What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [If the price of my car rises above £40k after I've ordered it do I have to pay premium tax?]( Posted by on 25 May, 2023 I am about to order a new car with a list price just below £40K so no higher VED to pay. If during the time from ordering the car to it being delivered the list price increases to above the £40K limit will the car be subject to the additional VED for the next 5 years, or is the £40K based on the time at ordering? [Read more →]( [Should I buy a SORN car that has been sat for two years?]( Posted by on 25 May, 2023 I have the opportunity to have a car from a family friend, this car is 06 number plate has been sitting in a drive for two years with a SORN. My problem is that I am hesitant to take ownership of this car incase the costs of getting a MoT and insurance on it cost more than just buying a new car. Is there any advice you can give on maybe getting it checked out or stuff to look for before doing this as I am on a very tight budget and do not want to end up with a garage charging me loads of money to fix it up? [Read more →]( [What's a good car to replace our BMW i3?]( Posted by on 25 May, 2023 I love driving our BMW i3 Rand Extender but now we have a place in Spain, we need another car for journeys south. It should be comfortable with fuel range for 3-5 hours driving in one stretch, while still being small enough to drive and park in the typical narrow streets of Spanish old towns. Anything fuel but diesel power is acceptable and badge not important. Decent ground clearance would be a bonus for parking near beaches, too. Can you suggest anything under £25k in the current market? [Read more →]( [I found a £12k car mistakenly advertised for £1900 - does the dealer have to honour that price?]( Posted by on 24 May, 2023 I noticed a car on a dealer's website with a clear mistake as it was advertised at £1900 with a saving of £10,000 so I paid the deposit to reserve it. However it was clearly a mistake by the company and they phoned me to tell me it should be advertised at £11,900. I'm guessing I have no rights but just wanted to double check if that is the case? [Read more →]( [Which has the more rear space - the Mercedes A-Class or BMW 1 Series?]( Posted by on 24 May, 2023 I am looking to buy a new premium hatch and was wondering if you could advise, which of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series has more space for rear passengers? [Read more →]( [Does the top speed of an electric car drop when the battery is low?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 The top speed of my electric bike drops slightly when the battery charge is low. Does the same thing happen with electric cars? [Read more →]( [Can I have two different size tyres on my car?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 My 2016 Fiesta has alloy wheels and there are two different recommended tyre sizes- 195/45/16 and 195/50/16. I currently have 4 x 195/45/16's on the car. Which size tyre should I be using and does it make any difference? I have a full size spare which is 195/50/16, can I use this on the car? Could I have 2x 195/50/16's on the rear wheels and 2x 195/45/16's on the front wheels? I notice that my wife's Smart car has two different size tyres on rear and front wheels. Would this arrangement mean an MoT fail? [Read more →]( [What's the best car for a tall elderly driver?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 With the ULEZ zone due to expand I need to change my diesel Toyota Corolla Verso for something compliant. The problem is I am 6ft 10 inches tall and have arthritis in my spine which makes getting in and out of a car difficult. I have looked at a lot of cars but find on the likes of a Honda CR-V and Honda Jazz there is not enough head room on the door aperture so I have to put my head in first and then shuffle onto the seat. I tried a Skoda Superb but the seat is too low for easy entry. Looking at mobility cars, it would seem that a Mercedes Vito or Sprinter are the only vehicles with suitable access but are too big for everyday use. Any thoughts on an alternative? I would prefer a petrol automatic as I don’t do many miles and it is usually in traffic. [Read more →]( [What would you suggest as a cheap towing car?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 I have about £6500 (including trade) to spend on something bigger to replace my Vauxhall Corsa. I need something that's able to tow our track cars (a 2003 MINI Cooper S and an MGB) on the odd weekend and spend the rest of my time driving mainly in town with bi-weekly jaunts on the M25. I'd prefer something with cruise control and if possible something relatively mechanically simple that I could do most of the maintenance of consumables on myself. [Read more →]( [Can I clear faults on my car with an OBD reader?