Monday 16th April 2012

PH Fleet: the Harris collection

One look at the size of the Harris fleet proves Chris is a serial car buyer, but far from a serial car seller...

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I do not collect cars, I accumulate them (sorry - we should correct that headline, really - Ed). The reasons for buying them are varied, the transactions mostly straightforward and despite the completely haphazard approach, like any male of the species, I like to kid myself that everything happens according to a broader, more meaningful plan.

It's not all Porsches

What's the retail on one of those?
Like most people, I cannot afford most of the cars I want (1974 911 3.0 RS, 288 GTO, Sport Quattro). Now and again I will succumb to the evils of finance to bag a 'must-have', but that doesn't really fall under the category of 'accumulating', because the ownership period is determined by how long I can stomach the monthly payments.

The list
Currently, in my shed and littering the odd local garage storage yard and my driveway, I own (rent) the following:

1994 Range Rover Vogue SE. 3.9 V8 'soft dash' 160,000 miles.
1990 Peugeot 205 XS. 95,000 miles. Completely standard.
1988 Citroen AX GT. 68,000miles, Completely standard.
1997 Mercedes E320 Sportline Cabriolet. 90,000 miles. Standard car.
1957 Land Rover Series One 107-inch Pick-up. MOT failure.
2003 VW Passat TDi 100 estate. Slow.
A BMW 325 rally car.
2011 Porsche GT3 RS 4.0
1986 BMW E28 M5. 120,000 miles.
2012 Mercedes E350 CDi estate.

Lot of estates, though...

That's the first time I've ever written down a list of my collected rubbish. I suppose it looks quite ridiculous - it does to me. As you can see, the majority of it carries very little value, but oddly those are the ones I'm most attached to. I'd get quite angry if someone attempted to remove my 205 XS.

Going to plan
Is there really a grand plan? Yes. Within the next five years I would like to have a shed that contains examples of many of the most significant cars from my life to date, but also stuff that just takes my fancy. Almost all of it is quite affordable. I also like owning cars that I can kid myself cover every possible motoring eventuality - 4x4s for winter, sports cars for fun, a fast saloon for longer journeys, etc. Of course, that is the most romanticised of notions, because the buggers are never all taxed and running at the same time. Still, we live in hope.

Not everything's in *cough* perfect nick

I'm absolutely hopeless at keeping up with the paperwork and some things haven't moved for a while. Rousing them tends to induce a large bill.

2012: what's in and what's out
First out of the blocks, now that the weather has turned, is the M5. That's about to get some TLC because I want to use it this summer as it's so damn fast and cool. The Passat gets used quite frequently, as does the Range Rover in the winter months, but it'll now head into SORN hibernation until November.

The Landie is a project soon to be fully documented on PH - it needs a new chassis - but I think some kind of Defender is a prerequisite for any accumulation of cars - and I love the fact this one will be capable of carrying 10 people to the pub. It might need a V8 to manage that. I bought it as an MOT failure and it hasn't moved for 18 months. It's bang outside the front door - Mrs H remains remarkably calm about the situation.

And storage can be an issue

Vive La Difference
I am mildly obsessed with old French death-traps. These were the cars I spent my formative driving years and, in the absence of the guiding hand of other family members, I'd probably try to bag an example of every decent French hatchback. If I was ever to fall into the trap of 'collecting', this would be my thing. As it is, the XS and the GT are the two that have always ticked all the boxes for me. Both are exceptionally direct.

W124 makes you play golf
Using the responses of friends and family to the Merc convertible as a guide, I must own a W124 cab to keep them amused. It doesn't get used much, but it's a stunning machine and a complete change from the stuff I knock about in on a daily basis. I love my job, I love doing silly things on circuits in 500hp monsters for videographers, but sometimes I just like to get in my W124 and go and play golf. There - I've said it. Is that worse than admitting using finance on PH?

