Ask Honest John

Most recently answered buying a used car questions
I have been offered a 2.8-litre 1998 BMW Z3 for £2000. I have known the lady owner and her husband for some time and she has told me that the only reason for the sale is her age (mid 70s) and health (arthritis)....
I recently bought a Honda Jazz, twelve months old with 12,700 miles, from a reputable Honda dealer. I was told by the salesman that the car had one previous owner. It was not until I received the new registration...
I am thinking of buying a Lotus Elan M100. Can you offer any advice as to what I should look out for?
I am going to look at a 2006 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI PD Laurin + Klement. It has done 70,000 miles. What should I look for in relation to servicing, what big jobs need doing and common problems?
I commute 24,000 miles a year mostly on motorway and usually queuing in traffic. I'm looking to replace my Volkswagen Polo 1.4 petrol which I drove into the ground (235,000 miles) and I’d like a diesel...
I am looking for an economical diesel estate with a large flat load space. I would like it to drive well and not be sluggish, but without sacrificing economy. My budget is £6000. My shortlist includes...
I'm looking for a small, cheap, reliable, low insurance cost car for my 19 year old son. He will use it to drive to his apprenticeship job and cover 18 miles a day. I have £1200 to spend. What do you recommend?...
I am about to retire and feel like treating myself to a real car having driven company rubbish over the years, I have had 10+ years of motor sport experience so I am not naive and fancy a BMW M3 saloon....
I need to buy a second car for commuting 25,000 miles per year. I have £3000 to spend and want to keep running costs as low as possible. I am also tall, so need something that will accommodate my long...
I am thinking of buying a convertible car with a metal folding hardtop. It needs to seat four adults and can be either a petrol or diesel. I have £7000 to spend, what do you recommend?