I PEERED through the windows of the Vauxhall Signum as it was parked in front of the office and noticed what appeared to be a dead body slumped in the back.
The delivery man - who bore a striking resemblance to Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver - asked me to sign for the car but all I wanted to do was run screaming down the street.
Much like Michael Winner in the telly ads he administered a few 'calm down dears' before explaining that the body was in fact a Travel Assistant.
In Vauxhall's world this equates to a big box I'd mistaken for a corpse situated between the rear seats.
By now fascinated at this turn of events I went and investigated.
The box is a contraption designed to ease the rigours of modern travelling. There's a cooler nestling inside along with cup holders, trays and tables. In fact the only thing missing was some teddy bears and a picnic.
The box is removable - although a saint's patience would be stretched by the manoeuvre.
Below it is another contraption that can be turned around to create a fifth seat which, unfortunately, is to comfort what Bernard Manning is to subtlety.
The reason I highlight the Travel Assistant is mainly for the effect it had on the kids. When they first saw the box it reminded me of the ape man encountering the monolith at the start of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
There was much poking and prodding plus a certain amount of bemusement before they decided it made an excellent barricade behind which various wars could be started and objects launched.
But the box has a downside and that is preventing easy access for children via one passenger door - important when traffic prevents the use of both.
As Chris Bonnington wouldn't have been able to climb across the imitation mountain range, the Travel Assistant forever earned the kiddywinkles gratitude by forcing me to seat one of the little blighters in the front removing the need to run the middle of the road gauntlet.
Overall the car is best described as a stretched version of the Vectra that covers the bases from hatchback to estate car. It's what the Americans would call a crossover for people who want a bit of everything.
The extra space is a big bonus for passengers as there's acres of leg and head room.
The seats are extremely comfortable and with steering wheel and driver's seat fully adjustable it's virtually impossible not to achieve an excellent position from which to launch the Signum on its way.
The suspension and handling are good with little road noise at speed and a refined ride guaranteed.
The 2.2-litre petrol engine is a highlight giving a sporty feel to the car - although the Signum is definitely more of a cruiser than an in-your-face speed merchant.
Vauxhall obviously take safety seriously as all models boast an impressive list of equipment that includes driver, passenger and side airbags, as well as front and rear curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control.
The light-fingered members of society are deterred by an alarm, remote central locking, engine immobiliser and deadlocks.
The Signum is a decent package that is reasonably priced to attract the business executive with a family to shift at the weekend.
FAST FACTS
Vauxhall Signum 2.2 Design Hatchback
Price: £19,465
Mechanical: 155bhp, 2,198cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 131mph
0-60mph: 8.8 secs
Combined mpg: 34.9
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 194g/km
BiK rating: 24%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint