Mr B follows my recommendations about cars as I am the acknowledged petrolhead in the household. I believe that women often get a bum deal in a dual car household, as has been discussed on here of late; the wife will get a tiny little economical hatchback to cram children, their accoutrements, probably also a dog, shopping and things acquired on errands for others, and the husband will have a capacious saloon to glide to work in. So we do develop firm opinions on vehicles..!

We joke about it but its actually so true. When i was selling cars just a few years ago i sold an old Fiesta to some bloke, N Reg one i think it was and it was in 2006 and he said it was a little runaround for the wife. Then i saw what he drove away in. A 54 plate Freelander. And he bought his wife a cheapy Ford. Seriously.

Little run around the wife, eh? I know someone whose husband bought her Grand Voyager. She hates it because it's too big. Still, if you have 4 kids, and an au pair, and expect not to use a roofbox when you go on holiday, that's a hard life.

Well in fairness you dont know what else they use the car for. Might have four kids all with their own instrument and go car booting on a Sunday! Who knows?!

And yes you're right Avant men like that exist, he seemed a total knob to me and the Fiesta wasnt even the best example of one you'd find but it always started. I'd laugh if there was an awkward morning when he had to ask for the keys to the little Ford as the RAC man was towing his Freelander away.