RE: £100K Garage: Adam Barron
Wednesday 15th April 2015
Name: Adam Barron
Previously owned: "Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Swing (we all have to start somewhere!), Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Arizona (the next logical step), MG ZS 110+, Vauxhall Monaro CV8 (a bit of a jump), Vauxhall Monaro VXR, Lotus Elise S2 race tech, BMW 320d Touring (starting to get sensible now), VW Golf MK5 GTI, VW Passat Sport Estate
Currently owned: Citroen C-Crosser (seven seats, 4WD and not engaging to drive, the ideal family bus!)
On the shortlist: "After a slow start in car ownership terms, things started to get exciting when I bought my Monaros; they were simply the best cars I've ever owned. Now with a family and the need to save money, my recent car history hasn't been exactly exciting. But with £100K in the pot I can be sensible AND have a bit of fun in the process! So first of all was a car built specifically for a weekend blat that was just for me which my wife wouldn't get to drive. I'd need a practical(ish) family car that could accommodate the whole family (including the dog) in luxurious pomp whilst being safer than safe and also a car which my wife could call her own. Her car would have to be something which I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen driving on the off chance she'd let me have the keys. Finally, If I had any money left, I'd like a track day toy that I could tow around the country with a few of my friends and not worry about writing the thing off."
Caterham 7 Roadsport
Cost: £23,495
Balance: £76,505
Why I chose it: "I've always had a thing for Caterhams. After driving a few in anger on track days and an unsuccessful test drive trying persuade the missus that she'd like Caterhams once she drove one (she didn't, she absolutely hated it) I've always wanted one. I'm not looking for an ex-Academy car or a track-prepped R400, I just want something to enjoy the back roads on a dry and sunny Sunday morning. Essential items are a full weather kit and leather seats for the comfort factor and something other than a K-Series engine (never liked them). This tidy, low mileage special edition example comes from a trusted dealer and has been looked after well. I think the paint looks fantastic with the black alloys and roll cage contrasted with the silver and gold stripe. Very Lotus! The fact that it's factory built will satisfy my wife's need to trust that the car won't fall apart the first time I take it out!"
Volvo XC60
Cost: £34,996
Balance: £41,506
Why I chose it: "When you have kids, they mean the world to you. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them. That's why people buy huge 4x4s. They think that the bigger the vehicle, the safer it is. I can understand where these people are coming from but for me, this car is the perfect family wagon. It's a Volvo, therefore it's safe and it has AWD which would be ideal for those winters where you regret buying a rear-wheel drive BMW with run-flat tyres... This model is the R Design Lux which I think looks a lot better than the standard model. It has huge 20-inch wheels, tinted windows and all the electronic gadgets you would ever need. All that's missing is a detachable tow bar which I could get fitted at personal expense and it'll be perfect."
Porsche Boxster
Cost: £17,490
Balance: £24,016
Why I chose it: "Ideally my wife would love another Monaro, but due to some slim pickings in the classifieds I'll look elsewhere. I could have found something else with a V8 but I've decided to go for a Porsche Boxster. It's got the brand appeal, a high spec, decent mileage and it's in the right colour for her! Plus, it'll be no slouch so the wife can continue to race people at the lights. She used to like driving my old Elise so I think she'd be perfectly happy with the driving characteristics of the Porsche."
Velocity RS Eco-Trailer
Cost: £7,920 (after VAT)
Balance: £12,846
Why I chose it: "Yes, yes, I know that the trailer is more expensive than the car, but unfortunately I don't have a garage! At least with this fully covered brand new trailer, I can have a garage of sorts. Then when the weather does turn British, I can choose to keep the Caterham dry and let the Vento get wet! The trailer is a good price, brand new and looks good in black. Most importantly, it has a winch fitted and can tilt to ease loading. Especially important if something were to happen to the car in an over exuberant moment at the track!"
£100K Garage: Adam Barron
Caterham for weekends, Volvo for the family and a VW Vento Challenge (!) for the track
Previously owned: "Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Swing (we all have to start somewhere!), Vauxhall Astra 1.4 Arizona (the next logical step), MG ZS 110+, Vauxhall Monaro CV8 (a bit of a jump), Vauxhall Monaro VXR, Lotus Elise S2 race tech, BMW 320d Touring (starting to get sensible now), VW Golf MK5 GTI, VW Passat Sport Estate
Currently owned: Citroen C-Crosser (seven seats, 4WD and not engaging to drive, the ideal family bus!)
On the shortlist: "After a slow start in car ownership terms, things started to get exciting when I bought my Monaros; they were simply the best cars I've ever owned. Now with a family and the need to save money, my recent car history hasn't been exactly exciting. But with £100K in the pot I can be sensible AND have a bit of fun in the process! So first of all was a car built specifically for a weekend blat that was just for me which my wife wouldn't get to drive. I'd need a practical(ish) family car that could accommodate the whole family (including the dog) in luxurious pomp whilst being safer than safe and also a car which my wife could call her own. Her car would have to be something which I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen driving on the off chance she'd let me have the keys. Finally, If I had any money left, I'd like a track day toy that I could tow around the country with a few of my friends and not worry about writing the thing off."
