Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 4]

[Output Flange]

edo said:

Spooky, I was just looking at this!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Jaguar 4.0 XJR SUPERCHARGED 4DR AUTO 1998

4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 57,000 miles, Metallic Blue. ABS, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, CD, Colour coding - Body, Cruise control, Full Service History, Electric windows, Remote locking, Electric mirrors, Driver airbag, Power assisted steering. Insurance Group:19E, a very nice xjr jag one that has been maintained very well indeed harmon kardon stero upgrade warranty included full dealer facilities a fully stamped service log all here to hand stunning. £3,995

Genuinely miss mine. If I were to have another, I think I'd go for a Daimler Super V8 rather than an XJR, but the epitome of effortless performance and consummate wafter.

[Mark-C]

r129sl said:

Mark-C said:

r129sl said:

Brand new and from the UK importer, yes, diesel only.

Seriously? There are certainly some V8 and W12 cars in the classifieds. Were these not dealer supplied?

Example -> http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Not picking a fight ... just curious

We're at cross purposes. They used to do a range of motors, from memory, 3.0, 3.2 and 5.0 diesels and 3.2, 4.2 and 6.0 petrols, but today the UK offer is 3.2 V6 diesel in SWB or LWB.

Thanks .... now I understand .... but I'm even more surprised! Didn't know you could still buy them new.

[E38Ross]

Zwolf said:

Fox- said:

confused_buyer said:

Hmm....the current base model large execs even if equipped with 4 cylinder diesels are a lot more powerful than the base models of 10 years ago. 728i's, S280/S320's, A8 2.8's etc.....all of the current diesels are much faster than the likes of those.

But of course a luxury cars engine choice is not simply about power alone. It's about smoothness and refinement which a 4 cylinder diesel, no matter how good, simply does not offer in the same way as a lower power 6 cylinder petrol (or diesel).

At some point the focus of a luxury car moved from providing a luxury driving experience to providing the most bling for the lowest monthly payment - be that made up of company car tax or a lease cost.

And it's understandable but that doesn't stop it being a shame. A great shame.

Indeed. A former colleague popped by in his new demo on Sunday and let me take it up the road (still the same PLC, different brands). 520d M Sport auto.

Looks great, especially in the very dark blue with 19s M Parallel-esque alloys and chrome trim. Performance was certainly adequate for all day to day requirements, but I could never get away from the presence of the *wrong* engine note.

Yes it's 184 bhp is a match for a decade-plus old 530d and the economy better still. But even if I could live with a diesel for BIK reasons, it'd need to be a six cylinder in that class of car, even without any gain in nominal outputs.

An F10 528i with the NA six would be no quicker and lots less efficient, but it would feel so much more intrinsically *right* for a premium mid-size exec saloon.

A 728i, whilst a bit slower is just so much more inherently *fitting* an experience. But few people any more value smoothness and refinement over and above fuel and servicing costs. Thankfully there still seem to be just enough for BMW and other to keep building large displacement, multi-cylindered petrol engines (even if they must add forced induction).

Nail on the head for me from both Zwolf and fox-. Luxury is not just about performance.

[confused_buyer]

E38Ross said:

Nail on the head for me from both Zwolf and fox-. Luxury is not just about performance.

The problem is that the cost/benefit ratio is just too large these days for many people. The extra BIK (and most of these cars have always been company cars of some sort), consumption etc. is significant and the diesel versions are still very refined in absolute terms and plenty fast enough for going up and down UK motorways.

It remains to be seen how a S250 sells, I suspect well, but we'll see. As for the 520d perhaps it is just me but I never consider a 5-Series a luxury car in true terms - a 7 Series yes, but not a 5.

[JamesK]

Apache said:

ahem......



http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Love it! Who the hell are the neo brothers??

[CB 987]

Over thread budget, but an AUC E39 and its a Champagne II - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[E38Ross]

confused_buyer said:

E38Ross said:

Nail on the head for me from both Zwolf and fox-. Luxury is not just about performance.

The problem is that the cost/benefit ratio is just too large these days for many people. The extra BIK (and most of these cars have always been company cars of some sort), consumption etc. is significant and the diesel versions are still very refined in absolute terms and plenty fast enough for going up and down UK motorways.

It remains to be seen how a S250 sells, I suspect well, but we'll see. As for the 520d perhaps it is just me but I never consider a 5-Series a luxury car in true terms - a 7 Series yes, but not a 5.

With that, I also agree. It can't be denied. But that doesn't mean that the diesels do luxury better than petrol. Diesels have come on a massive way. Put it like this.... I'd be amazed if a diesel found its way into a rolls Royce phantom replacement.

[bmthnick1981]

This used to belong to the chap who bought my E38 750il;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750iL-V12-Black-Beig...

High on the miles, too high for me, but he was a real enthusiast of the E38 V12 and the one he bought from me was his third. Could be a well looked after car for someone for not a lot of pennies.

