What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [What cars would you recommend as possible future classics?]( Posted by on 9 March, 2018 What cars would you recommend as possible future classics? They must be automatic and reasonable to maintain. [Read more →]( [Which petrol cars car offer 4WD?]( Posted by on 9 March, 2018 I need a car with 4x4 capability because I have to negotiate a muddy track every day. I need a reliable car, but it doesn’t need to be big. I do around 8000 miles per year, mainly short journeys, so I’m thinking petrol would be best. There don’t seem to be many petrol 4x4s available. I’ve got the Subaru XV on my shortlist - is that a good idea? Can you suggest anything else? [Read more →]( [What dash camera should I buy and will using one reduce my insurance premium?]( Posted by on 8 March, 2018 I'm a taxi driver and would like to fix a dash camera in my taxi. I contacted my insurance to find out if installing a dash cam could reduce my premium. They replied no and they will just make a note that I have fitted a dash cam. What dash cam should I buy? Also, is my insurer right or should I look for another insurance company? [Read more →]( [A friend's young son had a car accident, but no other vehicle was involved - should he tell his insurer?]( Posted by on 8 March, 2018 My friend's 21 year old son had a car accident on the ice last week. His car (a cheap old thing) was a write off, but no one else was involved. The AA driver who came to recover the car advised him not to tell his insurers as this would affect his premium, is this right? I thought that the insurers would need to know. [Read more →]( [Is it legal to use a mobile phone in a cradle while driving?]( Posted by on 8 March, 2018 Is it legal to use a mobile phone in a cradle for navigation while driving? Will the insurance be valid? [Read more →]( [Our car was stolen while we left the keys in to defrost it - can we claim for any damage?]( Posted by on 8 March, 2018 Our car was stolen a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, it was during the icy weather so we were defrosting the car. We left the keys in it for a few seconds to retrieve gloves from the house. A car drove up, a guy jumped out and got into our car. As the keys were inside the insurance company wouldn't pay out and we had to settle the car finance in full ourselves. The car has now been recovered (it was involved in a crime) and we now need to pay to get it back. There is some damage to the car, both windscreens are smashed, and from what we know some minor (hopefully) bodywork damage. However, as the insurance never paid out, would we at least be able to try for the windscreen repair on our insurance? I know we need to phone them and ask but would like some sort of idea as to how likely that might be or what we should expect from them. [Read more →]( [When is the best time to buy a new car?]( Posted by on 8 March, 2018 I'm looking to replace my Mazda 6 diesel with a petrol. When is the best time to look for a new car? The new 18-reg is due out in March, so should I wait until after March or will I find a bargain now? [Read more →]( [Can you suggest a small, petrol, reliable used van?]( Posted by on 7 March, 2018 I want to buy a small petrol van. I need it to be big enough to sleep in the back occasionally (I'm only 5'4 so doesn't need to be very long). I'm about to open my own business, so I'll sometimes need to use it for work. I want reliability, good fuel economy and ideally three seats in the front. I know nothing about cars or vans, so please help steer me in the right direction. My budget is £3000. [Read more →]( [A kid on a quad bike damaged my car - can I take the father to small claims court?]( Posted by on 7 March, 2018 I was driving with my ten year old at around 10-15 mph (there are people who can vouch for this) when I heard a thud. When I got out it, I realised it was a child who had run into my car on a quad bike. An ambulance was called and the child was okay, although his father's first thought was to take the quad bike and hide it rather than check the well-being of his kid. I was in shock so wasn't aware of why he was doing this, but when the police arrived at he scene they told me that he had probably done this due to it being illegal to drive these on a road - especially if they are uninsured. The police have vouched and said it was clear the child hit my car, so the father verbally agreed at the scene to pay for the damage to the car, which belongs to my father. My dad and I don't want to claim on the insurance and didn't think we would need to as I was told it would be covered. I can only afford to pay a small amount each month to be insured to drive this car and it would be impossible for me to do so otherwise. I contacted a few places and was told that the cost would be around £1000. So when I contacted the child's father he told me they had lost an expensive quad and would not be covering the damage, which was 'not his problem'. I'm the carer of a disabled child so I'm unable to work at this time, I can't afford the repairs. Do I have a case against this man in small claims court? It's quite clear this family could cover the cost as they have well paid jobs, which they told me about at the time of the accident. I absolutely cannot afford my insurance to go up because of this, so cannot claim. [Read more →]( [How do I get cheaper insurance without any No Claims Discount?]