What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [What car cover should I use for my convertible Mercedes?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I have recently bought a 2021 Mercedes C Class Cabriolet. We live in an area that's regularly visited by seagulls and suffer with frequent deposits! Hence I am keen to preserve the condition of the cabriolet and looking for suggestions as a to a good quality half cover or a full cover for the car. A cover that will last for many years and not just one or two seasons. I have looked online and am just not certain of the quality being offered, some look to be made of nothing more than garden furniture cover material, which from experience just does not last. [Read more →]( [What tyres would you recommend for my Toyota GT86?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I'm buying a used Toyota GT86, can you tell me what the correct type and size tyre that should be fitted? Low road noise is important to me, so what brand would you recommend? [Read more →]( [Should I repair my current car or buy something newer?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I have a 2008 Peugeot 407 SW. I bought it for towing and it proved to be an excellent tow car. I no longer tow but although old, I still love it. I know how it works (not mechanically) as it doesn't have all the electronic new fangled things which I am wary of as I think more could go wrong. I find it comfortable to drive too. As you may have realised by now, I'm an aged female! My problem is, I have been told that the dual mass fly wheel is worn and needs replacing with clutch. I know it's going to be expensive ...possibly more that the value of the car, for which I've had various valuations ranging from £750 to £1800. So my question is, is it worth having it done or should I just, reluctantly, go for a newer car? [Read more →]( [How do I insure my Ford Escort XR3i that has had an RS Turbo engine fitted?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 What is the correct way to insure a Ford Escort XR3i which has had an engine from an Escort RS Turbo fitted to it? [Read more →]( [How can I tell if a car is automatic or semi-automatic?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I've noted a couple of instances where cars are advertised as 'automatic' but which turn out to be, on inspection, semi-automatic. How can I find out in advance which is correct? It may not matter to everyone, of course, but it does to me. [Read more →]( [What are the pros and cons of electric vs plug-in hybrid?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 We are looking to replace our four year old Skoda Karoq in the next year. Our preference is for a similar sized SUV. Can you advise us on the pros and cons of full electric vs hybrid electric? We have a solar panel installation which can provide some useful energy for charging the battery. [Read more →]( [I need a comfortable car with good ground clearance and lots of space, what should I choose?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I would be grateful if you could help us in our quest for a new car. Currently we have a 2016 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso This is a great car as far as space utilisation is concerned, especially the boot which is large and suits us well. However, the ride is poor and is certainly not up to Citroens long term reputation for ride comfort. So, we are looking for a car with a boot no smaller than the Citroen's but with as smooth a ride as possible (not bothered too much about so called 'handling'!). We also like a higher driving position and good ground clearance. So probably an SUV or a high riding estate would be suitable but the ride quality followed by boot size are the priorities. Budget for new or nearly new (up to 2 years old), up to to £40,000ish for the right car but preferably less. [Read more →]( [What is the speed limit for a van on a dual carriageway with a central reservation barrier?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 Can you tell me what the speed limit is for a non car-derived van on a dual carriageway? [Read more →]( [Can the RAC charge my daughter for a burst tyre?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 My daughter had a tyre burst on her MINI Cooper after she grazed a curb near her house, trying to avoid a big truck coming her way. When she called the RAC, with whom she has a full breakdown cover, they said it would cost her £200 for the call out because she had caused the damage herself. Is this usual procedure? [Read more →]( [Is the Skoda Yeti the right car for me?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I am interested in buying a Skoda Yeti. I have a budget of up to £10,000. We drive a max of 5000 miles a year and are not off-roaders in any sense! Would you recommend this car or are there others that fit the roomy and practical mould set by the Yeti. Are there any significant Yetis, or others, to avoid. We are in our late seventies so will be keeping it for some time. [Read more →]( [I'm looking for a car with a seven-year warranty, what should I buy?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 For the last few years of my working life I need very reliable car for my daily commute. I'm in the market for a new car, with a budget of up £15K. Of the two car manufacturers, who offer a seven year warranty, Kia and MG, which brand and model do you recommend? Or should I be thinking about buying an approved used model? [Read more →]( [Should both my headlights have LEDs?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 My wife's 2014 Vauxhall Adam has daytime running lights in the headlight unit, but one side has LEDs and the other side a normal bulb. On its last MoT the mechanic said they need to be the same so I would have to replace the headlight to match them up. It has had previous MoTs but this has never been put down as a failure. When we purchased the car it had a new MoT with no advisory to change the headlights so they match. Could you advise if I need to match up the headlights so both have the same lights? [Read more →]( [Should I take my used Toyota iQ to a main dealer for servicing?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I've bought a 10-year-old Toyota iQ. Is it worth servicing it at Toyota or my good local garage? [Read more →]( [Are odd tyres on my back axle affecting my roadholding?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I have owned my approved used 70 plate Toyota Yaris Excel since just before Christmas. It doesn't hug the road as it should - tends to twitch to the left for no apparent reason on uneven surfaces (not due to lane deviation assist) and the requirement to hang on tight to the steering wheel leaves me with aching shoulders and hands. At 60.9 the mpg is nothing like the 70-72 I would expect in mild weather. I have just realized that the new tyre on the rear drivers side wheel (17" alloys) doesn't quite match the other three. According to the handbook it should be a Bridgestone EP150 205/45/R17 84W but it's actually an 88W. I suspect that the mismatched tyres are causing the handling problems. What do you think? The dealer swears they didn't change the tyre and in any case it shouldn't matter. It looks as though I'll have to buy a new tyre and I don't want to waste money. [Read more →]( [Should I buy a Euro 5 compliant car for long-term ownership?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 Should I buy a Euro 5-compliant car if I am going to keep it for at least 10 years? Or will I not be able to go into most cities in coming years due to clean air zones. [Read more →]( [The tyres on my Peuegot 208 are noisy, are there quieter alternatives?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I own a Peugeot 208 GT fitted with Michelin Primacy 4 205/45/17 tyres, which are quite noisy. I understand that among others, the Hankook Ventus Evo 3 can reduce the noise in the cabin by about half. I wonder if this is true and ask if there is any other makes in the above size that would reduce the noise significantly. [Read more →]( [What trickle charger should I use for a mild hybrid?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 Can you suggest a suitable trickle charger for my mild hybrid Mercedes GLC 300? There seems to be a lot of choice. [Read more →]( [What would cause a sudden power loss in an Audi Q4 e-tron?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 My daughter's Audi Q4 e-tron lost power suddenly on the M1 where there was no hard shoulder and an HGV immediately behind her. Thankfully she and her baby suffered no harm. Is this a known issue with this car? Is it likely to be a software problem? [Read more →]( [I'm looking to replace my Hyundai Ioniq with another PHEV, what should I choose?]( Posted by on 17 March, 2023 I currently have a Hyundai Ioniq PHEV that I plan to replace this August with a new PHEV. The Ioniq PHEV is no longer produced - what would you recommend about the same size? [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