Bad Idea Jeans: Honda Crossroad

A Land Rover Discovery I rebadged as a Honda, sold in Japan and New Zealand.

The 10-For-1 Car Collection

Imagine for a moment. You've got a great job and a wonderful (and practicality-minded) wife. This year, you've done really well at work. REALLY well. You say to yourself: Self, I need to treat myself to a nice car and tell the world-- I've arrived.

Of course, you want a new Bentley. And since you're buying a new one, you might as well opt for some 20" rims and a fancy pearlescent paint job. You plan on spending 135,000 pounds ($220,000 U.S.).

To which your wife says: Hell no. There is no way you are buying a new Bentley. It's not practical. It's ostentatious. It's just not right.

End of story? No. Chad (not his real name) is creative, stubborn, and a wee bit spiteful. He decided instead to buy ten used cars with an average price of 13,500 pounds each. That'll show her!

Chad's criteria are simple-- the cars have to be BLACK, fast, and desirable. This is what he ended up buying:

1995 Range Rover Vogue (former drug dealer car picked up cheap at a police auction)

1990 Jaguar XJS convertible

2005 Ford Mustang

1995 M3

1999 TVR Chimera

1982 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo

1989 Porsche 944 cabrio

1982 Porsche 911 SC with Targa top

1984 Mercedes 350SL

Up to this point, Chad had purchased nine cars. Their average price was less than 13,500. Only the 911 SC Targa went over the self-imposed 13,500 pound limit. So what was his last purchase?

1990 Aston Martin Virage

At the end of the day, Chad had 5,000 pounds left! Good job, Chad.

Thanks, AK, for the tip.

Photo credits: Mustang, Merc R107, Bentley, Aston, 944, 911, XJS, Chimera, Range Rover, M3.

James May's Car Collection

I have been on a bit of a James May kick recently. I am watching Oz and May Drink to Britain on Youtube and I just finished reading May On Motors. May On Motors is essentially a series of reprints of his newspaper and magazine columns. I'll save you the time and trouble and just say that he is far more entertaining on TV than in print. But what I did learn in the book is his growing car collection. Without further ado, here it is:

1. 1980 Bentley T2. I talked about his T2, which he bought for 14,000 pounds, here.

2. Range Rover Classic Vogue SE. Needing something more utilitarian, May bought a silver Vogue with a grey interior for 4,100 pounds. Richard Hammond bought the exact same vehicle in a bet to see who could buy the better example for 4,000 pounds. Hammond won and got a 25 pound curry meal at Light of Nepal from May.

Photo credit

3. 1985 Porsche Carrera 3.2. James next wanted a proper sports car and so got this. He opines that this is the apex of the original 911. His is silver with blue seats and has no spoiler or body kit. It stickered for 16,995 at a Porsche purveyor and he knocked it down by 1,250 pounds.

Photo credit

4. 1976 Jaguar XJ-6 Coupe 4.2. He briefly mentions the Jag, which is apparently mustard in color. He had to sell it to make room for his new Porsche Boxster S (car number five), which May claims is the first new car he has ever purchased.

Photo credit

6. Mini 1275 Special. Not much is known about this car, other than the fact that he bought it on Ebay after having a pint too many. It's got a checkered roof and spotlights on the grill.

Photo credit

7. 1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner Park Ward

Tahoe Rides: Toyota Corolla All-Trac And Range Rover Classic

For a mountain town, you'd expect all the locals to drive either F150s and Subarus. I was surprised to count at least half a dozen Range Rover Classics and about the same number of Corolla All-Trac wagons driven by Lake Tahoe denizens.

CKY

Range Rover Convertible Conversion

While running errands this afternoon, I saw a new Range Rover convertible conversion. Most likely, the top was chopped by Newport Convertible Engineering. I remarked to my passenger: "You know, that reminds me of East German leader Erich Honecker's Range Rover convertible conversion." To which my companion replied: "You know, only YOU would make a comment like that."

Green Range Rover picture courtesy Stefan Thiele

CKY