What has Honest John been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [What should I do if I don't know who was driving when a speeding ticket was received?]( Posted by on 1 September, 2017 My elderly dad isn't driving at the moment due to illness, so loaned his car to a family in another town. Now he has a police letter saying he did 35mph in a 30mph zone and to name the driver. He has no idea who it was as six people use the car. Photos will show it's not him as none are elderly men. If he is unable to say who was driving, does her have to say it was him and get the fine and points? As it's only five mph over, and he has a clean record, are they likely to cancel on appeal if he tells them he has done all he can to find who was driving? [Read more →]( [Do I need headlight deflectors to drive in France?]( Posted by on 1 September, 2017 I'm taking my 2013 Audi A6 S-line Estate to France next week. Will I need headlight beam deflectors or do Audi lights dip downwards? [Read more →]( [Which is more reliable in a Honda Jazz - i-Shift or CVT-7?]( Posted by on 31 August, 2017 Please help me choose between a Honda Jazz i-Shift and a Honda Jazz CVT. Which is more reliable? I can spend £3000 and I want the most reliable car. It doesn't matter if it is the first generation or second. [Read more →]( [Insurance company wants to write my daughter's car off - can we refuse?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 My daughter's car was hit by another car while parked in the street outside my house. The other driver was apologetic and admitted it was his fault so we exchanged details as my daughter was not in. The damage to her car is a scuffed bumper and a very small dent to wing. On her return she phoned her insurance company Admiral and was informed that unless she agreed to right the car off immediately, as it is a 1999 Ford Fiesta, due to age and the two panels damaged there was nothing they could do. I then spoke to the adviser and he told me the only alternative was to send them pictures of the damage and if their engineers deemed it uneconomic to repair they would rwrite the car off which would result in the policy ending and a claim on her record. I told him this was not acceptable and ended the call. How should my daughter proceed? [Read more →]( [Are there are any major issues with the Citroen C15 Romahome?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 Could you please tell me if there are any major issues with the Citroen C15 Romahome? [Read more →]( [Second clutch and DMF burnt out after 3000 miles - is it fair that Ford attribute it to my driving style?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 The clutch and flywheel on my Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost (new since September 2015) were burnt out and replaced in November 2016. The dealer and Ford wouldn't pay under warranty, as they attributed this to bad driving. The same problem occurred last week, August 2017. I've only done 3000 miles. When my car was serviced in March, I met with a gentleman with the same problem, his Ford's clutch burnt out with only 900 miles. In addition, I have told the garage of the "stickiness" when stepping on the pedal. They said it was fine. But I had a Ford C-Max courtesy car for the past few days, the clutch feels so springy with no stickiness. [Read more →]( [Should I get my car chipped?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 I'm considering chipping my Peugeot 3008 2.0 150PS, it's done 62,000 miles. The claimed power increase is 187PS and fuel consumption reduction of 30 per cent. Is this viable and, if so, why don't manufacturers offer this? [Read more →]( [The temperature warning light in my car keeps coming on at speed - what's wrong?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 The temperature warning light keeps coming on in my car at speed despite the head gasket being changed twice and a new fan. It doesn't come on unless you push it quite hard. What's wrong? [Read more →]( [The coolant in my Ford Fiesta was bubbling - is this normal for a turbo engine?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 I have recently purchased a new Ford Fiesta (not the very latest model) with a 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine. After returning from a drive around town today, I lifted the bonnet and noticed that the water in the coolant reservoir was bubbling. The fan was running. As soon as the fan stopped the bubbling stopped. Water temperature gauge showed normal and not at all raised. I haven't had a turbo engine before and wondered if this was normal. [Read more →]( [Which cars would you recommend for young drivers?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 Which cars would you recommend for young drivers? [Read more →]( [What constitutes unsatisfactory quality under the Consumer Rights Act?