( Posted by on 7 March, 2018 I'm about to purchase a car for £2500. The comprehensive insurance is quoted at £1200 per year because I don't have and No Claims Discount. Is there any way to bring this cost down? [Read more →]( [Why does my brake light flicker when I use my indicator?]( Posted by on 7 March, 2018 When I turn my on my right indicator, the right brake light also flickers. Once I put my foot on the brakes while indicating, the indication gets faster. What's the issue? [Read more →]( [A driver who couldn't stop in the snow hit my van - is he wholly liable?]( Posted by on 7 March, 2018 I was traveling up a hill in snow doing 18mph recently. A pickup truck, which was coming down the hill too quickly, couldn’t stop and went up verge - then back down into the rear of my van. He is claiming partial liability, or ‘knock for knock’. Is this right? [Read more →]( [Will my No Claims Discount lapse if I don't have a car insured in my name?]( Posted by on 6 March, 2018 Due to redundancy I'm going to be without a car for up to three months, this is due to my leased car being returned to the finance company next month and it doesn't make sense to lease or buy another car until I'm back in work. I currently have nine years protected NCD and wanted to know if it's possible to keep that, whilst I'm without a car insured my own name? My car insurance isn't due for renewal until June, so could I just keep that running and not inform them that I've returned the car? I should add that I will continue to be a named driver on my wife's car insurance policy. [Read more →]( [Are there any problems with buying a high mileage Vauxhall Vivaro?]( Posted by on 6 March, 2018 I'm interested in a 2015 Vaxhaull Vivaro 1.6 with 120,000 miles on it. It has a full history and is being advertised by a leasing company. Are there any issues with this engine? [Read more →]( [Is Unipart still going and what about the lifetime guarantee on its batteries?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 I bought a Unipart Samson lifetime guarantee battery many years ago for my 3.5-litre Rover. I have had a few free replacements since then. I now need another one, but it looks like Unipart went bust in 2014? However, they now seem to back in business in various formats and not very helpful.cDo you know what the situation is and what I can expect? [Read more →]( [Where can I find an imperial socket set?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 I'm rebuilding a 1964 Triumph Spitfire here in France I need a non-metric socket set but don't seem to be able to find one over here or online. Can you please advise on a suitable site for an internet buy? [Read more →]( [What's the best £5k van to convert to a camper?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 I am looking for advice on what type of van to buy with a £5000 budget. This van would be to convert into a camper so I'm looking for van with a medium wheelbase that's tall enough to stand in. [Read more →]( [What does EU4, EU5 and EU6 mean?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 What is meant by EU4, EU5 and EU6 when applied to diesel engines? [Read more →]( [Will the new MoT changes affect my diesel car?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 I have a 2008 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI. It is not fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as standard so how will the May 2018 MoT changes affect this type of car? [Read more →]( [When is a dealer a private seller?]( Posted by on 5 March, 2018 I've seen a used car I like but I'm curious how the law stands with regards to small traders and the Consumer Rights Act? The chap selling the car I like, places adverts online as a trader but is trading from a private residential home. He has no other online presence but currently has 10 cars advertised on Autotrader. If I agree to proceed with him how can I be sure he really is a trader rather than just a private seller so that if anything is wrong with the car I'm protected under the act? [Read more →]( You are receiving this email because Honest Insights is a publication produced by HonestJohn.co.uk with your requirements and specifications in mind. It provides in depth site analysis comparative with wider industry trends. [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( HonestJohn.co.uk Ltd Unit 1 Eaglethorpe Barns Warmington Peterborough PE8 6TJ