Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 4]

[Chrisw666]

BeirutTaxi said:

GBB said:

"im 71 years old now and my heath is not to good so its time to let the old girl go"

That makes me feel quite sad inside. I feel tempted to buy it just to preserve and cherish it.

Me too but using it as a daily would I suspect kill it dead.

[Strawman]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

whats something like that like on petrol ?

The 320 auto uses about 25mpg in mixed driving, nearly 30 on a long leisurely run, less if used only around town.

[CampDavid]

mccrackenj said:

W00DY said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339349

It's not a minter, but then it isn't priced as one. I like very much.

If you look at the pictures on the website it looks to me as if Mark's being a little bit clever with the pics on this one - normally he photographs the front wings from the front 3/4 or else side on, so that you can see there's no rust in the usual area between wheel-arch and indicator. This time he's taken the pictures from behind the front wheels, and it looks like there's some corrosion on each front wing, if you look carefully. That said, it looks very nice and it's way below his normal prices. Can't be that much profit in it for him at that price can there?

I'd still prefer the pale green early w201 2.6 that he has at £3250 though.

Edited by mccrackenj on Tuesday 16th October 08:53

Sounds like he's being fair. It wants a new owner with a couple of grand spare to do the jobs he's listed and it'll be right.

[BeirutTaxi]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

whats something like that like on petrol ?

Alright-ish I would guess. 25-30mph average I reckon.

Here is a collection of lovely Vectra diesels to choose from to help with saving money through fuel economy

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Cat...

[Trustmeimadoctor]

but but but
i want a barge i just need to justify the running costs

[Chrisw666]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

but but but
i want a barge i just need to justify the running costs

You do that by running something that makes you feel like you've spent £30k or more but actually cost you less than £5k and is costing you less to run than a £30k diesel golf would after main dealer servicing and depreciation has been accounted for on said eco box.

With a barge you don't get fixed monthly costs just a lower entry fee, more niceness, 20-35mpg depending on what it is and how you drive it, the potential for the odd big bill, but your only liability is the difference between purchase price and scrap value (unless you inevitably get the bug and keep the car alive but I suspect you'll bottle out long before a well chosen W124 or E38/9 leaves you with bills that mean you can't afford to part with it).

[minimoog]

GBB said:

Chrisw666 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339375

"im 71 years old now and my heath is not to good so its time to let the old girl go"

I figure this will keep values low. The older folk appreciate large cars and MB etc. build quality. Such owners are getting old and there are fewer bargista's coming through the ranks (I suspect they are all here )

st. About six miles from where I'm sitting now.

I'd find it terribly slow after an E34 540 wouldn't I? Apart from the looks is there a compelling reason to swap into this?

[Krikkit]

minimoog said:

GBB said:

Chrisw666 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339375

"im 71 years old now and my heath is not to good so its time to let the old girl go"

I figure this will keep values low. The older folk appreciate large cars and MB etc. build quality. Such owners are getting old and there are fewer bargista's coming through the ranks (I suspect they are all here )

st. About six miles from where I'm sitting now.

I'd find it terribly slow after an E34 540 wouldn't I? Apart from the looks is there a compelling reason to swap into this?

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace? A lovely car though, and sounds a real shame the old chap has to get rid of it.

[minimoog]

Krikkit said:

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace?

How wafty are they? And does that mean they handle like a galleon? The 540 is on 15s so isn't too hardcore, though it's hardly the last word in ride refinement.

I get most pleasure from sinking into Der Panzer's comfort seats and wafting on my commute. The kickdown/sport mode pace is exhilirating when deployed, but I fear likely to land me trouble with plod one of these days.

Obviously 20mpg average isn't too clever either.

Edited by minimoog on Tuesday 16th October 10:27

[mccrackenj]

minimoog said:

st. About six miles from where I'm sitting now.

Then you realise it's your duty as a PH'er to go and look at it and post your impressions here, don't you? Plenty of us would be V. grateful.

[SpeckledJim]

minimoog said:

Krikkit said:

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace?

How wafty are they? And does that mean they handle like a galleon? The 540 is on 15s so isn't too hardcore, though it's hardly the last word in ride refinement.

I get most pleasure from sinking into Der Panzer's comfort seats and wafting on my commute. The kickdown/sport mode pace is exhilirating when deployed, but I fear likely to land me trouble with plod one of these days.

Obviously 20mpg average isn't too clever either.

Edited by minimoog on Tuesday 16th October 10:27

They are lovely. They handle like a canal boat. Suggest a direction, wait for the adjustment in attitude, heel round the bend, gently straighten up again. No modern car is anything like it.

I found the gearbox too sloshy to enable much adjusting by throttle mid bend, but I'm not exactly Fangio. You quickly adjust to doing everything at the car's pace, not yours.

