Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 4]

[CampDavid]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

As much as I'd love a v8 I think a 2.8 will have to do. I've had experience of the engine before granted in a 3 but still its more of known quantity and I'd not have issues using it every day just gotta find a great one for less than 2k

I'd probably look at non-Sports under £2000, prioritising condition and history above the spec. An E38 can land you with a decent sized bill so pays to buy on condition above all.

[confused_buyer]

CampDavid said:

I'd probably look at non-Sports under £2000, prioritising condition and history above the spec. An E38 can land you with a decent sized bill so pays to buy on condition above all.

Well said. I am constantly having my flabber gasted by people on this thread seemingly prioritising cars by colour and small nuances of specifiaction on sub-£2k barges

What matter on these cars - and whether they turn out to be a motoring bargain or not - is whether they need £2k spending on them to make it to the end of the road, whether they have a year's motoring without spending £3k and whether they drive like a dinghy in a storm force 11. If it is beige with green interior and whether it has the multi-swivel double heated under lit seat option is not very important.

A nice. genuine, 65k mile 728i with base spec is a much nicer car to drive than a knackred old 740i Sport with 175k, useless satnav, a flickering xenon and 17 owners etc.

[BeirutTaxi]

W00DY said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C326704

Magnificent.

Oh god I prefer these to the E30's. So much more understated and classy.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

I misses one at weekend 2001 car 1 owner fbmwsh 70k blue with cream moo cow

[mccrackenj]

BeirutTaxi said:

W00DY said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C326704

Magnificent.

Oh god I prefer these to the E30's. So much more understated and classy.

I agree. I so wish I'd spent the same on a good one of these that I spent on the E30 325i I've just sold. I'm sure I would have got a much better condition car for the money, had a much more pleasant experience and would probably have driven it a lot more than I drove the E30.

But - let's open up a debate - Mercedes 190e (let's assumne a 2.0 as 2.6s are much harder to find) Vs BMW E34 525i. Where would your cash go?

[CampDavid]

confused_buyer said:

CampDavid said:

I'd probably look at non-Sports under £2000, prioritising condition and history above the spec. An E38 can land you with a decent sized bill so pays to buy on condition above all.

Well said. I am constantly having my flabber gasted by people on this thread seemingly prioritising cars by colour and small nuances of specifiaction on sub-£2k barges

What matter on these cars - and whether they turn out to be a motoring bargain or not - is whether they need £2k spending on them to make it to the end of the road, whether they have a year's motoring without spending £3k and whether they drive like a dinghy in a storm force 11. If it is beige with green interior and whether it has the multi-swivel double heated under lit seat option is not very important.

A nice. genuine, 65k mile 728i with base spec is a much nicer car to drive than a knackred old 740i Sport with 175k and 17 owners.

Very much so.

When I bought my 7er I wasn't actually looking for a 7 series in particular, I was looking for the best barge I could within a reasonable distance of home, my priority was for an XJR, XJ8 or a W140 S500, however, the best deal the right car was the BM so that's the one Ive ended up with. Unless you have the time, budget and patience, it's best to avoid considering colour and spec too carefully when buying

[V8mate]

mccrackenj said:

But - let's open up a debate - Mercedes 190e (let's assumne a 2.0 as 2.6s are much harder to find) Vs BMW E34 525i. Where would your cash go?

But the 'E' Mercs are the E34 equivalent.

[confused_buyer]

Let's finish the debate - a 190E is not a barge!

[CampDavid]

confused_buyer said:

Let's finish the debate - a 190E is not a barge!

It's a very good car and has barge like properties though. Can we not go with Kleine Barge?

[V8mate]

confused_buyer said:

Let's finish the debate - a 190E is not a barge!

Oh it is.

[BeirutTaxi]

mccrackenj said:

I agree. I so wish I'd spent the same on a good one of these that I spent on the E30 325i I've just sold. I'm sure I would have got a much better condition car for the money, had a much more pleasant experience and would probably have driven it a lot more than I drove the E30.

But - let's open up a debate - Mercedes 190e (let's assumne a 2.0 as 2.6s are much harder to find) Vs BMW E34 525i. Where would your cash go?

Ah that's very interesting since I once considered replacing my 190 with an E34! There is no difference in economy between the E34 and the 190 2.0.

I think it comes down to two things. For functionality I think the E34 is the better car, although I did find the 190 was a sweet car for cornering and braking.

In terms of styling for me there is no contest between the two. The 190 is a lot better looking both inside and out and waayyyy more classy.

On balance, Today I would take the E34 but don't regret choosing a 190.

[confused_buyer]

V8mate said:

Oh it is.

Sorry, a tug boat possible but simply not large enough.

I'm not sure a 5-series size car truly counts either and if it does it needs a V8 engine at least!

[V8mate]

confused_buyer said:

V8mate said:

Oh it is.

Sorry, a tug boat possible but simply not large enough.

I'm not sure a 5-series size car truly counts either and if it does it needs a V8 engine at least!

I don't think cars are barges purely based on physical size. It's the wonderfully lazy way they consume miles too (and probably other criteria!). And a 190E is still a nice steer for longer journeys in a way that an E30 absolutely isn't, for example.

[W00DY]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I'm not so fussy.

[mccrackenj]

V8mate said:

mccrackenj said:

But - let's open up a debate - Mercedes 190e (let's assumne a 2.0 as 2.6s are much harder to find) Vs BMW E34 525i. Where would your cash go?

But the 'E' Mercs are the E34 equivalent.

Fair enough, but I've already got a W124 estate, and I've just sold an E30 so for me the choice is between W201 or E34 right now.

Edited by mccrackenj on Monday 15th October 12:44

[WojaWabbit]

W00DY said:

I'm not so fussy.

I've always wondered if the OZ/Sparco style wheels would look decent on an Evolution I. They do indeed look tremendous. I need that car in my life!

[CampDavid]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-728i-Individual...

Non runner needs love. Could be nice with work. Or not

[CampDavid]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-BMW-728I-INDIVIDUAL...

Rockin' Baz isn't an ideal vendor but car does look nice

[Krikkit]

CampDavid said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-728i-Individual...

Non runner needs love. Could be nice with work. Or not

What makes it a non-runner then? The seller is curiously quiet on that front. Cosmetic damage and a weird-looking passenger seat aside that's a great big lump of machinery for about half a bag.

[ReaperCushions]

Krikkit said:

CampDavid said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-728i-Individual...

Non runner needs love. Could be nice with work. Or not

What makes it a non-runner then? The seller is curiously quiet on that front. Cosmetic damage and a weird-looking passenger seat aside that's a great big lump of machinery for about half a bag.

Very OCD hoover stripes....