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Honest John Ask Honest John » January 2010
Trending topics in January 2010
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Questions from January 2010
I am looking at buying the Peugeot 5008 with an automatic transmission. I'm nervous about the much reduced horsepower compared to the manual gearbox. 110 compared to 150. I drive 40,000 per year and I...
My wife has just purchased a new Ford Fiesta in red coloured non-metallic paint (after waiting an incredible 18 weeks for delivery). The dealer offered a paint protection system. How effective is this...
I took delivery of a 3rd Generation Prius T-Spirit in September. It is my 3rd Prius. Every aspect of the car has been refined and improved and it is a delight to drive. There is however one problem on...
I'd be grateful for your advice and guidance regarding a brake issue I have with my VW Golf Mk6 GT TDI 140PS which I bought in March this year. The brakes tend to stick after parking on my drive overnight...
My daughter and her family have been living in Tokyo for over 2 years where they have a Discovery 3 bought when they arrived. It has proved an ideal car for carrying around their 3 children and all their...
Probably 99% of drivers would applaud any campaign to have speed humps abolished. Local authorities seem able to build obstructions on public highways with impunity when private individuals or companies...
I bought a focus ST on 31-03-06. On 16-10-09 the alternator failed after only 16,053 miles. Due to my health I can't walk far and when I reached seventy the Ford dealer could not lend me a loan car so...
I am thinking of changing my 3-year-old, 14,000 mile, Peugeot 407 SW for three reasons: It is very low and it is not easy for my wife and I to get in and out (being on our seventies); my wife is very short...
I have a 1988 Porsche 924S Le Mans, black, 55,000 miles, excellent condition, and wonder if you would give me an idea of its likely value please, and the best way to sell.
First of all I am very impresses with your website and it is very simple and straightforward to understand. You have done a marvellous job. Can you advise what is the difference between Toyota Avensis...
I'm in need of some assistance. My mother is looking to change her 2006 Clio automatic and needs a car of a similar size. She wants something premium, I advised an Audi A3 however she feels its slightly...
I refer to a recent e-mail about talking a car to Poland. I have been driving a vehicle (usually a Mercedes Sprinter) to Poland every winter since 1992, and here are a few observations you may want to...
Recently the authorities have installed kerbs along the sides of a main roadway out in the countryside near me where there were none previously. I have also seen this done in many other similar locations,...
I retire next May after thirty years in the prison service, and I am buying myself a quality car. The two models that I have looked at are the BMW 5 sport, and the E Class Mercedes Sport. I have not had...
I have been sent a NIP for "driving through a red light". I approached a pedestrian crossing and the pedestrians crossed before I got to the lights and they went to red when the pedestrians were safely...
Many drivers now use their headlights all day long, even in clear daylight, which is very distracting and therefore dangerous. Lights on in clear daylight used to be for emergency vehicles only. Originally...
You may be interested to see this unusual exhaust found on a Renault in Morocco.
I live in Hampshire. Is it illegal to park on a speed hump? In particular one that stretches right across the road with white triangles on it and a painted, straight white line parallel to the kerb before,...
I wonder if you can give me some advice, last April I purchased a new Smart ForTwo CDi, primarily based on its published fuel economy of 85.6mpg, or 621 miles without stopping. I am deeply disappointed...
In September 2009, I purchased a used BMW 320D M Sport Coupe (12 months old, ex-demonstrator plus one owner, 6,000 miles) from a main dealer. In the 12,000 miles since, it has had 3 replacement clutches,...
I remember you warning prospective buyers of BMW530D models of swirl flap problems on this otherwise excellent car. A family member is at the moment looking to buy a late 2003 BMW 530D Auto, a peach of...
I need your advice regarding a legal matter. Can another person attend a county court judgement in place of the person summoned? Is there any way of applying to the judge for this?
My wife and I have a 43-year-old single son who suffered a severe stroke two and a half years ago. This has left him with a weakness down his left side with restricted use of left leg and arm. He has been...
My daughter has a 2003 VW Polo automatic, which now and again does not respond in any way when she tries to start the engine. After fiddling with the gear lever for a few minutes she has so far got it...
I've run a BMW E60 525SE petrol auto from new. It's 6 years old and I intend to change it for a new F10 5-Series. There are compelling paper reasons for choosing a 520 Diesel SE auto (enough power for...