You'll love it or hate it. I love it.

[Strawman]

minimoog said:

Krikkit said:

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace?

How wafty are they? And does that mean they handle like a galleon?

Depends a bit on whether it has the optional sportline suspension or not, many of the late 320CE models do. In any form they do handle well enough though, if the suspension is in working order they never pitch and heave like some old land yacht.

[Jobbo]

SpeckledJim said:

minimoog said:

Krikkit said:

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace?

How wafty are they? And does that mean they handle like a galleon? The 540 is on 15s so isn't too hardcore, though it's hardly the last word in ride refinement.

I get most pleasure from sinking into Der Panzer's comfort seats and wafting on my commute. The kickdown/sport mode pace is exhilirating when deployed, but I fear likely to land me trouble with plod one of these days.

Obviously 20mpg average isn't too clever either.

Edited by minimoog on Tuesday 16th October 10:27

They are lovely. They handle like a canal boat. Suggest a direction, wait for the adjustment in attitude, heel round the bend, gently straighten up again. No modern car is anything like it.

I found the gearbox too sloshy to enable much adjusting by throttle mid bend, but I'm not exactly Fangio. You quickly adjust to doing everything at the car's pace, not yours.

You'll love it or hate it. I love it.

I have to agree with Jim's description - I tried a 320TE when I was first looking for a barge estate back in 2006. Then I tried an E34 525i, and there was no question I would have the BMW not the Merc. The W124 is a very distinctive car to drive, and I didn't get along with it at all.

[SpeckledJim]

Jobbo said:

SpeckledJim said:

minimoog said:

Krikkit said:

Do you feel the need for an increased amount of waft at the expense of pace?

How wafty are they? And does that mean they handle like a galleon? The 540 is on 15s so isn't too hardcore, though it's hardly the last word in ride refinement.

I get most pleasure from sinking into Der Panzer's comfort seats and wafting on my commute. The kickdown/sport mode pace is exhilirating when deployed, but I fear likely to land me trouble with plod one of these days.

Obviously 20mpg average isn't too clever either.

Edited by minimoog on Tuesday 16th October 10:27

They are lovely. They handle like a canal boat. Suggest a direction, wait for the adjustment in attitude, heel round the bend, gently straighten up again. No modern car is anything like it.

I found the gearbox too sloshy to enable much adjusting by throttle mid bend, but I'm not exactly Fangio. You quickly adjust to doing everything at the car's pace, not yours.

You'll love it or hate it. I love it.

I have to agree with Jim's description - I tried a 320TE when I was first looking for a barge estate back in 2006. Then I tried an E34 525i, and there was no question I would have the BMW not the Merc. The W124 is a very distinctive car to drive, and I didn't get along with it at all.

I should add, they're much lighter than they feel, so will still be pretty spritely. Not 540i fast obviously, but not at all ponderous.

And, delightfully, instead of the rear squatting, the nose rises under power, which I think is great fun.

[Jobbo]

Having looked at your car history, Jim, I see you've had (and have) both BMWs and Mercs. Was my dislike of the W124 just the result of a short test drive; do they worm their way into your affections with longer exposure?

[Chrisw666]

Good honest looking ad for a cheap barge

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339381

Certainly the kind of car you'd want to buy over a £1295 from an eBay trader barge.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

Chrisw666 said:

Good honest looking ad for a cheap barge

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339381

Certainly the kind of car you'd want to buy over a £1295 from an eBay trader barge.

What a lovely old Hector. I don't normally go for the 728, but I love that one for some reason. I think because, as you say, it looks like a proper honest car.

[Chrisw666]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I'm sad I can't afford it either, its 20 or so miles away and looks worth at the least a good inspection.

[GBB]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Chrisw666 said:

Good honest looking ad for a cheap barge

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C339381

Certainly the kind of car you'd want to buy over a £1295 from an eBay trader barge.

What a lovely old Hector. I don't normally go for the 728, but I love that one for some reason. I think because, as you say, it looks like a proper honest car.

I love this thread! I reckon that one was posted up when it was sold last time. IIRC might have been sold by someone near Chepstow but I might be confusing it with another one. IIRC sold for about £1200 at the time. There were four I was looking at, one near Chepstow, one in South East, one on Hayling Island (lighter interior) and one in Northampton (but that had spent it's life around St. Ives).

[minimoog]

Chrisw666 said:

I'm sad I can't afford it either, its 20 or so miles away and looks worth at the least a good inspection.

I appreciate the replies I've received but I've decided to leave it. If I actually needed to buy a car I'd be over there like a shot as I've always wanted to try one of these, but the prospect of selling the Panzer with all that entails means inertia has gripped me and frankly I just can't be arsed.