What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [Is 7000 miles a year enough to justify a diesel?]( Posted by on 24 April, 2024 I normally do 7000-8000 miles a year, mostly 5-10 miles journeys regularly and 5-6 trips of 150-200 miles in a year. I know people generally say diesel engines are good doing for high mileage but many of the diesel car owners have told me it does not matter as long as you change the engine oil and DPF every year. According to them it was probably true for old diesel engines but the current ones have no such problems? I am considering Mazda CX-5 2.2 L diesel 2018 model. I would like to know your thoughts on this car. Petrol would cost a lot more to tax in Ireland (Southern) and it's a no no for me, as their tax system is very different. I have also read CX-5 petrol engines are not great. [Read more →]( [What are the advantages of a mild-hybrid car?]( Posted by on 24 April, 2024 Is there any advantage in owning a self charging mild hybrid Hyundai Tucson over a non mild hybrid model? [Read more →]( [Can you recommend a tracker with long standby time?]( Posted by on 23 April, 2024 We want to fit a tracker to our WW2 Willys Jeep in case it gets stolen. It is particularly exposed so we think a battery powered independent unit would be a good option - one that is not wired to the vehicle battery. I'm mindful that the Jeep could easily be stolen, it being small and light, what would you recommend that we fit before our trip to the Normandy beaches for the D-Day commemoration events? [Read more →]( [Is a faulty TPMS an MoT failure?]( Posted by on 23 April, 2024 I have a Nissan Pulsar N-Tec Dig-T Xtronic 1.2 which has done 30,000 miles. In the last few weeks I have been getting a warning on screen saying “Maintenance Tyres”. This happens immediately on starting, although the sensors are not active until the car is moving. Also when the pressure sensors become effective they show correct pressures as indicated separately from the measured pressures. I can cancel this to restore the mph display I usually have and the warning does not return. There is a further display which shows all warnings, which actually says “No Warnings”. This seems to be just a computer glitch. Can you suggest any other cause? Would this be an MoT failure? [Read more →]( [Is there an in-car communication system I can use to speak to my passenger?]( Posted by on 23 April, 2024 I am hearing impaired and wondered if there was an in car communication system between driver and front seat passenger? When I'm driving I can't hear what my passenger is saying to me. [Read more →]( [What are the trailer light requirements for driving in France?]( Posted by on 22 April, 2024 I am taking my van and trailer (with my Jeep on it) to France for the D-Day celebrations next June. My trailer is 5.5m long and 1.9m wide. The bed length is 4m. The wiring system has a 13-pin plug and the trailer is fitted with front white lights and reflectors, and at the back, reversing lights and fog lights plus the usual lights for the rear of a trailer. I believe I have to fit side reflectors but some sites say I should have a yellow light on the side as well (these are running lights, not indicators). Some sites say the side reflectors should be red. Some sites say I don't need side markers at all. Can you advise me on what French laws require for trailer lighting for my size of trailer, please? [Read more →]( [car auctions]( Posted by on 22 April, 2024 Best place to auction a completely renovated Rover mini [Read more →]( [Can I fit run flat tyres to my BMW 1 Series?]( Posted by on 21 April, 2024 BMW do not fit run flat tyres as standard on their BMW 128ti, or indeed even offer run flat as an option. As old school, I like to have some protection in the event of a puncture so would like to fit run flat to my BMW 128ti? Do you foresee a problem with this arrangement? I have considered alternative of spare wheel in boot but such an option would severely limit boot space. [Read more →]( [I asked my dealer to supply smaller wheels for my Kia and they refused on safety grounds, is this correct?]( Posted by on 21 April, 2024 In 2022 you advised that it would be possible to replace my low-profile wheels with smaller wheels and thicker tyres. When I asked Kia, they refused to sell me new wheels as they said that this wouldn’t be safe. They said that it would interfere with the brakes and affect the speedometer. Were they having me on or is this true? I live in the NW Highlands of Scotland and often get forced off the road by campervans on the single-track roads, so would like better tyres. [Read more →]( [Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne?]( Posted by on 21 April, 2024 I'm looking to buy a one year old Range Rover D300 HSE, or a Porsche Cayenne E Hybrid. Both will be around 5k miles, and I intend to keep them until they are five years old. I'm worried about bad press on Land Rover products, but overall prefer the comfort of this to the Cayenne. In your opinion, which is likely to hold its value better over five years? [Read more →]( [How can I be sure my sat nav is avoiding the ULEZ?]( Posted by on 21 April, 2024 I drove my 2006 ULEZ compliant car during this week, from Colindale, NW9 to New End Square, NW3. My satnav is always set to "avoid toll roads". It said 'cannot avoid tolls'. I didn't see any road signs, so tried to research later if I had inadvertently crossed into a toll area and how much /whom to pay, but was unsuccessful. Your advice is appreciated - I am sure this will be an increasing concern for the average motorist, given the way all manner of restrictions are cropping up to restrict our mobility. [Read more →]( You received this email because you signed up to our mailing list. If you’re not interested in receiving our newsletter any more, you can: [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( Honestjohn.co.uk 5 New Street Square London United Kingdom EC4A 3TW