Review
As any parent will know, this counts as one of the most nerve-racking drives of anyone's life and changes your attitude to the driving styles of everyone around you.
Suddenly, motorists driving at speeds you would once have considered quite slow are now maniacs intent on smashing into you, as you feather the throttle gently and worry about whether you should stop to see what is around the next corner - just in case.
Such new responsibility required a responsible choice of transport, and I chose our Rover 75 Tourer. It was ideal for the trip to take my wife to the hospital, complete with a whole host of relaxation aids and electronic pregnancy gizmos that in the end never left the car.
Previous testers have already pointed out that the 2.0-litre diesel engine, particularly mated to an automatic gearbox, is rather sluggish, but for 'baby on board' driving, it is ideal.
With whisper quiet cruising and suspension that soaks up the bumps, it was calm and peaceful on the way back from hospital, and I felt reassuringly protected from any lorries and cars. I even ventured into the outside lane of a dual carriageway on the way home - a brave move.
Once home, the Rover has become a shopping-wagon, with constant trips to the stores for new nappies, potions, lotions and all the other items needed to care for a baby.
A huge quantity of junk is needed just to take a new-born baby down to the shops, but the Rover proved it was up to the job as I filled it to the brim with the recommended list of items needed.
The opening tailgate window has been a welcome feature in tight parking spaces, where it proved difficult to open the full tailgate.
But for all this practicality, the Rover is still a good looker in estate form and it certainly stands out from the crowd. The new range of sporty MGs being launched at present should also create a halo effect for these lower spec models.
A curious event occurred soon after Harry arrived home. The car had to remain in the drive for a few days and I noticed passers-by paying particular attention it - even their dogs seemed quite keen to take a look. It was not until I went out a few days later that the cause of their interest became clear.
My neighbour's cat, injured by a passing car, had ironically chosen Rover as a safe 'woof' over its head and, sadly, gave up all its nine lives there.
Even without a dead cat, the Rover has an eye-catching design, but as I become more used to fatherhood, I may choose more sporty transport that combines safety, speed and space.
