: Alfa Romeo 159 (first car).
On the shortlist: "Cars that didn't quite make the cut then: the performance sports car slot in my garage was hotly contested, the TVR Tuscan, DB7 and Maserati 3200 all narrowly missing out.
"I'd also have loved to fit in a classic 'stang, a Defender (the rustier the better!) or a big American pick-up of some description. I also considered a VW Kharmann Ghia or an Escort Mk1, but for what you get, they're just a bit too rich."
1968 Chevrolet Camaro 327 V8
Cost:£33,995
Balance:£66,005
Why I chose it: "I just can't resist a big old slice of American muscle. A meaty 5.7-litre V8 in the front, rear-wheel drive in the back, and caveman engineering with a complete disregard for cornering or safety. Excellent! This car isn't so much about good lap times as it is about tyre smoke, noise and genuine fear for your life. With all the Mustangs around this price range looking a bit tatty and sorry for themselves, it had to be a Camaro. This one has had a recent resto and the paint job looks fantastic."
: "A classic mid-engined V8 supercar for under £25K? Yes please! The Esprit has always been a favourite of mine and it would be criminal to have anything other than the V8. Yes there were many contenders for a performance machine around this price range, but this is definitely the most focused, and probably the most fun. Yellow is the perfect colour for this car and I love the black wheels combo. What better for a B-road blast, or even a cheeky wee trip to the track?"
1972 VW California
Cost:£24,994
Balance:£16,016
Why I chose it: "So I wanted something big and practical to load up bikes, suitcases or anything else that doesn't fit in an average boot. The obvious choice was a pick-up truck, or maybe some sort of van. Or indeed some strange hare-brained, poorly conceived combination of the two, just like this! It really shouldn't be cool, at all, but it just is.
The beige paint has to go mind you, so a few grand should definitely be kept over for a nice new coat of paint. A lot of deliberating on the colour scheme now....."
: "Growing up with Gran Turismo and Fast and Furious movies, the Skyline was a childhood hero. There is such an appeal in a car which most people wouldn't give a second look, but would embarrass most performance sports cars. With four-wheel-drive means this will fill happily in for the Lotus when the weather would really rather you weren't honing it up the backroads. The badge-snobs in their Porsches may well look down their nose at it, but that just makes it all the more satisfying when you leave them for dust! And at £12,500, this is a lot of bang for your buck. This one has had a bit of work done, which can be a worry, but finding a completely factory spec model isn't easy. And besides, it's kind of appropriate for a Skyline. In fact I would probably fiddle with it a little myself."
Austin Mini
Cost:£3,600
Balance: £2,421
Why I chose it: "This would be my daily driver. It's cheap and economical enough to run to work every day, small enough to park just about anywhere, and most importantly, bloody good fun! There is a little bit of rust creeping in on this one, but overall it looks in really good knick, and that little 1.3 should pull nicely. Black wouldn't be my first choice for a Mini, but this one looks great, especially with those flared arches."
: "So I wanted something with a bit of class and comfort, a big wafty barge, and who doesn't love a black cat? It's a mature and sophisticated cruiser on the surface, but underneath all the cream leather and walnut trimming, it has a stonking supercharged V8 lurking under the bonnet (to keep the child in me happy). Admittedly this one has done a fair few miles, but for three grand I still reckon this a hell of a bargain."
Alfa Romeo Spider
Cost:£2,495
Balance:(£3,069)
Why I chose it: "Well my garage needs an Alfa, and it also needs a convertible for those rare Scottish summer days, so this one was a no-brainer. It looks great, drives great, and has that 'wind in the hair' experience. And most importantly, it's an Alfa Romeo! You can't help but love it. Sadly the only one available was in silver (a little bland if I'm honest) but the red leather interior is quite fetching."
[Unfortunately, Lindsey's Camaro and Skyline were both sold and the replacements have resulted in a £3,069 overspend]