Ask Honest John

Most recently answered fuel economy questions
In last Saturday's paper, you advised someone who does 10,000 miles a year that 'You don't do enough miles for a diesel.' I'd appreciate your opinion as to what mileage would suggest the need for a diesel,...
I currently own a Nissan Qashqai 2.0 Acenta 2008, which I bought secondhand in November 2009. Currently we get about 35mpg. We mostly use the car at weekends for longish journeys, with the occasional short...
My wife and I have identical Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec diesels, one four and one two years old, and we often swap. The tyres are the same make and same pressure, and both are fully serviced. After extensive...
Can you tell me if I have been wasting my money putting Shell V-Power petrol into my Toyota Auris?
My son has just graduated and is starting his first job, which will involve driving approximately 15,000 miles pa. He is to be given a car allowance of £400p/m and 0.17p per business mile. I'd like to...
What can I do to make my 2001 BMW 330i model more economical?
I looked at a 2009 Vauxhall Insignia Tourer 2.0CDTi Exclusiv yesterday, the dealer's own ex-demonstrator with 7300 miles on the clock and priced at £16,495. I'm part-exchanging my 2004 Vectra Energy 2.0...
My son-in-law mentioned that he is considering having a chip installed in his Audi two litre diesel engine. It is a 2007 model. It seems that a chip will increase both horsepower and economy. I read something...
I recently bought a Ford Focus Powershift diesel and the garage quoted Ford figures of 47-62mpg. It only ever reaches 40mpg. If I had been told this initially I would never have bought it. I feel I have...
I have a Mondeo Titanium X 2.0 TDCI (130) doing an average of 38mpg on Tesco diesel. I have looked on your car-by-car guide but cannot find any information for the 130 variant for consumption. Is 38mpg...