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 it better to top up fuel at half a tank or to refuel when almost on reserve?]( Posted by on 11 August, 2023 Is it better in the long run to top up fuel at half tank on a regular basis or to refuel when almost on reserve? [Read more →]( [What's the best saloon or estate for less than £40,000?]( Posted by on 10 August, 2023 I'm looking for either a saloon or estate car for lapping up motorway miles, around 20k miles a year, that needs to be comfortable but I like sporty driving cars also. I have around £35k to spend on a 1-2 year old car, however would like something with original value below £40k so that I don't have to pay the extra £390 a year VED. [Read more →]( [What do you suggest as a good value but economical second car?]( Posted by on 10 August, 2023 We have a Honda CR-V 1.6 diesel that we like and gives us about 55mpg. We also have a Mazda 1.6 diesel worth about £2K. Can you recomend a vehicle to replace the Mazda preferably second hand and smaller than the Honda SUV that would also give us around 50mpg? We have about £5K to add to the Mazda value [Read more →]( [I bought a van but have no V5, can I sell it?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 I bought a new van from a local dealer in March. I am now looking to sell the van, but the dealer hasn't given me the V5. After some investigation the van I bought was a pre reg but this wasn't explained to me at the time. They are now saying that the person who holds the V5 is on a round the world trip and will send it when he's home. This sounds a bit dodgy to me. Will I still be able to sell the van without any hassle without the V5? Is it legal to sell a vehicle and withhold the V5 even when it's requested? [Read more →]( [What tyre would you recommend for a camper van?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 What is the best budget camping tyre for a 5.9 metre long, Fiat Ducato based motorhome, with a 16'' wheel diameter, please ? [Read more →]( [What is the fire risk of electric cars parked in garages?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 I hear news reports of battery fires. Do you think its safe to garage an EV at a residential property? Particularly in a garage which is attached or integral to the house. Apart from regular service schedule checks are there any special recommendations/precautions being specified by manufacturers or others? [Read more →]( [What's the best way to maintain a DPF?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 I own a 2007 Volvo XC90 with 118k on the clock. Lovely motor and mostly trouble free but it's recently started missing the odd beat and intermittently going into limp-mode. The other day, when in limp-mode, I tried to accelerate hard, to no avail, and got the message "soot filter full". My local garage says that it can sell me a DPF cleaning fluid or that they can do it for £140 warranted for 12 months. Is this a good idea or should I replace it with a new one? I do a lot of my own maintenance work but I am not overly familiar witth DPF "best practice" so to speak. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. [Read more →]( [What's the best engine in the Rover 75?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 I am looking for a Rover 75 and can't seem to find out which were built by BMW and which engine is a BMW engine. There is a 1.8 petrol, 2.0lt diesel and a 2.5 V6 petrol, don't really want a diesel so it's between the two petrol and would like an automatic, obviously the BMW derivative is the best bet but how do I determine which they are. [Read more →]( [I get black smoke when accelerating - what's wrong?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 I have a 2016 Peugeot Boxer 2.0 HDi and get black smoke under acceleration plus the engine light comes on? [Read more →]( [What cars have the cheapest insurance for a young driver?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 Which would be the best used car for under £2k for a young driver to insure? I've looked at some 1.0L engines but some are over £3k for insurance and some are under £2k. Does it not just go on the engine size? [Read more →]( [My major service included a visual wheel alignment check, surely this cannot be accurate?]( Posted by on 9 August, 2023 After its recent service my SEAT main dealer commented that one tyre was wearing more than others. I queried whether this could be a wheel alignment issue, they said yes and suggested I get it checked. I asked if wheel alignment had been included in the service and was told "no". Later I looked at the "Health Check" SEAT provide after the service and among the list of 53 items stated as OK was alignment. I queried this with the garage and was now told the alignment is a visual check only. It strikes me it is impossible to do a wheel alignment check accurately just by eye. Further I would have thought a main dealer particularly would include a check in a major service (which this was) although possibly charge if adjustment was necessary. It also makes me wonder how many other of the 53 checks are just done visually an overall whether this is a professional approach to a service which is charged at around £369. I'd be interested in your thoughts Keep up the good work. [Read more →]( [Can I program a new key for my Peugeot 5008?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 How do I programme a key on my 2019 Peugeot 5008? [Read more →]( [Is it possible to get repatriation cover while in Europe?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 We are taking delivery of a brand new VW campervan and planning on taking it to Europe in September. The VW warranty provides breakdown cover in Europe for 3 years but I don't believe it extends to repatriation of the vehicle in the event of an accident and I don't believe repatriation would be covered by a standard holiday insurance policy. Is there a product available to cover this potential gap in cover? [Read more →]( [Can I upgrade the headlamps in my Range Rover Evoque?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 I have a 2014 Range Rover Evoque Pure. The headlights are Halogen HB3 60w. Can you suggest or recommend a replacement bulb which should give me more light than my current candle. I tried 100w and they are worse than the 60w. Any advice you have will be gratefully accepted. PS. The current headlights are Projectors I have had Jags and Audi with Xenons - I have no idea why JLR fitted rubbish bulbs into my Evoque. [Read more →]( [What rivals to the Toyota Yaris Cross come with four-wheel-drive?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 I'm looking for a four-wheel-drive car similar to the Toyota Yaris Cross - what are the best options for a car of similar size? [Read more →]( [How can I keep my new car in the best condition?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 This month, I’m taking delivery of my first ever brand new car - a Suzuki Ignis. Thanks to Suzuki’s seven year or 100k warranty, subject to T and Cs, involving getting the car serviced from an authorised dealership, I plan to keep it for at least seven years. My question is what steps should I take, both inside and outside of the car, involving protection applications, to keep it as much as possible, in its new car status? [Read more →]( [Should I ship my Mini Moke back to the UK for restoration and sale or just sell it in Spain?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 I have a mid 1960s Mini Moke based in Marbella area of Spain (its UK built, LHD, Spanish registered). It needs some light restoration but there are very few specalists in this area of Spain. I want to sell it but wonder if its worth getting it back to the UK to a specialist and then selling as there is likely a bigger market. Or seeing what I can get in Spain, without restoration? [Read more →]( [Looking for the best commuter car for the motorway, what are my options?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 I am working away from home, about 130 mile commute one-way that I do one round trip a week. Based on your website I bought a 2015 Honda Civic. I absolutely love it. Fun, sporty and great on the consumption (60mpg). I would like a car that I won't get stung for ULEZ charges. I had thought of going electric, but I want to consider all my options. Can you recommend anything? [Read more →]( [How can I compare running costs for petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 I want to buy a used car for my company. How to work out the fuel / electric cost so I can compare? [Read more →]( [My Suzuki Swift Sport has been called in for a software update, what is this?]( Posted by on 8 August, 2023 My 23 plate Swift Sport has been called in for as I understand a software update, what's this all about? Secondly reading about new cars, there is no mention of an upgrade of a Swift Sport 2023 / 2024 are you aware if this is this on the cards? [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