Volkswagen Golf

There might as well be blue lights fitted to the roof of our long-term Volkswagen Golf. My family was recently plunged into chaos when my wife ruptured her Achilles' tendon and spent three months in plaster. As a result, the Golf has doubled as an ambulance - and also a taxi, because I've become the sole driver for our 13-year-old daughter, too. All this on top of its regular duties, which include taking me to motorsport venues around the UK, where I've not only been racing myself, but also acting as a mechanic for a young hopeful.

I was worried the hatch would be found wanting in its new roles, but there was no need. With the front passenger seat slid forward, there was ample room in the rear for my wife, her plastercast and crutches. We even managed a weekend away, with the wheelchair and luggage fitting in the boot.

And now, as my spouse is walking again, the Golf is still proving a hit, as she finds its automatic gearbox easier to deal with than a manual shift. Not that I need persuading about the merits of the DSG transmission - it's the smoothest set-up I've ever used, and it works brilliantly with the 2.0-litre TDI engine for a swift, responsive yet frugal drive.

Away from its ambulance work, the Golf has continued to impress as transport between races. Not only has it taken me to rounds of the Uniroyal Fun Cup - where staff and readers compete in the Auto Express VW Beetle clone - the car has clocked up the miles as I've followed Formula Vee driver Martin Galpin to circuits around the UK to fettle his racer in the pits. The countless motorway trips have seen fuel economy rise from 37 to 39mpg. And our only gripe with the engine is its habit of stalling when cold - although the VW was on its best behaviour when I took it to my dealer to be checked, as staff could find nothing wrong.

Other problems were self-inflicted. A filling station kerb left a nasty gouge in the wheel, and scratches have mysteriously appeared on the bonnet; both will be sorted by SMART (Small and Medium Area Repair Techniques) fixes. And it turns out the sat-nav's erratic performance was due to the rain sensor for the auto wipers affecting the signal. A separate GPS receiver on the dash got round this.

Our Vredestein winter rubber has now made way for the original Bridgestones again, although the swap was awkward, as many tyre centres won't refit partially worn rubber for health and safety reasons. So the VW has risen to the latest challenges well - but I still think blue lights would be a neat touch.