Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[iantek]

C Lee Farquar said:

Possibly, but there is a lot of love here for W124s which possibly suggests there is more demand for them than there actually is.

Some of us shake our heads and think over £2k is nuts for a 25year old lumbering crate on wheels. No offence intended.

No offence taken. It did cross my mind that if I turned up to work in a 25 year old car itd probably end in some kind of tribunal! If the model designation doesn't end with a 'd', you're a crazy person.

[Sidewindow]

Sidewindow said:

Not sure if this has already featured, but it looks like a fairly tidy W124. It is in Luton though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-Coupe-Clas...

2 hours to go on this 230CE and currently at about £800. I am trying to resist bidding and it's tough!

[r129sl]

Sidewindow said:

Sidewindow said:

Not sure if this has already featured, but it looks like a fairly tidy W124. It is in Luton though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-Coupe-Clas...

2 hours to go on this 230CE and currently at about £800. I am trying to resist bidding and it's tough!

Nasty phone aerial in the rear screen puts me off.

[Sidewindow]

Good spot. It must add some weight!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

C Lee Farquar said:

Possibly, but there is a lot of love here for W124s which possibly suggests there is more demand for them than there actually is.

Some of us shake our heads and think over £2k is nuts for a 25year old lumbering crate on wheels. No offence intended.

I think you make a good theoretical point, but these old buses command a pretty loyal following in the 'real world' too, as well as niche areas like this thread. Just like old Volvos, the big old estates (in particular) will always find a buyer; you only need to look at some of the cars and prices on the specialists' sites to see that.

I'm not suggesting that they all go for that sort of money, but many go for pretty close to it, and cars from a discerning long-term private owner are always in demand. And, let's be honest, 2 grand for a car is pretty close to peanuts.

I do think that the 124 is a car that you need to 'get', but they have a habit of getting under your skin. I've currently got 2 124s, and I can't think of a better car to replace the 21 year-old estate than another 124!

[harry kular]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I do think that the 124 is a car that you need to 'get', but they have a habit of getting under your skin. I've currently got 2 124s, and I can't think of a better car to replace the 21 year-old estate than another 124!

This.

I've previously had a few weak moments when I think of changing but I can't imagine being without it- I know as soon as it was gone I'd be looking for one again. Its so good for what I want in a daily, I actually have to make an conscious effort not to use it and bring something else out of the garage.

[Pablo16v]

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by Pablo16v on Tuesday 30th December 12:42

[Krikkit]

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Looks alright, but no interior pictures and an incredibly sparse advert leaves me a little cold!

p.s. Your link has your postcode in it.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

That ad in no way adequately presents a car that someone might be prepared to pay 4k for.

[C Lee Farquar]

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I was given one of those for taking it away ten years ago. I tried it in a field but it wasn't very inspiring. I put it on ebay and got scrap money for it, shame as I thought it may help an existing owner avoid some big bills.

[Strawman]

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

If the intermittent 4 wheel drive works, which isn't always the case. Funny how they mention the spare wheel has never been used but fail to mention it is on Republic of Ireland plates (Kildare).



Also sceptical about the claim it is very economical, unless they are making a comparison to the HGVs in the background.

[Pablo16v]

Krikkit said:

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Looks alright, but no interior pictures and an incredibly sparse advert leaves me a little cold!

p.s. Your link has your postcode in it.

Oops, ta.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

2 old Mercs, and 2 adverts scant on the kind of details a buyer of this type of car would want.

The first, out of budget, is a low-mileage one-owner car billed as a 380 SE (a new designation to me). Nice colour, and velour.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C539480



The second is a 500 SEC. It's a recent listing, but the ad seems to be relying on summertime pictures.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C498919

[PlayersNo6]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

2 old Mercs, and 2 adverts scant on the kind of details a buyer of this type of car would want.

The first, out of budget, is a low-mileage one-owner car billed as a 380 SE (a new designation to me). Nice colour, and velour.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C539480

That S Class is nice, do I spot a Becker there too. Would prefer Mexican hats on it but no leather/MB tex or aircon kills it for me.

[dbdb]

E65Ross said:

Steel wheels are a thing of the past for a reason. You can still happily choose a car these days and go for smaller wheels if you like. Wheel sizes, in general, have of course increased but with the right car I don't think that's led a a large reduction in ride quality. I went in a W124 earlier this year on either 15 or 16 inch alloys and whilst the ride was good I wouldn't say it was any better than my E65 which is on 19 inch wheels. The only difference was my E65 rolls a bit. The W124 was more like a boat.

Soke cars are too firm, I drove a 2010 A6 3.0 TDI too this year and, for a car of that type and size, the ride was too film. Horses for courses.

Was the W124 ever known for an excellent ride though? It is so long since I have been in one, I can't really remember.

Some older cars on small wheels do ride well. My XJ6 has a much smoother ride than the BMW E65 740iL my brother used to have. His BMW was a good car and I liked it, but the Jag is definitely smoother on the Tarmac - and by some margin.

[dbdb]

C Lee Farquar said:

Possibly, but there is a lot of love here for W124s which possibly suggests there is more demand for them than there actually is.

Some of us shake our heads and think over £2k is nuts for a 25year old lumbering crate on wheels. No offence intended.

It is certainly true that there is a big W124 contingent on this thread. To be honest, I don't really 'get' them either, though with a six cylinder engine and the right options I can see they do hold some desirability.

I don't see them as overpriced: they'd have to be way over £2k for me to think "that's a bit steep". There just aren't that many nice ones out there and they are an enthusiast's choice, not an ordinary car, these days.

[E65Ross]

Bugger! Went to start car and the battery is flat! Central Locking didn't work, opened with the key and just didn't even turn over.

[dbdb]

Bugger is the word! That's unlucky. How long is it since it was last charged - and how old is the battery? This very cold, snowy weather won't have helped.

[Krikkit]

Be cautious if you are thinking of jumping it tbh Ross - I'd go for a remove and recharge battery option if you're not pushed for time.

(Glad you're getting on btw, a great relief to know a fellow bargeist hasn't succumbed)

[r129sl]

Strawman said:

Pablo16v said:

This 300TE 4matic estate would make a good winter barge.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

If the intermittent 4 wheel drive works, which isn't always the case. Funny how they mention the spare wheel has never been used but fail to mention it is on Republic of Ireland plates (Kildare).



Also sceptical about the claim it is very economical, unless they are making a comparison to the HGVs in the background.

My friend has had some dealings with the vendor. He is an HGV dealer in County Armagh. It has been for sale for about four months. There is something odd about it. The interior wood is mismatched: zebrano on the centre console, walnut on the air con surround. It looks OK but not £4,000 good. In working order (and they are robust—it is only expensive bespoke parts that get them a bad reputation) they are superb: automatic centre and rear locking differentials, decent ground clearance. They are not economical by any stretch of the imagination.

CharlesdeGaulle said:

The second is a 500 SEC. It's a recent listing, but the ad seems to be relying on summertime pictures.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C498919

I love these early 126s.