This is how we spent 500.000 SEK on pure driving pleasure
What do you really get in a new car today? A well-equipped SUV with big screens and mild hybrid technology – but perhaps not much soul. At Bidders Highway we asked ourselves the question: What happens if you instead take the same budget and buy two used enthusiast cars?
The mission: two cars, one budget
To find out, all employees at Bidders Highway were given a fictitious budget of SEK 500,000. The assignment was simple (but surprisingly difficult to make the crucial decisions around):
Choose a car to take to and from a track day with your friends. This one should be able to handle being whipped around on the track and give you such a big smile on your face that your face will cramp after a day of track selection and braking points. The other car should be used as a "daily driver". The car that is taken to work and then driven by the kids to training, while you do some shopping on the way home. Two cars, two personalities, the same love of driving.
The result? A blissful mix of everything from Japanese turbo monsters to classic Swedes and surprising everyday heroes. But above all, it shows something important: you don't have to spend millions to own something that stirs emotions every time you turn the key.
By choosing used enthusiast cars, you often get more car for your money – more character, more history and often more driving pleasure. And when you combine two cars with different strengths, everyday life suddenly becomes a little more fun, a little more personal and a lot more alive. For some, it became a raw-skinned track car and a charming classic for commuting. For others – a GT with long-distance comfort and a small GTI racer for summer evenings.
Below you can see what choices our colleagues made – and maybe find inspiration for your own dream pair in the garage.
Jacob Odqvist, CEO & Founder
Trackday car:
"A stunning Mustang Fastback that combines classic style with impressive performance."
Daily driver:
"Perfect for those who want to combine comfort with power and at the same time stand out on the roads. Rock-solid through and through!"
TOTAL: 484 500 SEK.
Erik Cederberg, Head of auctions
Trackday car:
"The Escort works as a track car, winter/ice car, and is as cool as can be. And also very potent with a cossie engine under the hood."
Daily driver:
"K10 Blazer with upgraded turbodiesel. Works as a tractor, winter truck, packhorse and is awesome."
TOTAL: 480 500 SEK.
Tomas Jönsson, Marketing Manager
Trackday car:
"Godzilla - Among the best ever delivered from the car country in the East. Very potent engine in the legendary RB26."
Daily driver:
"Quite a sturdy family sled that was sold at "no reserve". The manual transmission is unique, but the question is how long you can drive it everyday. The color makes up for most of it, though!"
TOTAL: 482 500 SEK.
"Bad ass movie car known from "The Last Race". Nobody expects the Swedish inquisition!"
Daily driver:
TOTAL: 226 000 SEK.
In other words, Johan could almost afford his second choice when it comes to trackday car within the same budget:
"Don't judge a book by its cover" Equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 that has, among other things, worse cams, ported heads, Holley carburetors, electric water pump and more, and the power is stated to be about 400hp and a lot of torque.
Rasmus Christenssen, Auctioneer administrator
Trackday car:
"A fantastically entertaining GTI wagon from French Peugeot! The weekend car to have fun in with your dog who is motion sick."
Daily driver:
"Given to use for the family but also perfect as a winter sled."
TOTAL: 493 500 SEK.
Jens Trulsson, Photography & Support
Trackday car:
"I love classic racing! Mechanics and handling are what matter, not electronics. If you also choose to drive a Yankee with a V8, manual transmission and rigid rear axle, you have work to do behind the wheel. High-profile tires and low grip set the level for wheelspin and skid angle. Is it possible to have more fun behind the wheel?"
Daily driver:
"This BMW will last forever! Never in world history have the Germans built with the same quality as in the 90s. In addition, youngtimers are legally exempt from electronics that can spook and mess up, and if something breaks, any workshop can fix it. A car to discover the world with. A funny parenthesis is that this extended V12 colossus is one (1) centimeter shorter than today's 5-series ... And since I have 100,000 kronor left over from my half a million, I can spend it on a new exhaust system, convert to a manual gearbox and upgrade the diff to an LSD. Yes!"
TOTAL: 400 000 SEK.
Summary
It's not about owning the most cars, but the right cars. And sometimes the perfect solution is simply… two. Or maybe three in some cases when the budget allows.
Do you agree with our favorites? Regardless, we hope you've been inspired by how far 500,000 kronor can actually take you in the enthusiast world!
Towards new auctions together!
Tomas Jönsson, Marketing Manager