Fine taste in cars

[Bobby Dazzler]

I noticed that a neighbour had all of his cars out this evening, and it got me thinking that he really has some fantastic cars.

Now does he have fine taste in all things automotive, or is he a sucker for what motoring journalists write?

Either way he has a fleet of cars that are current - or have been - at the top of the pops in recent years:

2010 Porsche Cayman S
2010 BMW M3
2008 Nissan 350Z
2006 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

He changes his cars every two years - the only exception being the VX220 - he must like 'em as his first was seriously damaged just after they stopped building them, but he found another which looked like it was as good as new.

Shame they're not a nicer couple - I pushed his wife out of snow a few years ago, and got her car to safety so she could leave it overnight - neither said "thank you", and with cars like that he'll be stuck again at some point!!

Many members here have fine tast in cars - Maff and Mactech both spring to mind.

Do you have - or do you know of - a fleet of cars that has all corners boxed off, or are optimal for the ways they're used - that demonstrates fine taste in cars?

 

[st4]

I noticed that a neighbour had all of his cars out this evening, and it got me thinking that he really has some fantastic cars.

Now does he have fine taste in all things automotive, or is he a sucker for what motoring journalists write?

Either way he has a fleet of cars that are current - or have been - at the top of the pops in recent years:

2010 Porsche Cayman S
2010 BMW M3
2008 Nissan 350Z
2006 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

He changes his cars every two years - the only exception being the VX220 - he must like 'em as his first was seriously damaged just after they stopped building them, but he found another which looked like it was as good as new.

Shame they're not a nicer couple - I pushed his wife out of snow a few years ago, and got her car to safety so she could leave it overnight - neither said "thank you", and with cars like that he'll be stuck again at some point!!

Many members here have fine tast in cars - Maff and Mactech both spring to mind.

Do you have - or do you know of - a fleet of cars that has all corners boxed off, or are optimal for the ways they're used - that demonstrates fine taste in cars?

Yes.

Apart from me where an E class is a car for all seasons and for all men. Its as at home on a camp-site, office car park, motorway, back road.

Someone in Helensburgh has the following.

Lamborghini Murcielago
MB SL55 AMG.
Range Rover
Audi S8
Audi RS4
Audi A6 TDi
Golf diesel.

All cars I'd buy with my own money I would guess.

 

[c43 amg]

I'm sure many of us on here have great taste in cars , but sorry to say don't have the depth of pocket that your neighbour has!

 

[buccal]

Thats a lot of cash (circa £145k) for four cars, 3 of which i don't think are a hugely different drive from each other.

Would be an interesting thread to see what club members would spend their hypothetical 145k on!

 

[Mactech]

Many members here have fine taste in cars - Maff and Mactech both spring to mind.

Thanks Mr Dazzler, I’ll take that as a compliment!
I have been lucky enough to sample at length some of the top manufacturers best cars by working with them or for them, so my choice of car comes from that deeply unfashionable, simple logic. Don’t think I’ve ever been accused of having good taste before!
But I do appreciate fine engineering.
With an ML and an AMG you seem to have most bases covered.

 

[janner]

Would be an interesting thread to see what club members would spend their hypothetical 145k on!

Easy. This.

 

[Mactech]

Easy. This.

I know it's not been that dry recently, but do you still think the M25 is ready for that!

 

[mattc]

Until my Swiss friend passed away last year he had the following at home:

Mclaren SLR
ML55
CL55
560 SEC
SMART
bust up old VW caddy for his dog
Aston Martin Casino Royale

Those were his runabouts for bumming around Lake Geneva. Regretably I never got to see his private collection housed elsewhere.

 

[buccal]

Easy. This.

I'd love to try and park that at work

 

[janner]

I know it's not been that dry recently, but do you still think the M25 is ready for that!

I very rarely venture north of Exeter. What's an M25?

I'd love to try and park that at work

My boat is parked where I work

Okay, if we're sticking to cars I'd have an S320Cdi, a 190SL and a supercharged Ariel Atom.

 

[cl55 amg]

a neighbour of mine has a bentley continental and a Ferrari convertible (not sure of the model) and he doesn't even have a garage to put them in!!

 

[Adam230K]

cayman S, M3 and a 350Z.... Those 3 cars can be seen as fairly similar, especially the Z and the Porsche. No?

