Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[MJK 24]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes, it's now a W124 Coupe running a 300 six pot turbo diesel. He's done a mountain of work to the car using only genuine parts so it looks factory. It's a great thread if you have an hour or do spare to read it.

[Motorrad]

jonah35 said:

£1500 plus vat down plus £170pm plus vat on 10k per year.

http://www.freedomcontracts.com/Volkswagen-Golf-2....

Some of the monthly cost reduced by no mot, full warranty and fuel will be cheaper.

Shame that isn't a private lease deal. Around 2500 for the deposit and 270 a month for someone who doesn't run a business.

My own man maths

BMW E39 525D Touring purchased 19 months ago, a low mileage car with the suspension totally refreshed before I bought it-covered about 10K miles in the time

Purchase price 2500 (so a deposit on a Golf R there in one hit!)
MOTx2(Halfords deal) 70
Oil/Filter changex2 (National voucher deal) 105
Tax (12 months as it had some on) 260
Service parts (wipers/airfilter,microfilter) 110
New carpet mats 11
New battery 115
Hedgehog 25
Diagnostic cable 15
4xNokian Winter tyres 300

Total 3511

retained value currently between 1200 and 1800 quid based on WBAC offer minus 10% and what I'd reasonably expect to get in a private sale.


Golf R over 19 months

Deposit 2500

270 quid a month rentx19 5130

Total 7630

So a little over double the cost, leaving out excess mileage costs which I'd be starting to pay now. Factor in the fact that something could go horribly wrong with my old, complex oil burner and it seems like a bargain to pay twice the price and you won't have had to drive around in an old diesel shed so probably worth it.

[Blown2CV]

E65Ross said:

Krikkit said:

jonah35 said:

Lol, golf r wins then!

To the other poster, my idea of bargain barging is buy a big v8 and run it for peanuts.

But, a golf r is far quicker, reliable, better on fuel, more technology etc. plus, its not embarrasing to the majority of the population who just see a 20 year old smoker whereas we see a lovely xjr or 750 etc.

£169.99 plus vat is cheapest ive seen a golf r for.

What's the initial sum down for these though? 204 PCM is a great deal, but only if you don't have to sacrifice your first-born at an altar in the VW showroom when you pick it up.

typical price seems to be nearer the £300+ mark for doing normal mileage of 10k/year with initial payment a bit under £3k.

35 months of £300/month = £10500 plus £3k deposit is £13500 over 3 years. Doubt over 3 years there'd be a big amount of difference in overall costs to be honest.

Could sell mine for £5k, put down deposit and that's a few months leasing already,

Mine was £1700 dep + £280pcm inc VAT, 10k PA. A touch under the miles I need but at the time I bought in March if you added even a few miles the price rocketed. However, discussing the merits of leasing in a barge thread is as equally disagreeable as turning up on a leasing thread telling everyone they're tools and should buy cash (happens a lot).

Edited by Blown2CV on Monday 29th September 08:08

[E65Ross]

jonah35 said:

E65Ross said:

Krikkit said:

jonah35 said:

Lol, golf r wins then!

To the other poster, my idea of bargain barging is buy a big v8 and run it for peanuts.

But, a golf r is far quicker, reliable, better on fuel, more technology etc. plus, its not embarrasing to the majority of the population who just see a 20 year old smoker whereas we see a lovely xjr or 750 etc.

£169.99 plus vat is cheapest ive seen a golf r for.

What's the initial sum down for these though? 204 PCM is a great deal, but only if you don't have to sacrifice your first-born at an altar in the VW showroom when you pick it up.

typical price seems to be nearer the £300+ mark for doing normal mileage of 10k/year with initial payment a bit under £3k.

35 months of £300/month = £10500 plus £3k deposit is £13500 over 3 years. Doubt over 3 years there'd be a big amount of difference in overall costs to be honest.

Could sell mine for £5k, put down deposit and that's a few months leasing already,

£1500 plus vat down plus £170pm plus vat on 10k per year.

http://www.freedomcontracts.com/Volkswagen-Golf-2....

