The problem with owning a sporty two seat roadster in my line of work is that you end up buying something more practical to go alongside it. What happens is that the practical, spacious car is so boring compared to the sports car that one of them ends up sitting in the garage, clocking up no more than 2000 miles in a year, completely unfulfilled in its purpose. So this was my dilema, after owning the sporty Boxster and a practical Seat Altea, I decided it was time to combine both into one and the search begun for a practical vehicle that wasn’t so sensible it couldn’t put a smile on your face.

I have always liked the VW Golf GTi, it is a totally classless car in terms of image while being fun and sporty. The problem is, although i liked the GTi on the road, I fancied something with a little more horsepower and remembering how my old Mini Cooper S strugled to get the power down, four wheel drive would be good too.

Looking at Evo’s and other similar cars just made me feel nothing could be fast without being too flashy and at least a bit comfortable. I was sidelined almost by an M3 CSL, but the boot floor as Jeremy Clarkson quipped was made from cardboard!

So, something fast, yet practical? It had to be the VW R32. Popping along to VW asking for a ride in their R32 I thought it would be difficult to find one as they are not made in great numbers, but as luck would have it the dealer had a demo available, with the much praised DSG flappy paddle gearbox. First impressions - the car was great to drive, secure handling on the twisties if a little lacking in feedback from the tyre at the road - I presume all the 4 wheel drive system and power assistance getting in the way whereas in the Boxster you could read the variety of Wotsit if you ran over a crisp packet! The VW R32 just seems to understeer a little (big 3.2 engine lump at front) and then settle into a nice controllable 4-wheel drift. The DSG box just does not do it for me to be honest and missing a clutch with the extra driver involvement that brings and a waiting list of 6 months meant I left my involvement with VW at the test drive stage.

So, moving on to 2007, a GT3 in between, albeit briefly and still looking for a decent car. A test drive in the new TT last week confirmed what I thought - great looking and driving car, just not enough involvement for me and I couldn’t I see myself in one at Knockhill, even with my pedestrian speeds there. As luck would have it, I spotted an immaculate Steel grey 06 R32 with the all important manual 6 speed box for sale locally. A quick trip to Murray Motors and Graham who runs the Lotus dealership was quick to arrange a test drive. 30 minutes later I bought the car, an 06 plate with 12000 miles, lots of toys and for me, the Recaro leather seat option! Perfect.

So now I am the owner of aforementioned car and having covered some 350 miles since picking up the car on Friday, most with the Porsche club on a West Coast run (giving the old 964’s a run for their money), I can say that this car is fantastic and a pleasure to own! Not to mention the sound that the 3.2 V6 with a Samco induction kit makes...