£100K Garage – the archive
Discussion
Name: Anas Patel
Previously owned: Toyota Yaris
Currently owned: Toyota Yaris with Dents
On the shortlist: Audi S3 or Honda Civic Type R GT
Nissan GT-R Black Edition
Cost: £44,000
Balance: £56,000
Why I chose it: Well it is black edition. Would be the typical track-day car. Also the stealth black would get heads turning.
Honda NSX
Cost: £38,000
Balance: £18,000
Why I chose it: Every since I was a kid this has always been my dream car. It was test driven by the greatest F1 driver, the legendary Ayrton Senna. The man who was brave enough to go around Monaco one handed.
Mitsubishi Evo X FQ360
Cost: £14,000
Balance: £4,000
Why I chose it: Well first of all the name FQ... which we all know literally stands for f*** quick. I have seen a few go around and wow do they sound good.
Audi A3
Cost: £4000
Balance: £0
Why I chose it: This would be my everyday car from and to work. Secondly a Audi always holds it value well.
Name: Lee Bracken
Previously Owned: Loads... if it was front wheel drive it was mostly French (2x Citroen ZX, 4x Peugeot 306, 1x Peugeot 205), apart from the Fiat Punto Sporting I passed my test in and 2 recent Fiestas that have been company cars. If it was rear wheel drive it was mostly BMWs (2x E46 330i, 1x 323i and 1x 120d) apart from the facelift MR2 Roadster I bought brand new when I was young and daft(er). Four wheel drive? Well it could only be Land Rover (1x Freelander1 TD4 and 2x Freelander2). There have then been 2 Westfields - one Megablade and one Megabird - the first of which stuck around for over 11 years and is still very much missed.
Currently Owned: Land Rover Freelander 2 HSE
On the Shortlist:Something to give me the adrenalin buzz that's been missing since the departure of the Megablade, something a tiny bit over-engined to waft about in, something to carry the kids/dog/wife/luggage in much safety and comfort, and something hot hatchy for the mad dash to the takeaway on a Thursday night.
Ariel Atom 3.5 Supercharged
Cost: £45,950
Balance: £54,050
Why I Chose it: Before I ever got to drive one of these, from all the magazine, TV and internet reviews I read, I thought it would be the only thing that would tempt me out of the Caterfield 7 type of thing. Then I drove one in a monsoon at Elvington, where I couldn't see through my steamed up, rain speckled visor, and when the sun bouncing off the concrete was so bright I couldn't see which way the track went. It spun the wheels in fourth and fifth gears ALL the way down the back straight and the conditions were so bad it did nothing but splash and aquaplane through every apex. It was an animal. I drove it like a girl. I want one badly.
Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TDV6 HSE
Cost: £30,999
Balance: £23,051
Why I Chose it: I love Land Rovers, worked with them for years, and the Discovery 3/4 has always been my favourite. Yes, the Range Rover has a stiffer upper lip, the Sport has more bling and the Defender is cooler than Pingu eating a Rocket Lolly, but only the Discovery has that chunky Tonka toy, take the whole family up a mountain vibe about it. It had to be a facelifted, higher powered version with the newer gearbox. I also prefer the less-showy wheels and dark interior which should hide the inevitable kiddie sticky finger marks. Although I was aiming for less than £30k for this piece of the puzzle, it should be able to bat away everything the family can chuck at it as well as drag the Atom to every track I can think of without breaking a sweat.
Alpina B10 V8 E39
Cost: £15,995
Balance: £7,056
Why I chose it: This came completely out of the blue... I'd narrowed this type of car down to either a post-03 Jag XJR or an E60 550i. But the XJR would have to be black (don't normally bother with such frippery, but if it's an XJR, it has to be sinister) and the 550i an SE, not an M-Sport. Neither car existed in the Pistonheads classifieds when I was looking - which is lucky, 'cos this is awesome! More expensive than the equivalent M5 new and, seemingly, now, it's auto 'box and plush leather is much more in keeping with a super saloon of this age in my eyes - it's for wafting down the motorway pushing Audi TDi's out of the outside line without making a fuss, not smoking around roundabouts; far too uncouth. One owner and just 30k miles you say? Modern classic.
Mini Cooper S JCW
Cost: £6,750
Balance: £306
Why I chose it: When this shape of New Mini was indeed new, I struggled to get a grip on why they were cleaning up so much in the magazine group tests. I remember road testing one after short listing it alongside the MR2 (a very different proposition, I know) back in 2004 and coming away shrugging my shoulders in a "What's all the fuss about stylee". The steering felt a bit stodgy and, although there was bags of four-square grip, the chassis seemed very effective but a bit one-dimensional. Plus there was bugger all room in it, so I was just as well off with the MR2... but oh, how wrong I was. I drove one a few weeks back for the first time in 10 years and it finally reeled me in; compared to more modern, electrically assisted, ESP controlled small hatches, it was gritty and twitchy and torquey and, oh, how the supercharger whine eggs you on..!
