Friday 8th August 2014

£100K Garage: Chris Haddrell

Half of Chris's budget has gone on a nearly new Lotus but there's plenty more besides

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Name: Chris Haddrell
Previously owned: Renault Clio 1.6
Currently owned: Citroen C2 VTS Code
On the shortlist: "I wanted a few things from my garage. First a fun weekend car then a long distance cruiser that wasn't too dull and a daily driver for nipping to the shops. I was tempted by various Audi S and RS models but decided to go for something a bit different. I Haven't currently got a bike licence but knew I wanted a bike in there somewhere."

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Lotus Exige V6
Cost: £49,950
Balance: £50,050
Why I chose it: "I picked it because its the perfect weekend toy and possible track car that can still be used everyday without being too much of a pain and I just love the looks of the new V6. Unfortunately they haven't come down in price too much yet so finding one that didn't swallow the whole budget was impossible."

All series three Exiges for sale here.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR
Cost: £16,990
Balance: £33,060
Why I chose it: "I chose it for my motorway cruiser as I think the S4s and RS4s have been overdone a bit and for what it's going to be used for I'd rather have a manual box (as most S4s for sale are autos) and save some cash. I did look at C63 AMGs but I fancied something 4WD for the winter."

Turbocharged V6 Vauxhall saloons this way!

Megane Renaultsport 265 Cup
Cost: £17,490
Balance: £15,570
Why I chose it: "I had to have a Renaultsport car in here somewhere and I've always loved this generation of Megane so this can be the daily driver. I chose this particular one for the way its been specced up but mainly because its the cheapest 265 Cup for sale."

Can't stretch to a 265? All Renaultsport Meganes for sale here.

Triumph Daytona 675R
Cost: £6,750
Balance: £8,820
Why I chose it: "I know a lot of people would say I'm trying to run before I can walk for someone without a bike licence but it's a dream garage so I'm not going to be too sensible with the bike choice. I chose this one for the color and extras on it as i just think it will look great lined up with the Megane and Exige."

Search Triumph Daytonas for sale here.

Volkswagen Corrado VR6
Cost: £7,450
Balance: £370
Why I chose it: "I wanted a classic that wasn't going to be too much work then got on to the VWs. I nearly gave up after looking at the choice of the Golf GTIs and Beetles available when I found this lovely Corrado but wasn't too keen on the aftermarket wheels. On further inspection they have been replaced so it looks great."

Take a look here at all VW Corrados for sale.

Balance: £1,370
"I guess I better put the £1,370 quid towards some bike lessons!"

[ADP68]

"Yes" to the lotus and a resounding "no" to the vauxhall, Renault and VW from me I'm afraid. They just don't float my boat

[electricdriver]

That's the whole point of this isn't it, it is his dream garage. Not yours

He has done a very sensible thing, with the Lotus he's chosen an all out performance machine for track days and weekends, the Vauxhall is a powerful motorway cruiser, the Renault is a sporty and fun daily driver and the Corrado is the classic he has always wanted. A machine for almost every occasion, he has covered all bases. I'd do the same, but with totally different cars

[Fittster]

If you have an Exige V6 are you ever going to drive the Renault or the VW? I doubt it.


Are Vauxhall Insignias as bad as people on PH make out? Not sure 4WD is really that important for a typical English winter

Edited by Fittster on Friday 8th August 09:33

[iggletiggle]

Awesome and well considered (different!) garage..

Apart from the bike i love the lot.

If it were me its likely id end up driving the megane more than the exige just through practicality, the VW would sit in the garage with an occasional blast, the exige would go out on the weekends for an early morning blast and the vauxhall would be my 'trip to the alps skiing' car.

Well done, sir.

[Mr SFJ]

Yes to the Lotus!
No to the Renault and VW.
Insignia as a daily, as it is the hot one with a bit of power, and to ps off reps in Audis
Then a track day rag about like an M3 or a leggy Skyline (depending on whats left)

[Fittster]

Mr SFJ said:

Yes to the Lotus!
No to the Renault and VW.
Insignia as a daily, as it is the hot one with a bit of power, and to ps off reps in Audis
Then a track day rag about like an M3 or a leggy Skyline (depending on whats left)

Surely the Lotus can handle track day duties?

[smilo996]

At long last PH release a 100K with a motorcycle thingy in it. Well done and a good choice of motorcycle.

Love the Exige V6 and Megane.

