Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[derin100]

andy43 said:

Anyone fancy an Allard?
Not the prettiest, but it would certainly be a talking point. Once you've re-primered the bumper. It's an investment as well - the advert says so. Win-win.

Fu---ck me! That interior!
In 1997, before we moved there, we went to view a house Glasgow that had the exact same f'king interior!

[Max M4X WW]

r129sl said:

What worries me is there was very little warning. Last night, driving up from Brum, it lost all stability when I changed lanes on the M6 at about 90mph and there was noise, such that I stopped on the shoulder and checked for a puncture and loose wheel nuts but there was nothing. As I say, I then stopped in Penrith and had a really good look at it in the B&Q car park. I spoke to my mechanic who thought maybe a sphere had gone or the tie rod bush or a wheel bearing. I told him the wheel bearings had been done so we discounted that. When I set off again it was fine but would skip if I leant on one side in a corner. This made me think it was the tie rod. Then this morning, there was a ghastly noise which got worse. I was slowing down to stop to turn around and head home when it happened. Very little warning.

Sounds like a fair amount of warning to me! But at least it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Didn't realise how many miles you cover in the car!

[Baryonyx]

andy43 said:

Anyone fancy an Allard?
Not the prettiest, but it would certainly be a talking point. Once you've re-primered the bumper. It's an investment as well - the advert says so. Win-win.

I've never heard of them, but that is grim to look at.

[mccrackenj]

derin100 said:

andy43 said:

Anyone fancy an Allard?
Not the prettiest, but it would certainly be a talking point. Once you've re-primered the bumper. It's an investment as well - the advert says so. Win-win.

Fu---ck me! That interior!
In 1997, before we moved there, we went to view a house Glasgow that had the exact same f'king interior!

How in God's name could a wonderful old name like Allard be applied to that dreadful object? And, more to the point, why?

If you want a Lexus LS 400 then buy a LS400. If you want an Allard then stump up the cash for a 1950's American V8 in a British chassis and enjoy. There must be a whoosh parrot round the corner for me but I can't see it.

[NomduJour]

mccrackenj said:

How in God's name could a wonderful old name like Allard be applied to that dreadful object? And, more to the point, why?

To get some big manufacturer backing for the racing car, with a road car link.

[slippery]

r129sl said:

The joy of barging. This is how the love is repaid. Driving along, a bit of grinding, a bit of a wobble, then a thunk and the I'm stationary and being over-taken by my offside rear wheel. it's not quite clear what has happened or, more precisely, how it has happened. It appears the wheel bearing as given up the wheel has wobbled itself and the central part of the hub and disc off the car. Very tedious. The rear wheel bearings were replaced by Mercedes-Benz of Newcastle in November 2012 and have done about 55,000miles since then. Even so, it is somewhat disappointing that one of them has suffered this catastrophic failure. Fortunately I was only a mile from home, travelling slowly on an empty road. The possibilities do not bear thinking about.

Bloody hell!

[slippery]

Spent most of the day driving the FFRR we got yesterday, which is a lovely thing, albeit the lowly 3.0 TDV6 derivative. Tonight, I got into the C140 CL600, turned the key and was instantly reminded what a proper engine feels like. The FFRR has stop start when you are sat in traffic and gives a rude little cough when it cuts out and the same again when it cuts back in. In between those coughs is an eerie silence and lack of vibration. The same thing happens when you sit at the lights in the CL. The only difference is, you don't get the coughs, because the engine remains running. You just wouldn't know it. I feel so at home in a Bargain Barge.

[Stegel]

mccrackenj said:

Hi all!

Haven't posted on my own fleet for a while (and now posting on an infernal 'hand-held' contraption so forgive the grammatical or other wobblies) but the 500SEC might soon be for the 'heavenly garage'.

Commiserations - yesterday was a truly dreadful day for Bargists.

[r129sl]

Stegel said:

mccrackenj said:

Hi all!

Haven't posted on my own fleet for a while (and now posting on an infernal 'hand-held' contraption so forgive the grammatical or other wobblies) but the 500SEC might soon be for the 'heavenly garage'.

Commiserations - yesterday was a truly dreadful day for Bargists.

John, I feel for you with that car. It must have been cursed. I feel doubly bad because I was so enthusiastic about it. What a day.

To add insult to injury, we had a quote at last to repair the rodent damage to our modern Golf. After £500 of extermination and examination work, the garage can inform me with delight that the repair will be about £2,400. And that the car stinks (of decaying dead rodent). Great. Do I make an insurance claim or not? If I do, will they write it off? I'd like to think it's worth 6 but 5 is probably more realistic. I've never made an insurance claim before. What's the likely effect on all my other policies?