£306 left over to go towards my first Atom trackday. Bonus!
Name: Caesar Barton
Previously owned: (chronologically) Citroen AX GT, BMW E30 320i, Peugeot 205 Rallye (white), VW Mk1 Golf Cabriolet, VW Citi Golf CTI, VW Mk1 Golf GTI 1.6, Honda CRX MK2 Twin-Cam, Smart Brabus Roadster-Coupe, Peugeot 205 Rallye (yellow)
Currently owned: Porsche 968 Club Sport
On the shortlist: All of the following, along with a Mercedes-Benz E500 (W124) and a Suzuki SC100
M635 CSi Motorsport Edition
Cost: £24,995
Balance: £75,005
Why I chose it: Quite simply, elegance personified. Achingly iconic design features such as the Hofmeister kink and shark-nosed prow, alongside the unmistakable silhouette makes the original Six visually catchier than stubble on a silk negligée.
Autos are more common, and frankly perfectly suited to the M635 CSi, though this stunning example’s manual ‘box only adds to its biblical appeal.
Renault Clio V6 255
Cost: £21,995
Balance: £53,010
Why I chose it: This is the type of car that some (many?) people won’t get – and I love it for that reason even more, while the Black Gold finish sets it apart beautifully from the more familiar shade of metallic blue.
If this car was a band it would be Killing Joke – eclectic, gloriously entertaining and decidedly unhinged. A Nissan Qashqai, by comparison, would be Coldplay…
BMW Z3M Coupe
Cost: £35,995
Balance: £17,015
Why I chose it: The standard Z3 Roadster’s styling is ropier than a lasso exhibition, so whatever dark arts the after-hours “skunk-works” team channelled, they certainly succeeded in creating a jaw-dropping shooting-brake. Captivatingly odd, much like the Clio V6, I personally love the M Coupe’s looks, especially from the rear three-quarters - and while Estoril Blue is by far the most common colour choice, it’s also the best.
This was near the top of my own real shortlist, which the 968 CS eventually won.
I stand by my choice but I still covet a straight one of these quite madly...
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 1800
Cost: £9,995
Balance: £7,020
Why I chose it: I’ve owned three Mk1 Golfs – a Clipper Cabriolet, a Citi Golf CTI (a South African five-door GTI), and a black GTI almost identical to this, apart from mine was one of the last 1.6’s, whereas this is a 1.8.
The delight of the Mk1 is in its proportions, it’s simply exquisite to behold from any angle, whilst the utilitarian origins only add to the charm. The very best Mk1s are fetching strong money - in eighteen months this’ll look cheap.
FIAT COUPE 2.0 Turbo 20v 2dr (1998)
Cost: £3,990
Balance £3,030
Why I chose it: Chris Bangle’s design has aged quite superbly to these eyes - and along with Broom Yellow, this example’s Sprint Blue is the pick of the colours. Tidy examples are scarce and this one looks delectable. Who’d have thought - from Fiat? in the 90’s?
As for the £3,030 balance? I’d have the Fiat professionally undersealed and buy an extra set of rear boots for the Clio V6 – I have a feeling they wouldn’t sit around for long…
Name: Richard Gray
Previously owned: 106 XSi, 106 Rallye S2, Fiesta ST
Currently owned: Clio 200
On the shortlist: Ferrari F355, Exige S1, M3 CSL, E92 M3, Lotus Evora, some form of 3-series Touring
Theme: Less is more (and no turbos!). Filling in the daily duties is a chuck-able RenaultSport hatch, I opted for the bright yellow mk3 Clio variety (nothing to do with bias). Next is the dedicated track car in the form of an Exige, and then finally the 'prestige' entry sporting an N/A V8, rwd & Italian style - not to mention room for the kids which was a firm requirement. Nothing else needed really?
My choices...
Maserati GranTurismo S
Cost: £51,990
Balance: £48,010
Why I chose it: This would the be occasional weekend and fair weather car which is also required to have 4 seats for the kids. A large capacity and high revving N/A engine was also a requirement for some real noise, and then great looks (to my eyes at least) was the final mandate for this position. The GanTurismo S easily earns top spot in my garage.
Lotus Exige S - S2 Sprint
Cost: £36,999
Balance: £11,011
Why I chose it: I went through many iterations of the 100k garage and not one of them didn't sport an Exige of some description. It's abilities to act as the track car of the garage are not in question, so mostly this particular one came down to simply how awesome the Sprint colour scheme looks.
Renault Clio 200
Cost: £9,999
Balance: £1,012
Why I chose it: Running one myself it suits daily and track duties very well. This one also had to be Liquid Yellow too! This I guess could be interchangeable with a 3 series estate, perhaps even the 'all you need 320d'... however I don't need the space or the soul destroying diesel so the 200 retains is place with me.