Seems it is being marketed by Lullingstone Cars (ex Ultimate 7 I believe).

[Fox-]

CB 987 said:

Over thread budget, but an AUC E39 and its a Champagne II - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[ATM]

bmthnick1981 said:

This used to belong to the chap who bought my E38 750il;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750iL-V12-Black-Beig...

High on the miles, too high for me, but he was a real enthusiast of the E38 V12 and the one he bought from me was his third. Could be a well looked after car for someone for not a lot of pennies.

Seems it is being marketed by Lullingstone Cars (ex Ultimate 7 I believe).

Why did he get rid of this and then buy yours?

[bmthnick1981]

Wanted a lower mileage one, mine had 100k his has 180k plus mine had mint wheels and no real rust, sounds like his has the beginnings of some rust and needs wheel refurbishment.

[RenesisEvo]

Gents,

I'm a near permanent lurker on this thread, and am sat here musing future barge purchases, as one does.

The E39 M5. I would love one. That recent post did not help - I thought I'd got over my infatuation. I thought it was temporary. But every time I see one, I go weak at the knees. However, I am unsure of being able to stomach the running costs - currently experimenting with a semi-thirsty car at the moment (which is being a bit of a problem child it has to be said), and there are times I feel I couldn't bear something more expensive. So I wonder whether an E39 530i Sport would be a reasonable compromise. But would I regret not going for the full-strength one? Would I regret 'compromising'? Will all the anguish and fear over costs and reliability disappear when I turn the key? Does anyone have any experience in such matters?

TIA

[Zwolf]

RenesisEvo said:

So I wonder whether an E39 530i Sport would be a reasonable compromise.

It's a brilliant all-rounder and perfectly adequate for all sane people. However...

RenesisEvo said:

But would I regret not going for the full-strength one? Would I regret 'compromising'? Will all the anguish and fear over costs and reliability disappear when I turn the key?

...from personal experience, the answers to all those questions are in the affirmative.

[theironduke]

Zwolf said:

RenesisEvo said:

So I wonder whether an E39 530i Sport would be a reasonable compromise.

It's a brilliant all-rounder and perfectly adequate for all sane people. However...

RenesisEvo said:

But would I regret not going for the full-strength one? Would I regret 'compromising'? Will all the anguish and fear over costs and reliability disappear when I turn the key?

...from personal experience, the answers to all those questions are in the affirmative.

This moral dillema has resulted in my journey from 3.2 X300 to 4.0 X300 and finally deciding on the full bore XJR....

[hornetrider]

CB 987 said:

Over thread budget, but an AUC E39 and its a Champagne II - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Heard on the radio today that BMW are doing a nationwide 'event' shortly whereby they will include 5 years servicing with all AUC vehicles sold. I think.

[Fox-]

An E39 with AUC warranty and 5 years servicing

[hornetrider]

Damn you small print

http://www.elmsbedfordbmw.co.uk/aboutus/events.htm...

^Choose from a 24 month warranty or up to five years free servicing on any BMW Approved Used Car purchased between 11-15 October 2012.*5 years or up to 60,000 miles Service Inclusive (from date of first registration) is applicable if a vehicle has not had its first service.  Alternatively two years or up to a maximum of 120,000 miles Service Inclusive is applicable if it has had its first service, is under five years old and has covered less than 70,000 miles. Free Service Inclusive is applicable to 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder cars only. Full Service Inclusive terms and conditions apply, for full details visit www.bmw.co.uk/serviceinclusive. Information correct at time of going to print. No cash alternative available. 

[V8Wagon]

V8Wagon said:

The £4k M5!

That's what it went for...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140854062676?nma=true&am...

The £4K M5 reappears.....flaky buyer or summat wrong I wonder?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-T-BMW-E39-M5-Carbon...

[confused_buyer]

E38Ross said:

With that, I also agree. It can't be denied. But that doesn't mean that the diesels do luxury better than petrol. Diesels have come on a massive way. Put it like this.... I'd be amazed if a diesel found its way into a rolls Royce phantom replacement.

I agree - they don't - but the issue is the petrols don't do it better than the diesels enough to make up the real world cost difference. The BIK alone for a 40 or 45% tax payer (which is pretty much all buyers/drivers/users of these) is significant on just a few CO2.

Do not underestimate how good the diesels are - particularly on the lower models where their extra torque gives some of the old-style V8 grunt of the large petrols the small petrols lack.

Is a S500 nicer than a S350 CDI? Undoubtably. Is a current S350 CDI a more luxury, relaxed effortless drive than a S320 of 4 years ago? Possibly. Is a S500 *that* much different to a S500 in the real world it is worth thousands per year? Debatable.

[W00DY]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C337433

Probably been posted, but this is as cool as they come.

If only I had 5 grand.