Friday 27th February 2015

£100K Garage: James Cook

Saab makes its £100K Garage debut, joined by an M3 CSL, F355 and a Range Rover

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Name: James Cook
Previously owned: Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Audi S3 (8L), Audi RS4 (B7), Fiat Panda 100HP, Jaguar XJR (X308), Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9, Range Rover 4.4 V8 (L322). Plus the banger rally cars, a Land Rover Series III (drove to Gambia), Lexus LS400 (blew up just outside Brighton).
Currently owned: Range Rover 3.9 V8 (Classic), Volkswagen Corrado VR6 Storm
On the shortlist: Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6, BMW M5 (E39), BMW Z3M Coupe, Maserati 3200GT
My choices: "I love cars and I've always put my money where my mouth is, despite comparatively meagre budgets; with £100K to spend, I will continue this ruinous quest with no 'daily driver' or 'car for the missus' nonsense!"

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Ferrari 355 GTS
Cost: £51,995
Balance: £48,005
Why I chose it: "The dream car, ever since I clapped eyes on it at the British motor show as a 12 year-old. I'm blowing over half of the budget here, but then this is a much celebrated Ferrari, arguably the best looking car they've made since the 1960s. I'm fine with it being a left-hooker and targa-topped, all the better for trips to the continent."

BMW M3 CSL
Cost: £29,995
Balance: £18,010
Why I chose it: "A true hero car that requires no introduction and my weapon of choice for British B-road blasts. Some Q-car restraint for when a red Ferrari might seem a little flamboyant. Worth inclusion in my garage for the noise alone."

Overfinch Range Rover 580S
Cost: £12,750
Balance: £5,260
Why I chose it: "A Range Rover is the only vehicle I desire as a permanent fixture in my garage; it is a brilliant car for almost every situation. Even my old one makes you feel warm inside (unless the passenger's window is refusing to go up). This particular Range Rover is an Overfinch 580S, from before the days when all Overfinch did was ruin your dignified carriage with hideous tinsel. That said, this one could still do with a light de-blinging, not that you'd care about the silly chin-spoiler as you roar around the countryside in a 385hp limo."

Saab 900 T16 S
Cost: £3,495
Balance: £1,765
Why I chose it: "I've always loved the original Saab 900 Turbo and this is a lovely example. It would be perfect for another epic road trip, possibly to the top of Scandinavia? In the meantime it would perform shed duties reliably and with no little flair!

"The theoretical balance would be spent on tyres and a new exhaust for my Corrado - I get to keep that, right?"

 

 

[Touffaye]

Ahhh, finally a man who makes sense. I was really tired of all these guys worrying about a car for their missus or an eco car for fear of high fuel bills when after all this is about a DREAM car garage. And that 355 GTS, my absolute favourite. Saab ok but in black please.