Jonathan, Having just checked the spare again it is "V" rated.

which means its safe up to 149mph !!!! so why on earth does it have a speed sticker of 50mph....ludicrous !!!

i think a penny has just dropped...see what you think to this idea...

brochure version one stated that the S model came with a "full sized spare wheel". for this model that woudl be a 16" wheel. In the section that listed the extras found on the SE and elegance models nothing was stated about the spare wheel

brochure version 2 now states that the S model comes with a full size spare wheel and the SE / Elegance comes with a space saver.

So this is what i think....What has actually changed is the brochure description and nothing about the cars has changed. They have all been shipped with a 16" since launch and will continue to do so - however someone in marketing realised that this does not match the 17" and 18" wheel supplied with the SE & Elegance models so they felt the need to add the line "space saver wheel" on the SE / Elegance spec listings in the second edition brochure. (similarly they have changed the description so that it no longer says the dorr mirrors have auto dim function as they realised this only happes if you order the optional extra of auto dim rear view mirror.Technically auto dim door mirrors are not standard)

I think the confusion on the wheels might be added to by the fact that many of us think of a space saver as those stupid 12" wheels with the yellow centre that you see on some cars. In this case i really do think the 16" steel wheel with a 205/55/16 tyre is actually what they mean my "space saver" (although how it saves space is beyond me as its the same overall size as the 18" wheel and tyre combination !! it should really be called a "cost saver" wheel !!!

all i need to do now is work out why it has the stupid 50mph warning on it when it is a perfectly good 16" tyre with a normal V rating - the same as i have on all 4 corners on my passat !!!