Name: Ben Carter
Previously owned: Citroen C4 1.6 petrol
Currently owned: 2006 Impreza 2.0 R Sport
On the shortlist:
My choices...
SUBARU LEGACY STI (B4) (2005)
Cost:£9,400
Balance:£90,600
Why I Chose it: goes like the excrement off a digging tool and still has room for screaming relatives. And some shopping. And maybe a small dog (if I owned a dog). Which I don't.
SUBARU BRZ SE LUX (2015)
Cost:£23,800 + £2k for new wheels
Balance: £64,800
Why I chose it: unpractical enough not to be able to fit my screaming daughter or mother-in-law and quick enough to escape them. Hate the wheels though so would switch them out for something less ricey.
SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0 WRX STi R206 LTD EDN JDM MODEL
Cost:£37,989 + £5k for appearance changes
Balance: £21,811
Why I chose it: A quick and relatively subtle Impreza without a ruddy great wing or huge bonnet scoop. I would change the wheels, wing mirrors and re-spray it though to make it a bit more sleeper/Q-car.
710BHP 2.35l STROKER FORGED SUBARU STI TYPE UK-HUGE SPEC-THOUSANDS SPENT!-LOW MILES (2003)
Cost:£19,995
Balance:£1,816
Why I chose it: Every list needs a Frankenstein's Monster and this is mine. Over priced? Maybe. Mental? Yes. Mean as hell looking? Check. I would probably switch the rear wing out though to a lip spoiler as I quite like rear visibility.
SUBARU IMPREZA (44S) GX AWD 2001 (2001)
Cost:£1,650
Balance: £166
Why I chose it: The wife will need something to drive and this is cheap and has pink wheels. She likes pink. Plus this is relatively economical and has cheaper insurance. Also it will give me a good laugh to see her driving it around with a very grumpy mother in law in tow!.
Name: Chris Thompson
Previously owned: Morris Marina "Super Deluxe", Citroen 2CV, BMW 320i
(E30), Mk2 Golf GTi, Saab 900, Mini Cooper S, Focus ST170 Estate, TD5
Discovery, Saab 95 2.3T Estate, Saab 95 Aero Estate
Currently owned: Vauxhall Zafira Tourer ( I know … )
On the shortlist: Another Cooper S and a large load carrier with a bit
more poke and personality.
My choices...
Land Rover Series lla
Cost: £17,995
Balance: £82,010
Why I chose it: Easiest choice of the lot. I have long hankered after a soft top "Landy". Whilst I'm partial to a bit of Twisted style bling it had to be a traditional looking lla in my £100k garage. Surely one of the classiest soft tops around at any price … although I would also concede that there are few that are slower.
Audi S6
Cost: £12,995
Balance: £69,015
Why I chose it: I'm rather partial to an estate that packs a punch. A tip run in Dad's company 850 T5 with a boot full of hedge trimmings at license losing speeds aged 19 was the start of a shameful addiction. The pokiest thing I've managed to smuggle past the domestic radar so far is a Saab 9-5 Aero that I've only just sold. The S6 has always been the estate I was really after (more so than an RS6) and this example is old and leggy enough for me not to be too precious about using it as a family holdall.
Mini Cooper S Works
Cost: £14,950
Balance: £54,065
Why I chose it: I loved the Cooper S I had pre sprogs and keep on almost talking myself into getting another one. It was fabulous fun on twisty B roads and lanes and, with a bit of added zest from a Works pack, this was another easy £100k garage inclusion. I find myself strangely drawn to the butterscotch mousse meets Gentlemen’s Club interior of this 2013 example.
Caterham Roadsport SV
Cost: £22,995
Balance: £31,070
Why I chose it: I am a rather lanky specimen but can just about wedge myself into a Caterham SV with judicious use of axle grease and shoe horns. I fell in love with the first Lotus 7 I saw aged around 10 and continue to lust after the go kart like experience of the Caterham – although sadly I have yet to drive one. This Roadsport Seven is just the spec I’d be after; any quicker and I suspect I would get up close and personal with the scenery in no time at all.
Mercedes E350 convertible
Cost: £19,950
Balance: £11,120
Why I chose it: In an ideal world my convertible Merc itch would be scratched by a W124, but I struggled to track one down and they are all getting on a bit and/or have been modified in a most unseemly fashion. Should I ever decide to take up golf or grow my hair into a towering silver bouffant this will be the perfect vehicle for developing a World of Leather tan whilst cruising the lanes of Surrey. In the meantime it’s fairly quick, it’s comfortable and the whole family can fit in.
