RE: £100K Garage: Simon Carr
Wednesday 6th August 2014
Name: Simon Carr
Previously owned: Ford Puma, Audi 100 Avant, Audi A6 Avant, Caterham 7 Superlight R300, MR2 Mk1, '83 Honda Accord Coupe, MG Montego Turbo, '83 VW Passat Estate B2, Renault 21, Toyota MR2 Turbo, Toyota MR2 mk2, Toyota MR2 mk1, Fiat Uno 45s
Currently owned: Jaguar X-Type 3.0 (utility vehicle), TVR Cerbera 4.5 (daily driver)
On the shortlist: "My car history started out in a 'smart' pursuit of performance per pound with MR2s, but very quickly deteriorated in the pursuit of additional horsepower, resulting in wilderness years of shed ownership, actually a sub-genre of £150 or even free giveaway sheds. In my now enlightened state, my garage reflects the practicalities required of different cars, and could be viewed as a well provisioned toolbox - 'always use the right tool for the job' as my father used to say. It seems to have somewhat of a homegrown theme as well, in fact I think it's all homegrown. I believe I've proven you really don't need to go to Italy, Germany, Japan or US for imported tools, we still have every tool for the job to hand right here."
Aston Martin DB9
Cost: £31,995
Balance: £68,005
Why I chose it: "It's the most beautiful car in the world, and will be my daily driver. It makes the biggest dent in my budget, but it's worth it, even if I fear the need to reserve the remainder of the budget for anything that might go wrong. This is also the tool to use for swallowing up large swathes of Europe. Any leftover budget will be spent on a ski rack for it."
Caterham 7 Superlight
Cost: £17,994
Balance: £43,016
Why I chose it: "This is for having fun, lots of it. Must be a Superlight with the most added lightness, and colour the night in flaming overrun, and with the 13-inch maglites, and I think preferably the K-Series with roller barrels. It will go faster than anything else between two points providing there's no motorway route option or the need to refuel, but it's sooo much fun driving it sideways you forget where you're supposed to be going."
TVR Cerbera
Cost: £13,750
Balance: £26,016
Why I chose it: "I have some budget leftover from buying the 'critical tools' above, so this is a more specialist tool, a luxury tool if you will. Can be equally used for crossing continents, with a bit less refinement than the DB9, or for having fun, with a little less subtlety than the 7. There you go, this is my hybrid. People say don't choose an engine, choose a good example. And they're right. But I'd still hold out for the 4.5.
Jaguar XJR
Cost: £5,350
Balance: £5,671
Why I chose it: "If I get unavoidable complaints from rear seat passengers about driving to the Alps in the DB9, then we'll have to take the big Jag. I almost didn't choose this tool, as I'll have to think of more excuses to justify the DB9 for the trip. If I could see a good AW11 MR2 in the classifieds, it might replace it and risk the garage's cultural appeal. Actually, having swapped the Disco for a Defender I've got a couple of grand left, so if one comes up then I'll add it anyway. But for now this completes the quintessential garage toolbox."
£100K Garage: Simon Carr
Simon describes his dream garage as a 'Seven-Piece British Toolbox'
Previously owned: Ford Puma, Audi 100 Avant, Audi A6 Avant, Caterham 7 Superlight R300, MR2 Mk1, '83 Honda Accord Coupe, MG Montego Turbo, '83 VW Passat Estate B2, Renault 21, Toyota MR2 Turbo, Toyota MR2 mk2, Toyota MR2 mk1, Fiat Uno 45s
Currently owned: Jaguar X-Type 3.0 (utility vehicle), TVR Cerbera 4.5 (daily driver)
On the shortlist: "My car history started out in a 'smart' pursuit of performance per pound with MR2s, but very quickly deteriorated in the pursuit of additional horsepower, resulting in wilderness years of shed ownership, actually a sub-genre of £150 or even free giveaway sheds. In my now enlightened state, my garage reflects the practicalities required of different cars, and could be viewed as a well provisioned toolbox - 'always use the right tool for the job' as my father used to say. It seems to have somewhat of a homegrown theme as well, in fact I think it's all homegrown. I believe I've proven you really don't need to go to Italy, Germany, Japan or US for imported tools, we still have every tool for the job to hand right here."
