ernieb

@Mr B, I agree with the sentiment it's a technology I could and did for many years live without. The problem arrises that if it's on the car it needs to work. However, the Eyesight camera technology I really love. Winter tyres are a a pain which is why I moved to Michelin Cross Climates, maybe not the perfect solution but comes very close especially in the UK and I do not have the hassle of changing them every year, storage and trying to guess when to make the change either way.

@Anthoby, Agree the system is frustratingly complex but works well when it's set correctly. It's one of a number of strange anomalies that are part of the Subaru designs along with, for me, is the lack of a memory setting for the electric seat settings. Change the driver, car goes for a service and your back to square one?

It was a bit of a culture shock when I swapped the Skoda Yeti Briskoda forum to this one, the former was very active and frankly good fun, lots of useful support and also good banter.

Probably as much to do with the low sales of the Subaru brand as a whole and the XV in particular? Those of us that own the XV know it as a good reliably car with good driving features and characteristics, however, every review you might have read on the XV suggests it's a "me to" with little to differentiate it from the higher sales pack. Sad but true. Few owners very few on this forum. I was unable to comment as my car is a 2018 so a different build, I do check every day and comment when I feel I've something to add.

All sounds very interesting. I'd not considered how difficult it might be to change spark plugs as the car is under warranty (assuming spark plugs are covered?). It does sounds like a real pain in the a**e?

Hi, it might help people respond if you included the year of registration?

@SebP10, glad it worked out for you, I’ve always been happy with them either buying or having the car maintained. I honestly think that the “family” feel runs through some organisations and that comes through all aspects of the business. Subaru services and spares etc., are not inexpensive so it’s always good to feel that your getting the best value for money and are not going to be “sold” up at every opportunity.

Sorry I’m not able to comment on this car but if all else fails it might be worth trying one of the sites that will, for a fee, give you the cars history. It will at least tell you if it’s been in an accident? Is it from a dealer because they should be able to pull up the service history and other information about any work that has been carried out on the car.

Posted in wrong thread sorry

Sorry not able to help you but if all else fails it might be worth checking it out via one of the many vehicle history sites. Whilst there is a fee it may give you some basic data and tell you if it’s been in an accident.

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, I always reason what price safety and security. I’ve done about 16k plus on my once’s fitted to the XV and still showing 6mm of tread.

Somewhat surprised that manufacturers continue to push pure petrol cars into the market. However, having owned a few caravans in my time I understand the desire for good torque. Even the hybrid XV is only a mild hybrid and I guess if they tried to increase the battery size we’d end up with no boot at all. We need better battery technology with higher power density.

They seem to do well in terms of customer service with people buying cars over many years. They are a family business run by the three sons of the original owner. The service history was included with my 2 services that the XV has had since the change. The last service printed gives both of the service history, giving dates etc. Easy to copy that if you needed proof for another purpose.

So typical, some years ago we did over our kitchen and bought new appliances little thinking that as time went on and the first one expired so did the next etc., it’s life.....

Agree that tyre rotation is a real pain with no spare it might be worth finding a cheap tyre saver just as an aid. There is also, I believe, an issue as to how you rotate the tyres depending of whether you have non or uni directional tyres fitted. The non directional is I think the cross pattern and the directional just front to back on the same side. When I had the service completed the garage measure mine and I think rotated them? This is what they measure as now fitted. NSF - 4,6,6,6,4 OSF - 5,6,6,6,5 OSR - 4,6,6,5,5 NSR - 5,5,6,5,4 so I now have the “better” tyres (marginal) on the front

I very much like my Subaru, this is my third over the years, but I’m constantly baffled as to why they fit what I consider to be relatively poor tyres when in all other aspects of performance on and off road and safety they are so good. I guess they are hooked up with a tyre supplier and fit what’s the best deal or maybe even assume the new owner is likely to change them?? Whatever the reason I’ve always ended up changing the tyres before the first years ownership is completed never wanting to go through a wet cold autumn or winter. So when I buy a new car I always tell the dealer I need to factor in replacing the tyres when I negotiate the cost of change.

Interesting thread, my CrossClimates SUV’s I fitted were from Costco and were the SUV spec. The ride is not affected so probably more to do with construction than anything else they also are embossed with the snowflake/mountain and M+S. My XV has the 18” wheels I’d have preferred 17” but that’s what comes with the rest of the premium spec so having a good quality tyre particularly in poor weather is in my mind essential. I find it’s noticeable that as the temperature drops below 10oC that the normal OEM summer tyre side walls become so stiff that any bump or pothole is a painful experience this is where I’ve found the CrossClimates to really excel, the side walls still remain compliant and give a smooth reassuring ride.

Some years ago now I had a Forrester that was fitted with Yokohama tyres from new so it’s not probably a reflection of your more modern day situation. However that said, they were the worst tyre I’ve ever had on a car braking in the wet was an utterly frightening experience. Needless to say they were changed at the earliest opportunity. I know people swear by the brand and I guess that modern type compound formulations are very different but it’s still in my head! I swear by the Michelin Cross Climates which are wearing very well and perform faultlessly whatever the season. I think Goodyear do a similar tyre. Hope you can get it sorted there’s so little tyre actually in contact with the road that you want what’s there to be effective in every season.

Sounds like an honest assessment, so easy to have said “damage” and tried to make you pay. Glad your getting it sorted.

I see you’re location is Bedfordshire which dealer do you use, Adams?

Sounds similar setup to my dealer, the bomb was, as I said, an extra but they did say its use was approved by Subaru UK.

My 2nd service was due at the beginning of May, I contacted my dealer, Adams Bros., Aylesbury and they said they’d contact me when they were ready to open the service area and had it set up to meet the needs of the COVID 19 sanitisation. So today I got there for 8:30am. There were notices on the doors and a pathway defined to a designated reception area. I’d been asked to take my own pen and after the usual discussions I was told that the car would be sanitised before and after they had completed the service. I was then asked if I wanted them, for £10 +VAT, to let off a STK Pro Sanitiser 198 bomb (used during a Air Con service) before I took the car after the service I’d be therefor the first person sitting in the car after it had been “bombed”. I agreed and sign off for the service. After the service the car was returned to the reception area, the car started and air con set to manual full boost and the car doors closed. When the bomb had finished and time allowed for it to work it was removed and the door handles clean as was the car keys. Adams are a family dealership and I felt they had worked hard to meet or exceed the requirements. So that’s over for another year hopefully by next year we will be back to a more normal state of play.

It’s always interesting to see these tests being carried out and even better to see how well the XV performs. Thanks.

That looks very nice and pleased for you that it towed so well. The loading, nose weight etc., is so very important especially when the wind gets up and starts to push the van around. We’ve had a few vans in our time and enjoyed travelling around, especially the Peak District. We now have access to a family lodge very near Matlock so we’ll positioned to get out and about in an area of the country that we love. Unfortunately as is true of so much of the country we are not allowed to visit the site but hopefully that will change soon enough, fingers crossed. Anyway, you can enjoy playing with all the mt and getting it ready for its first outing. 😀

That’s one of the downsides of Subaru ownership, not alone in that, is the cost of servicing and spare parts. I briefly owne d anew first generation Freelander, very expensive cost of ownership.