The VW V6 is a thing of beauty, the Corrado not so much. The final Scirroco was better looking.

All in all pretty good.

[Mr SFJ]

Fittster said:

Surely the Lotus can handle track day duties?

Yeah, but as I'm pretty new to the track day-ing business I don't want to spank around a 50k car until I get used to the concepts, and then the car.

[Killer1]

electricdriver said:

That's the whole point of this isn't it, it is his dream garage. Not yours

He has done a very sensible thing, with the Lotus he's chosen an all out performance machine for track days and weekends, the Vauxhall is a powerful motorway cruiser, the Renault is a sporty and fun daily driver and the Corrado is the classic he has always wanted. A machine for almost every occasion, he has covered all bases. I'd do the same, but with totally different cars

Yeah sure but ADP68 is giving his opinion. A forum. I couldn't agree more. A terrible chav combination, other than the Lotus. Even that is in white.
I know it is a VR6 but 7.5k for the VW....

[Roma101]

Killer1 said:

Yeah sure but ADP68 is giving his opinion. A forum. I couldn't agree more. A terrible chav combination, other than the Lotus. Even that is in white.
I know it is a VR6 but 7.5k for the VW....

What a pretentious so and so you are. "Chavs" have to drive cars as well you know. And of course they only drive a small number of certain cars don't they. I think you will find that "chavs" drive all sorts of cars, including expensive ones. Really, haven't we got anything better to say on this forum?

As for the garage, although it wouldn't be my first choice, I think it is pretty decent.

[X5TUU]

I dont quite understand both the Insignia VXR and the RS Megane, not sure I could comfortably pick one over the other to decide between them mind, but the thought of the insignia being nigh on worthless in the not too distant future does aid a decision

[TaylotS2K]

If you're using the Insignia as a motorway cruiser, wouldn't it be better to buy something a little more frugal?

I like Corrado's, the only downside for me is their depressingly awful interiors. Drab and poorly made imo.

[ManOpener]

That Corrado is lovely, and in the best colour, but strikes me as being very overpriced.

[MrGeoff]

Yes to the bike and Lotus but no to the VXR and VW.

[ADP68]

Roma101 said:

Killer1 said:

Yeah sure but ADP68 is giving his opinion. A forum. I couldn't agree more. A terrible chav combination, other than the Lotus. Even that is in white.
I know it is a VR6 but 7.5k for the VW....

What a pretentious so and so you are. "Chavs" have to drive cars as well you know. And of course they only drive a small number of certain cars don't they. I think you will find that "chavs" drive all sorts of cars, including expensive ones. Really, haven't we got anything better to say on this forum?

As for the garage, although it wouldn't be my first choice, I think it is pretty decent.

I was actually thinking 'chav' too, but didn't want to be shot down in flames. I think that the Vauxhall and Renault are probably great cars, but the kind of people who drive fast Renaults where I live are young boy-racer types. Likewise, Vauxhalls are driven by either reps or more boy racer types (think fast 'customised Nova' as a point of reference). They both just scream 'maxpower' and baseball hatted youths getting excited by orange-tanned, scantily clad, airhead girls. Yuck. As mentioned, just giving my opinion, which is what the 'comment' box is for!

[X5TUU]

i wouldnt say the selection is 'chav' at all, but there again I have owned many a VXR, Renault (non RS variety) and the Corrado ... and who cares about the colour, chav's (and many others to boot) opt for any colour that is cheap or free (see black Corsa SXi from 2004ish / Blue Nissan Micra from 1999ish / etc...)

[articulatedj]

The Lotus is definitely a good move. And it's likely to be one of the best investments you can make in a new car, as it might be the last great Lotus ever.

Shame we can't get them in the States.

[Chicane-UK]

I know that Corrado well. The price is high, but then you simply cannot compare it to other VR6's for sale at 2-4k in the classifieds. It's absolutely *immaculate* and has been owned for the last couple of years by some of the most dedicated, meticulous owners I know. I guarantee you'd struggle to find another one for sale, in that condition, in the UK today.

[BoRED S2upid]

Buying a motorbike that you don't have a license to ride! I like that.

[lasvegas1966]

i cannot understand how low some people aim. ffs its a 100k! an old cavalier and a megane? jeeeeez aim a little higher folks. most of these people are drooling at the prospect of buying a 10k car as the stuff of dreams, i despair of these people, and the way they use 'our' oxygen. have some flippin dreams people. or hand in your licence at the top of the cliff edge