Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[E65Ross]

Lowtimer said:

That is of course almost universally true. At the risk of being a smartypants, I was interested recently to read in Autocar that there is no manual override control whatsoever on the transmission of the new Rolls-Royce Wraith.

That does surprise me, but with respect to engine braking... Just lean in the brakes more. Even in some very hilly places in Wales I never have had to downshift purposefully (in the E38 that was). I found when going down steep declines as soon as you dab the brakes the gearbox will downshift anyway, and I'm sure the Wraith will be fine.

I really want a Wraith ultimate GT barge?

[Lowtimer]

Probably. I'd love a go in one.

What it does instead is use a combination of GPS and road-reading of some sort to select whatever gear it decides is about to be appropriate, according to what descent or ascent, or indeed even just a level corner, is about to be encountered.

[andy-xr]

Mr Scruff said:

You're right - the £500 is an estimate at this stage and a bit of a 'worst case' I hope. Standard bits and pieces mainly - droplinks, bushes, track rod end stuff (to be expected on a car of that size really). I actually know the previous owner and he was surprised as he'd already replaced all that lot! Also seems to be a slight leak from a rear caliper which could be expensive and finally the pressed plates which its been wearing for the last 7 years have failed the MOT this year! Not that bothered as I didn't really like them anyway but strange/annoying that this year they're no longer deemed acceptable.

There doesnt sound like anything there that cant be fixed with a jack, some tools and a bit of time. Mine needs new brakes all round, local Kwik Fit quoted me £350, I've just priced up the parts from Amazon, coming in from Germany to be £120 delivered. It's the same with suspension too. If you shop around, are thrifty and dont mind spending a bit of time doing it, you'll have that MOT'd for a couple of hundred quid. I'd definitely look for ebay calipers or a rebuild kit

[wibblebrain]

This I like:



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C521537

[E24man]

wibblebrain said:

This I like:



http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C521537

More pics are on forum5

Edited by E24man on Thursday 31st July 16:53

[r129sl]

Bit more gassing for eco. Cheap parts: I've just bought all of the bits to do a major service on my wife's Golf V TDI, which I hate. 5 litres of 505.01 oil, 10 litres of G12++ ready-mixed coolant, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, cabin pollen filter, front and rear pads, front and rear discs, brake fitting kit, all Bosch parts, £250 delivered. Not bad.

[nickod]

derin100 said:

E65Ross said:

derin100 said:

E65Ross said:

tobinen said:

CampDavid said:

560SEC prices on the up, this one made £40,250 at the weekend



http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/mercedes-560-se...

Blimey!

Crazy money. Does look nice though.

It's the mileage that's done that.

And probably knackered the valve stem oil seals, too

But as I was saying on another thread today...that actually doesn't matter. What the market sees is the mileage. Whether this is for better or worse doesn't actually matter.

The only reason or justification that could be offered for putting this price tag (i.e £86,000) on this R107 :

http://www.howardwisecars.co.uk/index.php/classic/...

As opposed to, for example, a stunning low-mileage example at Charles Ironside at literally less than HALF the price (and even that isn't remotely "cheap") is simply the mileage.

Sorry to go back a few pages but what are your opinions on buying a 107 500sl with 155k miles although in very good condition with lots of service history? I'm thinking its been used regularly so better than standing around but it's rare to see them with this mileage.

[idiotgap]

nickod said:

Sorry to go back a few pages but what are your opinions on buying a 107 500sl with 155k miles although in very good condition with lots of service history? I'm thinking its been used regularly so better than standing around but it's rare to see them with this mileage.

No worries at all, they're built like w123s and can take the mileage. They hide expensive to fix rust very well so get someone who really knows them inside out to check for you or spend time reading books and forums to make sure you know what to look for.

[r129sl]

idiotgap said:

nickod said:

Sorry to go back a few pages but what are your opinions on buying a 107 500sl with 155k miles although in very good condition with lots of service history? I'm thinking its been used regularly so better than standing around but it's rare to see them with this mileage.

No worries at all, they're built like w123s and can take the mileage. They hide expensive to fix rust very well so get someone who really knows them inside out to check for you or spend time reading books and forums to make sure you know what to look for.

I'd regard it as an opportunity. Rust is the main problem with 107s and it does not discriminate by mileage. Any 155k mile car will need some attention. At best, the bodywork and interior will have "patina" and the there will be some worn long-term consumables (chiefly engine mounts, rear subframe mounts, steering box and links) in need of replacement. At worst you will have to do a substantial mechanical job. Best case is you need to spend two grand to have a mechanically perfect car (by which I mean perfect, way better than these unused garage queens); worst case you have to spend five grand to have a mechanically perfect car. Either way, it will be much cheaper than buying a lower miler, which will probably need much the same anyway.

For me, though, the attraction of high miles is in the character they give a car. High mileage cars are strong cars; they are the survivors. Imagine the journeys they have covered, the lovers they have carried, the families they have seen grow, the stories they would tell if only they could talk. I also love the satisfaction of bringing them back into condition and I sentimentally imagine they will repay my care with reliability and longevity. I know this is garbage but it has always been true for me: these cars have looked after me well.

fk it, it's about time I bought a care-worn 190 E.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

fk it, it's about time I bought a care-worn 190 E.

Either that, or you got out with your mates on the piss!

