Hey up fella, blooming heck you've had a ruddy tough introduction matey! My first one barely gave me a peep of trouble for 4 years. Then it became a git and is still stood at the drive behind my van a year on!!!!! Yeah I agree on the tyres, scary as hell what some people think (or don't think actually) is fine. If you have round front fog lights it's a facelift. I am guessing it has to be because you mention about stowing the seat, which makes it a Stow n Go version. Only in facelift. To tighten the spare, if you've not found it there is a nut under the rubber floor cover at the front of the floor console next to the (usually pooe) handbrake. Petrol or diesel? You do have to really like them to put up with them don't you! I've not driven ours for a few weeks as it's been getting some repairs and plenty of (Ihope) preventative bits on the suspension, but today went out for a 110 mile round trip with my 2 girls to meet other family. Our 2007 Galaxy is nice, but this was effortless, mega smooth 1st class comfort travel. And I like the line about the taxman with a torch!! When I was a kid it used to be "some bugger with more work".