Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]
Discussion
slippery said:
I am going to enquire about that SEC upon my return. I know it's 600cc short of my desired model, but I'm starting to wonder if that really matters, as even a 560 isn't THAT fast. I could probably out drag one in my ML, but that's not really what an SEC is about, which is wafting around in timeless, pillarless style. 
The brown one? Vendor says 'it's a beast' (so gotta be worth having then!)It does actually look very fine.
Emeye said:
slippery said:
www.bluedragoncars.co.uk/view.asp?ID=253
Inappropriate application of three pointed star aside, this looks delicious. Sorry for lack of photos, posting from phone.
The best interior I think I have ever seen!Inappropriate application of three pointed star aside, this looks delicious. Sorry for lack of photos, posting from phone.
Right then, that W124.
Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
Very interesting review Ross, they are a car from a different era in many ways but a lot of this is what we like about them. As others have said the big difference is in the high speed stuff - they do not have the refinement at high speed of a modern barge, but to be honest I take the positive and go a little slower (though I won't hang about this weekend). See it as an interesting contrast rather than a direct competitor and I'm sure you will get on with one well!
0a said:
Emeye said:
slippery said:
www.bluedragoncars.co.uk/view.asp?ID=253
Inappropriate application of three pointed star aside, this looks delicious. Sorry for lack of photos, posting from phone.
The best interior I think I have ever seen!Inappropriate application of three pointed star aside, this looks delicious. Sorry for lack of photos, posting from phone.
E65Ross said:
Right then, that W124.
Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
Which one did you go and look at?Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
slippery said:
I am going to enquire about that SEC upon my return. I know it's 600cc short of my desired model, but I'm starting to wonder if that really matters, as even a 560 isn't THAT fast. I could probably out drag one in my ML, but that's not really what an SEC is about, which is wafting around in timeless, pillarless style.
I like the car but the additional merc badge added to the bonnet, and the fact it is off centre is annoying. Edited by slippery on Saturday 5th April 15:36
0a said:
Very interesting review Ross, they are a car from a different era in many ways but a lot of this is what we like about them. As others have said the big difference is in the high speed stuff - they do not have the refinement at high speed of a modern barge, but to be honest I take the positive and go a little slower (though I won't hang about this weekend). See it as an interesting contrast rather than a direct competitor and I'm sure you will get on with one well!
I never expected it to be as refined or to feel as modern as the E65, that would have been daft. I knew roughly what it'd feel like and it didn't disappoint. I disagree that you need time to appreciate them.... But maybe that's because I've driven a few old barges before I knew what qualities to look for...?
As said, if someone offered me a straight swap for mine I just wouldn't do it. I do prefer the E65. But as a cheaper purchase the W124 is a great car and felt very special. I'm kind of gutted I looked at it, as I do want to buy it. If someone on this thread is after a W124 or cheap-ish barge then they really should look at this one, could barely fault it (aside a slightly sticky windscreen wiper mechanism which I believe is a common fault on the 190E) and just needs greasing.
To be honest with you, what with a house move coming up soon if someone said right, I'll take your E65 off you for a decent price of buy it tomorrow and keep the change.
One thing though, it did feel rather slow compared to the E65
but that's to be expected. Have a good trip 0a, I really want to go for a mega drive in the E65 but I've nowhere to go and can't justify the fuel bill for a pointless long drive. I'm talking something like 4-500 miles in a day. I love long drives
Edited by E65Ross on Saturday 5th April 17:10
jonah35 said:
I'm going to be brave and foolish and ask to stop posting really old mercs and jags. Surely these are classics and post 2000 stuff is now the bargain barge stuff?
Post away old boy. The 1-5 criteria drives the thread really, and the definition of 'barge' is pretty loosely applied by most of us. The key is 'best', (or at least make it interesting).
Over to you.
Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Saturday 5th April 17:47
jonah35 said:
I'm going to be brave and foolish and ask to stop posting really old mercs and jags. Surely these are classics and post 2000 stuff is now the bargain barge stuff?
No way, Pedro.I could show you a picture of my 2004 E320 estate, but I'm sure it would bore you as much as it bores me.
