Ask Honest John

Most recently answered reliability questions
I would love some advice as I am desperate. I purchased a Fiat 500 Multijet Lounge in 2008. The car worked fine until 2012 when, every month or so, the filter light would keep flashing on. We were advised...
I note that in Saturday’s paper you state that if a person drives fewer than 15,000 miles a year and keeps cars for longer than five years, diesel cars are best avoided. As this applies to me, which petrol...
I have the opportunity to purchase, as a private deal, a LHD 1994 Mercedes-Benz SL320 roadster, which belongs to a friend of a friend. It is white in colour has a petrol engine with automatic transmission,...
Can you please recommend any 2.0-litre diesel engines for short to medium journeys, around 13,000 miles per year?
We live in the far north-west of Scotland and have a 2005 Honda Accord Tourer Executive 2.2i CTDi with 115,000 miles. It’s now time to change. We are now finding it too low to get out of due to age and...
My wife and I are looking to replace our ageing and ailing 5-door, 1.6 petrol Ford Focus. Happy with 'used' as opposed to new, as it will be mainly used by my better half for short journeys with the odd...
I am 63 years old, 6-feet 1-inch tall, all-but-retired and use my wife's Prius for local and social driving. I have a 1998 SAAB convertible (with its original registration number S44B BD), which is all...
My 2000 Volkswagen Golf Mk4 TDI Estate (115bhp 6-speed) has now covered 281,000 miles. I have owned it since 2002 and 35,000. The engine, turbo and gearbox are untouched, apart from servicing and the clutch...
I'm looking at spending about £8000 on a car to replace my now tired 200,000-mile Focus. Since I'm doing over 30,000 pa, it needs to be both economical and comfortable on a long drive (120 miles a day)....
In looking to change our car (a 2003 old shape Volvo V40 2.0i turbo Sport Lux). We have been considering the KIA Sportage 1.7 CRDI 2 or Hyundai ix35 due to their economical running costs, reasonable size...