Take one for the team

There have been plenty of examples of bandwagon-jumping in the past few weeks. Some people have bought tacky $10 green-and-gold T-shirts to wear down the pub when the game is on, others have set their alarm clocks to watch the game without even knowing the rules and there are even some who have run out and grabbed the PlayStation 2 game to get a "real" feel for how to play.

Others, like me, have been a bit more subtle – I jumped in a Hyundai Santa Fe.

Yes, I have done my bit for Australian soccer by spending a week in a car whose maker is the sponsor of the A-League. There was no green and gold, but my friends were green with envy.

Those said friends formed part of my "team" as we hit the road.

The Santa Fe has had a pretty good makeover. The previous model was, quite bluntly, pretty ugly. This one is roomier but, most of all, looks much smoother.

It had a fair bit of guts, but I suppose going from my regular four-cylinder to a six-cylinder would give you that impression.

With five in the car, we hit the road but only a few minutes into the trip got the callup from a couple of "subs" and had no problem bringing them into the game.

It was simple; we just pulled out a couple of extra seats. Yes, the Santa Fe is a seven-seater. Neatly tucked underneath the boot, the extra seats easily fold out to fit a couple more valuable players – complete with airconditioning vents when the "hot air" gets too much.

And there's a button, too, specifically for those stuck at the back who want a bit of air when those at the front are quite comfortable. There's even a cup holder back there.

With a full team on the field, the next positional move was to inject some music. Hastily grabbing a CD out of the handbag, something caught my eye – surely it wasn't a tape deck? It was, and memories of my favourite Roxette tape blaring from my bedroom instantly came flooding back. I was almost tempted to call into a petrol station – the only place these days you see tapes – and buy one for the road. But, hey, we've moved into the 21st century and while it's a nice thought by Hyundai to think of us '80s chicks, there's probably no need for one.

Instead, they could have allowed a little bit more space in the dash storage compartment to fit the CD case – but, yes mum, I should never leave valuables in plain sight as it's just asking for trouble.

Before I knew it, we had been knocked out of the World Cup and my time with the Santa Fe was finished. It had been a memorable week but it's time to get off that bandwagon and back to reality. I really don't like soccer, or understand it, but: "Go Hyundai!"

LOVE IT LEAVE IT

Hyundai Santa Fe

Price: From $35,990 (Elite model $42,990)

LOVE IT

Lots of room, for five or seven (however, the Elite model is only a five-seater).

Style. I'm a sucker for blue-lit instrument panels.

LEAVE IT

Tape deck. It doesn't have a place in cars today.

Boot space. It's not massive when in five-seater mode and non-existent when seven seats are used.