Rizmo

Second service carried out today - no problems found, naturally! Dealer must have done something though, as the central display now shows round clock with hands and average mpg, where it had average mpg, miles to empty, digi clock and temp before. Had a look in manual, and baffled - will get neighbour's 10 year old to program it for me! Still no go on accident damage repair from third party insurance, so will leave it till PCP is almost up, and get it sorted with any other blemishes, so don't get hammered for it later. Forgot to say, as first three services carried out free (paid for by Subaru as part of the deal), interested to see this service saved me £230+. Downside is that if I get a satnav update, it will cost over £350! Dealer could not tell me date of latest update, so will not bother if it is the same as already in there.

Got email from lorry company insurance, to go ahead with repairs. Only took nearly three months for a simple decision! Now to get it booked in.

Stuck the new plate on, and not fallen off yet! Spot on for central fitting, but put it a bit low, but can sort that when the damage is repaired. The holes in the bumper were factory moulded, and seem to have a wire coil inserted to grip the securing screws for the number plate, and one has gone walkies, hence dealer used a bit of tape on that side! More I look at it, the more I reckon I can sort the bumper with a good machine polish!

Hope you are not chasing it, to get something really important back, that you hid inside it. I had to do that once!

Let's hope we get more colours - quite fancy a big orange motor!

OK, I admit to being 67 in actual years, but only 35 in my head! I drive an XV with a 2 litre engine with CVT box, but when I am in it, I am in a Scooby, and that counts for a lot (especially on the school run!).

I am in Sutton in Ashfield, but I have a red XV, so hope that counts! Close by is a white one, but not seen any more.

Bought a front plastic cheap number plate from Halfords, as the Dibbles are not happy with my bent metal one - a danger to pedestrians!! Still no joy from lorry insurance, as driver not reported it, so no liability admitted. Had this once before - no damage to lorry, so accident never happened! Also bit annoyed that original number plate screws hardly biting, and tape used to hold in place. Still, saves drilling holes in new plate, and will stick it on!

yes, would have been cheaper at a chip repair shop, and Halfords number plate, but they will give the car a good check over, in case there is any hidden damage behind bumper, so not bothered, and lorry insurance paying anyway.

£600 to remove and repaint bumper, replace metal number plate and check behind bumper that no other damage been done. Bumper only damaged by number plate corners bent back and dug in. Estimate off to his insurance.

Parked up outside newsagents, behind a lorry. Bought paper and, as leaving, heard a car alarm. Left shop and saw my car being pushed down the road, with the rear of the lorry embedded in front of car. Banged on lorry door to stop him, and we had a look, when he pulled forward. Could not believe that the only damage was a mangled number plate! Took to dealer, who checked it over, and could find no other damage. Can only put it down to the wet and greasy road and a downhill slope, allowing the car to slide, and the flexible front took some of the force. Lorry owners happy to buy me a new number plate!

She had more fun than me, as I was stuck in the car, in Dobbies garden centre car park in Barlborough. Just parked and had to sit there, or get soaked running to the store. On the way home, went through two floods, with no problem, unlike a few "lesser" cars!

Nice! What wheels are they, out of interest? I will, hopefully, be getting my standard wheels colour coded (black insert paint changed to body colour), and having a second set will allow me to keep the car on the road.

Had a 54 reg Forester All Weather auto, with all the toys, and it was a fantastic car, and the green suited it best IMHO. Not a spot of bother with it, other than highish road tax, which is why it was eventually traded in for a Citroen diesel at £30 a year, and not brilliant fuel consumption (heavy right foot and town driving). Superb in the snow, even without the low ratio as fitted on the manual. Just don't buy one previously owned by a farmer!!!

Got my XV insurance renewal from Hastings Direct today - gone up from £220 last year to £365 this (the year before it was £200, so heck of a leap). They are having a laugh! No claims, no changes, still only 6000 miles a year and SDP only. So went on the Meerkats, and same firm quote £240, so will not renew existing, and will start afresh (having checked SOC members insurance first, of course).

http://www.orvis.co.uk/p/deluxe-microfibre-car-hammock-seat-protector/2ecp

As an alternative, Orvis do a rear seat hammock, which attaches by the front and rear headrest supports, and stops the dog falling down to the floor. The latest ones have cut outs for seat belts, so you can attach the dog's harness to the seat belt - safer for dog and occupants. My Lab is now too big/lazy to jump up or me lift her up, but a smaller dog would get in easily. Does cost just over £100 for the current model. I had the old style for my spaniel, and never a problem, just not restrained.

I have had a rattle for some time, which comes and goes but, today, I found the cause - it is the spare nut for when the skinny spare is fitted, and the locking nut can't be used. Seemed to have slipped down the back of the spare wheel well!

Forget LPG, as that seems to be going out of fashion. BP are removing LPG pumps from their own filling stations, and where they lead, others are bound to follow. Plenty of stainless steel exhaust manufacturers about.

When I bought my XV, I plumped for the factory skinny spare and boot conversion. When I got it, I was surprised that it was only a load of foam blocks, plus a centre bolt fitting. Still, the dealer paid for it, so not fussed either way. Why Subaru could not fit the spare as standard, I do not know. Some of the KIA range have had their spare wheels put back in, and the gunk thrown out, following poor feedback from owners.

Got my paint chips sorted today - 5 chips for £30, and a VAT receipt to staple in the service book, so paint warranty intact. Paint Chip Techniques of Mansfield to the rescue! XV looked really happy, parked amongst expensive Mercs, Beemers and even a Maseratti!

They used to smash a side window, to get the tax disc, so had a seemingly kosher car, but at least they don't have to do that nowadays.

Total waste of quarter of an hour - I turned it off after that, and watched Lewis, which was far more interesting!

AAAAAGH! Parked in an empty car park, and returned to find a van parked so close, I had to squeeze to get in the car. Held on to the top of the window frame and a hand round the side, so I did not catch my paintwork on his three years of filth. Got home and, getting out of car, noticed I had scratched the door card with my belt buckle, when squeezing in - bugger. Line of small holes across the middle, between the window roll and the armrest.

I have seen one other, on the road, and that is a white 13 reg, in the next street! Did see another red one parked on someone's drive on Monday, as I walked around the town, as my car was being serviced, but that is it.