I am the owner of a 2003 Rover 75 1.8T. Having had a full service and MOT a month ago, on a recent journey the temperature gauge shot up to red. I stopped the car and it was taken home by recovery. My...
Recently retired we have been looking to change our 6-year-old Volvo V40 (winter package) for something slightly smaller. My husband has a problem with the ‘bucket’ seats as many of them are quite hard...
My wife has just received a demand for £50 payment for parking on "our clients private property at Jempsons Store, Hawkhurst". The car is recorded by CCTV showing the correct vehicle date and time. Is...
I purchased a “low mileage” Porsche from a reputed independent specialist 6 months ago, now showing 35,000 miles. While being serviced a problem was detected and on stripping the engine the cylinders were...
The callipers on the front disc brakes on my Ford Zetec are showing signs of rust. Some weeks/months ago I remember that that you answered a letter from a reader who had a similar problem and you recommended...
We have always thought it best to go to a dealer we trust rather than one offering 'the best deals'. Having bought Rover cars from our trusted local dealer we were naturally saddened when Rover ceased...
I was interested to see the recent article on the problems dyspraxics face in learning to drive. My 18-yr old son was diagnosed with dyspraxia several years ago. He is keen to learn to learn to drive...
I am tempted by the 20% “VAT” equivalent savings on offer by Skoda on petrol engined Skoda Octavias and I am considering changing my current car a 2006 Skoda Octavia L&K Estate 105 PDI owned by me from...
What is your opinion of the concept behind the new FIAT 2 cylinder 875cc car
I am looking for a big car for my three kids and wife. Which car is big and cheap? I only really need a 5-seater and only have about £3,500 to spend? What do you think of the old Skoda Superb? Is a saloon...
Mercedes C320 drivers seem to be having problems getting satnav updates. I had exactly the opposite experience with Ford. Two years ago I bought a six-month old Mondeo from Ford Direct and being an ex-demonstrator,...
Learners: everyone has to start sometime. BMW drivers: at least they are keen to get on with their journeys. Similarly, boy racers. The worst drivers by far are those who are old, male, wear a hat, crouch...
Faced with repeated failure of the Bluetooth in my Scirocco with my Blackberry 8520, I devised my own shortcut to 're-booting' the cars cranky software and system. When the connection first fails (or does...
I went to visit a second-hand car dealer to look at a Volvo V50. On the advert it said 1 owner and 47k. When I went to the dealer I looked over the car and took it for a spin, all was fine and correct....
Back in August 2010 I emailed you about my FIAT 500 diesel. At 2 years old the engine blew up. Glynn Hopkins, FIAT dealers at Chadwell Heath, Essex did not know what was wrong with it but you did. (Choked...
In November 2009, my son borrowed my Hyundai Getz because his car had developed an electrical fault. He set off on his journey and when crawling down the slip road on to the motorway, rolled into the...
If I buy a pre-registered Astra from my local franchise, does this cancel the lifetime guarantee, as technically I would be the second owner?
Daihatsu has announced that it will no longer import any vehicles because of the strength of the Yen. But why, if that is the case? Don't the other Japanese manufacturers do the same? I haven't heard of...
I notice that there are quite a few 2003 to 2005 Nissan 350Z coupes available in the £7k-£8k price range. Some have quite high mileages, one being 158,000 miles, but more typically 60k to 80k. I don't...
Thank you for printing my email captioned ' 'Weston Super Snare'. I am sure it, and your reply, will benefit many folk suffering the same dilemma. I have heard nothing more from Parking Eye since I last...
I hope that you can help. We currently run an 05 Volvo V70 D5 manual estate. The performance, fuel consumption, seat support and trust in the safety of the car suit us perfectly on long journeys - we...
Yesterday I read an article in the press that caused me some concern and I wondered if you were aware of its immanent introduction. To quote “the new government rules called continuous insurance enforcement,...
You must have received thousands of letters about the state of our roads. However, after a three-mile drive to our town centre, I feel I must add my comments. Last year, we visited German friends who...
I am on my 5th Honda Civic, which I keep for three years and the time for a change is here. I like the Civic but the rear visibility has meant a few minor shunts. The fuel consumption over three years...
I purchased a used Vauxhall Zafira five months ago. The car is an 07 plate and I paid circa £6,000. The car has a piston fault, which requires a replacement engine (new £1,500/used £600 excluding. Labour)....
 

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