Daimler Double Six
Cost: £9,750
Balance: £1,370
Why I chose it: I knew from the outset that there had to be an ageing barge in my £100k garage. The Merc itch is now scratched, no BMs floated my boat when I was having a rummage online, so it had to be a Jag or Daimler. The rarer Daimler won out due to fond memories of my Grandfather’s cream Coupe back in the 80s. All of the choices have an emotional element to them (possibly excluding the E350) but this would be a real trip down memory lane. Unfortunately the only chrome bumper model I could find was a budget buster and the coupes are more expensive still, but this remains, as the ad says, the “Queen of Waft”.
Balance: £1,370 to fill them all up and figure out which one to use
first (it’d be the Landy …)
Name: Michael Ford
Previously owned: Range Rover Vogue, BMW 328i (E36), Mitsubishi FTO, Ford Puma
Currently owns: Only a work Transit Connect for now. Hoping to change this soon however…
On the shortlist: Anything and everything! The mind is a fickle thing – one day I might fancy a classic hot hatch, the next day some kind of wafty barge, followed by some kind of Japanese turbo nutter chariot. The possibilities are endless.
My choices…
Toyota Land Cruiser
Cost: £5,450
Balance: £94,550
Why I chose it: I figured I’d start sensible first and work my way down. 4 wheel drive, room for more than just Peter Dinklage and Toyota reliability earned this one it’s place in my heart, not to mention the revered status of the 80-series LC (plus I’m a bit of a 90s hip-hop fan and according to lyric analysis, this was the one to have. Hey, if it was good enough for Biggie Smalls…)
Mercedes-Benz 500SE
Cost: £11,995
Balance: £82,555
Why I chose it: The most granite-y of the granite-hewn Benzes. It’s for when I fancy living life at a more relaxed pace, comforted by the security of the fact that the construction and engineering standards applied to these cars are akin to Fort Knox. Especially appealing thanks to the M119 that’s present in the engine bay too.
Honda NSX
Cost: £35,000
Balance: £47,555
Why I chose it: When speaking in terms of the “Gran Turismo” generation, most people seem to defer to Skylines or Supras of that era. Not me. The NSX was always my GT hero of choice. Those looks! That engine! The inevitable mention of “Ayrton Senna configured the suspension geometry of each one by hand y’know…”! One of the most timeless of the timeless classics.
Maserati Quattroporte
Cost: £37,995
Balance: £9,560
Why I chose it: For when I feel like indulging my inner cosa nostra fantasies. Everything about it screams “menacing”. The snarl of the 4-cam V8. The shadowy black paintwork. The bloodstain friendly red leather. It might be my favourite of this bunch, personally.
Porsche 911
Cost: £10,000
Balance: -£440
Why I chose it: I’ve longed after a 911 for a very long time now. As I was browsing hoping to find an early 996 within budget, this one appeared – Fuchs wheels and everything. I’ll be honest, it’s almost within range of my real-life budget – I’m going for a cold shower before I make any rash decisions…
[Michael's original choice was sold so we picked an early 996 and went a little over budget. - NA]
Name: Dave Marsden
Previously owned: MK1 Cavalier in the best colour, Brown...!! Followed by a mix of Fords, fiesta's and Escorts, Renault 19, BMW (E30), Rover 800, Audi 100, Sierra Sapphire, Audi A6 Quattro, Lexus, CLK, Octavia VRS and a fab 944
Currently owned: 996 C2 Cabriolet
On the shortlist: 993, Aston V8, G-Wagon
My choices...
Chesil Speedster 1971
Cost: £24,995
Balance: £75,005
Why I chose it: Where can you go wrong with a car like this? It is as good as drop top motoring gets and everyone from the child on the street right through to your grandma is going to love it. For me its a perfect choice and the noise is just fabulous. Yes it wont set the world on fire, but then not all driving is about that, is it?
TVR TE2 1963
Cost: £19,995
Balance: £55,010
Why I chose it: Some times in life you just need to hit the track and hit hard, with a dash of style to boot. This for me has the wow factor and would certainly make the right statement in any paddock. As track cars go this would make me grin from ear to ear each and everytime I fired it up.
Audi A4 3.0 TDi Black Edition 2012
Cost: £23,499
Balance: £8,012
Why I chose it: We all need a load lugger in our lives, and this for me is the perfect blend. Sure footed quattro, nice big engine, plenty of kit and the ability to do all the daily tasks I need with a touch of style to boot. This example is nice and understated but still has the ability to pick up its skirt and run like hell when the occasion requires it. Great all rounder.
Jaguar XKR 4.0 Supercharged 2001
Cost: £8,000
Balance: £12
Why I chose it: What else can you buy for £8,000 that has so much class and looks like this. This really is champagne driving for lemonade money. As weekend toys go this works well for me. I mean how many of us can live without a supercharger in our lives? And with my £12 change from the £100,000 I will have just enough for fish and chips. Job done!
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