RE: ?100K Garage: Mark Benzie
Monday 19th March 2018
Name: Mark Benzie
Previously owned: 1991 Nissan Sunny, 1972 MG Midget 1275 RWA, 2002 VW Golf, 2004 Audi S4, 2008 BMW 125 Convertible
Currently owned: 2008 VW Touran, 2015 VW Touareg, 2015 Mini Cooper S
On the shortlist: Porsche 911 Carrera (997 Gen 1)
Germany
Porsche 911 (997 Gen 2)
Cost: £39,995
Balance: £60,005
Why I chose it:
"A 911 is my dream car and the 997 the ultimate evolution, without incurring the risks of earlier water-cooled cars or the cost of the earlier air-cooled models. As well as being the ultimate German car, with its roots laying you know where, this one would be a keeper."
UK
Aston Martin DB9
Cost: £34,850
Balance: £25,155
Why I chose it:
"The UK category is difficult. My £100K Garage would have a car for all occasions and therefore have to cover 4WD, a cruiser, something sporty, a city car and a classic. So while the Discovery 4 is likely to be unbeaten for a long time in terms of practicality and comfort (and a damn sight prettier than its replacement), I can't pass up the opportunity to have a full-on Aston at this price. A bargain, and plenty to choose from.
Rest of World
Citroen C6
Cost: £5,995
Balance: £19,160
Why I chose it:
"Having missed out on the Bentley as a long distance cruiser, and with the budget tightening, this category is likely to provide the best bet for a motorised armchair. Our annual continental trips through France mean I've always had a soft spot for a Peugeot 607 but they look a bit bargain basement as soon as they cross the channel. So the only choice here is the Citroen. You'll be unlikely to see another on the roads, even in France, so in it goes."
USA
Jeep Cherokee
Cost: £4,995
Balance: £14,165
Why I chose it:
"Do I have to? Can't I get another from the Rest of the World? A classic Fiat 500? They're part American now, anyway. If I have to pick American lets tick off the 4WD. At least it'll be a rare sight at Hampshire cricket matches, and I won't mind it getting dirty going to the dump."
Japan
Toyota GT86
Cost: £14,164
Balance: £1
Why I chose it:
"Simple, rear-drive fun, a lot like my old MG Midget. It was a close call between this and the appreciating Honda S2000, but it's the ability to have fun at lower speeds that appeals. Overall I'm very pleased with this selection. A shame I couldn't find a classic among them, but in time they all will be (apart from the Jeep). No city car either, but the GT86 is only 419mm longer than my Mini so should be able to squeeze into smaller spaces. A pound change, too!"
£100K Garage: Mark Benzie
We haven't seen a £100K Garage in a while, but Mark has brought it back in style!
Previously owned: 1991 Nissan Sunny, 1972 MG Midget 1275 RWA, 2002 VW Golf, 2004 Audi S4, 2008 BMW 125 Convertible
Currently owned: 2008 VW Touran, 2015 VW Touareg, 2015 Mini Cooper S
On the shortlist: Porsche 911 Carrera (997 Gen 1)
Porsche 911 (997 Gen 2)
Cost: £39,995
Balance: £60,005
Why I chose it:
"A 911 is my dream car and the 997 the ultimate evolution, without incurring the risks of earlier water-cooled cars or the cost of the earlier air-cooled models. As well as being the ultimate German car, with its roots laying you know where, this one would be a keeper."
Aston Martin DB9
Cost: £34,850
Balance: £25,155
Why I chose it:
"The UK category is difficult. My £100K Garage would have a car for all occasions and therefore have to cover 4WD, a cruiser, something sporty, a city car and a classic. So while the Discovery 4 is likely to be unbeaten for a long time in terms of practicality and comfort (and a damn sight prettier than its replacement), I can't pass up the opportunity to have a full-on Aston at this price. A bargain, and plenty to choose from.
