Thanks to all of you who played the Fantasy Garage game two weeks ago. After much deliberation, I decided that…I can’t decide. I’m gonna need your help to decide a winner.
However, I DID choose a few nominees for to you to pick from. Let’s review them below.
From TorontoSkeptic we got this gem of an entry that uses a different marque for each category, which I will call “A Rainbow of Choices”
Four-Seat – Genesis Coupe R-Spec 3.8, $30k
Two-Seat – Alfa Romeo 4C, $55k
Full size – 2014 Toyota Avalon XLE, $31k
Mid-size – Acura TSX $32k
Compact – Focus SE with winter package, $20k
Subcompact – Kia Rio LX hatch, $14k
Small crossover – Infiniti QX50 Journey AWD, $40k
Mid-size crossover – Nissan Murano SL, $35k
Trucks – don’t particularly want one, I would go for something weird like the Honda Ridgeline Sport, $31k
Next up is this entry from MarionCobretti, which I shall call “Hellcat Plus Other Crap”
2 Seater: MX-5 Club – $26,905
4 Seater Sports/Pony: Challenger Hellcat – $59,995
Subcompact: Fiat 500 Abarth – $22,195
Compact: Civic Si Sedan – $22,990
Mid-size: Accord Sport Manual Sedan – $23,865
Full-size: Chrysler 300S – $34,395
Small CUV/SUV: Jeep Wrangler Sahara – $28,295
Mid-size CUV/SUV: Dodge Durango R/T AWD – $41,695
Pickup Truck: 2014 Ram 1500 EXPRESS 4×2 Regular 6’4″ box – $25,845
Here’s MBella’s entry, called “Eff it, I want an E63 Wagon”
Two-seater sports car 2014 Chevrolet Corvette 7-speed Manual $53,000
Four-seater sports/pony car 2015 Ford Mustang V6, 6-speed Manual $23,600
Subcompact 2015 Nissan Versa Sedan, 5-speed Manual $11,990
Compact 2014 Kia Soul, 5-speed Manual $14,900
Mid-size 2015 Mazda 6, 6-speed Manual $21,190
Full-size 2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 Wagon, 7-speed Auto $102,370
Small CUV/SUV 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport CVT $19,595
Mid-size CUV/SUV 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander, 6-speed auto $23,195
Pickup Truck 2015 Nissan Frontier I4 CVT $17,990
Total $287,830
Finally, here’s Lou_BC’s entry, entitled “Eff it, I want a Raptor”
2 seater sports car……. 2015 Mazda Miata MX5…….. 24,765
4 seater sport/pony car… 2015 Mustang GT Premium. 39,515
Sub compact…………… Fiesta SE Hatch……… 17,415
Compact………………. Mazda 3i hatch sport…. 19,540
Mid sized…………….. Mazda 6 Touring……… 24,940
Full Sized……………. Chevy Impala 1LT…….. 30,135
Small CUV/SUV…………. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X. 40,135
Mid CUV/SUV…………… Toyota 4Runner Trail…. 36,707
pickup……………….. Ford Raptor ………… 54,750
I think any of these would make a hell of a garage. Vote for your winner below—the winner will get something really awesome TBD (but I’m thinking an American Endurance Racing shirt signed by me and Jack B., assuming we both survive our race at Watkins Glen later this month).
Good luck to all the nominees!
Gotta go with MBella’s “Eff it, I want an E63 Wagon” as long as it’s brown, not “German Lease” Silver.
They all have merit, but I’m going with: “A Rainbow of Choices”.
‘Rainbow of Choices’ although from this garage I would try to find an extra $1k to replace the Rio with a Soul.
I’ll go with “Hellcat plus other crap” because it was closes to my own list. Except mine had a Corvette AND a Hellcat.
If I remember correctly, you picked a better equipped truck as well. Maybe the Dodge Journey sunk it for you.
Yep, had a well equipped Ram Lone Star and a Caddy ATS 2.0T 6MT in there too. I definitely made key sacrifices in vehicle categories that I didn’t care about to get there, though.
The truck was my sacrifice. I wanted something full-size, American, and with a V8, but that’s it. I only have a need or desire for a truck when I need to haul something (mulch, a sofa, bales of cocaine). I could’ve gone with a basic F150 or Silverado as well, but it may be clear from my list that I have some affinity towards Mopars. I basically just wanted something competent/desirable in every other slot, then I picked the best truck I could with my remaining resources.
