When baby number three was expected last August (2000), I knew that the days of my Saab Convertible were numbered, so in May 2000, I went searching.

Something bigger was needed to move us around - unless it's legal to carry babies around in the boot.

So, on the trail I went for something a bit bigger.

My experiences with dealers have never been too positive and my initial shortlist took me to local Volkswagen (Sharan), Ford (Galaxy), Renault (Espace) and Vauxhall (Zafira) dealerships.

I ruled out Ford and VW immediately. They didn't have any cars available due to a model change.

Too late for me I'm afraid - I was in a hurry.

I test drove the Vauxhall first. It seemed nice enough and was worth considering - but somehow, that stupid nerdy advertising campaign kept springing to mind and I'm afraid the leap from Saab convertible to nerdy Zafira was just one leap too far!

The Espace looked like a nice roomy car, but a bit van-like. I didn't drive it because no-one at Renault Birmingham seemed interested in even taling to me.

Their loss - and a common story around the Birmingham dealerships I'm afraid. Sales trainers, please note.

I went home feeling fed up and frustrated. I took out the Yellow Pages and looked for alternative car dealers.

That's when I saw an advert for a Mitsubishi dealer. I called and asked if they did anything like a people carrier.

I was invited along for a look at their new Space Wagon so off I went with my pregnant wife in tow.

I was amazed. They just handed me the keys and suggested I take a drive - for a couple of hours.

It was a good investment of their time - because I've never been so positively impressed by a car before.

An automatic gearbox was essential - my wife only drives "point and go" cars.

This one was easy to manouvre, nice an nippy - with a 2.4 engine an
d it had big comfortable seats.

Most impressive though, was the flat floor. It's just great to drive something that doesn't have a transmission tunnel and a space limiting gearbox lump.

I ordered one on the spot on a 3 year contract-hire deal.

It's been over a year since I got mine and I've had no problems with it.

Adding a roofbox was a good idea - and the Mitsubishi one is huge!

This is an all-purpose car and there are so few of them around that people always comment on it! More so than that flash Saab I had.

The seat configuration is extremely flexible and although putting the rear two seats back is a bit of a struggle (until you remember that there's a left and a right seat), the fact that the entire middle row just slides forwards and backwards is a great advantage.

I've had loads of cars and without question, this is the most useful of the lot.

It doesn't break down either - and the dealership always offer me a courtesy car at service time.