 

[Gridlock]

I can't compete with some of those lists, but for a whisker under £10K I think I have all bases covered with my RWD auto saloon, FWD manual hatch and 4x4 TDi 7 seater - and that, for the price, you'd struggle to beat each car in its own class.

If someone were to give me an NSX or 550 for £0 then I'd be 100% happy

 

[Sorry Pete]

I very rarely venture north of Exeter. What's an M25?

It's a very large nut that's normally seized solid, whether you try to go clockwise or anti-clockwise.

 

[C240Sport97]

cayman S, M3 and a 350Z.... Those 3 cars can be seen as fairly similar, especially the Z and the Porsche. No?

Z is a lardy RWD front engined car.

Cayman is lean mean RWD mid engined car with incredible responses, road holding and agility.

Z is a weight lifter, Cayman is a sprinter.

NO comparison really.

 

[Lugy]

Erm, I have a broken S class and an Astra I don't like

Replacing the Astra with a diesel Laguna and not going to bother replacing the Merc when it goes.

For £145k?

ML270
Mondeo 2.2 TDCi
Transit 200PS
Suzuki GSX1400

And loads of change to tune the van up a bit!

 

[219]

I'd keep my existing cars as daily drivers , but if the lotto dropped £145K in my lap , I'd add something along the lines of the following , in no particular order , with careful shopping all could probably be picked up for the sum mentioned :

W113 230SL Automatic for sunny summer days and long drives in the Highlands

W111 Coupe - for when I need 4 seats

Ponton Coupe or Cabrio - if one presented itself at the right price

W116 - 'cause I don't have one - yet ! 450 would be fine .

R107 - either 300SL , 450SL or 500SL ; alternatively 450SLC 5.0

...... only problem would be somewhere to keep them all !

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I'm sure many of us on here have great taste in cars , but sorry to say don't have the depth of pocket that your neighbour has!

Four cars between two people is excessive, so they must be car nuts. Given their choice in cars, then it seems likely too.

They clearly aren't short of a few bob - it seems they like to spend what they have on cars.

Thanks Mr Dazzler, I’ll take that as a compliment!

Absolutely intended as a compliment.

With an ML and an AMG you seem to have most bases covered.

The two do cover most bases. Given the considerable depreciation in the 6/5 years we've had them (respectively) they make even more sense now - rugged 4x4 for towing & family, and AMG for subtle & fast - great value for money now they're worth about a tenner each!!

The gap for me is a super economical SMART ForTwo diesel. I don't like compromise. If I want fast, I want the fastest. If I want economical, I want the most economical. Only a matter of time before Mrs D buckles!!

cayman S, M3 and a 350Z.... Those 3 cars can be seen as fairly similar, especially the Z and the Porsche. No?

Similar. Different driving experience though. M3 his daily car, Cayman hers. VX220 his toy, 350Z was her daily car - guessing he likes the Z-car thing.

 

[kay7]

Its not that hard to have great cars. I actually have few friends with a strange passion : every 12 months new car . My business parter in Switzerland is completely MAD about cars ! At the moment he has : audi s8, Cayenne, gt3 bmw m5, 760Li, S55 AMG,Sl63, C63, E 63 Estate,E55, ML 320, Phantom 40 Vito vans, 25 Scania trucks . Even his driver has a C55 .

I remember the day we met...i was in Luxembourg( sept 2008) signing a deal with 3 companies and he came to me as a driver. He asked me if i have a job for him. Didn`t know nothing about him. I said, yes, i have few positions for Europe only. I checked his driver licence and was ok. He sent me an email after few weeks saying : " Thank you for your position but before we sign anything I would like to invite you to my house in Montreaux". Went there ...and had a shock ! Those cars all worth more than £5mil.

What i really liked was: he is so shy and modest ...a truly simple guy. His worth over £100mil and his influence is massive within transport industry. Never had the chance too meet a guy like him in UK . Why ?! Strange indeed.
Do i see myself like him ? Probably never. Im 36 and hes 58. I would call myself lucky because we`re really good friends now and business partners. Our wives get along really well. Btw, i met Phil Collins and Shania Twain at his birthday party .
Returning to this thread all i can say is : if you`re down to earth and serious enough you can have anything in this world. I feel a bit guilty of leaving Uk for good but its for a good cause. It`ll change my life completely. I will never buy so many cars. Any E class AMG will do just fine .

 

[Brian WH]

Many members here have fine taste in cars

I agree and they all own Mercedes.

I have just ordered my 7th new Mercedes in 18 years, so I must like them too.