£100K Garage: Scott Bennett
If you want a £100K Garage crammed with icons, you probably won't do much better than this!
Previously owned: Peugeot 106 XSi (first car) Peugeot 106 GTI, BMW 325i, Renaultsport Clio 172, Radical Prosport
Currently owned: BMW 123d, Lotus Elise S1, Audi TT 3.2 V6
On the shortlist: Lotus Exige S1, Mk2 Ford Escort, Audi RS6
70s: Ford Escort Mk1
Cost: £35,995
Balance: £64,005
Why I chose it: "Well there wasn't much decision making in this one, as my father rallied MkI Escorts back in the 70s. Although I prefer the Mk2, there is something about this one here with its front Cibies that really appeals to me, especially as my father's was very similar. The first car with rack and pinion gave it a steering response like no other car at the time, and with the BDA (or whichever engine is installed) soundtrack to boot, hearing these cars at full chat around the British hillclimbs and rallies is still something I will never tire of hearing."
80s: Peugeot 205 GTI
Cost: £12,995
Balance: £51,010
Why I chose it: "I've always had small cars, most of them French. Most of them caused me grief on more than one occasion too, but also frequently put a huge smile on my face. They have character in abundance and, usually, it is only a matter of time before their plastic rattling charm works its way under your skin. There weren't many to choose from, as expected; I've had the 106 GTI and a Clio 172, but never had the opportunity to try out where it all started. In an ideal world, this would be a T16, but I'll take this little 205 and drive a B-road jaunt till my jaw aches from the smiles."
90s: Honda NSX
Cost: £34,990
Balance: £16,020
Why I chose it: "For me, the 90s will always be about Japanese cars. For anyone reading this who grew up wasting hours on Gran Turismo too, you will know that these cars were the ones you wanted to win any race. Now obviously it could have been a Skyline, but Ayrton Senna is my all-time hero. From the moment I watched him drive one round a track heel-and-toeing in his rather lovely pair of loafers, I knew I had to drive an NSX one day. Admittedly many of these cars go for much more than this example here but it looks well kept. Should I ever be fortunate to own one, it would surely be a rather nice place to keep my own pair of racing loafers."
00s: Lotus Elise 111S
Cost: £15,950
Balance: £70
Why I chose it: "So my final choice is an example of a car I actually own, albeit a Series 1, but it's a choice I could not be without. If this theoretical £100K went part way towards starting a dream garage, it simply cannot be without a Lotus and this little 111S fits the bill nicely. Colin Chapman's philosophy of simplify then add lightness is one that will always be spot on for me. When a car is able to transmit information from the bumps and undulations of the road through its tyres, suspension and steering wheel, straight to the tips of your fingers, there really is no substitute for a Lotus. Simply put, the Elise is a big go-kart with an elaborate body on it and it feels that way too. It rewards for precisely measured inputs and throttle increments and tells you off when you don't, and I love that. It's not easy to live with day to day and the battery is a pain, but in this age now of electric steering, magnetically adjustable dampers and power figures of a Ferrari F40 in a Golf, I'll take a little Elise and enjoy what driving is all about."
 Ford Escort Mark 1 |
 Honda NSX |
You could have one built from scratch for that.But you've got to stop and question the world we live in when a Mk1 Escort costs more than a Honda NSX!... and I LOVE early escorts.
I had to have a word with myself recently when considering a MK1 that was offered to me for 17K and I was giving it some serious consideration, but really, they weren't great when they were new - age is not a cars a friend (looks aside).
In any event, that particular car seems to have been up for sale for a while now.
Other choices are superb...'fun' written across all 3 of them!
It's this I struggle to 'get'
Jimbo
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