Saturday 24th September 2016

£100K Garage: James Rolph

James does his own take on the new £100K Garage formula with two FWD, RWD and 4WD choices

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Name: James Rolph
Previously owned: Renault Clio 1.2, 2x Classic Minis, Volvo 240 estate, 1969 MGB GT, MG ZS 120, VW Golf GT TDI Mk4, Fiat Coupe 20VT, Land Rover Discovery 2 V8, VW Golf 2.0 GT FSI Mk5
Currently owned: Mini Cooper S Works R53, Mazda MX-5 Mk1
On the shortlist: Classic Defender, BMW E34 528, Renault Clio 182

Land Rover Defender 90
Cost: £6,995
Balance: £93,005
Why I chose it: "It ticks the 4WD box, it's a lovely green colour, and it will right the wrongs of my terrible V8 Discovery; that destroyed its own gearbox to the tune of its total value in less than a week - that was sold sharpish! So this lovely Defender with its 'punchy' diesel should fit the bill nicely and will be perfect for getting the soggy spaniel home from walks."

TVR Cerbera
Cost: £26,000
Balance: £67,005
Why I chose it: "People say you're not a petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa, well I think that should extend to lusting after a TVR as well! They are so unapologetically brutal and raw, with no ABS, no airbags and no traction control; if you want to drive this car you'd better be awake and ready for a fight. The noise, the Britishness, the fact that I can keep my spanners out for constant repairs - I would love it all! Also very, very rear-wheel drive."

Renault Clio 182
Cost: £4,995
Balance: £62,010
Why I chose it: "My friend and I have a running joke that one of us has to own one of these sooner or later. Despite being an R53 Cooper S JCW owner (I love superchargers!), I am happy to tip my hat to the Clio and acknowledge it as surely one of the best hot hatches of the last decade. So I've got a 182 itch to scratch and this one looks perfect: nice colour, nice mods and a full service history. I could easily get one cheaper but at this end of the budget I'd like a good one. This would be the daily car I think. Also, FWD box ticked!"

Porsche 911 3.2 Targa
Cost: £36,995
Balance: £25,015
Why I chose it: "I see a lot of Porsches on the road, and most of the time I think 'you've bought the wrong one! Has no one seen Arnie in Commando?!' It's got a whale tail and deep dish wheels, the proportions are spot on, it's just beautiful - the epitome of 80s cool! Granted it will try to kill me, but then so will the TVR... Anyway, I would try to have this as my car to be seen in rather than to drive too hard; I would buy a sharp suit, don a pair of Aviators and attempt to look cool! I want this one badly; if only there wasn't a wedding to pay for..."

Morris Mini
Cost: £14,995
Balance: £10,020
Why I chose it: "I cut my teeth in old Minis. I never had the money to make mine any good though; I bodged it all the way through university, and a little while after that, but it was never quite as good as I would have liked it. For me the Old English White and black roof combo with the 10-inch wheels is the one to have. I love the sound of the A-series engine, I love the bouncy suspension and the fact that it is an utterly classless car. I particularly like this one because it has the classic looks but someone else has gone ahead and modified it. I would always have the dilemma of keeping it original against making it fast, and with this one the decision has been made for me."

Audi S4
Cost: £8,995
Balance: £1,025
Why I chose it: "I suppose I need something sensible! This would be the family car (when I eventually have one). Still mentally quick, but practical and safe. Plus it means I've got a V8 too. As for the change...I think I'll be needing a lot of petrol, I don't think any of my choices can exceed 35mpg!"

[je777]

That's how you come up with a reasonable garage under this new system - ignore the 3 car rule.

[SWoll]

I think it's just how you'd end up with a load of cars you'd barely use.

Buy and S4 estate and you've got a 4x4 you can put the dog in so no need for the defender unless serious off-roading required. Cerbera or 911, don't they basically meet the same requirement? Mini and Clio? Again, why bother with both.

[PistonBroker]

SWoll said:

I think it's just how you'd end up with a load of cars you'd barely use.

Buy and S4 estate and you've got a 4x4 you can put the dog in so no need for the defender unless serious off-roading required. Cerbera or 911, don't they basically meet the same requirement? Mini and Clio? Again, why bother with both.

Agreed. All of these are good choices, but I think I'd be inclined to avoid the double-ups.

The Defender has a place for me as it would be nice to have something like that to chuck our dog in. I'd take the Clio over the Mini.

On that basis I think I'd have this list but lose the TVR, 911 and Mini and spend the balance on a 996 GT3 instead.

I suppose what I'm saying is that I ought to put my own submission together really!

[je777]

They wouldn't be my choices, but - unlike almost all the other 100k garages that adhere to the new rules - it's an interesting garage.

And a 911 and a Cerbera are very different cars.

[rtz62]

Good choices although I would have probably gone for different offerings with regards to the Porsche, 182 and Land Rover, even foregoing one of them to get a 'better' example of another.
Now, to the TVR advert...
" Air Conditioning, CD Player, Full Leather"
Really? Is that it?
You expect a little more info to entice people, surely?
Perhaps, 'x' owners, full Specialist maintenance history, etc etc
Ok, the ad shows the mileage, although you have to go to the dealers website to find out it's a 4.5, but what a shocking way to showcase a car like a 4.5 Cerbera.
Having said that, and having owned an 'as new' Chimera, I would probably like this in my garage (although the cabin quality of the Cerbera wasn't up to my Chimera imho...)