old cars | Ask Honest John

Ask Honest John

Most recently answered old cars questions

I own a 1999 Mazda 323F 1.5 Lxi with 65,000 miles on the clock. It runs well with the exception of an occasional flat spot/hesitation when accelerating up through the gears. This can happen on a hot or...

Repair of a CVT transmission

I own a VOLVO 340GL Automatic (CVT) and after around ten minutes driving, the idling speed becomes too high when the car is put in neutral causing the gears to crunch. Restarting the engine cures the problem...

Broken Peugeot

I have a 99 t reg peugoet 806 1.9td, its burning oil and poor on diesel when you put your foot down clouds of black smoke pours out. The turbo feels like its working fine, but at other times the car has...

Medium sized old cars

Am constrained by budget and looking to buy a medium size car about 10 years old to drive 6000 miles a year. Hatchback petrol to seat 4 adults. Am thinking that a 1.6 Focus would fit the bill, but wonder...

Chipping an Omega

I have a 1998 Vauxhall Omege Elite estate with the 2.5tdi (sourced from) BMW 6 cylinder Turbodiesel engine . Although this is a good engine (in a BMW ) I find it rather disappointing as regards "pulling...

Selling a Rover 75

I am approaching 50k on the clock and want to sell my Rover 75 which has been a reliable old friend. The car is in good working condition and been serviced and reapaired when required. What should I do...

Not in their emit

Last week I purchased a 2000W Vauxhall Astra 2.0 diesel estate. According to my research it was tax band G costing £155 a year. Previously the taxation class was disabled and when I came to tax it the...

Current pun

I have a 2000X BMW 530D estate, which my father had owned from nearly new. Over the past 8 months it has developed an intermittent battery drain fault and I was hoping you may have some clues about what...

Is a cheap Golf worth it?

I would like to buy a Golf, however my budget is very limited at £2000. All that seems available for this price is a late 1990s model with reasonable mileage, or an early 2000 model with 100k+ mileage....

Juddering Fiesta 1.3

My 1997 Ford Fiesta 1.3 stalls when I slow down and go into second gear or when I come to a stop. It also judders when I accelerate and seems to be resisting speeding up. Black smoke comes out the exhaust...