So I spent some of this afternoon looking at a Porsche 993 Targa. The last of the air cooled 911s have shot up in value and I like the idea of driving one again – 19 years after the launch in Austria.

What amazed me was how basic the 911 was back then. And equally, how delightful. No alarms, no warning lights, no stress – just get in, shut the door with a hefty clunk and off you go.

Of course, you can’t say that about the Santa Fe – or many other modern cars. You only have to fart and the dashboard lights up with warning signs. Depressing.

I know safety is our prime concern these days but I think I actually drive better without all the modern gizmos and driving aids we have come to rely on. And the Santa Fe has more than its fair share…

When was the last time you opened the boot, forgot to move out of the way and got whacked in the face? Erm, probably never, right?

So why do I need a two beep warning that the boot is opening on my Hyundai Santa Fe? I mean, is it just me or do other people out there despair that we’ve got to a point in this over protective society where we need to be reminded that two seconds ago, we opened a slow moving boot lid?

And it’s the same when I stop the car – why do I need to be warned that the sunroof is still open – what’s the worst that could happen?

We had none of this type of nonsense in 1990s cars, who decided we need I now. Perhaps it’s time we all drove a stripped out Caterham 7 again and reminded ourselves what we actually need in a car – and what we don’t…

I can’t find much wrong with the Santa Fe – it does everything pretty well and only the power tailgate is proving a pain. There are two annoying beeps before it slowly starts to open or close on its own.

The beep is, of course, for people who can’t see and may not realise the boot is about to randomly swallow them whole, or push them over backwards! It moves so slowly you long for a manual over-ride. And what are blind people doing driving cars anyway?

Otherwise, the Hyundai does everything it says on the tin. Three rows of seats, acres of space and a lot of luxury kit – except the leather feels more Aldi than Waitrose.

I’m loving the panoramic roof and the fact the front section opens makes it even better for some early summer sunshine. Just be warned, the summer could be over by June 6…

The first decision you have to make when buying a 2015 Santa Fe is whether to go for the seven-seat version, or the five. The bigger model is nine inches longer and extra huge inside.

Our first car of the month is the larger model and, quite frankly, I’ve no idea what to do with all that space! Even Malin the Vizsla looks tiny in the luggage compartment. He’s so far back we need an intercom to communicate.

And what about the styling of this new 2015 model? Well, it’s pretty good. Not quite a Range Rover Sport but sleek, stylish and inoffensive. Unlike a Porsche Cayenne, people will actually let you out of a junction in this car.

It’s the same inside. This Premium model is packed with equipment – equally as good as SUVs costing £30,000 more. In fact, it probably has more.

So, if you can live with the badge – and why not? – the Santa Fe could be the bargain of the century for those looking for the ultimate all-rounder. Join us over the next seven days to find out if that’s true….