£10K Garage: Ian Marsh

PHer Ian Marsh takes an even more worthy approach to £100K Garage by choosing a fleet for just £10K

Name: Ian (B'stardchild)
Previously owned: "Lots of Opel/Vauxhalls, six banger barges and a few other makes though I've never owned a diesel!"
Currently owned: "Lotus Carlton (summer classic), BMW E38 740 (tow car), Mercedes SLK230 (daily beater) and two Opel Monzas (one track car, one long term resto)"
On the shortlist: "Much as I have enjoyed the choices people have been making with their £100K garages I thought I'd throw something a little cheaper into the mix. After all I think in these tough economic times you can get a lot of metal for your money and have some considerable variety in your motoring - maybe! I also wondered if I could replace my current fleet for £10K with cars that fit similar roles. I'm not a one car for all reasons man! My real future plans involve something plastic from Blackpool, with six cylinders preferably.

"So the goal I set myself with £10K was to find one of each: V8 barge, convertible, classic and track car, preferably RWD.

"And with whatever change left a very economical daily. One that can cope with commuting, tip runs, shopping and be utterly reliable because, lets face it, I only have £10,000 to spend to start with and I'm at the basement end of the motoring scale."

Audi A8 4.2 V8
Cost: £1,075
Balance: £8,925
Why I chose it: "First, it must be the barge - it needs considerable towing capability (for the track car). It needs to be a nice place to be for European vacations as well as other general duties when passengers are a requirement and the ability to get to the destination is essential.

"At £1,075 with a reasonable MOT, AWD and a V8 this A8 fits the bill nicely. It took very little finding actually, has loads of equipment and reasonable miles. It's free to hand back the plate to DVLA but I quite like car related plates so it can stay.

"The only downside of this choice is an irrational hatred of portrait pictures of cars taken with mobile phone - but I'll not let that stand in the way of the choice."

From Shed money to £60K plus, see here for all PH's used A8s.

Mazda MX-5
Cost: £1,800
Balance: £7,125
Why I chose it: "The obvious PH choice but I need a fun convertible. At £1,800 with both hard and soft tops included it ticks all the boxes for year-round usability - sure there are cheaper about but I quite like the dirty nappy colour too (it's a Marmite shade for sure!). It should provide some top-down entertainment and perhaps provide a drop in replacement if the track car fails."

It's the obvious choice for a reason! MX-5s on PH here.

Porsche 944 2.7
Cost: £3,295
Balance: £3,830
Why I chose it: "Now I need a classic car. Something that isn't going to be used everyday but puts a smile on my face and makes journeys an adventure, maybe for all the wrong reasons. And for all that it's probably got to be either Norfolk or Blackpool based, but I was swayed by the lure of a Porsche. At £3,295 It's mid-priced but I'm a sucker for a coupe body and pop up headlights that work. At 140K miles it seems to wear its miles well."

See here for all the 944s on PH.

VW Golf GTI Mk1
Cost: £3,200
Balance: £630
Why I chose it: "I'm still short of a track car! Whilst I'd prefer RWD it's more important that the track prep is sorted already. This Golf is £3,200 with most of the essential stuff done (cage being the important one) and it's always easier if someone else has done most of the hard work for you. Rear-wheel drive would have been nice but if I've got to have front-wheel drive then why not one of the original hot hatch icons?"

Early Golf GTIs for sale here.

Nissan Micra
Cost: £650
Balance: £-20...
Why I chose it: "I need something small, economical and utterly reliable to save fuel money on essential journeys so more can be spent at the weekends - the track day and tow car as well as the Porsche.

"Sorry for this choice but I introduce to you the automotive equivalent of the cockroach (it will still be here after the end of the world). It's only £650 with 73,000 miles, black bumpers and fold down seats. Bargain. I won't have to worry about anything other than routine maintenance, and it appears Nissans don't even mind less than routine maintenance.

"OK - I blew the budget by £20 (nobody pays sticker price, do they?) but due to cars selling before this could go to press various changes have been made to the line up.

"In the first draft I had enough change to fill up the Micra (different one) and go out for a curry..."

All Micras on PH (yes, really) this way.