Citroen C6
Cost: £5,995
Balance: £19,160
Why I chose it:
"Having missed out on the Bentley as a long distance cruiser, and with the budget tightening, this category is likely to provide the best bet for a motorised armchair. Our annual continental trips through France mean I've always had a soft spot for a Peugeot 607 but they look a bit bargain basement as soon as they cross the channel. So the only choice here is the Citroen. You'll be unlikely to see another on the roads, even in France, so in it goes."
Jeep Cherokee
Cost: £4,995
Balance: £14,165
Why I chose it:
"Do I have to? Can't I get another from the Rest of the World? A classic Fiat 500? They're part American now, anyway. If I have to pick American lets tick off the 4WD. At least it'll be a rare sight at Hampshire cricket matches, and I won't mind it getting dirty going to the dump."
Toyota GT86
Cost: £14,164
Balance: £1
Why I chose it:
"Simple, rear-drive fun, a lot like my old MG Midget. It was a close call between this and the appreciating Honda S2000, but it's the ability to have fun at lower speeds that appeals. Overall I'm very pleased with this selection. A shame I couldn't find a classic among them, but in time they all will be (apart from the Jeep). No city car either, but the GT86 is only 419mm longer than my Mini so should be able to squeeze into smaller spaces. A pound change, too!"
Discussion
anthonysjb said:
Think the series has gone a bit stale with the whole different nations thing. Much better with freedom to choose anything.
Agree, but everybody just ended up choosing hot Audi estates which got a bit stale too.Bizarrely I was thinking only this morning that I hadn't seen a "Garage" for a while, and here it is! Perhaps we should try "choose from whichever country you want, but only one from each" instead. (ie one from Germany, one from Italy etc).
I think this is exactly what a £100k garage would look like. Good shout. The only issue is the 911 and the DB9 would end up competing and you would take the DB9 across Europe not the C6. The Cherokee would never be used. And the 911 used always instead of the GT86. In my life anyway.
wildatheart said:
Bit sad when the only car that seems vaguely interesting enough, is the C6 - but, each to their own. Hey we tried a Garage with a each car having to be from a different decade? I’d find that more interesting.
Maybe you should put together your own 100k garage? Then see if everyone agrees with your choices.Small Car said:
I think this is exactly what a £100k garage would look like. Good shout. The only issue is the 911 and the DB9 would end up competing and you would take the DB9 across Europe not the C6. The Cherokee would never be used. And the 911 used always instead of the GT86. In my life anyway.
I was thinking the same. If I had that garage I would probably use the Jeep as the daily, the Porsche as the fun car and the DB9 as the "best" car. The other two wouldn't get a look in.I think my £100k garage would consist of:-
- Germany - Audi R8 V10 Spider £55k (best, sunny day car)
- UK - LWB Jaguar XJ £18k (long distance / family car)
- USA - Fiesta ST £8k (every day fun car)
- Japan - Nissan 370z £12k (Second fun car)
- RoW - D5 Volvo V70 £7k (Dog / Tip / beater car)
slipstream 1985 said:
100k garage used be great back in the days of 30k ferrari 355s etc
Ah yes, that brief period when classic exotica were 1/3 of their original MRSP.Don't worry, there are still some similar price dynamics if you know where to look
Edited by sparta6 on Tuesday 20th March 19:08
If you had 100k to spend with frivolity, why would you limit yourself by forcing to buy from various countries?
I know this is to encourage garages not to be purely German etc. but this segment actually restricts imagnation......
There shouldn’t even be a limit on number of cars in garage, as some could cope with 1, 2-3 or 4+ cars and it’s then much harder to decide where to spend the budget and how. Family run-around, fun car and any budget left for track toy etc.
It would make it a bit more creative and varied - this was a much better read a couple of years ago.
I know this is to encourage garages not to be purely German etc. but this segment actually restricts imagnation......
There shouldn’t even be a limit on number of cars in garage, as some could cope with 1, 2-3 or 4+ cars and it’s then much harder to decide where to spend the budget and how. Family run-around, fun car and any budget left for track toy etc.
It would make it a bit more creative and varied - this was a much better read a couple of years ago.
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