IF you were invited on to an automotive Desert Island Discs and had to choose one car to meet all your needs, what would it be? Money no object, most of us would go running for the exotica, the Ferraris, Porches and Lamborghinis that stimulate our senses so wildly.

But think about it. This is a desert island. You are not going to get very far in any of these sleek 200mph creations. They are just too impractical.

And in real life the same is true. Many vehicles at the tasty end of the spectrum are flawed by a lack of practicality. Yes, we all want to feel good and have fun, but we also need to carry the kids and go to the shops.

For me the perfect car, the best all rounder, the all-the-car-you-will-ever-need comes in the form of Subaru's Forester - the turbo version, of course. It really is that good.

The normally aspirated 2.0 is a fine and splendid vehicle only eclipsed by the stunning performance of its blown sibling, the XT.

Here is a car that feels just right. It looks good, too, all 4x4 and manly, with a hint of its performance capability sticking out of its bonnet in the form of an big air-scoop for the turbo.

But it really is the way it drives that makes it so impressive. Subaru's 4x4 system is legendary and a stickier system you would be hard pressed to find, so effective is it at gluing the car to the road.

The turbocharged engine pushes out a whopping 177PS and masses of torque giving the XT a top speed of 125mph and sprint time to 60mph of 7.9 seconds. But get it cruising and that wonderfully characterful flat four will sip at the fuel tank giving the vehicle a creditable extra urban figure of 36mpg.

It drives like a sports car, too, and a very capable one at that with lightning helm responses, superbly comfortable ride and cracking handling. If there is a teensy tiny fly in the ointment it's the gearbox, which is a bit notchy, but at least the throws are nice and short.

All this would be futile in this situation, of course, if the Forester weren't practical.

No worries there. There is space aplenty up front, for rear seat passengers and in the boot. Cubbyholes abound and there are even secret compartments under the boot floor including a plastic washing up bowl in which you can store your wets and dirties.

Finally, you know that being a Subaru, the Forester will survive for years with the minimum of servicing and few repairs, whatever the driving conditions.

So all you need to live happily ever after with the Forester is a sleepy lagoon, a tropical moon and two on an island.

Updated: 11:22 Friday, March 07, 2003