DVLA not sending back my HGV licence because of a problem with sight in my right eye? After phoning the DVLA they told me it was fine for me...
Can you tell me how to change the anti-roll bar bushes and what is involved please?
I would like to make you aware of a strange situation. We recently purchased a FIAT 500 TwinAir. We get between 30mpg to 35mpg. My wife runs a 2006 Ford Fiesta1.25 Zetec. She gets well over 48mpg out of...
A neighbour's daughter has at the age of 18 passed her driving test, she has an old S plate Fiesta as her car and was quoted £1,500 for her third party insurance. She asked the broker what she could do...
My 2006 Skoda Octavia 4x4TDI PD estate has signalled the dreaded ESP light error. I took the car to my local Skoda dealer who confirmed my worst fears and I have been quoted £1,429.94 to have a new module...
My wife suffered a badly broken wrist a few months ago, which has left her with restricted movement and weakness in her left hand. This is causing difficulty in operating the handbrake and gears on her...
Since you seem to be the only writer/reviewer of cars on the planet who actually informs readers that their potential new car will or will not require a regular change of timing belt I thought you might...
It seems now days that many cars are fitted with overpowered headlights, which are not necessary and are a danger to other road users. At one time I believed these lights were a vanity thing but there...
Unfortunately you are incorrect about the implications of selling a car to a member of the public on trade terms at trade price. I recently did exactly this, selling a car at ‘stand-in price’ (it had been...
I have often used independent annual excess insurance cover for car rental. This is a useful money-saver if the hire extends for more than a week or two. Recently I booked two 'compact' cars for Australia,...
In your reply to TM of Tunbridge Wells you supported his view regarding obstructive drivers. I would also have liked you to condemn tailgating, as there is never an excuse for it for whatever reason. It...
We are thinking of buying a ten-year-old Toyota Yaris Verso as a second car that will be used mainly for local trips and the school run. I've seen one advertised as a private sale for £1,800, which I feel...
Further to the letter form MC of Stockport who received an invoice from e-Flow: All motoring visitors to the Republic of Ireland should be aware that most motorways and the Dublin Port and Limerick tunnels...
With a budget of about £25,000 what is the best handling medium sized car (with economy if possible)? I had been looking at ex-demo BMW X1 2.0 diesel manuals, though I prefer autos. I am biased against...
I have a C4 Grand Picasso which will be three years old next month. I bought it with 18 months warranty left. It's served us well and we're really happy with it, the seven seats are something we use occasionally...
Advance signs for motorway service areas display the location, operator, main and subsidiary providers and facility icons, but not the fuel brand, which is very important for many drivers with fuel payment...
With the current financial crisis it would make sense to try and be patriotic. Buying new cars made in Britain is entirely possible and we can support the workforce even if the companies involved are foreign...
On 8 August 2010 I wrote to you as I was thinking of changing my car and was wondering whether Volkswagen had any plans to sell the Polo diesel fitted with their 105PS 1.6 engine. I had tried the car with...
Was the FIAT Multipla JTD diesel ever marketed with an automatic gearbox? If so, when?
I received a phone call today at 16.25 from Hassan from Claims Online. He said that someone at my address had been involved in an accident and was entitled to £2-3,000 in compensation. There has been no...
I heard a spokesman for Chevrolet on a radio show say that Chevrolet intended to give a full inclusive 5-year warranty on all its new cars. A further idea is that Chevrolet pays buyers a loyalty bonus...
I'm considering buying a motorhome. They all look great in their own ways and I'm doing research, so purchasing something suitable doesn't appear to be beyond the wit of man. However, I am concerned that...
About three years ago when I purchased a new BMW I agreed to dealer-applied paint protection. I have been pleased in that it seemed to take away the need for polishing, which was surprising as I am particular...
Long gone are the days when the only decisions you had to make when ordering a new car were colour and model. We recently spent several hours deciding on the options/packages for a new BMW X3, a pleasant...
After reading your column we purchased a FIAT Panda for our two daughters to learn to drive. We have owned it for four years and it has proved an excellent choice. Our older daughter is now 21 and is due...
On 5 February, I left my car for one week at Apcoa Parking, Gatwick Airport. On return, I found that the offside indicator light and wing had been knocked, leaving a dent and no light cover. I immediately...
In September last year we had a 40,000-mile service on our Chevrolet Tacuma. The Chevrolet garage we bought it from and always go to advised me to get the cam belt replaced, which I agreed to. On 1 January...
I often read comments in your Saturday column referring to problems with particulate filters on diesel-engined road vehicles. In view of your obvious knowledge of these problems, I would guess you would...
I currently drive a Chrysler Grand Voyager but expensive repairs are looming (new gearbox at £4,500), so I am thinking of changing. I live in an isolated rural area so a 4x4 would be preferable. I need...
On 28 February MEP Wim van de Camp, as Rapporteur, presented his report to The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) and representatives of the European Commission regarding the EU Commission's...
For my dog walking business, I'm going to ring up and hopefully see a 2003 Ford Focus 1.8 TDi CL 5dr diesel estate 89,000 miles, tomorrow. 12 months MOT, no mention of tax so assume there isn't any. He's...
My parents, who are in their 70s, are looking for a new car (they have had an Audi A4 for 16 years and they are very happy with it). The problem is that my mum can't get in or out easily due to arthritic...
I hope you can advise me on problems with an MoT test I have had on my Astra 1.7d Merit (mileage 118,000) recently. The test was carried out and I was given a failure notice on emissions, plus a couple...
I thought it was time to launch a direct crusade against the car park vultures. I've sent the attached in an email to Philip Hammond, the Minister for Transport. When I realised that the DVLA are (presumably)...
I have experienced my second bout of corrosion on my four-year-old old VW Phaeton, this time on the wing mirror housing. VW have refused my claim on the grounds that the wing mirror is not part of the...
This is a question to you and your readers. I have noticed recently that it seems to be impossible to put the desired amount (by price) of diesel into my vehicle at more than one local filling station....
I am relocating to North Yorkshire with a commute through the Yorkshire Dales. I assume I will need a four-wheel drive for the snow in winter? If so, is a 4WD car sufficient or should I look at an SUV?...
 

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