Friday 22nd August 2014

£100K Garage: Dave Knott

Clio Cup and Cayman R we can agree on but an RS Q3? Latest dream garage courts controversy!

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Name: Dave Knott
Previously owned: BMW 135i, BMW 130i, Mini Cooper S, Smart Roadster Coupe, Ford PumaCurrently owned: Porsche Boxster
On the shortlist: Another diverse garage from our PH dream garage contributors, Dave's has an existing taste for Porsches and, going by his need for a 4x4, something for the family too. His solution to the former we can all get behind; can we forgive him the RS Q3 though? [Ed]

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Porsche Cayman R
Cost: £39,995
Balance: £60,005
Why I chose it: "This is my luxury sports and track car. It could be used on track, but more likely for B-road blasts or European trips. This one is a nice lairy model exclusive colour and has (for me) the all important manual box and limited-slip diff."

More Cayman Rs in the classifieds here.

Audi RS Q3
Cost: £39,850
Balance: £20,155
Why I chose it: "This is for fast family duties. Space for the wife and two kids, pacy, well built and surprisingly fun. Four-wheel drive will be useful for occasional snow flurries."

Share Dave's love for the RS Q3? Find yours here.

Renault Clio Cup
Cost: £9,995
Balance: £10,160
Why I chose it: "The 'terrier'. This would be my pick for cheap thrills on track. I could take it to many a track day, spank it, and not worry too much about the cost of consumables. Simple, unadulterated fun."

Take your pick of Clio 200s here in the classifieds.

Toyota MR2 Roadster
Cost: £4,995
Balance: £5,165
Why I chose it: "80 per cent of a Lotus Elise for a fraction of the price. Here to provide some roof down fun and occasional track outings."

Third-gen Toyota MR2s for sale.

Triumph Street Triple R
Cost: £5,250
Balance: -£85 [Bit naughty, we'll allow it just this once - Ed.]
Why I chose it: "In my experience, this is a cracking do-anything bike. Can give you a massive adrenaline hit, whilst still proving adept at traffic/commuting duties."

Triumphs in the classifieds here.

 

 

 

[anthonysjb]

Why you'd buy that RS Q3 for £40k is beyond me. For the money you could have a far nicer B7 RS4 and a lot of change if you're insistent on 4WD.

[zerovira]

anthonysjb said:

Why you'd buy that RS Q3 for £40k is beyond me. For the money you could have a far nicer B7 RS4 and a lot of change if you're insistent on 4WD.

Indeed. In fact, I may be biased, buy any dream garage option talking about "big motor car that still can fulfill family requirements" opting for anything different than a BMW M5 V10 is beyond me.

[anthonysjb]

zerovira said:

Indeed. In fact, I may be biased, buy any dream garage option talking about "big motor car that still can fulfill family requirements" opting for anything different than a BMW M5 V10 is beyond me.

You've still got to run the thing! Maybe I take this too seriously, I should get back to making mine...

[Fittster]

Don't get the Clio as: "The 'terrier'. This would be my pick for cheap thrills on track. I could take it to many a track day, spank it, and not worry too much about the cost of consumables. Simple, unadulterated fun."

If you just want a track toy why buy a fairly new Clio? Something like a caterham would be cheaper to run, depreciate less and offer more thrills.

[TWPC]

zerovira said:

anthonysjb said:

Why you'd buy that RS Q3 for £40k is beyond me. For the money you could have a far nicer B7 RS4 and a lot of change if you're insistent on 4WD.

Indeed. In fact, I may be biased, buy any dream garage option talking about "big motor car that still can fulfill family requirements" opting for anything different than a BMW M5 V10 is beyond me.

All true, but maybe the OP wants the height/visibility and all weather ability of a 4WD SUV (those seem to be the only rational reasons to want one over a 2WD estate).

If that is the case, however, for close to £40K I would rather go for something really silly like a Cayenne Turbo S or BMW X5 M (both >500hp...).

[smilo996]

Yes 2 100K with bikes featured so far.

nearly half on a Cayman........

[chungasarnies]

This will not go well for you pal

[thatguy11]

zerovira said:

anthonysjb said:

Why you'd buy that RS Q3 for £40k is beyond me. For the money you could have a far nicer B7 RS4 and a lot of change if you're insistent on 4WD.

Indeed. In fact, I may be biased, buy any dream garage option talking about "big motor car that still can fulfill family requirements" opting for anything different than a BMW M5 V10 is beyond me.

