What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [Can you recommend a product to keep plastic trim looking good?]( Posted by on 1 October, 2020 I'm looking for a good product that can be applied to black exterior plastic. There are plenty of products that make the plastic look good when applied, but I've yet to find one that repels dirt well for a decent period of time. By that I mean, when I wash the car, I soak it with water first to soften any dirt, then I wash with water and car shampoo. The dirt comes off the car bodywork easily, but the black plastic has to be rubbed really hard, or scrubbed to remove marks. My car isn't very old, so it isn't just a matter of making the plastic look shiny again as it's already in good condition, I just want something that's easy to wash. Many thanks in advance. [Read more →]( [Is it illegal to have a on/off switch for the headlight on my motorbike?]( Posted by on 1 October, 2020 I've recently brought Yamasaki RE50 Moped and have a question. The garage who I took the bike to tell me that it is illegal to have a main headlight on/off switch as well as a separate high and low beam switch. They said that new bikes now are required to have this switch covered so lights stay on all the time. The bike does have a Daytime Running Light though. I'll be grateful to know if this is true and, if so, could you lead me to a law document that says so? Would this be an MOT fail? Kind regards. [Read more →]( [Can you recommend a plug in OBD tool?]( Posted by on 1 October, 2020 Can you recommend a plug in OBD tool? [Read more →]( [My daughter wants a diesel hatchback. Can you recommend a used model?]( Posted by on 1 October, 2020 My daughter's leased MINI is coming up for renewal but she's leaning towards buying a 2 or 3-year-old car, with a diesel Golf in mind. Diesel due to her business travel of between 15k-20k miles per year. She likes the higher-spec cars, manual gearbox, preferably a five-door as a bit more space is best suited and for her black labrador who goes in the boot. Which model would be best suited and which models should she avoid? What insurance rating would the said model(s) be? Would servicing be similar on all models? What similar other car/model may be a good match for the Golf as mentioned? Many thanks in advance. [Read more →]( [What is the legal limit on car exhaust noise?]( Posted by on 30 September, 2020 When my neighbour fires up his Porsche, it sounds as though an explosion has taken place. Is this noise standard or can it be 'tweaked' in some way? Is there a legal limit to the noise that cars can produce? [Read more →]( [How much should I pay for a classic MGB (rubber bumper)?]( Posted by on 30 September, 2020 What is the going rate for a solid but not perfect MGB with rubber bumpers? Car in question has solid sills, no rust and decent paintwork. Interior is decent with new full leather seat covers. Engine bay coated in waxoyl which is unsightly but has protected the metal. Probably needs a new hood (windows slightly clouded and repaired cracks in quarter lights). Overall it runs well and is sound but is no concourse winner. [Read more →]( [Toyota Aygo - cam belt or cam chain?]( Posted by on 29 September, 2020 Our friend has a 2012 1.0-litre petrol Toyota Aygo. She wants to know if the car has a cam chain or a cam belt, as it has just reached 70,000 miles on the clock. Can you help? [Read more →]( [Is it foolish to buy a petrol car if I live in London?]( Posted by on 29 September, 2020 I'm considering buying a secondhand Fiat 500X. I don't want to spend more than £8,500, however, I'm not sure if it's foolish to buy a petrol over, say, a second hand Toyota Yaris hybrid. I like the interior/exterior of the Fiat 500X, but am nervous about resale value/the move towards electric/hybrid. If it makes a difference, I live in London just outside the ULEZ extension so it will be used for mainly getting out of London. Any advice would be much appreciated. Open to suggestions, too! Thanks. [Read more →]( [Can you tell me which small cars come with a full-size spare wheel?]( Posted by on 29 September, 2020 Which automatic small cars come with a full-size spare wheel, please? [Read more →]( [I own a diesel car. Should I sell it or keep it?]( Posted by on 28 September, 2020 I currently own a 2013 BMW 520d Touring (but have £8k left on credit). It has 87,000 on the clock. Would you advise I sell my BMW now, considering the market is turning against diesels, and move back to petrol? Or should I continue to run (and enjoy it) for the foreseeable future? Thanks in advance. [Read more →]( [I want an estate car for a growing family and mostly short trips. Should I go hybrid or petrol?]( Posted by on 28 September, 2020 I have a Skoda Fabia 1.0-litre 110PS - which is great for my school run and occasional longer trips, but due to growing kids and a dog, I need a bigger car. I'm not a fan of SUVs so fancy an estate car. I have a budget of £20,000 and quite fancy a Toyota Corolla Estate but is the 1.8 hybrid worth the extra money over the 1.2 petrol? I cover about 6000 miles a year - which is mainly short trips of 10 miles with the occasional trip to London (from Manchester). Are there any other estates you would recommend. I don't want a VW Group car with a 1.5-litre petrol engine due to all the issues it seems to have. [Read more →]( [Why does the Ford Fiesta have sensitive brakes?]( Posted by on 27 September, 2020 I recently bought a 2011 Ford Fiesta 1.25 petrol and it has pretty sensitive brakes - they suddenly grab and it's hard to avoid stopping far more quickly than intended. Is this a common issue? Can you suggest a fix? [Read more →]( [Need a spacious family car - Skoda Superb or Kia Optima?]( Posted by on 26 September, 2020 I've currently got a 2014 Citroen C4 Picasso which I love for the spacious interior but it has proven unreliable, with five major mechanical issues in the past two years. I've been looking at the Kia Optima for a long warranty, and a Skoda Superb because everyone tells me Skodas are reliable. Which is better and are there any other options I should be considering? It will be the main family car and used for occasional trips to France, so luggage space is a top priority, alongside reliability and a spacious cabin. Budget is up to £15k and it must have an automatic gearbox. 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