AutoGuide Dream Car Garages: $500,000 Edition

Stephen Elmer's Dream Car Garage

As you might expect, my dream car garage has to start with a pickup truck… or two.

2015 GMC Sierra Denali – $68,000. A 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 dually would suit my needs quite nicely. I need something that can tow my toys to and from the race track all while coddling me with a comfortable cabin, and there is no better beast on the road that handles that duty quite like the big GMC. Of course, under the hood would be a 6.6-liter Duramax diesel which sends 765 lb-ft of torque through the exceptional Allison six-speed transmission. That will set me back about $68,000.

2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel – $54,000. Hauling duty would be left to the big-dog GMC, but another truck is necessary for when that 3500 is a little too big, and a 2014 Ram Laramie Longhorn EcoDiesel would be my choice. A wonderful little diesel engine combined with a handsome exterior and detailed interior; that’s the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel in a nutshell. This truck will set me back $54,000, leaving me with $378,000 to play with.

Mercedes Sprinter- $45,000. While I love trucks, there is one other utility vehicle that would need to be parked in my driveway, a van. A brand new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will do nicely. Optioned up, these vans come in at about $45,000 and offers endless amounts of utility. While a truck will do in most situations, a cargo van comes in handy for those rainy days.

Toyota FJ Cruiser – $38,000. With practicality sorted out, now it’s time to play. My third choice would be a 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition. This is the final special edition released by Toyota before the FJ is euthanized, and it comes with all the off-road goodies that make it seriously capable, and a ton of fun. All that’s left to find are some tough trails. Picking up this Toyota will release another $38,000 from my grasp.

2014 Subaru BRZ – $28,000. So far it’s been all about capability for hard work on and off-road, but now it’s time for capability on the race track. The first, and to me, obvious choice for a sports car is the Subaru BRZ. Never has there been a car that offered so much fun for such an affordable price. And for a beginner racer like me, the BRZ is absolutely ideal. Wave goodbye to another $28,000.

2014 Porsche Cayman GTS – $78,000. Stepping up in the sports car world, a 2014 Porsche Cayman GTS would have to parked in my garage. To me, the Cayman is essentially a BRZ on steroids, offering that raw driving without ever feeling like it wants to kill you. It is just the right amount of power combined with a tremendously nimble package. for $78,000, the Cayman would serve me well as the middle of my sports car trifecta.

2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 – $85,000. Like any proper gearhead, I relish speed and the 2015 Corvette Zo6 convertible delivers it. A walloping 650 hp and 650 lb-ft are cranked out of the supercharged V8, sent through a great seven-speed manual transmission that features rev-matching downshifts. Combined with a sinister look and a comfortable, modern interior, and the Zo6 makes a compelling choice. For just $85,000, this car is also a hell of a bargain.

Ram 1500 SRT10- $28,000. Another high-horsepower toy will be coming home with me, but this one isn’t a car. The Dodge Ram 1500 SRT10 has a special place in my heart for its sheer absurdity. Shove a 500-hp V10 straight out of a Viper into a pickup truck, and the result is a tire-shredding good time. You can find a well-kept used version these days for about $28,000, a rather fine price considering all that power.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT- $72,000. Finally, a combination of practicality and power, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Thanks to a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, this massive SUV can jump to 60 mph in less than five seconds, helped by a launch control feature which is absolutely addictive. Combine that heart-racing performance with a comfortable interior for the whole family, and this Jeep is the best of both worlds. Spending $72,000 on the Jeep leaves me with just $4,000 left over.

I’d take that four grand and pick up a cheap beater, maybe an old Volvo station wagon or Pontiac Sunfire, and take it straight to the local fall fair to compete in the demolition derby.