M5 soon to come out of hibernation

And the rest...
The rally car you'll have read about already, and can read more in the summer, the Porsche I am of course completely obsessed by - though I view it as a temporary resident because the finance costs are staggering - and the Mercedes E-Class wagon has always been the best, big family estate car. Which is why we're currently on our fourth.

The editor has told me that I am to keep you informed of all fleet movements and shenanigans from this day forward. Some of it will amuse you while I quietly weep, and vice versa.

First stop - the M5...

[b14]

M3 GTS in the background.... lovely

[Nigel_O]

Chris said:

1990 Peugeot 205 XS. 950,000 miles. Completely standard.

Typo, I assume? If not, you should add 50,000 miles sharpish, then sell it back to Pug and pay off all the finance on your other stuff

Assuming it is a typo, doesn't matter - the little 1.4 Pug was one of the purest cars I've ever driven - almost as quick as the GTi in the right hands - great fun for pennies. Wouldn't want to crash one though.....

Edited by Nigel_O on Monday 16th April 13:14

[Soovy]

1990 Peugeot 205 XS. 950,000 miles. Completely standard.


Respect!



Chris - just out of interest, are you not tempted to bail on the GT3RS and make a tidy profit?

[mik_jg]

quite the collection! very similar tastes to myself but with the means to buy them

[MagicalTrevor]

I've really developed a soft spot for the E28 M5. A chap round the corner from me in Bristol (obvious petrolhead) has a mint condition one that's recently appeared on his drive alongside a nice looking (though not my cup of tea) BMW 850i and a stunning white 80's (not sure of the model) 911.

Get some more piccies up!

[ianl]

This is a great article as it makes me feel much better about my "fleet" of four.... Series 2a 88" Land Rover, Smart Roadster, Disco 2 TD5 & TVR Cerbera Speed 6. All on the road, taxed & tested & being enjoyed.
Keep up the good work Chris.
PS.
Is the 205 XS really on 950,000 miles or is that a typo?

[ApGt]

Has the pug really done nearly 1 million miles??? Surely that deserves some kind of reward from peugeot! Maybe a 205 t16?, or more likely a weekend in a 307cc.

[ApGt]

Has the pug really done nearly 1 million miles??? Surely that deserves some kind of reward from peugeot! Maybe a 205 t16?, or more likely a weekend in a 307cc.

[300bhp/ton]

Wow that's a lot of collections

[Johnboy Mac]

Wow, what a varied fleet. For value I'd take the Merc & the M5 if both were bought right.

[slowmatt]

Obviously all the storage and running costs do add up into a financial 'clutter'. What I'd like to know is how many would be sacrificed to keep the 4.0 as reading EVO it was a case of keep it until the money runs out?

[Chris Harris]

Pug has 95,000 miles!! Imagine a 205 bodyshell after 950,000 - you could bend the a-pillars by hand!

[V8 FOU]

GOLF? GOLF???? Oh fer chrissakes..... Harris, you have sunk to a new low. Sell that Merc, stop the golf and you'll be able to better afford the Porsche on the drip...

[lou556]

I would say, that accumulation of cars is a better investment than leaving your money in the bank. So, well done for indulging in your passion and challenging the status quo, now I am just waiting to see which direction you take it in next!

[FWDRacer]

Has "issues"

[Mermaid]

Thanks for sharing.

[chris_w]

The 205 was the one that caught my eye too. I used to have the 1.4 GR and is, to this day, the best car I've owned. Didn't feel like it would have made it to 95k let alone 950 though...

[r1ch]

Certainly a diverse collection. Always fancied a go in one of those AX's.

[El Guapo]

Chris Harris said:

Pug has 95,000 miles!! Imagine a 205 bodyshell after 950,000 - you could bend the a-pillars by hand!

Perhaps more surprising is the fact that the Citroen has not reverted to its component atoms after 24 years.

[lordlee]

Is it a bad thing to hanker after all the older cars? I wish I had the space to store a couple of tench hot hatches and an old Merc. Good work on the stable Chris!