Ask Honest John

Most recently answered buying questions
My brother wants to buy a brand new car, he is a carer for our Mother who is disabled. He uses his car to take her everywhere. Is it possible for him to reclaim the VAT on a new car? If necessary the car...
I have been living in Egypt for the past 6 months to try and make my state pension stretch as I couldn't afford to run my house in the UK. Sadly my health has plummeted and Myrtle the Pekingese dog is...
I bought a Honda Jazz CVT-7 some time ago on your recommendation. I only use the CVT mode and never change manually. I now want a new car. The Jazz I-Shift is not CVT so I would have to use the paddles....
We have very happily driven 2nd-hand Toyotas for twenty years and are thinking of buying new, under the scrappage scheme. Both my wife and I learned to drive in Canada and when we came here opted to just...
Some 3 weeks ago I bought a 2000W Subaru Forester Turbo S. When we saw it the car was "unprepped" having just been taken in. We had a test drive and were interested. The only small problem was it was hunting...
I’m thinking of buying a car in the UK and bringing it down to Spain as I have a house there. Are there any auctions in the UK specifically for LHD cars?
I have a 1992 FIAT Uno that I have owned for about 12 years. It failed its MOT a couple of years ago and has been SORN on our drive ever since, awaiting the rust remedy that never came. I rubbed my hands...
Can you please give me your advice on buying new the Hyundai i20 and the KIA Cee’d. Which is the better build? I am torn between the two and also which supermini is your favoured car for build, mpg and...
Some weeks ago you had a letter from the owner of a Honda Jazz I-shift who was struggling to use the gearbox smoothly. You suggested perseverance. My experience was similar. I find almost 2,000 miles on...
I have a MINI Cooper D auto, which is a great little car and lots of fun. However, to be practical, I really need something not quite so mini and a softer ride for the Suffolk lanes on which it is used....