What has the Honest John team been asked this week?

[Web Version]( | [Update preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook icon]( [Like]( [Twitter icon]( [Tweet]( [Forward icon]( [Forward]( [When should I change the antifreeze in my car?]( Posted by on 15 March, 2024 I have a March 2018 BMW 530i. Can you please advise on the recommended time interval before changing the antifreeze? I thought it was every six years but the guy who services my car said he thinks it was around 2018 when BMW advised that the antifreeze was now good for 10 years. Does the recommended interval vary between car manufacturers and are there different antifreeze specifications with different recommended replacements intervals. [Read more →]( [What is my car worth and where can I sell it safely?]( Posted by on 15 March, 2024 I have an MG ZS Exclusive automatic 2020 silver grey with 11000 miles. Alas, I am giving up driving and wish to sell. What would be the best method, in view of being prepared to accept a slightly lower price for better security. Plus, approximately what is it worth? [Read more →]( [Do we need to be concerned about electric power steering systems?]( Posted by on 14 March, 2024 My sister is concerned about the amount of complex electronics in todays cars, she's now looking for a newer car but is worried that she'll have to adjust electric steering on the dashboard for different modes of driving or that it will break down and leave her with stiffer motorway steering rather than an easy car park setting, if that makes sense? We're both in our 70s and I am none the wiser about such matters. She would like your advice as to which cars have non adjustable by driver/set mode electric steering on small 4 door cars that she can happily take her knitting circle friends out in. [Read more →]( [What's the best medium-sized automatic car?]( Posted by on 14 March, 2024 I am looking to buy a medium sized automatic 2015-2017 for under £10,000. I want low mileage and five doors. I currently have a 2013 Peugeot 207SW diesel which is quite an unrefined vehicle but has served me well. I am torn as whether to spend £1500 on it or buy something newer. I think it would be worth about £2000 trade in. I am 70 yrs old which is why I would like an automatic. Most of my driving is on the M5 or A38 about 40miles/week. I am not a high tech person and need space for my large dog. I am unsure about the combination of smaller engines eg 1.2 and auto gearboxes. I have read about the different types of auto gearboxes which hasn't helped. I realise things have changed since the day of 'only big engines have auto gearboxes' [Read more →]( [What tyres give the best ride?]( Posted by on 14 March, 2024 What are the best tyres for a comfortable ride on a Volvo XC40 hybrid? [Read more →]( [My Toyota Yaris hybrid battery goes flat, does this affect other hybrids?]( Posted by on 14 March, 2024 The battery on our Yaris hybrid tends to go to near flat if left for more than two - three days. I understand that this a common hybrid problem due to very small battery. Are there any self charging hybrids that do not have this problem? [Read more →]( [Is there a way of finding out if a used car been used for private hire?]( Posted by on 14 March, 2024 Is there a way of knowing if a car has been used for private hire (taxi) as now it seems that any car can be a private hire (taxi) and once plates have been removed there is no way of knowing if it has been used as such? [Read more →]( [Are there any known faults with the Ford Ranger?]( Posted by on 13 March, 2024 I am thinking of buying a 2017 Ford Ranger 2.2 XLT 4x4 TDCi. Are there any known faults to look out for? The mileage is 64000. [Read more →]( [My wife wants a new Ford Fiesta - what are the alternatives?]( Posted by on 13 March, 2024 My is wife is bereft that Ford have stopped making her beloved Fiesta She will need a replacement next year. Can you advise an alternative that had the handling and quality of a Fiesta without costing a fortune? [Read more →]( [Can I park my car on the public road when it is SORN?]( Posted by on 13 March, 2024 Is there a restriction to where you can store your car after a SORN declaration? For example does it have to be on private property like driveway or garage or can it be parked on public street if my house doesn't have driveway or garage? [Read more →]( [How much is my 1997 Jaguar XK8 worth?]( Posted by on 13 March, 2024 I have a 1997 blue hard-top Jaguar XK8 which has been off the road since failing its MoT in Summer 2018. Parked outside, uncovered. It’s a lovely car to drive and was reliable for the year I drove it. I am now abroad and never managed to get the car back up and running and now need to move it so I am exploring potentially selling it and wondered if you could direct me in value / price bracket? There is a crack in the front suspension and then a few minor issues that need fixing and it has of course not been driven in nearly 6 years. [Read more →]( [Why do the car sizes in reviews vary so much?]( Posted by on 13 March, 2024 What is the meaning of the different lengths and widths in the data for any given car? [Read more →]( [Will a claim on one insurance policy affect the premium on another?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 I have two cars on separate insurance policies. One car was written off, this was my fault. This is my first accident in 57 years of driving and the insurance companies are loading the new premium drastically is this fair? That aside I own another car do I have to disclose the accident in the first car to the insurance company when renewal is due on car two. [Read more →]( [Should manufacturers do more to prevent car theft?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 My 2019 Jaguar F-Pace was stolen from driveway overnight. The keys were in Faraday pouch and I tested it two weeks ago and it prevented the car from being unlocked. I saw the car disappear on video and there was no forced entry. Is there anything I could have done to prevent this? I am buying an immobiliser and fitting electric gates to the entrance. It shouldn’t be necessary for me to buy an immobiliser, the manufacturer should make their cars less easy to steal. What do you think? [Read more →]( [How do I maintain my no claims discount if I have a company car?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 I've a car which I'm getting rid of where I am the primary named driver on a personal policy, with 20+ years NCB. I do not intend to get a replacement vehicle for a couple of years. My second car has my wife as primary driver and I'm a named driver on a different personal policy. My day to day car is a company lease, which I am a named driver on a corporate group policy for that specific vehicle. What's the best way to maintain my no claims history? Does the company car policy count towards it? [Read more →]( [Do I need to tell my insurer if I change from a named driver to the main driver?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 My wife's insurance shows her as the main driver and I am shown as a named driver. Unfortunately she has a back problem that has affected her legs so she has not been driving for some time. Should I be informing the insurance company? [Read more →]( [What car do you suggest for driving primarily on rural roads?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 My wife and I live in the countryside and are looking for a car suitable for driving primarily on rural roads. We would both wish to drive the car but our respective hieghts of 6ft3 (me) and 5ft1 (wife) create some issues. My wife does have her own car too. My current car is a Golf GT TDI which I enjoy driving. The car needs to be capable of occasional journeys of 250 -300 miles when we visit our grown up family and I prefer the convenience of a hatchback. Can you suggest some suitable cars, new or used within a budget of £20K [Read more →]( [Is it cheaper to charge a PHEV at a commercial charge point or using the petrol engine?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 I own a Ford Kuga Titanium PHEV. Is it cheaper to charge the battery at a commercial charge point or by charging it using the petrol engine? [Read more →]( [Can my son reject a van he bought last August?]( Posted by on 12 March, 2024 My son bought a 19 plate Citroen van from a Citroen dealership in August 2023 with a year warranty. Upon buying it was kept for two weeks whilst they fixed a faulty drivers seat. Since then the driveshaft has broken, there was an oil leak and there was a problem with the NHS door, The stop start has never worked. Citroen fixed all but the stop start wanting £250 to fix it. Now the clutch is starting to slip. Citroen are not taking any blame for this and have said they will strip it down to check for faults but if there aren’t any will charge £600 to put it back! The centre console electronics now intermittently work. What are his rights given all the faults with the vehicle. Can he reject it? [Read more →]( [What is a mild hybrid?]( Posted by on 11 March, 2024 What does 48v mild hybrid mean and what is it meant to do? [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