So, after some time with Subaru and two C250 wagons, we re-evaluated, did a bit of a sift through the mid-sized wagon market (specifically the Levorg, Golf, Super 206TSi, with the Stinger and Mazda6 as outliers) and after some tape measure work and a test drive ended up ordering a blue Golf R wagon, due in late September/early October. It joins an elderly, modified and much abused NB MX-5 in the household garage.

Looking forward to learning its quirks, and exploring that split personality it displayed in the test drive.