What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [Should I fit Michelin Cross Climate tyres to my 2017 Ford Fiesta?]( Posted by on 15 June, 2019 I intend to fit Michelin cross climate or similar to improve ride comfort on my 2017 Fiesta. Tyres currently fitted are 195/55 R15. The tyre pressure indication plate shows this size or 195/50 R16. The manual also lists 195/60 R15. Given this higher profile may improve ride comfort further and are less expensive, what would you recommend? [Read more →]( [How can I take an independent dealer to court?]( Posted by on 14 June, 2019 I bought a four-year-old Renault Twingo with 31,000 miles on the clock in December 2018 for £5000. Around 26th December it began to leak oil. I contacted the garage who booked it into their preferred garage for a repair. They replaced the rocker gasket cover and resealed the engine. As I drove it home it began to sound rough and by the time I arrived home, it was very loud. I rang the garage again who said the repairer claimed I had been told the car was not ready but I had demanded they release the car to me immediately (this is an outrageous lie, why would anyone do this?). They agreed to take it back in but said if I drove it and caused damage they would not be liable, they also refused to collect it. As such they basically demanded I paid for recovery to the garage (12 miles away) who had failed to repair it once and then began to tell lies about me. I refused and sought legal advice but the solicitor said I would struggle to sue as the problem was not yet diagnosed. I took the car to Renault who diagnosed that it needed a new camshaft solenoid valve and that this was seized into the timing cover. They had specialist tools that allowed them to do the repair without removing the engine so was potentially cheaper than taking it elsewhere. I gave the garage the opportunity to pay Renault direct but they declined. The bill was £1036. I have sought legal advice again but the solicitors have raised two issues. Firstly they won’t represent me as a win would not be large enough to justify the costs (it’s a legal insurance policy I was hoping to claim against), and secondly, they do not believe I would be able to prove the problem was there at the time of purchase. I made the point that as the issue began within 30 days of purchase it was on the garage to prove it was not there. They agree but claim that as the car was MoT’d prior to sale that this would prove it didn’t have a problem. Clearly I am £1036 out of pocket and wish to take the garage to small claims court but the legal advice has me worried. Is the advice correct? I don’t think an MoT would prove that this issue wasn’t present at sale but I’m now concerned following this advice. [Read more →]( [Are there any dash cameras that have traffic sign recognition?]( Posted by on 14 June, 2019 Are there any dash cameras that have traffic sign recognition and pick up speed limit signs and display the speed on their screen? I find this more useful and reliable than GPS/mapping based speed reminders as they pick up temporary limits or limits that may have changed since the mapping was created, and provides a useful reminder of the speed limit. We have a car with traffic sign recognition where the detected limit is displayed on the dash (next to the speed limit picked up from the navigation mapping so the two differ sometimes). Our other car doesn't have this feature, and hence wonder if it is an available feature of a dash cam. [Read more →]( [What is the best product to remove dried milk stains from my cloth car seats?]( Posted by on 14 June, 2019 What is the best product to remove dried milk stains from my cloth car seats? [Read more →]( [What's the best family car for between £15k and £20k?]( Posted by on 13 June, 2019 We have a budget of between £15 - £20k and are looking for a nearly new (around 2 years warranty remaining) vehicle. We cover around 10k miles a year - mostly A roads. If it were the Honest John's teams money what would you all buy? Taking into account Reliability, practicality and a good interior, in that order. [Read more →]( [What small car is suitable for my ageing back?]( Posted by on 13 June, 2019 I need to replace my Ford Fusion to help my ageing back. I am 6ft2 and have a long back. My budget may stretch to £5k, but like all pensioners, I want something that will be economical on fuel and road tax even though it has to be automatic to match my wife's requirement. [Read more →]( [How heavy a trailer can I tow on my licence?]( Posted by on 12 June, 2019 I am over 70 years old - how heavy a trailer can I tow on my licence? [Read more →]( [How can I check someone test driving a car I'm selling is insured?]( Posted by on 12 June, 2019 My comprehensive insurance says it will cover me for damage caused to third parties while I'm driving cars that are not owned or hired by me. This cover for driving other cars, therefore, doesn’t include damage to the car I'm driving. What should I do to insure that the car is covered while on a test drive? Conversely, if I want to sell my own car privately how can I make sure that my car is insured when taken on test drives by others? I assume just asking them if they're insured isn't sufficient since they will only have, at best, third party insurance. [Read more →]( [Is motor legal cover and personal injury actually worth the extra?]