All the mainstream broadsheets have pared back their motoring sections in recent years. The Sunday Times used to have a mini motoring newspaper and I once used their national classifieds to sell a Merc 190 without hassle.

What newspapers have failed to do is capitalise on their content and journalistic integrity to move forward with the digital age, hence the rise of sites like Honest John. Other websites do far more comprehensive tests and a YouTube review is often infinitely superior to the heavily edited summaries punted in the papers as car journalism.

The HJ advice column was reminiscent of the great service Car Mechanics magazine has with readers' queries - almost a public service, which grew into a very useful database of solutions to motoring problems.

It'll be interesting to see what Peter Lorimer - aka Honest John - decides to do next...

That’s a coincidence I’m looking for my weekly dose of motoring genius from HJ in my Telegraph on line and it’s the first time it’s been missing on a Saturday.

Does that mean Alex won’t be carrying on the tradition ?

As a DT digital subscriber I reckon the online motoring information has increased over recent months. The large Saturday motoring section itself has long gone both in print and online but there are usually several online articles and or/reviews. There is a bit of reader criticism that a lot of the material is recycled and redated to look newer than it is. On the other hand there are many archived reviews and articles available online.
I miss HJ but this site, and the DT online and print are now giving access to a wider range of writers and views. I detect a less independent, more deferential approach to manufacturers than HJ had. He is a hard act to follow and. I doubt we will see his like again in terms of independence. As long as we are not fed advertorials I will continue to read their stuff with interest.