If, like me, you like to get your hopes up by imagining what you would do if you won the lottery, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’d have in your dream garage.
It’s something that’s regularly discussed at work, on Twitter, wherever you’re most likely to find yourself talking about cars. It’s guaranteed to cause some kind of debate, which is always fun, and that’s what I’m hoping to do by sharing this.
Having spent a considerable amount of time thinking about it, I’ve pretty much got my garage nailed down – I’d imagine Dan probably has a pretty good idea, too. Having an unlimited budget makes it a fairly easy decision, though, as you can literally have whatever you want.
Dan and I have decided to make it a bit more difficult for ourselves. We’re going to pick four used cars – a family car, a sports car, a classic car and a track car – with a hypothetical budget of £50,000 each.
Rob’s Dream Garage
Family car – 2017 BMW 335d M Sport Touring
Like any normal, self-respecting human being, I love an estate – especially a quick one. With that in mind, this 2017 BMW 335d M Sport Touring would be my family car of choice. Priced at just shy of £20,000, it’s a lot of car for the money.
The combination of the stylish bodykit, 20-inch sports alloys and Estoril Blue paint, it’s about as good looking as an estate gets. Pair those looks with X-Drive and a 309bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six diesel, you’ve got yourself a top-quality all-rounder.
Sports car – 2016 Toyota GT86
Built purely with an enjoyable driving experience in mind, the Toyota GT86 is an excellent car. With its 2-litre flat-four engine producing just 200bhp, it’s not blisteringly fast.
Thanks to the use of rear-wheel drive and skinny tyres, however, it is a lot of fun. As Jeremy Clarkson said whilst driving the GT86 for Top Gear, “you could drift this car whilst reading a book”.
This orange example with black alloys looks great and is a touch under £15,000 leaving me with another £15k to get choose my classic and track cars.
Alternatively, I could have gone for a 11/12 year old Jaguar XK-R for similar money but reliability and cheaper parts tipped it in the Toyota’s favour.
Classic car – 2003 VW Golf R32
Whilst some of you may shake your head at me referring to this as a classic, I think it fits the bill. It’s a modern classic and the prices are on the way up. The asking price for this particular Mk4 R32 is £8,000 but some, especially those that have been modified, can cost up to £13k.
Like the GT86, it’s not outrageously fast but it’s not exactly slow either. It’s the engine that makes the R32 so special – a 240bhp naturally aspirated 3.2-litre VR6 (often incorrectly described as a V6). It’s an excellent engine and the raspy exhaust note it produces is simply superb, albeit slightly chavvy.
Ideally, I’d be swapping this out for a Mk1 Golf GTI. That’s the dream for me. However, I’d probably have to fork out twice as much money t get one in decent condition. I’m going to hazard a guess at Dan opting for an old Escort or MX-5 here…
Track car – 2005 RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy
Much like the R32, this could be referred to as a modern classic. Only 500 were built and the majority of them were sold in the UK. With lower, stiffer suspension, an excellent chassis and Sachs racing dampers, the RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy is an extremely capable car.
Its impressive handling paired with a 180bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine make it perfect for the track. Another comparison that can be made to the R32 is those amazing central twin-exhausts. A truly awesome little car, especially when it only costs £7,000.
So there you have my dream garage.
- BMW 335d M Sport Touring – £19,995
- Toyota GT86 – £14,691
- VW Golf R32 – £7,989
- RenaultSport Clio 182 Trophy – £7,299
- Total cost – £49,974
Nailed it.
Dan’s Dream Garage
Family car – 2018 Skoda Octavia VRS
I have to agree with Rob for once, in that the best family car choice will generally be an estate model. And I can respect his M Sport for the performance aspect. But I don’t think he understands the tears he’ll shed when he finds it full of sweet wrappers and pet hair. Which is why I’ve plumped for a 2018 Skoda Octavia VRS at £17,980 for my first choice.
I might only get 245bhp, but that’s enough for daily use and long distance motorway cruising for family holidays. It comes with lots of extras to make me feel better about being practical, from the alloys to the carbon fibre interior trim. But I’m not going to be as much of a desirable target for theft, or worry as much about supermarket car park scratches.
Having had an Octavia VRS in the family, I know how comfortable and reliable it was. And it means more cash for the fun stuff.
Sports car – 2006 Porsche Cayman S 3.4 987
This is one of the trickiest choices. Especially as Rob managed to steal my first choice of the GT86, and although I thought about cheating by choosing a Subaru BRZ, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Add £10k to the budget, and there’s a huge modern selection. But around £20,000 means shopping around to find the best car at the right price. I did pause on this rare Honda CBR900RR Fireblade powered James Whiting Caterham for £23,000, but then I found this…
Yes, it dates from 2006, but this Porsche 987 Cayman S has been been used by independent Porsche specialists Pie Performance as a demonstrator for their tuning. So it’s a 2 owner car with upgrade suspension, a front and rear anti-roll bar, front strut brace, upgraded sports exhaust, upgraded throttle body, OZ Racing wheels, a remap and more. Which makes for an almost 330bhp Cayman for £17,500. Just less than my family estate.
Classic car – 1978 Ford Ranchero
I could have picked a classic for every category. And investing in the Skoda and Porsche have hit my budget more than I’d like. But at least it limits the choices available for my classic, otherwise I’d never be able to pick…
I considered an MG Midget pretty much identical to the one my father owned (and sold to get a family car when I arrived). Most decent classic JDMs would leave me with about £500 for a track car (although this 1999 Honda S2000 would fit the bill, it’s just not the AE86, or 240Z which a dream garage demands). And Rob predicted (with good reason) an old Ford Escort or Mini.
So I’m going to go with this awesome 1978 Ford Ranchero for an American classic which isn’t particularly common in the UK. A big old sedan from the front, and a truck at the back, it inspired Chevrolet to compete with the El Camino.
The 1978 edition isn’t the prettiest Ranchero ever made since Ford introduced it in 1957. But the Ford Ltd II front can be modified with the front end of a Mercury Cougar, although with such as unmolested example, I think I’d keep it as it is. Perfect for cruising around in Summer to classic car events with a 5.8 litre auto V8, original colours, and something you just don’t see very often in the UK. And at £8,800 it’s within budget and just needs Uk registration.
Track car – Mk1 Mazda MX-5
With no budget limit, my dream garage would be an airport hangar full of classic racing cars from almost every discipline of motorsport. But with a tight budget, there’s one choice that stands out.
The BRSCC Mazda MX-5 Cup and various other series allow the Mk1 Mazda MX-5, which means I can not only use it for track days, but actual racing. And the running costs are relatively cheap for a race series, as well, so this example for £5,000 or this alternative for the same price, are both around the going rate.
And it also means I won’t be in tears when it inevitably gets scraped, dented or put into a barrier at Sheene Curve. Which means I’ve picked up a proper racing car for less than Rob’s tarted-up hatchback.
So there’s my selection – a sporty daily Skoda, the prestige of a Porsche for fun, a classic and unusual American choice for cruising to car shows, and a genuine race car for the track (which I can haul with a trailer and the Octavia)
Total prices:
- 2018 Skoda Octavia 2.0 VRS – £17,980
- 2006 Porsche Cayman 3.4 S £17,500
- 1978 Ford Ranchero £8,800
- Mazda MX-5 Mk 1 £5,000
- Total: £49,280.
What do you think of our choices then? As you can see, it’s already caused some debate between Dan and I – now we want you to get involved.
What would we find in your £50k dream garage? Let us know in the comments section below or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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