You need something with a bit of zing but with room for 3 fast-growing children. At 12,000 a year you're on the borderline for a diesel being worth it, and what you might find useful in a diesel is the low-end torque that for all their reliability Japanese petrols in particular tend to lack.

You'd get a newer Mondeo or Skoda Superb or VW Passat (all with 2.0 diesels) than you would a BMW 5-series: if you look at the Skoda or VW make sure you get the 2009-onwards common-rail diesel engine. Avoid a Mazda 6 diesel like the plague - there are stories of expensive failure on here.

In your position I'd start with the Superb (huge amounts of legroom and lots of zing from the 2.0 TDI) but there will be more Mondeos to choose from and you could be very happy with one of those.

Three kids is odd.

Offensive. There never used to comments of such a juvenile nature when people like me posted. I never post any more.

Surely a seven seater should be considered to give everybody a bit of room.

Ah, but think about it: 3 rows is odd. That means 2 in the front, 2 in the middle, and one relegated to the back row. This occupant will sit and seethe because he is ostracised from all the conversation in front of him and is forgotten about when sweets are handed round. Because there is no boot space he will also be covered with everyone else's luggage which is fair because he has the whole row to himself.

Here here! How about a Mazda 6 MPS? :D