Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[olly755]

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.





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

Couldn't find a spot of rust anywhere, the wings, arch lips, tailgate, window surrounds, all mint. And the interior looks as good as new. 4 branded tyres all round (all excellent), and no steamed windows even at 0800hrs this morning, so guessing it's not a leaky old thing.

I've owned a '124 E280 before, so know what to expect from the drive. But the biggest concern would be the powerplant. The lack of power of the 230 wouldn't concern me in the slightest, but are the 4 pots coarse and/or noisy, or fairly benign?

[olly755]

Also, this P38 is just around the corner from the Merc..





http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Liking how the cloth/manual combo reflects the ethos of the original, plus 10+ year ownership, well shod, and looks like money has been spent whenever needed.

Tempting winter hack.

[derin100]

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.





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

Couldn't find a spot of rust anywhere, the wings, arch lips, tailgate, window surrounds, all mint. And the interior looks as good as new. 4 branded tyres all round (all excellent), and no steamed windows even at 0800hrs this morning, so guessing it's not a leaky old thing.

I've owned a '124 E280 before, so know what to expect from the drive. But the biggest concern would be the powerplant. The lack of power of the 230 wouldn't concern me in the slightest, but are the 4 pots coarse and/or noisy, or fairly benign?

No, I had a 230CE and to be honest I liked it more than the 3.0L in my 300CE or the 3.2L in my wife's E320 Estate! I have yet to be impressed by a Merc 6-cylinder engine (compared with for example, a BMW 6 cylinder). However, the 2.3L was impressive. It didn't feel like a 4-pot...even my BMW mechanic commented to that effect when he drove it and what seems like a paltry 300cc increase over the 2.0L version (as I had in three of the 190Es that I had) belies the difference in the way the engine felt in its 2.3L guise.

[r129sl]

derin100 said:

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.





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

Couldn't find a spot of rust anywhere, the wings, arch lips, tailgate, window surrounds, all mint. And the interior looks as good as new. 4 branded tyres all round (all excellent), and no steamed windows even at 0800hrs this morning, so guessing it's not a leaky old thing.

I've owned a '124 E280 before, so know what to expect from the drive. But the biggest concern would be the powerplant. The lack of power of the 230 wouldn't concern me in the slightest, but are the 4 pots coarse and/or noisy, or fairly benign?

No, I had a 230CE and to be honest I liked it more than the 3.0L in my 300CE or the 3.2L in my wife's E320 Estate! I have yet to be impressed by a Merc 6-cylinder engine (compared with for example, a BMW 6 cylinder). However, the 2.3L was impressive. It didn't feel like a 4-pot...even my BMW mechanic commented to that effect when he drove it and what seems like a paltry 300cc increase over the 2.0L version (as I had in three of the 190Es that I had) belies the difference in the way the engine felt in its 2.3L guise.

The four is nice and smooth unless it is stretched. It's a fine engine to drive sedately. But thrash it and is like any other 4: dull and droney. The interior of that car—indestructible MB-Tex—looks particularly nice.

[Lowtimer]

I have to say that back when they were all new, my uncle had a pre-facelift 230E followed by a facelift 260E and then a 300E, all of which I drove from time to time. The 230E was perfectly OK, but the one with the smoothest and loveliest engine by far was the 260E.

I am told that the later 220E four-cylinder was an improvement over the 230E but I've never had my hands on one.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.

You need to get that bought.

Might be worth asking why the front towing eye cover is missing, but otherwise that looks great. I can vouch for the appeal of MB-tex in a utilitarian car.

[W00DY]

olly755 said:

Also, this P38 is just around the corner from the Merc..





http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Liking how the cloth/manual combo reflects the ethos of the original, plus 10+ year ownership, well shod, and looks like money has been spent whenever needed.

Tempting winter hack.

It's nice to see such a utilitarian example (although the plastic wheel is a bit grim), but I wonder whether you'd be forever stirring the 'box in order to try to eke out some sort of performance.


A P38 is one of those cars that I'd love to try, but not sure I want to own: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[Chicane-UK]

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.





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

Couldn't find a spot of rust anywhere, the wings, arch lips, tailgate, window surrounds, all mint. And the interior looks as good as new. 4 branded tyres all round (all excellent), and no steamed windows even at 0800hrs this morning, so guessing it's not a leaky old thing.

I've owned a '124 E280 before, so know what to expect from the drive. But the biggest concern would be the powerplant. The lack of power of the 230 wouldn't concern me in the slightest, but are the 4 pots coarse and/or noisy, or fairly benign?

I had a 1991 200TE for a year or so. To be honest I never felt that it seemed under powered despite the (compared to other models) weedy engine. I found the engine to be very smooth and refined for a 4 pot and the power comes in quite nicely at the top end

[MJK 24]

derin100 said:

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.





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

Couldn't find a spot of rust anywhere, the wings, arch lips, tailgate, window surrounds, all mint. And the interior looks as good as new. 4 branded tyres all round (all excellent), and no steamed windows even at 0800hrs this morning, so guessing it's not a leaky old thing.

I've owned a '124 E280 before, so know what to expect from the drive. But the biggest concern would be the powerplant. The lack of power of the 230 wouldn't concern me in the slightest, but are the 4 pots coarse and/or noisy, or fairly benign?