Some of the monthly cost reduced by no mot, full warranty and fuel will be cheaper.

That's really quite cheap. Almost certainly cheaper than some of the barges on here. Since I got many things sorted last year on the E65 it's not really cost me a great deal this year.

Including a vehicle check service, oil and coolant change and bork it's cost £500 or so.

It is due new tyres soon which will bump that right up, but all cars need tyres (ok the 19s aren't cheap but 18s aren't much better).

It'll get a new fuel, air and microfilter when the tyres are done so that'll be a 4 figure bill. But excluding tyres this year is set to coat around £700 in servicing and bork, can't moan too much at that. It did cost me around £2k in the 1st few months though

[harry kular]

Calling Caruso, can you give out the contact details of that guy in Worthing with all the s124s in his yard? If not publicly, by PM please?

I've been trying to get a decent carpet set for the boot of my car for ages- it had a large ink stain on it when I bought it and really lets the whole car down. Hopefully this guy can help...

[harry kular]

mccrackenj said:

Maybe when I go to collect it we could meet up.

Let me know when you plan to call up. He's literally opposite Crescent Link retail park, so we could meet for a cuppa and poke around your new steed!

[Biglips]

I usually run a barge for myself (currently a V70) and a new car for my wife ( Mini Cooper S convertible). I think this model works well for us as I walk to work and so the barge is used for weekend family trips and runs to the tip therefore never going to affect work if off the road, whilst my wife has a reliable new car under warranty for her commute and on call shifts when she may need to be out and about late at night.

You must stick with the basic rules of barging though and not get attached to any vehicle emotionally. Only spend in the purchase price what you are comfortable to walk away from as Bork will arrive at some point as surely as night follows day. Move it on when a big bill comes in. There are lots of fantastic barges out there to try. I love old mercs but couldn't turn down this v70 as it was in such great condition and I have never had a Volvo before. I am really enjoying it.

Edited by Biglips on Monday 29th September 09:33

[sam303]

village idiot said:

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

Seems like a lot of relatively low mileage, fairly economical, low(ish) tax, not too old uber-barge metal for the money.

What am I missing?

These beasts can develop some expensive problems, but a sorted one is an absolute dream. My own - a 745i - chucked a four-figure bill at me on literally the first day of ownership but since that's been fixed it's been fantastic. Not sure how pokey the 3.0 is - might as well go the whole hog and get a V8

[bmthnick1981]

PlayersNo6 said:

bmthnick1981 said:

I think the lack of MOT on the E34 may hurt its value, suspect £1k tops? I will be there so will report back.

I bought a manual E34 525i SE manual on an N plate with long MOT and good history probably 12 months ago for £600, it was lovely and another I probably shouldn't have sold. Can't keep them all is the problem.

Speaking of which - currently high bidder on this; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-J-reg-Mercedes-500-...



Seller is Auto Direct of Amersham - Usman Azam.

Did you win it?

No, outbid. Interesting car, needed a few hundred on bodywork but fantastic history, 3 owners from new and 31 main dealer stamps, last only a few thousand miles ago.

[bmthnick1981]

MJK 24 said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes, it's now a W124 Coupe running a 300 six pot turbo diesel. He's done a mountain of work to the car using only genuine parts so it looks factory. It's a great thread if you have an hour or do spare to read it.

Got a link to said thread?

[r129sl]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[Zwolf]

jonah35 said:

Can some of you with a bargain barge show average monthly expenses over ownership (excluding fuel and insurance).

E38 750i at 121-123k miles.

Bought in June for £1,850. Sold in Sep for £2,850.
Insurance and breakdown cover for the period: £108.50
Fuel for the period and ~1,400 miles at an average 22mpg: ~£375.00
No bork or routine maintenance required: £0.00
VED: £126.50

So excluding fuel and insurance it cost me -£291.17pm to run (Including them it cost me -£130pm to run).

So yes it works out considerably cheaper than leasing anything for me. Rinse and repeat as required.