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 I have a 2007 Jaguar XKR. When I plug in a reader under the dashboard I see historic and intermittent faults. Can I have these removed by a garage or by myself as when trying to sell the car potential buyers are put off? There are no warning lights on the dashboard. [Read more →]( [Are there any new cars available without keyless entry?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 What new cars are available - up to say £30k - without keyless entry? I don't want to go back to 1960s level of security! [Read more →]( [I'm downsizing from a Honda CR-V - what do you recommend?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 I have a 2021 hybrid Honda CR-V and am looking to downsize while still staying within a small SUV range. I need flat loading rear space, a high up driving position with adjustable front seats (preferably both), comfort, and decent reliability. I'm not concerned whether it is a hybrid or petrol, but do not want a diesel engine. An automatic is essential. I'm looking at both the VW T-Cross and T-Roc. Are there any other obvious alternatives? [Read more →]( [Can I buy a left hand drive car with a French registration in the UK for use in Bulgaria?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 We have a house in the EU and are looking to buy a left-hand-drive car to take to the house. While some LHD vehicles are already on UK plates and therefore registered with the DVLA, many of the cars advertised are on French, Spanish or other EU plates and I am wondering if I bought one of these how can I legally drive it from the UK to Bulgaria where I will import it [Read more →]( [Why is my 2013 BMW so much more expensive to tax than a 2018 model?]( Posted by on 23 May, 2023 I have a 2013 BMW M6 and pay over £600 in VED but the 2018 model with same emission is £180? Seems a bit unreasonable. [Read more →]( [What should we replace our Volkswagen Golf with?]( Posted by on 22 May, 2023 What is the most efficient, comfortable and fairly stylish car you would recommend to replace our ageing but otherwise excellent 2015 Golf 2.0 TDI BlueMotion. We like the size, the fuel economy, it’s not too sluggish, but cannot find anything that matches this good all-rounder. Looking at up to £25,000 including the trade in of our Golf. [Read more →]( [What performance estate should I buy?]( Posted by on 22 May, 2023 I am a 73 year old petrol head. I have a 2016 BMW 520 SE Touring and a 2011 Porsche Boxster 2.9. They are both great cars and fulfil all my needs. However, I am downsizing and really only need one car. Is there one car, used or new, that could deliver some or all of the above qualities of both cars? I am a big fan of the 5 & 3 Series Touring, so preferably an estate. I am not a fan of SUV’s and not yet convinced of electric. My budget would come from the sale of the above plus £35k. [Read more →]( [Do runflat tyres wear quicker than normal tyres?]( Posted by on 21 May, 2023 My MINI Cooper has runflat tyres. I have just had the first service after two years at 9200 miles. The tread on the front tyres is now circa 3mm and the rear set is at circa 5mm. The wear seems excessive for low mileage, is the rubber on run flat tyres prone to wear quickly? [Read more →]( [Why is my insurer asking for a copy of the V5C?]( Posted by on 21 May, 2023 My granddaughter has just become 17 and is learning to drive. As my wife is no longer allowed to drive we have made her car available for her to learn on but have retained ownership. My daughter has taken out insurance in my granddaughter's name with her and her partner/child's father as additional drivers. The insurance company have asked for a copy of the V5C of which I have provided (the second page) with a signed authority from my wife and I to allow the insurance to be taken. I have now been asked to provide a full copy of the V5C. I have never heard of these requests before. Is this normal practice? [Read more →]( [What's the best Toyota automatic?]( Posted by on 21 May, 2023 We are currently looking for an estate/MPV type car with an automatic gearbox. We have narrowed down our search to either the Toyota Avensis (estate version) or Auris. Which years of these model particular models had the most reliable gearboxes? I'm also slightly confused as there are V- Matic and CVT gearboxes seen in these models. Bear in mind we are looking for something that will cost no more than £5000 to £8000 so we are not looking for something new and understand we may be restricted to older cars, but as long as the car is solid and reliable it doesnt matter to us. [Read more →]( You received this email because you signed up to our mailing list. If you’re not interested in receiving our newsletter any more, you can: [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( Honestjohn.co.uk 5 New Street Square London United Kingdom EC4A 3TW