Another update. The Subaru dealer says that a full sized spare wheel should fit in the wheel well in the boot. However, a full sized spare from Subaru would cost £700! Once I have the car I will investigate getting a much cheaper full sized spare from somewhere.

The Subaru dealer has now sent the email confirming that the alarm and immoboliser are working. I have now bought the car. It will be delivered on Monday to central London, where I live, from Swindon. Forester XTs are quite rare, this was the lowest mileage one on sale in the UK recently. I had a 2013 Forester which I bought second hand quite a long time ago. But unfortunately I managed to write it off trying to drive through a flooded ford at night in Essex. I got most of the cost of the car back from the insurance and bought a very cheap, old Suzuki Grand Vitara from 2004. Which I actually like a lot, but it is on it's last legs and it is not really worth to spend a lot fixing all the faults on such an old car. I always wanted another Subaru, and decided to get an XT, as it is something a bit different to my last Subaru. It was very comfortable to drive on the test drive, but also has very quick acceleration when this is wanted. It also has a sun roof, which I had on the last Subaru and wanted again.

Actually, the alarm and immoboliser is the factory fitted one, Thatcham category one, as specified in the advert for the car. I have spoken to the Subaru dealer, and they have promised to send me an email confirming that the alarm and immoboliser are working. Which they say that they are. They said that they did not understand why the sales agreement stated that they were not responsible for this, as anyone buying the car would expect the alarm and immoboliser to be working, if the advert for the car says that there is one. Obviously it is important that they are working. As I have read that sometimes insurance companies can say that a car is not insured against theft, if there is no alarm. I feel very silly that I did not check that they were working when I looked at the car, as I then would not need to worry. I agree that it is unlikely that they are not working.

It sounds like it would be standard practice if the alarm has been retrofitted in which case it is not standard equipment on a Subaru. In principle, this is fine and I cannot imagine the alarm would be faulty as used to install alarms and never had any issues at all. Saying that I have just bought a secondhand motorhome and it has the best alarm known to mankind apparently but I can't work out how to fully use it so they recommend to return to base (company that fitted it) where they will go through and check everything, guide me on getting the full potential from it and although they would charge £70 for the privilege they even let you stay on their campsite within that as well. Seems a no-brainer to me but if in doubt, go by an independent alarm fitter and get them to check over the operation.

I finally found my none rev issue, the reluctor ring broke a tip on a tooth. I finally found my none rev issue, the reluctor ring broke a tip on a tooth.