What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [Our journeys are mostly 10 miles or less - should we go for an electric car?]( Posted by on 9 January, 2020 We are satisfied Honda Jazz owners for 17 years but are thinking of going electric to help the environment. Nowadays our journeys are mostly 10 miles or less but occasionally over hundred miles. D we choose a plug-in hybrid or an EV or neither? [Read more →]( [What's the best automatic second-hand small car for £5000?]( Posted by on 9 January, 2020 What would be the best automatic second-hand small car to buy? I am looking to spend about £5000. [Read more →]( [Which is the most reliable SUV to fit three comfortably in the backseat?]( Posted by on 9 January, 2020 Which is the most reliable automatic SUV to fit three comfortably in the backseat? My budget is £10k - which are my best three options? [Read more →]( [Is a Ford Puma Black a future classic?]( Posted by on 9 January, 2020 I own a year 2000 Ford Puma Black Special Edition with 53500 miles on the clock which has been a much-loved family owned second car for around 14 years. I've had the car serviced annually by a Ford trained and reputable one-man-band mechanic, (who loves the car!) and regardless of annual mileage. The car is pretty much original, but we've added cruise control, DAB radio converter and rear parking sensors. According to the DVLA there are 171 currently registered. In your opinion, when is it likely that this model might begin to qualify as a 'modern classic' and perhaps start to increase in value? I've recently seen two similar cars advertised at £1900. I'm at a crossroads at the moment? Do we keep it or sell it as we no longer really need to run two cars? [Read more →]( [Should I keep my E39 BMW 523i?]( Posted by on 9 January, 2020 I have owned a BMW 523i SE from new, it is the E39 model. It only has 54,000 miles, runs very well and is in good condition. Is it the type of car that is worth keeping in the hope of future appreciation or should I cut my losses and sell it? [Read more →]( [What's the most reliable petrol car for taxi use for a £7000 to £8000 budget?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 What's the most reliable petrol car for taxi use for a £7000 to £8000 budget? [Read more →]( [Following an accident our car was destroyed without us being informed - should we be asking for more compensation?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 Our car was involved in an accident and after informing the insurance company they arranged for their recovery team to remove the car. But the recovery team could not remove the car in time, and as the car was blocking one side of the road, the police removed it, about six hours after the accident happened. The recovery company were supposed to pick up the car from the police pound and although they tried to contact them, they could not get the pound to agree to a time. Then as the car had not been picked up for almost three weeks, the police destroyed the car without informing anyone. The car post-accident may have been written off, but no-one has pictures of the damage. It was a second hand, low mileage 2007 Nissan Note. The insurance company have acknowledged this is their problem, so I asked for compensation for the hassle, and the fact we are incurring costs (such as taxis). They initially offered £100, but I rejected this and they have reconsidered to £350. We have also been been given market value for the car + costs for items the were left in the car (under £100). Given we are without a car since early December, and are incurring costs daily and there was chance we could have had the car repaired, should I be entitled to a higher amount or should I be going to the Financial Ombudsman. [Read more →]( [How do I stop the wipers juddering on my car?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 I have cleaned the windscreen of my Yaris and replaced the blades with Bosch soft blades, but on the driver's side I still get a raking noise as the wipers seem to judder across the screen. Any ideas? [Read more →]( [Should we see some used Infiniti bargains as we get nearer them pulling out of the UK?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 Should we see some used Infiniti bargains as we get nearer them pulling out of the UK? [Read more →]( [What practical and cheap to run car do you suggest to replace my ageing RAV4?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 I need to replace my three-door Toyota RAV4 as I need more space and five doors. I went for the RAV4 as I live in rural Cumbria and floods/snow are likely. I do around 12,000 miles/yr and am thinking diesel to reduced fuel costs. Dogs and grandchildren need transporting so I have looked at Skoda Yeti, Skoda Roomster and Jeep Renegade. Would 2WD be fine if I put better tyres on or should I stick with 4WD? I have a budget of up to £10000 max and my main priority is to cut running costs (fuel and tax) and have enough room for a dog, pushchair, hay bales etc (not all at once!) [Read more →]( [I do 25,000 miles a year - is a hybrid a good choice?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 I do around 25,000 miles per year and am looking for a new vehicle. Much of my mileage is long distance (four trips each weekend of 90 miles) but travel during the week is often short commutes to work (7 miles, half on a dual carriageway). I'm not sure if a hybrid (such as Kia Niro) would be better than a diesel. Are you able to help? [Read more →]( [Do I need an International Driver's Permit if travelling to Spain and Portugal?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 I am driving to Spain and Portugal soon - do I need IDPs? [Read more →]( [What should we consider when looking at a used hybrid?]( Posted by on 8 January, 2020 What should we consider when looking at a used hybrid? For example, will I be faced with the cost of replacing batteries or other expensive technology. Do the 'risks' of used and the tax incentives for buying new, make a new car a more sensible option? [Read more →]( [I have identified someone who hit my parked car and drove off - what should I do next?]( Posted by on 7 January, 2020 My parked car was reversed into while in a private car park. The other party did not stop and drove off. I have the details of the other party's car from CCTV, as well as clear proof that the accident was their fault. I have reported the incident to the police and also obtained the details of their insurance from AskMID. I have today made a claim directly with their insurer, sending evidence of the incident. Is there anything else that I need to do, for example, tell my insurers? I would also like to choose the garage that does the repairs - is this acceptable? [Read more →]( [I commute 80 miles a day - should I buy an EV?]( Posted by on 7 January, 2020 I am confused about which "green" car I should buy. I have a budget of £10k max and need to commute 40 miles each way without a charging point in my school. [Read more →]( [Poor paint finish after accident repair]( Posted by on 6 January, 2020 My Mazda 6 was damaged by another vehicle in late-2017. This required a respray and the wing re-attached to the body correctly. Recently I was jet washing my car and noticed that a circular section of an inch or so of top paintwork was loose. Am I entitled to have this looked at and repaired? [Read more →]( [Should I buy a used Mercedes-Benz A-Class as my first car?]( Posted by on 6 January, 2020 Would a Mercedes-Benz A-Class from circa 2005 make sense for a new driver on a budget? [Read more →]( [Soft brake pedal on Ford Focus - what's the cause?]( Posted by on 5 January, 2020 Any ideas please on a soft/long brake pedal on a 2014 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel. I have bled the brakes and the pedal is better but then gets softer over the course of the next two/three weeks? I have checked the rear wheel cylinders for leaks and they seem ok. There is no loss of fluid either. I am puzzled by this, can you help? [Read more →]( [Are carmakers swapping paper service histories for digital alternatives?]( Posted by on 4 January, 2020 I bought a pre-reg Nissan Qashqai from an approved dealership and the first annual service is due next month. There was no service history book with the car and the dealership is unable/unwilling to provide one despite several requests. Are these books for sale or are all the details now online? [Read more →]( [Are Nissan's petrol engines reliable?]( Posted by on 4 January, 2020 I'm looking at buying a Nissan Qashqai for my father. He wants petrol, as he only does short journeys now. Are Nissan's petrol engines reliable? [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