Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[KrisP]

sam303 said:

Zwolf said:

• Which* "55"? *Which* "63"?

The normally aspirated 55 or the supercharged one? The latter sounds notably better than the former that in most applications isn't much more noteworthy than a regular Merc lump.

However, the 6.2 NA V8 "63" sounds bloody marvellous in all its applications, but the 5.5 biturbo "63" of recent years is much less interesting than either the old supercharged 5.4 or NA V8.

Well for the information of anyone interested, a man is bringing a CLS63 AMG to my house this afternoon to see if I like it. If I do I may buy it from him. It's this one: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Oh that does look nice. Wheels not my cuppa, but aside from that, these cls/e 63's are really floating my boat at the moment. I'd live to hear a full and detailed appraisal if you'd be so kind

[Blown2CV]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

they'd be more likely to make a 2.5 turbo or something.

[Hamsternator]

Is this a bad idea? Seems a bit...cheap?

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

[0a]

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

[RenesisEvo]

I know we're straying out of thread budget, but with all the talk of CLS, I got a bit weak at the knees when I stumbled on this:

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

True story - it took so long to find the E39 M5 that I very nearly bought a CLS500. There was a beautiful silver, AMG-kit one nearby that I arranged to test drive on a Saturday (earliest I could get there). The week goes by, then I got a voicemail on the Friday afternoon saying it was sold. I felt gutted, but in many ways it's a good thing, as a little later I found the perfect E39 for me. The way prices of the CLS55 and CLS63 are going I can see them coming onto my radar in the next few years. Especially ones like the above - mercifully devoid of the awful wood steering wheels that afflict a large number of them.

[4941cc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yep, A45 engine and paddles.

>stiflesayawnofmassivedisinterest<

The last Merc six pot with a manual 'box combo that I can think of was the R170 SLK320 (which was horrible, the auto was more suited by far), no idea if they followed suit with the R171 280/350.

[masermartin]

To be fair, even though it's a 4-pot, the A45 on full chat still sounds quite interesting - BWOOAAAAAARRR *snort* BWOOOOOOAAAAAAARRR ... It really does sound different to anything else from the outside IMO.

[KrisP]

RenesisEvo said:

I know we're straying out of thread budget, but with all the talk of CLS, I got a bit weak at the knees when I stumbled on this:

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

True story - it took so long to find the E39 M5 that I very nearly bought a CLS500. There was a beautiful silver, AMG-kit one nearby that I arranged to test drive on a Saturday (earliest I could get there). The week goes by, then I got a voicemail on the Friday afternoon saying it was sold. I felt gutted, but in many ways it's a good thing, as a little later I found the perfect E39 for me. The way prices of the CLS55 and CLS63 are going I can see them coming onto my radar in the next few years. Especially ones like the above - mercifully devoid of the awful wood steering wheels that afflict a large number of them.

I saw that one myself earlier, lovely colour

[r129sl]

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

[cat220]

All this AMG chat, currently up the North west coast of Scotland with the e55 (w210) the roads are just fantastic, think I passed one car heading south to Ullapool, the 5.4 n/a is a total joy, makes a lovely noise when pushing on and provides mountains of torque across the rev range. Even fully loaded makes for very brisk overtaking.
The 55k in w211 form would seem a natural progression perhaps in a few years. The chap I bought the w210 from had bought a 55k, he did say he very rarely got to exploit the 476bhp, only been in one briefly and it was an absolute monster.

[E65Ross]

r129sl said:

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

Tesla. All electric car.

[Krikkit]

r129sl said:

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

It's a Tesla model S: http://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/models

The P85 is the highest-powered and most mental of them all, with 691hp. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

RenesisEvo said:

I know we're straying out of thread budget, but with all the talk of CLS, I got a bit weak at the knees when I stumbled on this:

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

Gorgeous find, I was just looking at the same thing on AT myself! CLS55 is mighty high on my list of barges, the original review car that Clarkson had on top gear which was black with tan interior (and a black steering wheel) was perfect.

[E65Ross]

Krikkit said:

r129sl said:

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

It's a Tesla model S: http://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/models

The P85 is the highest-powered and most mental of them all, with 691hp. http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

RenesisEvo said:

I know we're straying out of thread budget, but with all the talk of CLS, I got a bit weak at the knees when I stumbled on this:

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

Gorgeous find, I was just looking at the same thing on AT myself! CLS55 is mighty high on my list of barges, the original review car that Clarkson had on top gear which was black with tan interior (and a black steering wheel) was perfect.

