Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 6]

[0a]

An early w124 is the ideal starter barge - cheap to insure, nice enough to drive, and pretty simple and cheap to fix.

[mccrackenj]

esvcg said:

0a said:

An early w124 is the ideal starter barge - cheap to insure, nice enough to drive, and pretty simple and cheap to fix.

agree, my w124 93 e220 was in my mind a good balance between old-school-not-too-many-electrical-worries, but without being that old fashioned to drive.

Also parts can be sourced cheaply, and when i sold it, i had 17 calls the first 2 days, selling to the first viewer - therefore easy to pass on when you get bored.. which sadly i did, however 'great' people make the w124 out to be!

Trouble with a W124 is that 1 leads to another, then another, then a w201, then a W126, then a R129, then, then . . . etc. Get an Audi and spare yourself the torment of always looking out for the next or perfect late 1980s/early 1990s Merc.

[Strawman]

RSD 25 said:

Crikey! Volume 6 already.

Anyway, those two 560SEC's that are on ebay.

Which two?

There is this one which needs a headgasket, or more to make good again



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-MERCEDES-560-SEC-AU...

There is this one which is advertised by Brooklands Historics to be auctioned at the end of the month



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-Mercedes-Benz-560SE...

There is a white one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-560-SEC-300BHP-...

One that has been stationary for "2-3" years
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-560-SEC-/231026...

and a couple more over budget

Edited by Strawman on Monday 19th August 06:05

[3sixty]

Checking in.

[slippery]

mccrackenj said:

Get an Audi and spare yourself the torment of always looking out for the next or perfect late 1980s/early 1990s Merc.

This doesn't work by the way.

[sly fox]

Strawman said:

Which two?

There is this one which needs a headgasket, or more to make good again



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-MERCEDES-560-SEC-AU...

There is this one which is advertised by Brooklands Historics to be auctioned at the end of the month



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-Mercedes-Benz-560SE...

Edited by Strawman on Monday 19th August 06:05

That first one has "presence", the 2nd one has "class". I'd buy either.

[r129sl]

slippery said:

XJ6 V12?!!
Obviously an enthusiast (not), or has it had an engine transplant?

Plumber's nightmare. I keep coming back to a XJ12. [I]Car]/I] magazine raved about them through the '70s and '80s all the way to the end of production. I've never driven one. Are they ste?

[slippery]

I love the stance of the first one.
Quite fancy rescuing it, having it restored and then selling the A8. Probably not a very economical way into a nice 560 SEC when you have to pay people to do the work for you though. I'd probably be better of spending £7-8k on a lovely one in the first place.
The A8 is worth sub £5k now, so I'll stick with it for a while yet, as it's just such a lot of car for the money and it's never let me down, touch wood (and aluminium!).

[Adrian E]

r129sl said:

Plumber's nightmare. I keep coming back to a XJ12. [I]Car]/I] magazine raved about them through the '70s and '80s all the way to the end of production. I've never driven one. Are they ste?

Very of the period - from memory the slusher is a 3 speed, but may well be remembering incorrectly on that front.

Have childhood memories of sitting in a silver one bought from auction by a friend's dad - just sitting there revving it made the whole car rock from side to side!

If one has survived this long in roadworthy condition and been properly maintained it shouldn't be too ruinous aside from the obvious fuel bill.....

[flatso]

http://www.autoscout24.ch/de/d/mercedes-benz-sec-c...

[Mr E]

Back in. I do wonder if the barge thread may outlive the (mini) barge I bought as a result of one of the volumes...

[nobrakes]

esvcg said:

mccrackenj said:

esvcg said:

0a said:

An early w124 is the ideal starter barge - cheap to insure, nice enough to drive, and pretty simple and cheap to fix.

agree, my w124 93 e220 was in my mind a good balance between old-school-not-too-many-electrical-worries, but without being that old fashioned to drive.

Also parts can be sourced cheaply, and when i sold it, i had 17 calls the first 2 days, selling to the first viewer - therefore easy to pass on when you get bored.. which sadly i did, however 'great' people make the w124 out to be!

Trouble with a W124 is that 1 leads to another, then another, then a w201, then a W126, then a R129, then, then . . . etc. Get an Audi and spare yourself the torment of always looking out for the next or perfect late 1980s/early 1990s Merc.

ah, ironically i came from a 98 audi a6 to the merc, as the audi was too clinical.
You do have a point, there is an iche i've got for the W140/C140. Altho do prefer mercs more modern stuff, especially the cls and cl

Yes, its a good starter barge. My e220 s124 still gets 27mpg heavy town, 30 normally and I've seen 32; from a 20 yr old 2.2 litre auto with 150k on the clock.

Mrs nobrakes volunteered one day, when we were driving up a sweeping slip road to the motorway, "This car drives like a boat"!

Barge on!

[slippery]

Adrian E said:

Very of the period - from memory the slusher is a 3 speed, but may well be remembering incorrectly on that front.

Three speed and from memory pulls about 70 in first and 120 in second. Would probably make a refreshing change these days! Last drove one about 20 years ago and would happily own one. Wonderful ride and that engine is just as smooth as silk. They need caring for though. They can't take neglect like an old Benz and unfortunately aren't as reliable either.

Edited by slippery on Monday 19th August 09:09

[JDFR]

And I'm in

[tog]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

BlueMR2 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C415896

Is it badged as a 560?

I hadn't noticed, but you might be right. Easily fixed, although I suppose it does make one question the all-round integrity of the seller.

I still like it!

Unless it really is a 560 and 500 is just a typo, in which case it's even nicer!

[SimonConnell]

tog said:

Unless it really is a 560 and 500 is just a typo, in which case it's even nicer!

Well the DVLA have it listed as a 5 litre...

[excel monkey]

edo said:

YEE YAA, and all that.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

I like the search criteria you used to find that! engine size 4-4.9L, mileage < 40,000, price < £6000

Five grand is probably a bit of a strong price for this, but it makes a nice change from all the recent Merc fawning.

Edited by excel monkey on Monday 19th August 13:29

[phil_cardiff]

In.

[tobinen]

Also in. My favourite PH thread

[chrisw666]

Just managed to have a proper look at the pics of this now.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

I can't help being put off a bit by the colour combo which is uninspiring but mainly the fact I can see 3 tyre brands in the photos one of which is a linglong. I'm probably nuts but unmatched tyres and cheap tyres really annoy me moreso on cars that aren't that cheap and have barely done enough miles to wear out one set.