Newer cars are largely charmless, cynical and numbing. Apart from headlamps, Hi-Fi and fuel economy, nothing important has really improved since about 1995, and lots of the nut-grabbing bits of cars have got worse.
confused_buyer said:
It is the generation before that which is known for an iffy autobox. Little seems to be known about this generation - goodness knows how many they sold in the UK. 3?
I had a go in one, they are absolutely fantastic and they would sold loads more here if it had come with a decent diesel engine.SpeckledJim said:
jonah35 said:
I'm going to be brave and foolish and ask to stop posting really old mercs and jags. Surely these are classics and post 2000 stuff is now the bargain barge stuff?
No way, Pedro.I could show you a picture of my 2004 E320 estate, but I'm sure it would bore you as much as it bores me.
Newer cars are largely charmless, cynical and numbing. Apart from headlamps, Hi-Fi and fuel economy, nothing important has really improved since about 1995, and lots of the nut-grabbing bits of cars have got worse.
Just because it's before 2000 doesn't make it bad. They can still be bargains and if they're barges, they're still bargain barges
Emeye said:
E65Ross said:
Right then, that W124.
Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
Which one did you go and look at?Firstly, the owner is awesome... A true petrol head, he's got 6 or 7 cars including a Z4M coupe, W126, Caterham R400, Jag xk150 and a few others.
The car itself was very VERY tidy. No rust at all to wings or arches, interior in very good shape. History was good and well impressed with it.
So.... It drove smoothly (engine was very good, gearbox felt quite smooth but not as smooth and a bit more dated than the E65s of course. The engine didn't smoke at all and ran fine and started immediately from cold and ran st the right temperature.
The ride quality was very good (about the same as the E65) and the seats were better than my car. There was of course more road and wind noise. It braked ok (again they felt very dated) and straight in a true line. Didn't notice any wheel wobbles or vibrations. No interior rattles or squeaks. The interior felt very well screwed together.
Overall I absolutely loved it. Would I swap the E65 for it? No. Would I be disappointed if I had it as my daily car? Not in the slightest! If I sell the E65 then I'll almost certainly look at them as a cheaper alternative. There was a lovely sense of quality and pride with the car and honestly.... Someone on this thread has to buy it. It's a really, really good example and a great price too I reckon. Hand on heart, of I didn't have the E65 I'd have bought it there and then.
That looks quite nice. The brakes are not great on the 300 12V that's true!
On the topic of newer barges I was tail gated by a new 5 series today, having assumed it would be the ubiquitous 520d, I was surprised to note it has a 530i badge. There isn't such a model on the BMW site, but there is one on Autotrader. Is it a straight 6, or are BMW up to their
trick of up badging 4 cylinder models?
On the topic of newer barges I was tail gated by a new 5 series today, having assumed it would be the ubiquitous 520d, I was surprised to note it has a 530i badge. There isn't such a model on the BMW site, but there is one on Autotrader. Is it a straight 6, or are BMW up to their
trick of up badging 4 cylinder models?
0a said:
That looks quite nice. The brakes are not great on the 300 12V that's true!
On the topic of newer barges I was tail gated by a new 5 series today, having assumed it would be the ubiquitous 520d, I was surprised to note it has a 530i badge. There isn't such a model on the BMW site, but there is one on Autotrader. Is it a straight 6, or are BMW up to their
trick of up badging 4 cylinder models?
That would be the now defunct 3.0 straight six, naturally aspirated. I believe the newest car bmw will make with a naturally aspirated straight six as they're all turbo charged now. What you saw was, sadly, quite rare. On the topic of newer barges I was tail gated by a new 5 series today, having assumed it would be the ubiquitous 520d, I was surprised to note it has a 530i badge. There isn't such a model on the BMW site, but there is one on Autotrader. Is it a straight 6, or are BMW up to their
trick of up badging 4 cylinder models?
Really nice cars.
The one (and only) thing I preferred on the gearbox on the W124 was that it set off in 2nd. I wish there was a way to programme the gearbox so it never ever uses first unless the car comes to a stop. In slow moving traffic you can (admittedly only just) detect it shifting from 2nd to 1st when you drop below 10mph and then vice versa going above 10mph. I wish it would stay in 2nd. I don't mind it setting off in 1st but wouldn't mind it never using 1st unless in S mode, or in manual mode (or if I bury the loud pedal)
Edited by E65Ross on Saturday 5th April 18:25
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