Cost: £23,495
Balance: £76,505
Why I chose it: "I've always had a thing for Caterhams. After driving a few in anger on track days and an unsuccessful test drive trying persuade the missus that she'd like Caterhams once she drove one (she didn't, she absolutely hated it) I've always wanted one. I'm not looking for an ex-Academy car or a track-prepped R400, I just want something to enjoy the back roads on a dry and sunny Sunday morning. Essential items are a full weather kit and leather seats for the comfort factor and something other than a K-Series engine (never liked them). This tidy, low mileage special edition example comes from a trusted dealer and has been looked after well. I think the paint looks fantastic with the black alloys and roll cage contrasted with the silver and gold stripe. Very Lotus! The fact that it's factory built will satisfy my wife's need to trust that the car won't fall apart the first time I take it out!"
Cost: £34,996
Balance: £41,506
Why I chose it: "When you have kids, they mean the world to you. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them. That's why people buy huge 4x4s. They think that the bigger the vehicle, the safer it is. I can understand where these people are coming from but for me, this car is the perfect family wagon. It's a Volvo, therefore it's safe and it has AWD which would be ideal for those winters where you regret buying a rear-wheel drive BMW with run-flat tyres... This model is the R Design Lux which I think looks a lot better than the standard model. It has huge 20-inch wheels, tinted windows and all the electronic gadgets you would ever need. All that's missing is a detachable tow bar which I could get fitted at personal expense and it'll be perfect."
Cost: £17,490
Balance: £24,016
Why I chose it: "Ideally my wife would love another Monaro, but due to some slim pickings in the classifieds I'll look elsewhere. I could have found something else with a V8 but I've decided to go for a Porsche Boxster. It's got the brand appeal, a high spec, decent mileage and it's in the right colour for her! Plus, it'll be no slouch so the wife can continue to race people at the lights. She used to like driving my old Elise so I think she'd be perfectly happy with the driving characteristics of the Porsche."
VW Vento VR6 Challenge
Cost: £3,250
Balance: £20,766
Why I chose it: "This ex-Dave Pinkney (he was in the BTCC a few years back) was originally built by top racing team Barwell Motorsport for the one make VW Vento championship back in the 1990s. Although not quite perfect it will fulfil my need to be driving a purpose-built touring car. It's not quite the BTCC but it'll still be great fun. I'd make sure it runs properly; give it some new boots, fresh juices and a top-to-toe inspection before heading to as many track days as possible. I might even enter into the MSV Trackday Trophy or even a few sprints. This is an affordable way to get my racing kicks."
Cost: £7,920 (after VAT)
Balance: £12,846
Why I chose it: "Yes, yes, I know that the trailer is more expensive than the car, but unfortunately I don't have a garage! At least with this fully covered brand new trailer, I can have a garage of sorts. Then when the weather does turn British, I can choose to keep the Caterham dry and let the Vento get wet! The trailer is a good price, brand new and looks good in black. Most importantly, it has a winch fitted and can tilt to ease loading. Especially important if something were to happen to the car in an over exuberant moment at the track!"
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Discussion
Touffaye said:
I couldn't find the energy to finish reading that one. What a bore. And why do these guys bring their wives or even their kids into the equation (I need a car for the missus blah blah blah)??? Get a grip man, this is a garage for yourself!
Most family men want to include their wife and family in their life and therefore even when it isn't a reality (like the 100k garage) they think for everyone rather than being a selfish t
t, which is how your comment comes across even if your not.Even so, not my type of 100k garage but everyone to their own....
CS400 said:
Touffaye said:
I couldn't find the energy to finish reading that one. What a bore. And why do these guys bring their wives or even their kids into the equation (I need a car for the missus blah blah blah)??? Get a grip man, this is a garage for yourself!
Most family men want to include their wife and family in their life and therefore even when it isn't a reality (like the 100k garage) they think for everyone rather than being a selfish tt, which is how your comment comes across even if your not.Even so, not my type of 100k garage but everyone to their own....
Christ, cheers for the constructive feedback guys! Admittedly the xc60 isn't the most exciting car on that list but I think I've justified the reasons why I'd have it. Would have thought the majority of people would have been discussing my track day toy. Still, this is an Internet forum so maybe I didn't pre-empt some of the replies I'm getting!
Mr Red Barron said:
Christ, cheers for the constructive feedback guys! Admittedly the xc60 isn't the most exciting car on that list but I think I've justified the reasons why I'd have it. Would have thought the majority of people would have been discussing my track day toy. Still, this is an Internet forum so maybe I didn't pre-empt some of the replies I'm getting!
I can see where you're coming from... although I'd probably just buy a Caterham Academy car instead of the Caterham + Vento. £100k would see you through a couple of seasons in the Academy or more in the Graduates.People here are unfortunately missing the point of the towing vehicle... it's just a safe, comfortable means of getting the fun cars from A-to-B
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