Saturday 9th January
£100K Garage: Tony Smith
Some great choices in Tony's fantasy garage, but would you just look at what's been in his real one?!
Previously owned : Austin 1100, Toyota Corolla 1.3 GL (RWD), 2x Mk3 Ford Cortina 1.6L, Ford Escort Mk2 1100 Estate, Vauxhall Magnum 1.8 converted to 2.3 with Weber 45s, BMW E30 3 series with Rover V8, Ford Capri 2.0 S Mk2, Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia Mk3 - Uprated to 3.1, 5-speed 'box and limited-slip diff, Austin Maestro Vanden Plas, MG Montego GTI, Talbot Samba 1.4 GLS , VW Scirocco GTI Mk1, Opel Monza 3.0 GSE, Ford Escort RS Turbo, Ford Fiesta RS Turbo, Renault 5 GT Turbos Phase 1 and 2, Renault 21 Turbo x13, Renault 21 Turbo Quadra x2, BMW 2002 Tii, VW Golf GTI Mk2, Renault Alpine GTA Turbo x4, Renault 5 Gordini x2, Renault 5 Gordini Turbo - Running 190 hp, Renault Laguna 2.0, Renault Spider Trophy Car, Subaru Legacy 4 Cam Turbo - running 250 hp, Toyota Celica GT4 - the Carlo Sainz shape one, Renault 11 Turbo, Renault Clio 1.8 16v, Renault 19 16v, VW Passat VR6 Estate, Ford Mondeo 2.5 24v Estate, Audi S4 Estate (20v Turbo), Peugeot 406 24v Estate, Renault Safrane 2.2, Saab 9000 2.3 Turbo, Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R V Spec, Subaru SVX, Toyota Aristo Vertex (JDM with Supra 3.0 twin-turbo engine), Renault Alpine A310 V6, Renault Vel Satis 3.5, Prelude 2.2 VTi race car, Renault Laguna 3.0 24v Estate, Mercedes C43 AMG Estate, BMW 540i Touring, Alpina B10 E34 x2, Alpina B10 E23, Passat 130 TDI Estate, 1966 Lotus Elan (never finished project), Renault Clio 182 Cup, BMW 330d Touring, Hyundai 2.7 Coupe, Renault Clio 172 Phase 1.
Currently owned : Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R, Renault Alpine GTA Turbo, Alpine GTA 2.9i, Alpina B10 635CSI Highline, Renault 5 Gordini Turbo, Volkswagen Passat 130 TDI Estate.
On the shortlist : "Most of the cars below. Not much new stuff gets me excited nowadays. I've done the £100K Garage based on keeping what I have, otherwise I'd have to include the R32 and GTA Turbo."
Audi R8 V8 manual
Cost : £39,995
Balance : £60,005
Why I chose it : "I love these cars; they look and sound great, and not much else nowadays is a V8 with manual 'box. Sure fire future classic, with prices already bottoming out. This car is a great colour and spec too."
Cost : £13,000
Balance : £47,005
Why I chose it : "The consummate long distance mile muncher; it's fast, economical, comfortable and looks great. For those long motorway journeys. I would have it in any colour but silver please.
Renault Megane 265 Red Bull
Cost : £20,995
Balance : £26,010
Why I chose it : "These drive superbly. I have been lucky enough to drive one round Goodwood a few times and on the road. I think they look great and I want the Red Bull one because it's virtually the same colour as my GTA Turbo."
Cost : £15,000
Balance : £11,010
Why I chose it : "For track days and occasional hurricane in the hair jaunts down country lanes. I've always preferred these to Elises and this one looks ready to go with many mods already done."
Subaru Legacy 3.0 Outback
Cost : £5,695
Balance : £4,315
Why I chose it : "My third choice here - there aren't any Passat W8s or Spec B Estates on PistonHeads at the moment. These Subarus are very rugged, reliable and capacious. I like the styling and the four-wheel drive is useful enough to get you out of trouble. The H6 engine is a lovely sounding lump too (if a tad thirsty)."
Cost : £3,444
Balance : £871
Why I chose it : "The runabout and shopping car. Attractive styling which is a little different from the norm. Reliable, economical and a genuinely good drive."
That leaves just enough for remaps on the Megane and CLS. This covers pretty much all bases except for a true exotic, but to be honest most of those take up more than the entire budget on their own now. I would have loved a Murcielago.