'I’m not sure if the Veyron is the right car to pop to the supermarket in'

When I started racing at the age of 12, my dreams were full of becoming a Formula One driver.

Every weekend I forced my parents up and down the country, demanding they part with too many pounds so that I could race my 100cc kart against 30 other teenagers, hitting 80mph just an inch above the tarmac, skidding into corners to gain another race place, and tucking up tight behind the steering wheel to aid aerodynamics down the straights.

Now and then we came home with a victory trophy, but I always returned with a stronger desire to be a F1 driver.

Obviously it didn't happen - not quite the right ingredients of money, luck, contacts and talent - but for one of my racing rivals, David Coulthard, it did.

I'm not complaining though, because I reckon I have one of the best jobs in the world - writing and talking about cars. But, more importantly, driving them.

I still harbour a dream or two, and the one currently occupying most of my brain space is that of a dream garage.

Money, of course, is not an issue when it comes to such fictitious motors, but I think I'll put a limit on the number of motors I'm allowed in case it gets a bit obscene. And they must be on sale now - my retro-garage would never end.

So, in order of want, want, want, the first car I'd purchase would be a Porsche 911 Carrera S for the simple fact that I've always wanted one, I love the look of it and it's rewarding to drive. Plus, I've raced a 911 (in GT3 guise) a few times in the British Carrera Cup championship, and I'd be reminded of those happy laps each time I'd drive the S. For those of you who need to ask the price of my first dream - about £68,000.

OK, so next I'd need (not just want now) some sort of 'friends and family' wagon, so I'd go straight to the flashiest BMW dealership and be fussed over whilst chosing the latest X5 4.8iS (£50,000, but who's counting). The latest version is now available with a maximum of seven seats, so the more the merrier, and the X5 is still the best of its kind in my book.

I'm a busy chick with little time to devote to holidays, so a convertible motor will be next on the hit list where I can catch a tan on the move. And if I'm going to be prancing about in an attention-seeking drop-top, then I might as well do it big time with the beautiful beast of the Bentley Continental GTC (£130,5000, darrrrlings).

It may be a little gaudy, but worth every penny when you see these stats: 12-cylinders, 6-litres, 552bhp, sub-5 seconds to 60mph, 195mph. Nice.

Then, to out-do the Bentley in every department, I'll clearly need the fastest road car ever - the 8-litre, 16-cylinder Bugatti Veyron with its 1000bhp and 253mph top speed. (Top trumps in the money stakes too, at £872,000).

"not in that silly orange colour"

I'm not sure if the Veyron is the right car to pop to the supermarket in - you know how careless other parkers can be. So for that I'm left with my final purchase - a Ford Focus ST. A cracking little front-wheel-drive motor that's blessed with Volvo's delicious-sounding, turbocharged 5-cylinder, 222bhp engine. (A trifling £18,000).

But not in that silly orange colour. Or with any form of go-faster decal.

Which leads me to think about the colour choices for my dream garage. And it's proving tricky. It's actually taking a painstakingly long time to decide, despite this all being hypothetical stuff.

But I am taking this bit very seriously because, one day, my dream garage just might come true.

29th May, 2007