Of course it doesn't always work out so favourably, would only take a set of tyres, service and a few extras to tip the balance. But overall it tends to at least pay for itself for me, hence the addiction to bargain barging and a back catalogue of 38 old BMWs 1988-2002 to my name.

[r129sl]

If I may be so bold, how do you manage to uplift the price? Is it just a matter of thorough preparation, a well-drafted advertisement and your reputation?

I've always thought it would be possible given how poorly most of these cars are prepared and advertised. I really went to town in the advert for my 126 and was thrilled with the price I received for it.

[bmthnick1981]

Zwolf said:

jonah35 said:

Can some of you with a bargain barge show average monthly expenses over ownership (excluding fuel and insurance).

E38 750i at 121-123k miles.

Bought in June for £1,850. Sold in Sep for £2,850.
Insurance and breakdown cover for the period: £108.50
Fuel for the period and ~1,400 miles at an average 22mpg: ~£375.00
No bork or routine maintenance required: £0.00
VED: £126.50

So excluding fuel and insurance it cost me -£291.17pm to run (Including them it cost me -£130pm to run).

So yes it works out considerably cheaper than leasing anything for me. Rinse and repeat as required.

Of course it doesn't always work out so favourably, would only take a set of tyres, service and a few extras to tip the balance. But overall it tends to at least pay for itself for me, hence the addiction to bargain barging and a back catalogue of 38 old BMWs 1988-2002 to my name.

And the other side of the same coin (car)

E38 750i at 114,000 to 121,000 miles over 7 months

Bought for £1,500 sold for £1,850

Insurance for period - approx £300

Fuel, say, 7,000 miles at 25 mpg at £1.30 litre = approx £1,600

Maintenance and repairs, MOT etc = £1,635

Must be some tax in there but I can't recall, say £126.50

Total costs over 7 months £3,661.50. Seems a lot, but mostly funded through my business so not all bad. More expensive than leasing, but try leasing a double glazed 5.4 v12 with all the toys. Suspect that would cost a bit.

[bmthnick1981]

Actually that doesn't include the small £350 'profit' I made on sale and purchase, so total costs more like £3,300. A bargain I think you'll agree.

[E65Ross]

sam303 said:

These beasts can develop some expensive problems, but a sorted one is an absolute dream. My own - a 745i - chucked a four-figure bill at me on literally the first day of ownership but since that's been fixed it's been fantastic. Not sure how pokey the 3.0 is - might as well go the whole hog and get a V8

What, may I ask, was that 4 figure bill for? And how much was it exactly? Coolant leak fix? I dream the day this happens to mine! Though it doesn't use a drop of coolant. It leaks oil, but I checked yesterday and in the last 1200 miles or so it's used around 200ml,so no biggy really.

[Adrian E]

A service and cambelt change on any V8 is unlikely to leave change from 4 figures. I have a receipt for service, belt and new front discs and pads plus various recommissioning bits and bobs that came to £2.5k. It's all about the timing (previous owner picked up that bill!) - unfortunately I love mine so much that next year I will need to caugh up for another cambelt change....

[Gruber]

r129sl said:

If I may be so bold, how do you manage to uplift the price? Is it just a matter of thorough preparation, a well-drafted advertisement and your reputation?

I've always thought it would be possible given how poorly most of these cars are prepared and advertised. I really went to town in the advert for my 126 and was thrilled with the price I received for it.

Well I think we can discount it being his reputation...

[Stegel]

bmthnick1981 said:

Got a link to said thread?

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/135435/1988-merc-300cd-turbo-goldnbrown

One of the best RR threads - also check out the chap mating a 400e Thames campervan to a Lexus - his metalworking skills are superb.

[E65Ross]

Adrian E said:

A service and cambelt change on any V8 is unlikely to leave change from 4 figures. I have a receipt for service, belt and new front discs and pads plus various recommissioning bits and bobs that came to £2.5k. It's all about the timing (previous owner picked up that bill!) - unfortunately I love mine so much that next year I will need to caugh up for another cambelt change....

Just as well mine is chain driven then!