Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[NickGibbs]

hornetrider said:

"The car is presented in..."

ARRRGGGHHHHH

That's what you took away from the description?! I've owned (a far rattier) one of these and that chap's write up made me want to press the button again. If only all ads were like this. (Okay without the 'presented in' - that is pretty teeth-grating)

[hornetrider]

No looks a cracker, I just hate that pseudo-dealer-speak.

Presented in my arse.

[BigBen]

Stegel said:

Barchettaman said:

I, for one, don´t mind seeing interesting cars on this thread that come in slightly over budget.

It´s the comments by the regular posters that are as amusing and interesting as the cars posted themselves.

Given we are now on volume 8 (I don't know how long since vol 1, page1 appeared) is an inflationary uplift on 1-5 about due?

I was thinking this recently. When the thread started one could purchase a very nice W140 S500 for sub £2k, not a chance these days, 7.5 large would perhaps be a better upper limit.

[BGarside]

Baryonyx said:

Why do you say that?

Probably the hideous fuel 'economy'. They achieved around 18mpg in one period road test I read.

Also not that quick, too heavy, lacking low-rev grunt, doesn't sound like a V8 and mega complicated. Most garages unfamiliar with the engine.

Would rather have a V5 or V6 personally...

[W00DY]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/r...

Magnificent.

[SpeckledJim]

Baryonyx said:

SpeckledJim said:

I suspect most of their owners wished they were a 1.9 TDi.

Why do you say that?

Just a bizarre combination of the alluring and mundane, mixed in just such a way that all the nut-grabbing highlights of the exotic parts were completely negated by a stifling blanket of VW's unique Special Ennui Sauce.

Such blanket not extending to the periphery, where quietly lay all the downsides of a jeffing Ferrari.

[Adrian E]

I got close enough to buying a W8 to go and test drive one and acquired all the spec info/brochures - was just waiting for the right one to come up. After test driving one I was a bit disappointed - it didn't feel quick enough to justify the fuel economy, nor particularly torquey compared to our then 1.8T Passat.

They have a few nice toys as standard over a boggo Passat, but the timing chains, sensor issues, gearbox failures on autos, are all expensive repairs on cars that you virtually can't give away. There's also very few with what I considered desirable options. I wanted x4 heated seats, nav, Recaro seats and preferably an estate. Think I saw one in that spec when I was looking and it sold before I could view it!

[Motorrad]

BigBen said:

I was thinking this recently. When the thread started one could purchase a very nice W140 S500 for sub £2k, not a chance these days, 7.5 large would perhaps be a better upper limit.

+1 I've also thought it. 7.5K would probably bring the thread back in line and differentiate it a little more from the retro cars thread.

RE: W8 passats- only seem worthwhile to me in estate and manual form which you almost never see.

[SpeckledJim]

r129sl said:

SpeckledJim said:

forzaminardi said:

Passat W8, only one I can see on sale anywhere in the country, and only 30 miles from me:



http://www.amberswoodmotors.co.uk/used/volkswagen/...

What say you, sirs?

Less everything than a 540i, but miles more expensive to run and not as nice to drive.

I say, err, you first.

But even more individual than a Citroen C6, no? And better in the snow than the BMW.

I'll certainly accept the point about the snow.

The W8 and C6 are arguably opposites in a way.

The Passat being determinedly weird to its core, but outwardly subscribing to the Daily Express and having a toaster with ears of wheat on. The C6 looking like a space-ship at the A-surface, but actually being reasonably sensible when not showing-off, like when in the bath, or deciding where to go on holiday.

[W00DY]

The W8 is brilliant for the madness of a such a motor juxtaposed with the world's most sensible car. It doesn't have to be good.

[mccrackenj]

mccrackenj said:

mccrackenj said:

Oak Green said:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175910/merc...

nice early low mileage 260E on Retrorides

I'm sure that's the same car I enquires about last time it was for sale, maybe a bit over a year ago? In South Yorkshire?

I'm very interested indeed, but I've also been pondering the Daniel Curnock 260. Anyone had any dealings with him?

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 22 February 14:13

I am currently 'in negotiations' . . . .

Well, ANOTHER THREAD PURCHASE!

Picking it up sometime next month. Now, where am I going to put it and what am I going to do with the SEC and R129?

It's an illness.

