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Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/20/21 7:00 a.m.
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Let's say that you are given $25,000 to fill your dream garage, with the only rule being you must buy three cars—no other strings attached.

So, what would you buy? Three cars that go together or completely different machines? Everything from the same marque, or keep your portfolio diversified?

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DeadSkunk  (Warren)
DeadSkunk (Warren) UltimaDork
4/20/21 7:16 a.m.

The best stock R53 MINI I can find, a low mileage NA/NB Miata, and some grandfather's pristine Lexus LS400...........can you tell I'm about to turn 69?

Placemotorsports
Placemotorsports GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
4/20/21 7:50 a.m.

$25000 for 3 cars is a bad dream

JAdams
JAdams New Reader
4/20/21 8:02 a.m.

cleanest Low mileage NA Miata for modding

cleanest low mileage first generation double cab 4x4 Tundra I can find 

dual sport motorcycle for offroad shenanigans 

Olemiss540
Olemiss540 HalfDork
4/20/21 8:08 a.m.

BMW e36 m3. VW Thing. 2002 - 2004 Escalade for tow duty.  

volvoclearinghouse
volvoclearinghouse PowerDork
4/20/21 8:11 a.m.

Three brand new, bone stock, stick shift, Mitsubishi Mirage hatchbacks.

Start spec racing series based on above purchase.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
4/20/21 8:27 a.m.

My current Civic built the way I want it. My Honda Element with some fixes/mods. Early 90s imported classic Mini.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
4/20/21 8:45 a.m.

Only on GRM are you given a budget that averages under $8500 each for three dream cars ;)

I'm going to pick three from my stable: 1985 CRX Si, Jeep XJ all-arounder, 1966 Cadillac sedan de Ville. That should give me enough to buy really nice examples of each. Gives some nice variety: 4, 6 and 8 cylinders, FWD, 4WD, RWD. Automatic, manual. 1900-4500 lbs. 10-33 mpg :)

Or, for bonus points, I get the twin-engined Car and Driver CRX. WIth some negotiation, I think that's attainable in the budget.

barefootskater (Shaun)
barefootskater (Shaun) PowerDork
4/20/21 9:11 a.m.

I like VCH's idea but not enough to copy it. 
 

my categories are: comfy family cruiser, utility work pig, toy. 
 

1: my current MGM was bought for $3700 all told 

2: barn-door big-block 'Burban. Betting $7000 buys the nicest one there is, so the work pig I'd buy should be roughly $4k.

3: currently obsessed with Twins, and the remaining $17300 should buy a decent early car with budget for suspension and exhaust/tune. 
 

final answer, Regis. 

asphalt_gundam
asphalt_gundam Reader
4/20/21 9:12 a.m.

Dream Garage filled (3 cars) for $25,000....unlikely. 3 Project cars maybe.....But if you handed me 25K and an empty garage its going to be 3 Hotwheels and Tools, Tools, Tools!!!!1

ProDarwin
ProDarwin MegaDork
4/20/21 9:16 a.m.

1) $12K Seuqoia mild overland build.

2) $5k Rav4 daily/beater

3) $8k NA/NB or NC Miata autox toy.  Either 2.5 NC or NB with boost.  10" wheels, 245s.  Competitive in local unlimited-ish street tire class.

yupididit
yupididit GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/20/21 9:21 a.m.

3 w108's. 

KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter)
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) UltimaDork
4/20/21 9:29 a.m.

I think I'm there.  I'm 10K deep in a turbo NA build right now, and $7500 each for the VR6 Passat DD sportwagon and 2004 QS Suburban tow pig/family hauler.

Look at me with a dream garage!

 

itsarebuild
itsarebuild GRM+ Memberand Dork
4/20/21 9:30 a.m.

Hard to do this when my 5 current cars are worth less that 25k already. Can I just buy more garages?

bmw88rider
bmw88rider GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
4/20/21 9:34 a.m.

If I had to chose, 

D21 Nissan with the K24DE and 4WD. Drop some gears in it and 33s

Keep the Integra in the driveway for ripping around town

The best 944S2 I can find with the remaining budget. 

AWSX1686 (Forum Supporter)
AWSX1686 (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
4/20/21 9:37 a.m.

Wouldn't change much from what I have except to have nicer ones of each. 

NA/NB Miata, maybe boosted, maybe V6 swapped. Tight within budget unless I'm doing it myself as planned.

e28, 5 speed. Current is automatic and paint is terrible. Nice looking (non M5) ones pop up for 5-8k maybe.  

Truck. Currently have a 96 F350, into it maybe $3500, and I'm pretty happy with it.  

Ranger50
Ranger50 MegaDork
4/20/21 9:46 a.m.

3 E36 M3boxes.

Ian F (Forum Supporter)
Ian F (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
4/20/21 9:48 a.m.

Are these the only 3 vehicles I can have?

RossD
RossD MegaDork
4/20/21 9:52 a.m.

1.6 liter Miata.

1964-1966 Thunderbird with the 429

Later Grand Wagoneer with an LS swap and the real early round headlight and center chrome grille.

That should be less than $25k, since I like scruffy cars.

STM317
STM317 UberDork
4/20/21 10:05 a.m.

1. Minitruck of some sort to handle truck stuff. Manual trans. Could be made to handle or lifted for offroad functionality to pull double duty. $5-7k

2. Late 70s mid 80s American wagon. Fairmont, Malibu, etc for a fun, unique family cruiser with enough aftermarket to tweak it over time. $8-10k

3. Lexus GS/LS400. Something that I wouldn't have to touch. Modern-ish safety and comfort for the whole family. $8-10k

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
4/20/21 10:47 a.m.

Acro-Sport II biplane, pre-69 GM 4 door hardtop, and a $500 motorcycle project. 

captdownshift (Forum Supporter)
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
4/20/21 10:55 a.m.

So they have to be stock, or can they be modified with that being in the budget? 

SVreX (Forum Supporter)
SVreX (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
4/20/21 11:25 a.m.

I already own it- almost. 
 

- Ford F-150 crew can with a 3.5L Ecoboost

- R53 JCW

- 1931 Ford Model A Tudor SURVIVOR. No mods at all. 
 

I've $27,200 in them. With a little better shopping...

 

I might trade the Tudor for a Cabriolet with a rumble seat, but that might break the budget.  I'd probably want an R53 in a different color than I've got. 
 

I'd consider a turbo Miata instead of the R53, but it would break the budget. 

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter)
Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/20/21 11:34 a.m.

First gen Toyota 4-Runner

 

Mazda RX8

 

Lada 1200, and i'd swap in a Fiat twin cam and work the hell out of the chassis.

Tom1200
Tom1200 SuperDork
4/20/21 12:13 p.m.

I'm 2/3s of the way there now.

72 Datsun 1200 vintage race car - $9,071.00

87 Novakar F500 vintage race car - $6,700.00

That leaves me $9,229.00 for a clean NA Miata. 

 

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