My one regret is going with the Accord Sport over a 6MT Mazda6 Touring. There was a new 6 parked on my street this weekend, and I ogled it. Hard.
TMI.
Extra points if you add a Cozy Coupe, like Bark has.
As for my vote, I think I’ll cast for MBella. Because if I had an E63 wagon, that’s *all* I’d drive…
With all those manuals, it has to be “Eff it, I want an E63 Wagon.” And I like wagons too!
Hard to choose one, but ‘Hellcat + other crap’ at least has some Hondas and a 300, even if I wanted a Mustang GT and a Hellcat Charger myself. As I almost chose the Raptor, the Raptor list was tempting (and has the Mustang) but it barely lost for the lack of Hondas and Hellcats. I can’t believe you nominated the ‘Rainbow’ over my list though :P
You said you picked the Charger Hellcat for a number of reasons (707). While that number was the reason I wanted a Hellcat, I went with the Challenger over the Charger for a number of reasons as well–six of them.
Damn, I forgot, the Charger will probably be automatic only ?
I have to say, although I prefer my own picks (obviously), “Eff it, I want a Raptor,” is pretty darned appealing. I’m not in love with the new Impala, but everything else in there is desirable.
Eff it I want a Raptor for me. Rainbow of Choices would be next. Of course my list would be very different…Eff it I want a Range Rover Sport.
Gotta go with : Eff it, I want a Raptor
Why?
I want a Raptor too.
My nod goes to Hellcat as the lineup seems so balanced to me. Rainbow gets the honorable mention for including several good choices I didn’t think about.
Bark, your original list was better than any of these in my opinion.
I’d want to combine the Hellcat and the Raptor list, but since I have to choose I am going with Hellcat!
One more vote for “Hellcat Plus Other Crap”. This list probably sacrifices the least to get the prize car. The MX-5, Abarth, 300, Durango, Wrangler and Ram could all live in my garage any day and even though the Hondas may not be the most exciting cars you’ll never have to explain those choices.
I love that Rainbow had an Alfa 4C but the other stuff wasn’t anything I’m interested in (an Avalon and a Ridgeline? This is supposed to be a fantasy garage isn’t it?).
E63 Wagon starts off well with a Corvette but a Nissan Versa sounds like a punishment, not a choice and two Mitsubishis is two more than should be on any list.
Raptor has some interesting choices but a Raptor just isn’t something that does it for me.
You have to do some 4th string offerings to afford the all stars
That rocket wagon trumps all. The Caddy version is even better, though. And leaves enough on the table for a Raptor. Or almost a Hellcat..
Hellcat Plus Other Crap. The others had too many sacrifices (crap cars) to get what they wanted. No bad cars here.
My vote goes to the “Hellcat” list.
I didn’t build my own list when the original article when up, so I gave it a shot:
Two-seater: 2014 Porsche Cayman $56,795.00
Four-seater: 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium $31,190.00
Subcompact: 2015 Honda Fit LX $17,115.00
Compact: 2015 Ford Focus SE $20,380.00
Midsize: 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE w/ Sunroof $29,660.00
Fullsize: 2014 Ford Taurus SE EcoBoost FWD $28,610.00
Small CUV: 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited $33,845.00
Mid CUV: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD $32,590.00
Pickup: 2014 Ram 1500 Tradesman Quad Cab 4WD EcoDiesel $37,945.00
Eff it, I want a Raptor wins. Some pretty smart choices there. And he is right, fawgett the rest, get the Raptor. Nothing like going bonkers
I vote for “Eff it, I want an E63 Wagon” because he has both the corvette and the mustang. Shouln’t the E63 be midsize and not fullsize? I would probably pick an M5 instead of the E63 wagon though.
An A6 was listed as a full size in the provided example. Luxury car classes are usually one size larger than their normal counterparts. An S-Class or similair is way bigger than an Azera for example.
Great lists. The nod goes to “Hellcat Plus” because if the excellent balance. Rainbow and Raptor are both great garages, but have too many vehicles that wouldn’t be there at the end of the first month. The rocket sled is cool, but busts the budget too far for anything else of interest to fit under the cap.
Got to go wigh the raptor so my vote is For lou_Bc even though i Managaged to get the corvette , mustang gt and raptor on mine lol.