( Posted by on 12 June, 2019 I have fully comprehensive car insurance with motor legal cover and personal injury cover. My car was written off by a farmer's loose cow at 4am. My family were injured and I have suffered a big financial loss as a result. My car is currently in an auction room with online bidding yet I have not accepted any settlement figure and have not received a cheque. The lawyers acting for the insurance company say they will act on a no-win, no-fee basis (no mention of that in the small print in the t's and c's) and now say they won't proceed as there is little prospect of success. How can I simply lose a £550 excess, a weeks loss of earning due to injury, taxi fares and damage to my personal property inside my car? This doesn't seem right or fair. What is the point in having additional protection if they won't do anything? [Read more →]( [What's the best off-road car that can cope with snow and carry a 45kg dog?]( Posted by on 12 June, 2019 What would you say are the best cars that can go off-road, drive in snow and carry a large dog in the boot? And are also reliable and under £40k? [Read more →]( [Can I tow a caravan with my Honda Jazz?]( Posted by on 12 June, 2019 I own a Honda Jazz 2014 EX Auto. Would I be able to tow a caravan? If so what weight? [Read more →]( [Is adding a fourth brake light and extra DRLs considered a modification in insurance terms?]( Posted by on 11 June, 2019 Is adding a fourth brake light and extra front DRLs considered a modification in insurance terms? I can see how adding alloys or other performance modifications would increase the insurance premium, should they get damaged or the vehicle performance exceeds the driver's ability and/or other parts of the vehicle. To me adding this type of "light" only makes the car safer (as long as they don't dazzle other drivers) and all new cars must now have them. [Read more →]( [Is a 2005 Toyota MR2 a good buy?]( Posted by on 11 June, 2019 I've always liked the Toyota MR2. I know someone selling one, on an 05 plate, with low mileage (20,000 miles only), but it has been kept outside in all weathers for many years. I suspect your advice would be to keep well clear, but if you were to say go ahead, what should I look out for, and what would be its value? [Read more →]( [Are there any Evoque-height EVs coming soon?]( Posted by on 11 June, 2019 My wife's Range Rover Evoque was stolen last week. Her next car really ought to be all electric. She liked the height of the Evoque, a lot. She is short and very uncomfortable in my Tesla Model S. A Leaf is about 100mm higher than that and an I-Pace 150mm odd higher, but that's still 80mm lower than the Evoque. Are there any Evoque height fully electric cars in the pipeline in the nearish future? [Read more →]( [Does having a first MoT performed early fix that as the date for the next MoT?]( Posted by on 11 June, 2019 Does having a first MoT performed early fix that as the date? Or is it okay if done within a month of the due date? [Read more →]( [Can we have a family insurance policy to protect both our no claims?]( Posted by on 10 June, 2019 My husband and I are both retired and do not need two cars now. We have separate insurance policies and both wish to preserve our no claims bonus to cater for the situation of the demise or incapacity of either of us, so if we took out a family policy would that protect the no claims of both of us? [Read more →]( [My insurer wants two excess payments for two areas of damage?]( Posted by on 10 June, 2019 My car was recently hit while parked and incurred damage to the rear. I was given a quote of around £1000 for a repair and I decided to make a claim through my insurer. My car was booked into the insurer's approved body shop but they found further damage which the insurer is saying must have been caused separately. They are now demanding I pay two excess fees (£300 x 2) to repair all the damage. There were no witnesses to the incident so I genuinely don't know who or what hit my car. Do I just accept this or can I challenge them? [Read more →]( [If I buy a car from a broker where do I take it for routine servicing?]( Posted by on 10 June, 2019 If I buy a car through a broker and the supplier is some distance from my residence do I have to take it back there for routine servicing and more importantly for repairs etc under guarantee? [Read more →]( [How much charge will a PHEV battery lose over five years?]( Posted by on 10 June, 2019 I am thinking of buying a PHEV. I intend to keep the vehicle for five years and I do 15000 miles per year. I am a little concerned at battery deterioration in the latter years. How much charge am I likely to lose in the five years? I am considering a BMW 225xe or 330e. [Read more →]( [What used yet reliable seven-seater do you suggest?]( Posted by on 10 June, 2019 My daughter is looking for a seven-seater to transport her three children (2, 8 & 10 years old) and often friends. Against my advice, she bought a 2008 XC90, and predictably this was a classic diesel disaster - but she loved it for the three years it functioned. It pushed all the safety, space and ride buttons. Now she is looking again. She is finding some low mileage (less than 50k) petrol XC90s, but they are old (2004 - 2008) in their price range - up to £10k. She hopes it will last 3 - 5years. [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