[Krikkit]

Commiserations to all you bargeists suffering at the moment, r129 your wheel bearing failure sounds rather spectacular and utterly terrifying.

slippery said:

Spent most of the day driving the FFRR we got yesterday, which is a lovely thing, albeit the lowly 3.0 TDV6 derivative. Tonight, I got into the C140 CL600, turned the key and was instantly reminded what a proper engine feels like. The FFRR has stop start when you are sat in traffic and gives a rude little cough when it cuts out and the same again when it cuts back in. In between those coughs is an eerie silence and lack of vibration. The same thing happens when you sit at the lights in the CL. The only difference is, you don't get the coughs, because the engine remains running. You just wouldn't know it. I feel so at home in a Bargain Barge.

I bet the economy isn't a million miles apart between the dag-equipped FFRR and the CL either! Is it an L322 that you've bought? Pics! (It is a kind of barge )

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

Stegel said:

mccrackenj said:

Hi all!

Haven't posted on my own fleet for a while (and now posting on an infernal 'hand-held' contraption so forgive the grammatical or other wobblies) but the 500SEC might soon be for the 'heavenly garage'.

Commiserations - yesterday was a truly dreadful day for Bargists.

John, I feel for you with that car. It must have been cursed. I feel doubly bad because I was so enthusiastic about it. What a day.

To add insult to injury, we had a quote at last to repair the rodent damage to our modern Golf. After £500 of extermination and examination work, the garage can inform me with delight that the repair will be about £2,400. And that the car stinks (of decaying dead rodent). Great. Do I make an insurance claim or not? If I do, will they write it off? I'd like to think it's worth 6 but 5 is probably more realistic. I've never made an insurance claim before. What's the likely effect on all my other policies?

Thanks for the commiserations Jonathan - same to you i.r.o. the wheel bearing/nut. Frightening what could have happened. That quote for rodent damage to the Golf is pretty frightening too!

I know it's illogical but sometimes you do think certain cars are just basically unlucky - this one certainly has been. Life's too short and I want back into a W124, preferably a saloon this time.

Re potential claim for your Golf, I haven't made a claim in over 20 years so wasn't sure what to expect - but put my details into a a few comparison sites with and without the claim and for most insurers it made a difference of around 20%. For the group of brands that are owned by 1 company (of which my insurer is one) the difference was identical each time: 46%.

It should only directly affect the one policy I believe, but of course declaring it will have an effect on all polocies at renewal. Hence for me it will not affect my NCD as the SEC is on a classic polic and there is no NCD, but it will affect the 'base' premium for that policy, my ordinary policy and my wife's policy on which I'm named driver.

Edited by mccrackenj on Thursday 29th January 08:40

[VolvoT5]

andy43 said:

Anyone fancy an Allard?
Not the prettiest, but it would certainly be a talking point. Once you've re-primered the bumper. It's an investment as well - the advert says so. Win-win.

I have to confess I have never heard of Allard or a LS400 Allard. That car looks a mess to my eyes.... paintwork needs a complete redo and the interior looks dated even for a 90s car. Why the hell is it worth 3k?

[funkyrobot]

What are these bad boys like?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

[r129sl]

mccrackenj said:

Thanks for the commiserations Jonathan - same to you i.r.o. the wheel bearing/nut. Frightening what could have happened. That quote for rodent damage to the Golf is pretty frightening too!

I know it's illogical but sometimes you do think certain cars are just basically unlucky - this one certainly has been. Life's too short and I want back into a W124, preferably a saloon this time.

Re potential claim for your Golf, I haven't made a claim in over 20 years so wasn't sure what to expect - but put my details into a a few comparison sites with and without the claim and for most insurers it made a difference of around 20%. For the group of brands that are owned by 1 company (of which my insurer is one) the difference was identical each time: 46%.

It should only directly affect the one policy I believe, but of course declaring it will have an effect on all polocies at renewal. Hence for me it will not affect my NCD as the SEC is on a classic polic and there is no NCD, but it will affect the 'base' premium for that policy, my ordinary policy and my wife's policy on which I'm named driver.

Edited by mccrackenj on Thursday 29th January 08:40

Re wheel bearing, I'm beating myself up because there were warning signs but I misinterpreted them. Next time I'll know, I suppose.

Re insurance, I never thought to try out some comparison sites. That is what I will do. The Golf has been unlucky for us. It cost a grand 18months ago to fix rodent damage. It cost a grand 12months ago when wife reversed it into brother's car. And it's dull. I'm minded to claim on the insurance and hope it gets written off. Thus providing a fund for titivating the 201 and 129. Sorry, I mean, thus providing a fund for constructing an en suite bathroom.

