Just returned from our bi-anual north of Scotland experience, still didn't see any other XMs. First long trip in the black hatch and nearly 57 mpg on the upward journey, better than the estates but I sort of expected that as the hatch is somewhat lighter. I put some of that 'Fort'e' stuff in the gearbox before we left but I don't think it has made much difference, still whines at about 2400 rpm but maybe a little quieter at other speeds - doesn't whine at 60 mph - my preferred speed

Has anyone else noticed that the traffic seems to have slowed down? In the past 60 mph has meant sticking in the nearside lane while everone races past you, not so this trip, in fact I spent quite a lot of time in the middle lane passing slower traffic and there were very few 'outgoing people' doing 90 in the outside lane.
Unfortunatly I was stricken with an abcess under a tooth I broke a few days before we left, I was climbing up the wall for a few days but eventually managed to get an appointment at Raigmore hospital in Inverness - about 60 miles away, my wife had already done the 120 mile round trip the day before to get me some strong pain killers, anyway, they prescribed some antibiotics which kicked in a couple of days before we came home - so didn't do much this trip.
I was going in tho see that silver Mk2, 2.1 auto estate

Peter