What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [I have been sold a car that it turns out was involved in an accident - what can I do?]( Posted by on 5 September, 2019 I have been sold a car that has been involved in an accident but there was no mention of the accident when purchasing. What can I do? [Read more →]( [Which Volkswagen DSG gearboxes are reliable?]( Posted by on 5 September, 2019 My daughter wants an automatic Volkswagen Golf about six years old. Which models have the wet clutch gearbox? [Read more →]( [Am I legally allowed to park my caravan on my driveway?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 Am I legally allowed to park my caravan on my driveway? My neighbour says it spoils her view from her front door which is 15ft away. [Read more →]( [What car is suitable for carrying a fold down mobility scooter?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 My parents are in their 80s and would like to buy a car suitable for carrying a mobility scooter. The scooter actually comes apart so it's more for a low boot load and easily accessible for passengers with limited movements [Read more →]( [How much is a 1998 BMW 328i Convertible worth?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 A friend has a 1998 BMW 328i Convertible in excellent condition with only 48,000 miles on the clock. Where would you recommend she goes to sell it and/or get advice on its value? [Read more →]( [What car for 32 mile daily commute?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 My new commute has me travelling 16 miles each way per day - 8 miles of A/B roads and 8 miles of motorway, around 8k miles per year. My 2008 Focus 1.8 petrol with 105k is struggling to manage 30mpg so I am considering changing for something more frugal on a budget of £10 to £12k. My current favourite is a Yaris Hybrid but I hear they can be rough on the motorway, would a small/medium sized modern petrol or diesel or a full electric/PHEV vehicle suit my needs better? [Read more →]( [What's the best replacement for an Evoque?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 My grandmother currently has a 2015 Range Rover Evoque and she would like to change it. She wants a SUV of roughly similar size, but with better boot space and rear visibility. She wants a reasonably powerful car with and automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. The boot needs to be big enough for her labrador and the weekly shop. It needs to have enough space in the back for two adults as she car shares with a group of friends when they go out. It must have sat nav, Bluetooth, heated Seats, electric wing mirrors and a sunroof. Also, it must be petrol as she doesn't do enough long journeys to warrant a diesel. What should I tell her to consider? [Read more →]( [Is using a car cover a good idea?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 I use my car very occasionally. I park it in the driveway and I have bought a car cover to protect it from the elements. Is there anything I need to know about the do's and dont's of using a car cover? It says on the box that the cover is breathable but not waterproof. Also, it says that for a prolonged use I should use a sheet underneath the cover [Read more →]( [Is a first generation Honda Insight a good buy?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 What are your views on a 2001 Honda Insight? I am very keen on them for aesthetics and economy, cheap tax. Are there things I should ask the owner about? Could I attach a tow bar to it? It's up for £4000. [Read more →]( [What's the best product to clean a smeared windscreen?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 I have previously been recommended a product called Zoff/Zorf for cleaning smeared windscreens but I cannot find any. My local Halfords don't sell it and have never heard of it. Is there anything similar? [Read more →]( [What's a good starter classic that's easy to maintain?]( Posted by on 4 September, 2019 My son wants to buy a classic car. His budget is £5k but will go to £10k for the right car. He is not mechanically minded so it must be reasonable to maintain. He fancies a Morris Traveller but is a Ford or other mainstream car a better choice? [Read more →]( [Someone has made a fraudulent insurance claim against me - how can I report it?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 I went to visit my parent's house and the owner of another car came onto my drive and claimed I hit their car in the night while they were visiting. The owner was very abusive to me, so I called the police who have a recording of the phone conversation which took place in the drive between us, including the owner's father who confirmed at the time it was not my car. I then received a letter from my insurer six months later stating the owner has claimed against me for their damage. This is a false claim against me and I was not in the area during the time of the alleged claim. This is mistaken identity. Our insurance company will give us no details of the owner, the car, the damage, time of damage or location of the incident. The owner refused to show us their damage at the time or give any of their details. I have told my insurance company I am prepared to go to court and this is a false claim but they don't seem to be sorting this out. [Read more →]( [Are there are any products that will stop dashboard glare?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 I am bothered by glare from the dashboard of our Suzuki Vitara, particularly when driving tree-lined routes (It seems particularly bad with this car compared with many others I have driven - presumably due to the angle of the screen?) My wife, as a passenger, finds the glare can trigger a migraine. Can you advise on a suitable spray or dashboard cover, please? [Read more →]( [Where do I stand legally with a dealer I bought a classic car from?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 I bought a 1991 Roller from a dealer a couple of hours or so journey from me. On test drive the aircon was not blowing cold, so the dealer said he'd get it regassed, because apparently "these old systems only stay blowing cold for a year". After a fortnight, not only was it not blowing cold, it's blowing warm and smelling like hot oil through the vents. Trouble is, there were a number of other issues I've noticed with the car since having it for that two weeks, which I've had repaired with specialists more local to me, (brake fluid spewing out underneath/alternator grinding/unroadworthy tyres & more). On reflection I should've contacted the dealer in the first place, but I didn't realise how long the growing list of faults would get. So he can now claim my specialists have interfered. But the climate control issue was the final straw and it's all a right mess. Please, where do I stand and how should I progress? [Read more →]( [Should my car have daytime running lights fitted?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 Should my 2016 Ford Focus have DRLs whether LED or not? [Read more →]( [What's the best first car for me?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 I recently passed my driving test at the age of 28. I am looking for my first car. I have no knowledge of cars. My car use is mostly city driving with very few long trips. I want a five door, manual and preferably 1.2 engine .I don't want to spend a lot as this is my first car. So far I have tried Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. Can you suggest me something, please? [Read more →]( [We bought a car on the understanding the cambelt had been changed but it has not - where do we stand?]( Posted by on 3 September, 2019 I bought a car online on the understanding they would change the cambelt. I was told that the car had a new cambelt and water pump last year. When delivered by courier, we checked all the paperwork and found nothing. It cost £900 and the dealer says it is sold as seen. [Read more →]( [Can a damaged and undriveable vehicle be left on the road?]( Posted by on 2 September, 2019 My neighbour's relative has been in an accident which has damaged the front of his van and left it undriveable. The AA has dropped it off outside my neighbour's house and it appears to be just left there. It has tax and MoT. Can it just be left there or will the insurance company pick it up? [Read more →]( [Should I choose a hybrid or a PHEV?]( Posted by on 2 September, 2019 I need to replace my Land Rover Freelander with an SUV or estate and I like the look of electric options. I'm ruling out all-electric because I do some long journeys and there don't seem to be enough charging points yet. Concentrating on Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid, what advice is available about the differences? I'd like to know the comparative costs of journeys of, say, 20 miles, 50 miles and 250 miles. What are the differences in battery life and battery replacement cost between the two? Also, are there taxation or other running cost differences between Hybrids and Plug-In Hybrids, and between petrol and diesel engine-based Plug-Ins. What is the likely cost of the charging installation at home which one would avoid with a Hybrid? And are there differences between the cost of charging at home vs away, and, finally, can I utilize my home 3.6kW solar panel installation? [Read more →]( [Is it okay to leave a car idling to warm up in the winter?]( Posted by on 2 September, 2019 I have recently changed from a Jaguar F-Pace to an Audi Q8 and am bitterly disappointed with the mobile phone app. The car itself is wonderful but, unlike the Jaguar app, the Audi does not automatically track journeys and does not allow remote start. I can live without the former but the latter is going to make winter uncomfortable. Given the current furore regarding leaving a car idling what are your views on this applying to warming up an engine? [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