[slippery]

Krikkit said:

Commiserations to all you bargeists suffering at the moment, r129 your wheel bearing failure sounds rather spectacular and utterly terrifying.

slippery said:

Spent most of the day driving the FFRR we got yesterday, which is a lovely thing, albeit the lowly 3.0 TDV6 derivative. Tonight, I got into the C140 CL600, turned the key and was instantly reminded what a proper engine feels like. The FFRR has stop start when you are sat in traffic and gives a rude little cough when it cuts out and the same again when it cuts back in. In between those coughs is an eerie silence and lack of vibration. The same thing happens when you sit at the lights in the CL. The only difference is, you don't get the coughs, because the engine remains running. You just wouldn't know it. I feel so at home in a Bargain Barge.

I bet the economy isn't a million miles apart between the dag-equipped FFRR and the CL either! Is it an L322 that you've bought? Pics! (It is a kind of barge )

Not really for this thread, but it's this one and I can assure you that it drinks considerably less than the V12, but depreciates much faster!

Apologies for the naff pics. They were taken just after it arrived and when it had started to get a bit dark.

[r129sl]

slippery said:

Not really for this thread, but it's this one and I can assure you that it drinks considerably less than the V12, but depreciates much faster!

Apologies for the naff pics. They were taken just after it arrived and when it had started to get a bit dark.

Nice! Lovely to see one in colour for a change. I'd be interested in occasional updates being very much in two minds about this kind of car. How do you find the size?

[slippery]

r129sl said:

Nice! Lovely to see one in colour for a change. I'd be interested in occasional updates being very much in two minds about this kind of car. How do you find the size?

Early days, but it feels way more nimble than its size suggests. Certainly a much sharper steer than the L322, which actually felt bigger the this one from memory for some reason. There's no getting away from the fact that it's a big car when you want to park it somewhere, but rear camera and parking sensors are good, so it's ok as long as you aren't trying to squeeze a pint into a half pint glass! If you're ever in Norwich, drop me an email if you want to have a look/ride, Jonathan. Like me though, you'll always love a barge!

[r129sl]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

Thanks for the commiserations Jonathan - same to you i.r.o. the wheel bearing/nut. Frightening what could have happened. That quote for rodent damage to the Golf is pretty frightening too!

I know it's illogical but sometimes you do think certain cars are just basically unlucky - this one certainly has been. Life's too short and I want back into a W124, preferably a saloon this time.

Re potential claim for your Golf, I haven't made a claim in over 20 years so wasn't sure what to expect - but put my details into a a few comparison sites with and without the claim and for most insurers it made a difference of around 20%. For the group of brands that are owned by 1 company (of which my insurer is one) the difference was identical each time: 46%.

It should only directly affect the one policy I believe, but of course declaring it will have an effect on all polocies at renewal. Hence for me it will not affect my NCD as the SEC is on a classic polic and there is no NCD, but it will affect the 'base' premium for that policy, my ordinary policy and my wife's policy on which I'm named driver.

Edited by mccrackenj on Thursday 29th January 08:40

Re wheel bearing, I'm beating myself up because there were warning signs but I misinterpreted them. Next time I'll know, I suppose.

Re insurance, I never thought to try out some comparison sites. That is what I will do. The Golf has been unlucky for us. It cost a grand 18months ago to fix rodent damage. It cost a grand 12months ago when wife reversed it into brother's car. And it's dull. I'm minded to claim on the insurance and hope it gets written off. Thus providing a fund for titivating the 201 and 129. Sorry, I mean, thus providing a fund for constructing an en suite bathroom.

Hmm. Insurance on the 190 goes up from £230 to £390. No difference to the cost of insuring the (broken) 124. Don't know what the effect on the 129 policy would be. In the worst case, say annual costs across three cars go up by £500. It still makes sense to claim. Now all I need to do is cross my fingers they write it off.

[slippery]

Claim, Jonathan, it's what it's there for. As you've noted, it won't cost you as much as you stand to gain, particularly if you've got protected NCD.

[r129sl]

I haven't got a protected NCD unfortunately. At least I don't think I have. The Golf is insured in Lucy's name (as is the 190), so the effect on the costs of insuring the other cars (124 and 129 being in my name) is limited. It's a shame because she has maximum NCD on the Golf policy.

Why do I feel bad about making an insurance claim? I must be mad in this day and age.

Nice to hear about the RR. I do love my old cars but, the truth is, I just love cars and I find them all interesting. They're a bit like women in this respect: the one you haven't driven before always has an appeal, even if it's a clapped out old Fiesta (of course, the nice thing about a car is that you can take it for a drive with impunity).

Edited by r129sl on Thursday 29th January 09:47