Cost: £31,995
Balance: £68,005
Why I chose it: "It's the most beautiful car in the world, and will be my daily driver. It makes the biggest dent in my budget, but it's worth it, even if I fear the need to reserve the remainder of the budget for anything that might go wrong. This is also the tool to use for swallowing up large swathes of Europe. Any leftover budget will be spent on a ski rack for it."
Need a car for a European jaunt? Search Aston DB9s here.
Land Rover Defender
Cost: £6,995
Balance: £61,010
Why I chose it: "Where the DB9 will cross continents, the Disco will cross mountains. And swamps, deserts, Thames flood plains. Looks nice too, people won't think I'm rich as they would if I were in a Rangie, or a compete to**er in a Sport. Important tool to have. I might be swayed by a Defender instead. In fact I am. Also the Queen's daily driver.
If you're swayed by a Defender too, see here for all the cars on PH.
Cost: £17,994
Balance: £43,016
Why I chose it: "This is for having fun, lots of it. Must be a Superlight with the most added lightness, and colour the night in flaming overrun, and with the 13-inch maglites, and I think preferably the K-Series with roller barrels. It will go faster than anything else between two points providing there's no motorway route option or the need to refuel, but it's sooo much fun driving it sideways you forget where you're supposed to be going."
K Series, Ford or Vauxhall engined Caterhams all on offer here.
Jaguar X-Type 3.0
Cost: £3,250
Balance: £39,766
Why I chose it: "The do-it-all, carry-it-all vehicle. Tool for tip runs, moving stuff, kids, gear. AWD, comfortable, makes reasonable progress, lots of car for the money. This one has LPG, but a normal one will come along. You just have to be patient waiting for the unpopular 3.0s. Daily driver for the missus. I didn't want to do the obvious and go Vorsprung Durch Motor Wurkz. The only other option then is a new £80K XFR-S Sportbrake as the only petrol estate available, but I'd rather wait a couple more years till they're worth a quarter of that."
Need a do-it-all vehicle and a Jag? Search X-Types for sale.
Cost: £13,750
Balance: £26,016
Why I chose it: "I have some budget leftover from buying the 'critical tools' above, so this is a more specialist tool, a luxury tool if you will. Can be equally used for crossing continents, with a bit less refinement than the DB9, or for having fun, with a little less subtlety than the 7. There you go, this is my hybrid. People say don't choose an engine, choose a good example. And they're right. But I'd still hold out for the 4.5.
Have a look at all Cerberas for sale on PH.
Lotus Esprit
Cost: £14,995
Balance: £11,021
Why I chose it: "With not much cash left, I'm having to make some hard choices here. £100K is a tough budget to meet it would seem. This was almost a 'grale, but I've always been more road than rally. This is the multifunctional tool, equally at home avoid sidecar missiles and helicopter rockets as it is attacking underwater secret bases."
If you want to attempt a recreation of The Spy Who Loved Me, see here for Esprits being sold.
Cost: £5,350
Balance: £5,671
Why I chose it: "If I get unavoidable complaints from rear seat passengers about driving to the Alps in the DB9, then we'll have to take the big Jag. I almost didn't choose this tool, as I'll have to think of more excuses to justify the DB9 for the trip. If I could see a good AW11 MR2 in the classifieds, it might replace it and risk the garage's cultural appeal. Actually, having swapped the Disco for a Defender I've got a couple of grand left, so if one comes up then I'll add it anyway. But for now this completes the quintessential garage toolbox."
XJRs new and old for sale here.
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Discussion
Pretty good garage although I don’t understand why you’ve chosen two cars which you already own. Not really a dream!
Jag 3.0 estate bad choice too IMO. A colleague had one and it was absolute rubbish. Naff inside, not quick for a 3.0, and not particularly big. E39 touring or similar ilk would have been a better shout....