[Justayellowbadge]

r129sl said:

For me, though, the attraction of high miles is in the character they give a car. High mileage cars are strong cars; they are the survivors. Imagine the journeys they have covered, the lovers they have carried, the families they have seen grow, the stories they would tell if only they could talk. I also love the satisfaction of bringing them back into condition and I sentimentally imagine they will repay my care with reliability and longevity.

Well, I had never given any thought to what, exactly, Coucher and Buckley's love child would be like, but I do now know.

Agree, though. I bought a 100k Ferrari and it was flawless.

[jke11y]

Mmmmm original dealer stickers and 1 owner...






http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-Mercedes-Benz-300SL...

[Motorrad]

jke11y said:

Mmmmm original dealer stickers and 1 owner...






http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-Mercedes-Benz-300SL...

500 for me or nothing otherwise I'd be all over that like something that really likes another thing.

[Zwolf]

edo said:

Too much gassing and not enough barges being posted chaps....

Strong money, but not many left with this sort of mileage.

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

BMW 5 SERIES 535i Sport 4dr Auto 3.5
39700 miles

That's ridiculous VFM at £3-3.5k. Great find, as usual Edo.

[jonclancy]

Adrian E said:

r129sl said:

I seem to be forever buying bloody tyres. Anyway, I get them from tyreleader.co.uk whom I have found to be excellent on price and service, better even than camskill.co.uk.

I have a hit list of suppliers I will always try online for prices first - camskill struggle these days as they buy via the UK distributors so depending on the brand may not compete with Micheldever/Protyre (same company) as they're an additional 'value added' profit margin in the equation. Ringing your local Protyre dealer with your best online price can give surprising results.

I tend to check:

Mytyres
Tyreleader
Lovetyres
Camskill
Protytre
Pneusonline
Openeo

I always prefer to use my local wheel refurbisher for any tyre fitting as they usually do a much better job in avoiding wheel damage and they don't jack the car on the sills.

Protyre were cheapest last year for supplying Michelin SuperSports, but when I needed another pair this year Mytyre beat them comfortably - the prices for tyres seem to be following the airline seat pricing model and varying quite a bit depending on when demand is high and what the current stock level is like.

Excellent list now archived.

Thanks!

[Veeayt]

Mr Scruff said:

It's tough though - the S8 now has 112k on the clock which is nothing, I suspect it will happily go on for another 100k as its had regular oil changes and proper maintenance.

My S6 put on 280K+ miles without excessive wear to the engine, which is basically the same as in yours. Though I change oil every 3000 miles because whenever it's driven, it's driven hard

[Motorrad]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Have you got a link?

[anonymous-user]

Mr Scruff said:

It's tough though - the S8 now has 112k on the clock which is nothing, I suspect it will happily go on for another 100k as its had regular oil changes and proper maintenance. In the 12 months I've owned it this is the only cost I've incurred other than petrol, but even then it's not too bad as I've only done 5k in 12 months. Air con is good, tyres have loads of life left, discs and pads can't have done more than 10k all told.

I'm telling myself that I'm thinking of selling it as I want something more practical, a hatchback or an estate which will fit more bikes/prams/general junk in but do I really need to? Chances are that this expenditure will give me another 12 months motoring with mininal additional costs (he says!).

Such is the dilemma of a barge owner I think! As the saying goes, it's a lot of car for the money.

Bugger, have I just talked myself out of selling it and even convinced myself that a £500ish bill is 'good value'?

S8 - terrible cars, I don't regret selling mine at all, no, not even a tiny little bit, nope... so tell you what, I'll save you the continued pain and take it off your hands for £501 - then you're net £1001 up .. (I may have some separation issues from my S8 even after a few years )

[E24man]

How many of the V8 S8's came with full electric rear seats? Are they a good alternative to a high spec E38 BMW?

[nickod]

r129sl said:

idiotgap said:

nickod said:

Sorry to go back a few pages but what are your opinions on buying a 107 500sl with 155k miles although in very good condition with lots of service history? I'm thinking its been used regularly so better than standing around but it's rare to see them with this mileage.

No worries at all, they're built like w123s and can take the mileage. They hide expensive to fix rust very well so get someone who really knows them inside out to check for you or spend time reading books and forums to make sure you know what to look for.

I'd regard it as an opportunity. Rust is the main problem with 107s and it does not discriminate by mileage. Any 155k mile car will need some attention. At best, the bodywork and interior will have "patina" and the there will be some worn long-term consumables (chiefly engine mounts, rear subframe mounts, steering box and links) in need of replacement. At worst you will have to do a substantial mechanical job. Best case is you need to spend two grand to have a mechanically perfect car (by which I mean perfect, way better than these unused garage queens); worst case you have to spend five grand to have a mechanically perfect car. Either way, it will be much cheaper than buying a lower miler, which will probably need much the same anyway.

For me, though, the attraction of high miles is in the character they give a car. High mileage cars are strong cars; they are the survivors. Imagine the journeys they have covered, the lovers they have carried, the families they have seen grow, the stories they would tell if only they could talk. I also love the satisfaction of bringing them back into condition and I sentimentally imagine they will repay my care with reliability and longevity. I know this is garbage but it has always been true for me: these cars have looked after me well.

fk it, it's about time I bought a care-worn 190 E.

Thanks for the views. I'm seriously considering it although its still over thread budget as its been resprayed, new hood , reconnolised etc . It is half the price though of what ones with 90-100k miles go for these days ( prices have got silly)