I think that's the P85+, but I am probably mistaken...?

[Stegel]

E65Ross said:

Tesla. All electric car.

Crikey - peering on the phone earlier, I thought it was the new small Jag! Must get my eyes tested! The comment about performance from 5mph makes sense now.

[0a]

r129sl said:

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

At the risk of derailing the thread, I was also fairly ignorant about these cars, but was intrigued enough to take the opportunity to drive one. I know Tesla via my work, but had assumed it had around 300 bhp. It was the P85 performance model which has 470bhp and does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, as I discovered when applying full power within 20 seconds of getting in (I was encouraged to do so by the Tesla person!).

As I am sure many know, my tastes are older barges. Modern ones don't do it for me like a nice old merc or BMW. I removed the electric car forum from my preferences!

The Tesla really is quite something though. E60 M5 performance available instantly at lower speeds, the ability to demolish pretty much anything else, but with a spacious interior able to seat 5+2 (the car I drove had 2 kids seats in the back). And it will do 300+ miles for around £12. Absolutely remarkable.

The performance and ease of drive, the economy and range, and the refinement simply demolish the internal combustion engine. I have no doubt that sooner than we think there will be no luxury car in production which uses petrol or diesel.

I wouldn't use a world like 'soulless' or anything, but the Tesla has evolved beyond engine noise or a need for skill to drive it quickly. I therefore stepped out and felt a little sad that this kind of car will end the conventionally engined car by being such a significant leap forward.

[sickrabbit]

How about this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-BMW-635-CSI-Project...

[Krikkit]

sickrabbit said:

How about this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-BMW-635-CSI-Project...

Seriously? That's almost completely rotten! You'd have to be a complete lunatic to buy that with less than £10k and a very friendly bodyshop to help you out...

[r129sl]

0a said:

r129sl said:

0a said:

Well that was a bit of a contrast to my W124! I've just driven the P85 below, very amusing putting your foot to the floor at 5mph with 4 people in it... then slowing down and doing the same. Nice to drive something new without a diesel engine, very refined.

Showing my ignorance, but what is it? who makes it?

At the risk of derailing the thread, I was also fairly ignorant about these cars, but was intrigued enough to take the opportunity to drive one. I know Tesla via my work, but had assumed it had around 300 bhp. It was the P85 performance model which has 470bhp and does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, as I discovered when applying full power within 20 seconds of getting in (I was encouraged to do so by the Tesla person!).

As I am sure many know, my tastes are older barges. Modern ones don't do it for me like a nice old merc or BMW. I removed the electric car forum from my preferences!

The Tesla really is quite something though. E60 M5 performance available instantly at lower speeds, the ability to demolish pretty much anything else, but with a spacious interior able to seat 5+2 (the car I drove had 2 kids seats in the back). And it will do 300+ miles for around £12. Absolutely remarkable.

The performance and ease of drive, the economy and range, and the refinement simply demolish the internal combustion engine. I have no doubt that sooner than we think there will be no luxury car in production which uses petrol or diesel.

I wouldn't use a world like 'soulless' or anything, but the Tesla has evolved beyond engine noise or a need for skill to drive it quickly. I therefore stepped out and felt a little sad that this kind of car will end the conventionally engined car by being such a significant leap forward.

I didn't know it was a Tesla but I like the idea and, obviously, I have read about them. My concern about Tesla was that it was all going to be a big James Bond villain style fraud. Once you can give it range and "refuelling", electric power obviously is better than the internal combustion engine for almost all applications but especially barge ones. Give it 500mile range and 60minute (i.e. a working lunch) recharging and it becomes unquestionable. What is the seating arrangement? Again, sounds interesting.

[Krikkit]

Seats are a regular 5 with reverse-facing fold-outs in the boot for another two kiddy seats.

Imo these are perfect as commuter-type or everyday cars, I'd have one! Once you have an easy 350 mile range that's more than I'd ever need in a day in the UK. A little bit short for cross-continental work, but that's a very rare thing indeed for me. I'd love an electric car for quiet, economical wafting.

[0a]

Their 'supercharger' is claimed to give 50% charge in 20 minutes. This is the projected network in 2016:



My highlands trip would have not been possible, but for most people a 300+ mile range is far more than they ever need.