£100K Garage: Neil Srivastava
A 997 daily, an M5 family car, a Ferrari for the summer and a Corrado for nostalgia suits Neil
Previously owned: BMW E46 M3 Coupe with AC Schnitzer additions, BMW E46 M3 Convertible, Porsche 968 Sport, BMW E36 M3 Evolution Convertible, BMW E36 328i Sport, VW Corrado VR6 (three of them..)
Currently owned: Porsche 911 (997) Carrera S Cabriolet, VW Golf GTI Mk5
On the shortlist: AC Cobra (Superblower), Aston Martin DB9, Audi R8 (4.2 V8 manual), BMW M3 CSL, BMW Alpina B10 E34, BMW M3 E30, Bentley Brooklands Turbo, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - after Le Mans 2011, I very nearly purchased a nice yellow example, De Tomaso Pantera, Ferrari 550, Honda NSX, Jaguar E- and F-Type (V8), Maserati 3200, Mercedes-Benz SL55, C63 wagon, E63 saloon, SL280 Pagoda, G55, Porsche 944 Turbo, 968 Club Sport, 928 GTS, 930 Turbo, 911 S/T/E, 964 Turbo, 993 Carrera S, 997 GTS, 997.1 GT3, 997 Turbo, VW Golf R (MK7) [that's a long shortlist Neil...]
Cost: £39,850
Balance: £60,150
Why I chose it: "I am completely in love with my 997 Carrera S Cabriolet and, touch wood, no problems to date that have cost more than usual servicing. I have the Gen 1 model and the constant forum posts about the engines on the 996 and early 997 Carrera engines does make me aspire to own a Gen 2. I have been across Europe in my car including Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and so on. Having a Gen 2 I would have working sat-nav, softer suspension and an engine I won't have to worry about. This is my 'daily'. 4WD is for people who can't drive so I have gone with the C2S but I'd still like the two-year warranty, some sucking up from a main dealer and a Silverstone track day thrown in..."
See here for all 997 Carreras on PH.
Cost: £9,995
Balance: £50,155
Why I chose it: "Mini-me is due in March and I need a car that is safe, that my wife is not too scared of bashing and that I will still enjoy driving through Europe. 25 mpg and 0-60 in 5 seconds are pretty appealing along with not being in the £500 a year tax bracket. Having previously worked at BMW UK in Bracknell the brand has always been of interest as you can see from my shortlist. BMW films with Guy Ritchie and Madonna is worth a watch if you haven't already seen it. Just ignore the bad acting."
They start at £6K now... E39 M5s this way!
Ferrari F355
Cost: £47,995
Balance: £2,160
Why I chose it: "Well, why on earth wouldn't you?! A Ferrari 355 in black with a loud exhaust would be my absolute dream drive through country roads on a sunny summer morning. I drove one of these around Silverstone a few years back and it was sensational. I'm not a lap time master but the noise alone wouldn't make me care if a MK4 2.0 GTI (the rubbish 115 bhp model) overtook me. I would prefer a manual but then I haven't got the spare cash."
Prettiest modern Ferrari? 355s on PH here.
Cost: £1,400
Balance: £760 (should cover some nice second hand Speedline wheels and KW/Koni suspension)
Why I chose it: "I've always had a soft spot for an old Volkswagen and my first performance car was the Corrado VR6. The VW scene is a fun one also with no egos and no talk of 'so what do you do for a living?' like some of the Porsche events I've been to, just enthusiasts who throw great events like Stonor Park at Henley, ED38 and Worthersee. Anything from a Porsche 356 to a rusty old Polo Coupe is welcome. Kids like looking at the Beetles and Camper vans also while the Dads can drink beer and have a BBQ."
Four-cylinder, V6 and diesel (yes, really!) Corrados this way!
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