Rizmo

These days, the cops will use a number plate recognition camera on your number, and if it fails to read it, you are in trouble. As the cameras re only set up to read properly spaced plates, anything else is bound to fail. They even have one set up in our local Morrisons petrol station. There are two on my estate that are well wrong, but they look the sort to get visits from the cops on a regular basis, on more important matters, anyway!

Had a long motorway trip last night, and noticed the cars behind did not dazzle. Fiddling about this morning, I could not get a rear view, other than in the position it was in last night. Then it dawned on me - the rear tinted windows do all the work to dim following lights, so no need to dip the mirror! Seems the XV tint is deeper than the Kia tint, where I always had to use the dipping mirror. One less thing to fiddle about with.

I would love a replica of John Cobb's Napier Railton. Now that would be a car to own!

Dropped my front door key down the side of the driver's seat, next to centre console, and spent an hour trying to get it out! Just got home and took door key out of centre console, and dropped it. I could see it, but could not touch it from above, below or from the back. Moving the seat made no difference. Could not get indoors to get anything to poke it out with. Eventually, a neighbour came home, and I asked her for help - wire or something. She brought out a thin knitting needle, which I used to wiggle the key forward, till it flipped over the seat runner, onto the floor. To ensure this does not happen again, I am going to get a 56lb weight, and attach the key to it - no chance of it falling down the gap then!

1960 Ford Consul, 1960 Ford Popular, 1962 Austin Cambridge, 1967 Singer Vogue, 1972 Morris Marina TC, 1975 Wolsley 2200 Wedge, 1980 Talbot Solara, 1985 Mazda 626, 1990 Nissan Bluebird Turbo, 1993 Peugeot 309 GTi (Jap spec), 1996 Hyundai S Coupe Turbo, 1998 Toyota RAV 4, 2000 Toyota Avensis, 2002 Mitsubishi Spacestar, 2004 Subaru Forester All Weather, 2007 Citroen C4 DSG, 2012 Kia Venga. Now just have a 2015 Subaru XV and 2007 Ford Transit Connect van. Also had, over the years, assorted "second" cars - Triumph Heralds, Skoda, Jeep Cherokees, Lada Nivas. Only other car I drive, when the girlfriend allows (it is her car), is a 1935 Talbot 10!

Seeing some of the modifications some US owners have made, plus the way they drive them, they seem to treat their XVs very differently to us. Some even happily void the warranty within a month. Probably the fact they cost half what we pay, and many change them every year, may explain it. Some smart looking and fast running motors over there, though!

Seems to be quite a busy Toyota GT86 forum, with a number of members posting. Covers the BRZ as well (not that we would want you to ignore this one).

Not used any on mine either, over 5000 miles. Seems some confusion over the reasons (some say poor piston rings), but seems to have been sorted late 2014/early 2015, which means mine should be OK. Did note that they said Subaru brought in the 4000 revs max for 1000 miles rule soon after.

There has been a lot of comment, on the US XV forum, regarding excessive oil consumption on new XV's (both fuels). Anyone on here noticed a problem?

I am a moderator on the Kia Owners Forum, and would be happy to assist as an XV moderator, but I am not in a position to do so just at the moment. If you still need one, in three months time, I would be happy to help.

I had a 54 reg all weather auto, many years ago, and that was a great car. It was not fast like a turbo model (a bit like my current XV), but could still get it wound up nicely. Only drawback of the auto is that you lose the low range, so severe mud plugging is probably out of the question, but I used to visit farms for work, and never got stuck in their mud or deep ruts.

I often drive my CVT manually, with lever flipped across gate and using the paddles. So cool, and impresses the girlfriend(s)! On Chris Evans motoring page, in the Mail on Sunday, there is a box with mention of the new XV. Says only that it has new front, bigger spoiler and alloy wheels (as though it had steels before!).

That sounds very much like a problem experienced by some Kia owners, where the tank lining is coming off, and clogging the fuel filter, which is in the tank. It is easy to change the filter, but Kia have admitted a problem, and are replacing fuel tanks on any affected car, whether in or out of warranty, and with any service history. Whilst yours may not be losing its lining, the low mileage history may mean there is sludge in your tank, which is being sucked into the fuel delivery system, when you put your foot down. The Sportage owners usually only experience their problem on overtaking or steep hill climbing, with heavy throttle. I know it is a pain to remove the Forester tank (the Kia filter is bolted into the top of the tank, and easy to access), it might be worth a check.

Had a car with a strange noise behind dash, and turned out to be a loose section of wiring loom rubbing on back of glove box. That sounded more like water sloshing than a rattle.

I wonder if Subaru will be able to fit Eyesight to current UK cars, as it is available on US spec cars. As so many UK sourced cars are now being fitted with various types of accident prevention automatic braking systems, it probably won't be long before it is a Subaru option over here on new cars, but a retro fit would be nice.

Of all the roads in the area, why the hell did they go down that one anyway? Fair enough if they were testing suspension to the limit, but not for a normal test run.

Not much wrong with any XV, I would have thought. Try and drive as many as you can and check out the dealers in a reasonable distance from you (not all dealers are good). If you go for a sat nav version, don't expect up to date mapping (not just a Subaru problem). Good luck with your search.

I will keep my £1000 (a year????) and my spare, and not have to sit for a couple of hours on the hard shoulder, admiring my lpg tank, while waiting for the recovery truck, as my tyre is shredded and a can of goo is of no use. That is context. I would rather wait for Subaru UK to import the hybrid, which would be much cheaper to run. It might be OK for some, but not for me. Then again, perhaps I could buy my mates RR, that would be a deal.

I would love lpg, but what would I do with my spare wheel??? Major downside is the tank for the gas takes up so much room. A mate has it on his Range Rover, and has removed the petrol tank, and replaced with a gallon tank (as petrol only used for starting), and the lpg tank is where the old petrol tank used to be, so no loss of boot space.

Apparently, channel 4 are NOT going to show any adverts, during the racing, so better than when ITV had it.

Don't taser the ****, taser the ruddy dog, then the owner!

American Siamese twins have come to the UK for a holiday - the other one wanted to drive for a bit. Why does an elephant have four feet? Because he would look stupid with just six inches.

Here is a photo of where my boot floor sits, with factory spare wheel fitment. There is a rubber mat on top of the carpet which makes the floor look higher than it actually is!

Welcome to the forum. Plenty of track day insurers about, just google "track day insurers uk", and loads come up. Have you tried your usual insurer, as they may be able to help - but might be better if they do not know what you do at weekends!!!!

My XV is slightly lower than my old Kia Venga (but both have adjustable height seats). Changed as elderly mother cannot get into Venga, as sill is high, but floor low, so a bit of a stretch for her old legs. The XV has a lower sill, and higher floor, so easier for her. Used to have a 54 Forester, and that was easier to get into, but the seats seemed lower again (replaced a RAV4, which was high).