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 I bought a 2009 BMW 318i Tourer with 95k miles for £5700 in May from an independent dealer with a seemingly comprehensive six month mechanical warranty. On delivery I discovered that the reverse gear was completely broken. This was repaired under warranty with no quibbles. Also during the first day I noticed a constant noise while the car was moving. This took a fair time to diagnose as being a worn diff bearing. The car was returned again for repair and this time, while other parts were changed, the diff was put down to 'reasonable wear and tear' and he offered to split the cost of a diff with me 50/50. Later a third fault emerged - a terrible clatter from the engine that an independent BMW specialist believes is coming from the timing chain. I approached the dealer for a return under the Consumer RIghts Act (now owned for three months). The dealer has flatly refused that neither the unresolved diff bearing or the timing chain clatter are anything other than reasonable wear and tear at eight years/97k miles. The Consumer Rights Act seems too wooly in the area of vehicle wear and tear. Please can you advise whether I should safely be able to return this vehicle under the CRA for a partial refund or whether to accept the dealers 'offer' to re-sell the vehicle for me? [Read more →]( [My car has had two new engines and now has more problems - can I reject it?]( Posted by on 30 August, 2017 I have owned a Ford Focus Ecoboost for the last three years and it has had two new engines. It has now gone back to garage with the same problem. Ford is now saying it is the water pump, but the symptoms are the same as before, white smoke coming from exhaust, high engine temperature and a loss of coolant. I am in dispute with Ford as I do not want the car once fixed and have lost all confidence in it. What are my options? [Read more →]( [My car hit a wall but the insurer has not repaired it - where do I stand?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 In March my parked car somehow ended up rolling itself into a brick wall, cracking the base of it. I reported it to my insurer, but made no claim to fix my car as it only had a minor scratch on the rear bumper. The insurer said it would fix the brick wall as soon as possible and now, after six months, I can see the wall is in the same condition. You can barely see the crack, but no repairs have been done. Also, the insurer said I would lose my no claims bonus. If nothing is done by the time I need to get my insurance renewed, can I do something about it? It looks like they will leave the wall as it is and increase my premium, bearing in mind that the price is already higher than the value of the car - a 2007 Alfa Romeo 147. [Read more →]( [Can I refuse to let my insurer write off my car?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 Someone drove into the back of my car and admitted liability. Can I refuse to let my insurer write off my car? [Read more →]( [Why is the same insurance company quoting different renewal prices on different comparison sites?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 I've just been on two comparison websites to look for cheaper car insurance than my latest renewal quote. A company quotes £186 on one site and £165 on another for the same level of cover. Why is there such a difference? [Read more →]( [Should I get the auto or manual Isuzu D-Max?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 I have a choice between an auto or manual gearbox on the Isuzu D-MAX, both 2.5-litre engines. Is there a preference? Not working the truck hard, just bit of logging, no real pulling. [Read more →]( [I'm looking for an economic, reliable, refined van - what do you recommend?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 I have an LDV Maxus, which I have been pleased with as a work horse. I'm looking for a van with more refinement, good fuel economy, road handling, safety and visibility, space, comfort and reliable functions (heating, demisting, radio, locks windows etc). It needs to provide multiple uses: transportation of building materials, ferrying grandchildren about, basic camping, removable seats for eight people (children and adults). It cannot be more than five metres external length. This is a big purchase for me and I hope to keep the van for at least 15 years. I've been reading your info on the Toyota Proace, Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert purely for fuel economy. But finding it hard to compare the good and bad between vans, I'll consider any van. I would appreciate any help you can give. [Read more →]( [I put petrol into a diesel car - how do I rectify this?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 I put petrol into my diesel Dacia Duster. How do I rectify this? [Read more →]( [Have there been any reports of rusting on the Ford Transit Custom?]( Posted by on 29 August, 2017 Have there been any reports of rusting on the Ford Transit Custom? [Read more →]( [What are the rules surrounding vehicle emissions stickers when driving in France?]( Posted by on 27 August, 2017 I'm told that certain French cities now require cars to display a sticker stating their official emission values. Apparently lots of Brits are being fined by the French cops for failure to comply. Is this true and, if so, what are the rules? [Read more →]( You are receiving this email because Honest Insights is a publication produced by HonestJohn.co.uk with your requirements and specifications in mind. It provides in depth site analysis comparative with wider industry trends. 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