[hornetrider]

mccrackenj said:

mccrackenj said:

mccrackenj said:

Oak Green said:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175910/merc...

nice early low mileage 260E on Retrorides

I'm sure that's the same car I enquires about last time it was for sale, maybe a bit over a year ago? In South Yorkshire?

I'm very interested indeed, but I've also been pondering the Daniel Curnock 260. Anyone had any dealings with him?

Edited by mccrackenj on Sunday 22 February 14:13

I am currently 'in negotiations' . . . .

Well, ANOTHER THREAD PURCHASE!

Picking it up sometime next month. Now, where am I going to put it and what am I going to do with the SEC and R129?

It's an illness.

Outstanding dedication to the cause, sir! I'm guessing you don't have a wife.

[Oak Green]

Congrats, look like a good 'un.

[W00DY]

Motorrad said:

BigBen said:

I was thinking this recently. When the thread started one could purchase a very nice W140 S500 for sub £2k, not a chance these days, 7.5 large would perhaps be a better upper limit.

+1 I've also thought it. 7.5K would probably bring the thread back in line and differentiate it a little more from the retro cars thread.

RE: W8 passats- only seem worthwhile to me in estate and manual form which you almost never see.

For illustrative purposes £7.5k would allow this:




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300E-24-Tw...


But given the looming ban-hammer I won't post it as a candidate for this thread

[mccrackenj]

hornetrider said:

Outstanding dedication to the cause, sir! I'm guessing you don't have a wife.

She's given up, just rolls her eyes now. Also, I'm 50 this year and I told her this was my Birthday present.

And I promised to sell the SEC, which will be fully repaired and restored to it's former glory the week after next.

[SpeckledJim]

mccrackenj said:

hornetrider said:

Outstanding dedication to the cause, sir! I'm guessing you don't have a wife.

She's given up, just rolls her eyes now. Also, I'm 50 this year and I told her this was my Birthday present.

And I promised to sell the SEC, which will be fully repaired and restored to it's former glory the week after next.

Because of what you've spent though, you'll need to ask way more than a realistic price, and so its long-term parking in the Barn of Dreams is assured.

[Motorrad]

W00DY said:

For illustrative purposes £7.5k would allow this:




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300E-24-Tw...


But given the looming ban-hammer I won't post it as a candidate for this thread

Well I like that- a lot, reason enough for the thread limit to be raised.

That said I reckon a rise from 1 to 2 grand for the entry level would also make sense and move the thread away from the sub 1K bargains thread.

[r129sl]

W00DY said:

Motorrad said:

BigBen said:

I was thinking this recently. When the thread started one could purchase a very nice W140 S500 for sub £2k, not a chance these days, 7.5 large would perhaps be a better upper limit.

+1 I've also thought it. 7.5K would probably bring the thread back in line and differentiate it a little more from the retro cars thread.

RE: W8 passats- only seem worthwhile to me in estate and manual form which you almost never see.

For illustrative purposes £7.5k would allow this:




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300E-24-Tw...


But given the looming ban-hammer I won't post it as a candidate for this thread

I was just about to post this and bust the budget myself. That's what budgets are for, right? Personally, I'd value it closer to £5k than £7.5k anyway. What do the threadists (my auto correct always changes threadist to therapist, more appropriately than it realises, I'm sure) reckon to it? Oa, how do you think your 300 E would handle 340bhp? It would certainly be interesting in the wet.

[E65Ross]

SpeckledJim said:

r129sl said:

SpeckledJim said:

forzaminardi said:

Passat W8, only one I can see on sale anywhere in the country, and only 30 miles from me:



http://www.amberswoodmotors.co.uk/used/volkswagen/...

What say you, sirs?

Less everything than a 540i, but miles more expensive to run and not as nice to drive.

I say, err, you first.

But even more individual than a Citroen C6, no? And better in the snow than the BMW.

I'll certainly accept the point about the snow.

I'd probably rather buy the car that was better for 360 days of the year than one that would be better for 5 days of the year, though. That ad get some winter tyres or a cheap 4x4

[W00DY]

r129sl said:

I was just about to post this and bust the budget myself. That's what budgets are for, right? Personally, I'd value it closer to £5k than £7.5k anyway. What do the threadists (my auto correct always changes threadist to therapist, more appropriately than it realises, I'm sure) reckon to it? Oa, how do you think your 300 E would handle 340bhp? It would certainly be interesting in the wet.

Apart from the tailpipes I love it. A W124 in those colours with a big name turbo conversion is pure late 80s magic (yes, I know).