Or go the Chris Harris route; get a B8 S4 and tweak it

[Blanchie]

Actually being far too sensible here, RS Q3 wont fit a family in! its tiny inside and smaller than my S3 AP, Even the Q5 is a bit dinky if you need a family runabout. It's its got to be an SUV then why not have V10 Tdi Tourag, big, grunty a diesel Lambo hahahha

[Gandahar]

Good choices. If you have to have the SUV that is a good one to go for.

I laugh in the face of the people suggesting the M5 V10 or the Audi S4 as "big motor car that still can fulfill family requirements"

When does family requirements mean excessive speed and huge bills?

Wife " Yes, I really would like a family car with V10 engine and a gearbox rebuild just waiting to happen".

Wife " That lovely Chris Harris has a an S4 and so I don't mind shelling out on a new DSG gearbox for £4000 just so I can go to Woolacombe slightly quicker in the traffic jams around the M4/ M5 section at Bristol.

Some of the suggestions on here for what constitutes a family car actually means " what big car dad want's ".

Having said all that I would swap the SUV for a Skoda Superb Estate. Now there is a "family" car for family type activities.

Edited by Gandahar on Friday 22 August 15:44

[TWPC]

Gandahar said:

When does family requirements mean excessive speed and huge bills?

When you have an imaginary £100K to spend.

[thatguy11]

TWPC said:

Gandahar said:

When does family requirements mean excessive speed and huge bills?

When you have an imaginary £100K to spend.

And when the OP's already listed an RS Q3, suggesting he does indeed want something quick. That's why alternative suggestions are S4s/M5s

[irocfan]

I don't agree the RS Q3 - but I understand it (let's face it my fantasy garage includes a RRS so I could very well not)!

[Axionknight]

Fittster said:

Don't get the Clio as: "The 'terrier'. This would be my pick for cheap thrills on track. I could take it to many a track day, spank it, and not worry too much about the cost of consumables. Simple, unadulterated fun."

If you just want a track toy why buy a fairly new Clio? Something like a caterham would be cheaper to run, depreciate less and offer more thrills.

I have an 11 plate Clio Cup, as a second car, for fun drives into the Highlands and for some track day work, which I am a total novice at - I needed a car that was still practical for moving stuff around and wasn't an absolute chore to drive long distance, the Clio fills this perfectly, its a sharp little track day weapon and a hoot to drive, but is still eminently usable.

Great car.

[LotusEspritTurbo]

Looking at that lot I'd prefer to keep the £100k and go by bicycle.

[InductionRoar]

Too many "make do cars" rather than purpose built machines for the same (or less) cost.

[daveknott5]

Interesting comments I've been away over the weekend but thought I'd give you my rationale for my rather contentious choices.

RS Q3 - yes I'm sore about the amount of cash I've allocated to the family wagon - but, although not universally lauded in the press, EVO rated the RS Q3 at 4.5 stars out of 5 - and rated it more fun the current RS4. That's good enough for me as a family car is never going to be as much fun as a dedicated 2 seater - so I figured I may as well have something new, nice inside, that's still fun, not diesel, and not as high on maintenance/fuel costs as something like an E63 AMG or M5 V10. After all the family car gets a lot of use and can't be continually going through expensive servicing/maintenance.

Cayman R - anyone who rates this as a "not quite car" either hasn't driven one, or has something incredibly exotic from Maranello in the garage to compare it against. It is a peach of a car and can do track duties on occasion and thrill on a British B-road. It is so well resolved from a handling perspective. There is a reason why other manufacturers benchmark their cars against the Cayman.

Clio Cup - again, those who write these off are most likely badge snobs. The hot hatch equivalent of a GT3.

The MR2 - I chose this as it is just a cheap bit of fun when the weather is nice. The fact it is rear drive and has a decent chassis is a bonus.

Street Triple R - fantastic bike - and far comfier than something like a S1000RR/other superbike.

There have been some great counter suggestions here (B7 RS4 vs RS Q3) - and ultimately if I did actually have a spare £100k in real life I'm sure I'd change my mind multiple times on what I'd actually get. These were my fantasy thoughts on the day.

In many ways I'm tempted to keep it pure and simple and just opt for 2 cars. The 1st a 997 GT3 (£70k), the 2nd a saloon E90 M3 (£30k). And then I'd change my mind again....

[irocfan]

daveknott5 said:

Clio Cup - again, those who write these off are most likely badge snobs. The hot hatch equivalent of a GT3.

I agree I am a snob in one regard - I have no issue with it being a Renault (indeed I have no doubt it is a fine machine for one of its ilk) my snobbery comes from the hot-hatch bit, never been a fan of these for some reason (then again peeps hate mine for being Yank oriented woth no HH on offer - diversity can be wonderful )