What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [Is the Ford Focus dual clutch 7 speed transmission reliable?]( Posted by on 15 December, 2023 I am looking at buying a brand new Ford Focus Estate with dual clutch 7 speed automatic transmission, which is still branded as Powershift in the marketing material. The engine in question is the 155PS 1.0 Ecoboost. Ive read some horror stories about Powershift problems in the past. Should I avoid this latest dual clutch option altogher? The problem is that the 155PS engine version I'm after is only available with auto. Ive spoken to dealers and noone can tell whether its wet or dry dual clutch, and who makes the auto box for Ford. [Read more →]( [What are the best headlight bulbs?]( Posted by on 15 December, 2023 Which are the best headlight bulbs for winter night driving? [Read more →]( [Why is my insurance higher because I lived out of the UK for eight years?]( Posted by on 15 December, 2023 Please can you tell me why insurance comparison sites are now asking if you have lived in Uk since birth? I was born in UK as were all my ancestors. However, my parents took me abroad when I was ten and we returned when I was eighteen. When I told this to a telephone advisor it would have increased my premium by over £200!! How can being taken out of the country as a child for a few years have any effect on my driving? [Read more →]( [We've been told our insurance has gone up in our area because an identical car was stolen - is this right?]( Posted by on 15 December, 2023 My daughter has just been told (by a mainstream and well-known insurer) that her premiums have just gone up because an identical car in the same postcode was stolen, therefore the premiums go up. Of course she tried a few others and was told the same thing. Surely this can't be correct? [Read more →]( [The vehicle description is wrong on the V5C - what should I do?]( Posted by on 15 December, 2023 I am looking at buying a motorcycle and when I checked the MOT status online it states that the model of the bike is different to what it actually is. For anyone who knows bikes, the one I am looking at is a Honda Africa, the DVLA seems to have it registered as a Honda Africa Adventure Sport which although very similar is slightly different. [Read more →]( [What car do you recommend for someone who suffers from arthritis in the hands?]( Posted by on 14 December, 2023 I'm looking for a 4x4 car about 10 years old that is easy for someone who suffers from arthritis in the hands, an automatic with an easy to move gear stick. We currently have a Freelander which requires a bit of force to push when moving in and out of reverse. [Read more →]( [Are there parts supply issues with Vauxhall cars?]( Posted by on 14 December, 2023 I'm having trouble getting parts for a 2017 Astra. Is it because PSA took over and now they don't want to support the GM manufactured cars? I've been waiting three months for a gearbox mount with no eta available. [Read more →]( [I want a Mercedes E-Class for high mileage - what diesel engine should I choose?]( Posted by on 14 December, 2023 I'm after a high mileage E-Class Estate (2010-2016). Can you recommend a specific diesel engine that will do 200k as there are a lot to choose from? Also are the diesels chain driven? [Read more →]( [Will my petrol car become non ULEZ compliant in the future?]( Posted by on 13 December, 2023 At present my 2016 petrol Kia Venga is ULEZ friendly, will there come a time when it would become ULEZ unfriendly? Just checking I was not too sure if when vehicles get to a certain age they fall into the charging zone. [Read more →]( [What is the battery life like on a mild hybrid?]( Posted by on 13 December, 2023 I am thinking of purchasing a 3 year old Suzuki with mild hybrid but am concerned on the life / replacement cost of the hybrid battery etc. I believe Suzuki give 3 year warranty on new card which can be extended to 7 years if the servicing is done by them. However their terms & conditions appear to exclude 'batteries' and I cannot find any specific reference to the mild hybrid system / battery. I thought of Suzuki as their 1.2 engine has a timing chain and would avoid the cost of replacing timing belts used by most manufacturers. Am I just changing cost of timing belts with replacing hybrid batteries? The battery is fitted under the front passenger seat, is this safe? [Read more →]( [Do I need to change both tyres if I get a puncture on one?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 I have just had to replace a rear runflat tyre due to having had a puncture on my BMW 420i Convertible which had only done 8,000 miles, so I now have a new rear tyre and one that has about 4mm of tread . Do I need to bite the bullet and replace the other tyre, or am I okay with two tyres of different tread depth on the same axle? [Read more →]( [My wife is a named driver on my policy and had an accident, do I need to declare this?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 My wife had accident as named driver on my policy, I want to renew with her being named driver again, do I declare claim in my section or in hers or both? Technically I had no accidents so how can I be in the higher risk group then? [Read more →]( [What do you suggest as a narrow car for a tight driveway?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 My mum is looking to replace her BMW X1. It is too wide for her driveway and she has scraped it a few times. She needs a four door or hatch that's automatic. She loves driving and will wants a car that she can enjoy. Her budget is £15k to £20k and anything 2-4 years old is fine. We have been looking at a VW Polo but it is only 3-inches less wide that the X1. [Read more →]( [Can I appeal a speeding fine?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 I feel I have been unfairly fined for speeding. I was travelling East on the A14 late at night on a quiet road towards Cambridge. Four lanes: the 1st for the A14, the second for Cambridge, the outside two for the M11 which began a quarter of a mile away. Signs indicated that on the M11 there was a lane closure with men working there but this was a mile away. There were signs at that point for a 40 mph limit but clearly there was no real reason for this to apply to lanes 1&2. Do I have a case to appeal or is it 'rules are rules' regardless ? [Read more →]( [Does my Ford Mondeo have DAB+?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 I have owned a 2016 Ford Mondeo Titanium Mk5 from new and the vehicle has been highly satisfacory and trouble free. However I am concerned that the advent of DAB+ will render many stations unobtainable. I am having difficulty in establishing whether or not the radio is DAB+ and if not, can it be changed, modified or fitted with an adaptor? [Read more →]( [Is there a minimum size for LED indicators?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 Is there a minimum dimension standard for LED lights on new cars? Twice now I have not spotted a turn signal in daylight because the turn light was so small. [Read more →]( [Are average speed cameras accurate?]( Posted by on 11 December, 2023 I travel through both inner and outer London boroughs and several cameras are in 20mph zones. However the other week I noticed a camera (the older style GATSO yellow one) with no speed markings on the road so have assumed it is decommissioned and another cameral marked as a 20mph speed camera at a set of traffic lights which doesn't go off if you drive through at a faster speed which means it is a traffic light camera and only activates when you go through it on a red light. Have set off two sets of cameras a while ago without receiving any notification. I think one possible answer is that once the local authorities have the money they will make a massive upgrade to all the existing cameras and replace them with the new generation of digital two-way models. Until that time we are probably safe. Also in my local area we have sections of dual carriageway monitored by average speed cameras set at 40mph. Do you know if they can set them for lower speeds? I have a feeling that this cannot be done accurately. 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