£100K Garage: Tom Corcoran
Another £100K Garage, another old Escort! Tom's Mk1 sits alongside a Jaguar XJR, Caterham and more
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Previously owned: Ford Fiesta MK3 1.2, Opel Corsa B 1.2, VW Golf Mk4 GT TDI 150, VW Golf Mk3 GTI
Currently owned: Ford Fiesta MK6
On the shortlist: "I'm a rally fan at heart so a prerequisite would be a road car with rally pedigree. The issue then becomes which era of rallying? 70s? Group B? Group A? Real world need is then a consideration; I can't drive a 70s shed to work or the supermarket every day so maybe an RS Audi or AMG Merc could see to that. Maybe £100,000 won't be enough!"
Cost: £30,000
Balance: £70,000
Why I chose it: "The Mk1 has always been a dream of mine stemming from summer afternoons spent lining rally stages waiting for a tail happy Escort to pass. This one ticks all of the looks and performance boxes and is sorted enough to be used on track days too!"
Jaguar XJR
Cost: £16,995
Balance: £53,005
Why I chose it: "Sensible(ish) hat on. You need a car to cruise to work in, why not look like a boss while you do it? This one appears classy, the mileage is low and it has 400hp under the bonnet; what's not to like?
Cost: £6,990
Balance: £46,015
Why I chose it: "I am a country boy and what country boy worth his salt does not appreciate a good off road jaunt? One owner, low mileage and a pick-up (think of all of the stuff you could put in the back of it!)."
Caterham Seven
Cost: £13,995
Balance: £32,020
Why I chose it: "The ultimate drivers' car for me. Imagine a sun drenched B-road in mid July and think of the fun you could have behind the wheel of a Super 7. The right colour combo, not as mad as the newer Caterhams. The only challenge would be keeping it between the hedges!"
[A deposit has already been placed on Tom's original Seven. This was the nearest alternative available].
Cost: £23,650
Balance: £8,370
Why I chose it: "I love the VW Golf! I love the magic letters GTI too so why not put the two together? This is included as it is a real world aspiration for my next daily driver. It has the comfort features but also the GTI charm!"
[Another sold car again unfortunately! Tom's first Golf GTI was a manual Performance Pack car. The substitute is missing the additional power but keeps the manual and it's still red!]
Peugeot 205 GTI
Cost: £2,295
Balance: £6,075
Why I chose it: "When I was a teenager a good friend had a 205 GTI and I have loved it ever since. I chose this one as it is in good nick but not perfect, an ideal project. Even with £100,000 worth of machinery in the garage I think having something to tinker with is good for the soul. The remaining cash would be used to buy parts!"
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Only real no no for me is the Golf. Competence in abundance of course but huge yawn as way too common for me. I know my current daily is from the same stable but at least it looks better and is slightly 'rarer'. Unfortunately when money is tight your daily has to be kinda sensible. With a 100K garage it doesn't. Rest of the choices ok.
Jimbo
I love it.
These are true cars, good spent money, just fun & sport & realistic choices/maintenance.
caterham +1
205 +1
Defender +1
XJR +1
and this Escort Mexico, will not be my first choice (expensive), but the colour scheme and the wheels look awesome
The Golf MK7 GTI is a bit pricey, replace it with a nice Lotus Elise S1 111S, and I'm in !! you don't need it for your family, you already have the xjr and the defender ! You need a track car (111S or 340R for that GTI money)
205 for winter and daily driver
caterham for summers
elise for autumn + spring
XJR to travel far
Defender to go cut some wood and visit scotland
I paid £150, so if I had kept it it would have increased by £1000 a year (admittedly with better spec, non-rusty inner wings and a radio that didn't set the car alight due to being wired in with twisted wires and insulting tape).
Happy days...
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