No, I had a 230CE and to be honest I liked it more than the 3.0L in my 300CE or the 3.2L in my wife's E320 Estate! I have yet to be impressed by a Merc 6-cylinder engine (compared with for example, a BMW 6 cylinder). However, the 2.3L was impressive. It didn't feel like a 4-pot...even my BMW mechanic commented to that effect when he drove it and what seems like a paltry 300cc increase over the 2.0L version (as I had in three of the 190Es that I had) belies the difference in the way the engine felt in its 2.3L guise.

I have a W124 230e and echo all Derin has stated. Quiet, smooth motorway cruiser that'll return 34mpg on a legal motorway cruise.

[SpeckledJim]

W00DY said:

olly755 said:

Also, this P38 is just around the corner from the Merc..





http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Liking how the cloth/manual combo reflects the ethos of the original, plus 10+ year ownership, well shod, and looks like money has been spent whenever needed.

Tempting winter hack.

It's nice to see such a utilitarian example (although the plastic wheel is a bit grim), but I wonder whether you'd be forever stirring the 'box in order to try to eke out some sort of performance.


A P38 is one of those cars that I'd love to try, but not sure I want to own: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I want to like it, but the billy basic spec just has too much feeling of Rover 213 / Maestro / general half-arsed british mediocrity.

But when enough wood and leather has been thrown at it, that endearing crapness is just-about drowned out.

[E65Ross]

MJK 24 said:

I have a W124 230e and echo all Derin has stated. Quiet, smooth motorway cruiser that'll return 34mpg on a legal motorway cruise.

That really doesn't seem economical for a 4 pot, even one at that age of car!

[cat220]

SpeckledJim said:

W00DY said:

olly755 said:

Also, this P38 is just around the corner from the Merc..





http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Liking how the cloth/manual combo reflects the ethos of the original, plus 10+ year ownership, well shod, and looks like money has been spent whenever needed.

Tempting winter hack.

It's nice to see such a utilitarian example (although the plastic wheel is a bit grim), but I wonder whether you'd be forever stirring the 'box in order to try to eke out some sort of performance.


A P38 is one of those cars that I'd love to try, but not sure I want to own: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

I want to like it, but the billy basic spec just has too much feeling of Rover 213 / Maestro / general half-arsed british mediocrity.

But when enough wood and leather has been thrown at it, that endearing crapness is just-about drowned out.

Throw a muddy track or icy hill in front of it and that would all be forgotten. I'd happily smoke around in that.

[Lowtimer]

E65Ross said:

That really doesn't seem economical for a 4 pot, even one at that age of car!

I think you are not properly setting it in historical context. My 1256 cc Chevette did 28 mpg on normal motorway runs, my 1600 cc Mark II Escort did 29 mpg, my 2.2 Manta did 29 mpg. My 1300 Fiat Uno would do 38 mpg, but look at the difference in size and performance.

[radiodanno]

E65Ross said:

That really doesn't seem economical for a 4 pot, even one at that age of car!

It's the four speed auto innit.

Still at £1500 that's priced to drive itself off of the forecourt this weekend.

[cat220]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.

You need to get that bought.

Might be worth asking why the front towing eye cover is missing, but otherwise that looks great. I can vouch for the appeal of MB-tex in a utilitarian car.

Agreed, otherwise that will go this weekend and turn up again in a few weeks up at 2.5-3k!

[E65Ross]

Lowtimer said:

E65Ross said:

That really doesn't seem economical for a 4 pot, even one at that age of car!

I think you are not properly setting it in historical context. My 1256 cc Chevette did 28 mpg on normal motorway runs, my 1600 cc Mark II Escort did 29 mpg, my 2.2 Manta did 29 mpg. My 1300 Fiat Uno would do 38 mpg, but look at the difference in size and performance.

Friends old E30 318is used to get way more than that though on a legal motorway cruise. I appreciate it's a smaller car.

[Nuttah]

cat220 said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

olly755 said:

Chaps, been for a walk around this 230 this morning.

You need to get that bought.

Might be worth asking why the front towing eye cover is missing, but otherwise that looks great. I can vouch for the appeal of MB-tex in a utilitarian car.

Agreed, otherwise that will go this weekend and turn up again in a few weeks up at 2.5-3k!

Absoultly that is a beauty and a billy bargain at that price! If it wasn't so far away and i wasn't in the process closing the sale of a house and worried about moving within the next couple of weeks i would snap it up!

[MJK 24]

E65Ross said:

MJK 24 said:

I have a W124 230e and echo all Derin has stated. Quiet, smooth motorway cruiser that'll return 34mpg on a legal motorway cruise.

That really doesn't seem economical for a 4 pot, even one at that age of car!

It is a 4 speed auto and does 3,500rpm at 70mph.

[r129sl]

evoivboy said:

JZZ30 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C571716#

Not sure if deserves a spot in this thread, but I quite like it, and its very cheap.

iv'e just got one of these



swapped it with this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-Swift-1-0-GLS-3dr...


think i did ok
few bits need doing but drives superb

I think it's fair to say you definitely did OK. Had it been the other way round...

[W00DY]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C578203

This looks fantastic.