Jag 3.0 estate bad choice too IMO. A colleague had one and it was absolute rubbish. Naff inside, not quick for a 3.0, and not particularly big. E39 touring or similar ilk would have been a better shout....
MrHooky said:
Pretty good garage although I don’t understand why you’ve chosen two cars which you already own. Not really a dream!
Jag 3.0 estate bad choice too IMO. A colleague had one and it was absolute rubbish. Naff inside, not quick for a 3.0, and not particularly big. E39 touring or similar ilk would have been a better shout....
Why should he not included current cars in his dream garage? Did the thought not occur that perhaps he bought his TVR because it was one of his dream cars? Nothing better to do during the school holidays?Jag 3.0 estate bad choice too IMO. A colleague had one and it was absolute rubbish. Naff inside, not quick for a 3.0, and not particularly big. E39 touring or similar ilk would have been a better shout....
Regarding the X-type, many of the reviews at the time were very good, it might not be very large, but if it meets your needs why get something larger? A E39 wouldn't have fitted the British theme very well.
dollyboy said:
...and all without crossing any water.
So, the mathematics used in the design and production of these cars was all developed in the UK, correct? All the materials were UK-sourced, all the people involved were from the UK without ever having been influenced in any way by a foreign culture, the language used was developed in the UK without any influence from any foreign language (this rules out English), the energy used in the manufacture and transportation was also only sourced from the UK, and the fuel was also extracted from and processed in the (artificial man-made tribal concept of a country known as) UK, right? blasos said:
dollyboy said:
...and all without crossing any water.
So, the mathematics used in the design and production of these cars was all developed in the UK, correct? All the materials were UK-sourced, all the people involved were from the UK without ever having been influenced in any way by a foreign culture, the language used was developed in the UK without any influence from any foreign language (this rules out English), the energy used in the manufacture and transportation was also only sourced from the UK, and the fuel was also extracted from and processed in the (artificial man-made tribal concept of a country known as) UK, right? Beg to differ re the comments above on the 'X-type estate'. I've had one for 4 years now, it's 9 years old and has never let me down. It's a reasonably rare / 'unpopular' 3.0 manual. Gets me up and down the Chiltern Hills to and from the station in the worst snow with no drama whatsoever. It's refined, quiet, quick when you want it (bearing in mind I'm not a street-racer) and I can get the dog in the boot or fold the seats down and get some bikes in. The alternative was an Audi and this is cheaper, classier and British. The estate shape is also better than the saloon and in Sport Premium trim, it's well decked out. And no, this isn't a sales advert; I'm quite content!
Edited by ADP68 on Wednesday 6th August 16:41
re33 said:
blasos said:
dollyboy said:
...and all without crossing any water.
So, the mathematics used in the design and production of these cars was all developed in the UK, correct? All the materials were UK-sourced, all the people involved were from the UK without ever having been influenced in any way by a foreign culture, the language used was developed in the UK without any influence from any foreign language (this rules out English), the energy used in the manufacture and transportation was also only sourced from the UK, and the fuel was also extracted from and processed in the (artificial man-made tribal concept of a country known as) UK, right? 
This garage mirrors my tastes almost exactly
Best yet.dollyboy said:
Why should he not included current cars in his dream garage? Did the thought not occur that perhaps he bought his TVR because it was one of his dream cars? Nothing better to do during the school holidays?
Regarding the X-type, many of the reviews at the time were very good, it might not be very large, but if it meets your needs why get something larger? A E39 wouldn't have fitted the British theme very well.
OK take back comments - clearly already living the dream. Good man and inspiring to have a TVR as a daily driver.Regarding the X-type, many of the reviews at the time were very good, it might not be very large, but if it meets your needs why get something larger? A E39 wouldn't have fitted the British theme very well.
Despite the positives above re the X type I'm still not convinced. I thought it was a re-hashed Mondeo from the day and thought the Bavarian equivalent was often regarded as superior. My experience of an older 2001 3.0 was that it was absolute rubbish although appreciate this could be a one-off. Admittedly if you're wanting a £3k British estate car though your options are limited...
I do agree that it's one of the best garages yet.
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