Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[CharlesdeGaulle]

W00DY said:

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

This looks tidy.

Looks good.
Vendor: Chelsea Imports. Not sure why it should put me off, but it does. NI plates do too; again, not sure why. (Apologies to our NI chums).

[harrykul]

None taken, when I see them on the mainland it just looks wrong to me...

[Easternlight]

olly755 said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-523I-SE-TOURING-AUTO...

I like this. Light spec, simple lines, small wheels, subtle colours.

A great family bus, and completely unembarrassing to own. Keep it clean and it would look right parked anywhere.

Just finished at £1.301.00

[BlueMR2]

idiotgap said:

A very good friend of mine (school mate and best man) is selling his S124. He's a lapsed MB Club member and serial S124 owner - his last one was suspected stolen to order and shipped south. He's now hankering after an S210 and looking to sell.

Cosmetically, this one isn't concours and at £1.1k I'll probably mention it in the bargain thread as well but I know he's put money into the mechanicals with a long-term view.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C605906

Edited by idiotgap on Monday 20th April 17:49

Looks quite nice, the 300-24 engine couldn't be that hard to transplant from my lowish mileage saloon right? Add the alloys with nearly new tyres, 4 pot brake upgrades etc. Would make a nice car.

[BlueMR2]

W00DY said:

Krikkit said:

Rincewind209 said:

I can see where your coming from about the concours thing. An acquaintance had (maybe still has as I haven't bumped into in a while), an Escort Mexico. It was nice and in superb condition. But if he drove it anywhere he claimed it took two weeks to properly clean it all. I used nod and say all the right things at this point but couldn't help thinking the man was insane. Nice car though and certainly a good investment.

Concours is for the mega-rich really - get someone else to spend weeks cleaning it up before the competition.

If that's a thing I reckon I'll stick with being poor. Get someone else to spend a long time making your car look like it's never been used to stand around while someone judges how unused it looks before pouting it away again ready fro the next event? Sounds like a blast.

From the bargain thread:




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

If it was closer and I had the money something like this could be a nice if slow car.

My parents 500SE was their favourite car and it was nice to drive but the green wiring killed it, I know the 280 wouldn't be ideal but as an everyday car probably more sensible on the fuel.
If its actually a nice car with working Air Con, all the better.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Not a barge per se, but it has velour, rear seats, is a Merc, and is an unfancied model.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C606013





Most likely a dog, and I'd walk round that with a magnet, but if has an MOT could be cheap and cheerful.

[Rincewind209]

A BMW 760iL on EBAY, still 6 days to go but stuff from these guys generally goes cheap as they are straight from Auction. Reporting a slight mis-fire at 50mph so bravery needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-760-LI-AUTO-BLA...

Edited by Rincewind209 on Tuesday 21st April 09:09

[sly fox]

Rincewind209 said:

A BMW 760iL on EBAY, still 6 days to go but stuff from these guys generally goes cheap as they are straight from Auction. Reporting a slight mis-fire at 50mph so bravery needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-760-LI-AUTO-BLA...

Edited by Rincewind209 on Tuesday 21st April 09:09

Bravery needed? Chuck Norris levels of bravery surely?

[SilverSixer]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

SilverSixer said:

Thoughts from the experts please, I'm tempted with this:

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

Too expensive? Too thirsty? Not enough grunt? Electrical problems? Timing chain issues?

Very near to me and very tempting. To be used daily, mostly urban, 10k miles a year. Couple of long holiday runs to the continent.

Wallet itch.

I'd absolutely defer to confused buyer in terms of a genuine expert, but I reckon that for what it seems you want it for it looks OK.

Small engine in a big car, but decent spec. Looks modern and free from rust. You'd need to look at what else is out there to get a feel for whether it's cheap or not, but I suspect it would fill your needs very competently, and I think it looks more classy and up-market than many newer cars.

As an aside, idiotgap's friend's (I had to think about apostrophes) S124 would do the same thing for 20% of the cost if your family can bear the shame of rusty wings.

I see your point but I'm thinking of replacing an existing old car which throws up niggles which take time to fix and necessitate trips to a specialist every few months. Time off the road gives me problems with school run/commute etc. More modern car desired.

[Rincewind209]

Having properly per used EBAY for the first time in a while I think it's safe to say that Summer is almost here. The number of rusty CLK's advertised so optimistically is incredible.

[hornetrider]

sly fox said:

Rincewind209 said:

A BMW 760iL on EBAY, still 6 days to go but stuff from these guys generally goes cheap as they are straight from Auction. Reporting a slight mis-fire at 50mph so bravery needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-760-LI-AUTO-BLA...

Edited by Rincewind209 on Tuesday 21st April 09:09

Bravery needed? Chuck Norris levels of bravery surely?

I don't think Chuck would go near that with several very long poles. You'll also be bidding against the wall with that seller.

[Rincewind209]

hornetrider said:

sly fox said:

Rincewind209 said:

A BMW 760iL on EBAY, still 6 days to go but stuff from these guys generally goes cheap as they are straight from Auction. Reporting a slight mis-fire at 50mph so bravery needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-760-LI-AUTO-BLA...

Edited by Rincewind209 on Tuesday 21st April 09:09

Bravery needed? Chuck Norris levels of bravery surely?

I don't think Chuck would go near that with several very long poles. You'll also be bidding against the wall with that seller.

To be fair to them all they ask is you go and look. They don't give you the hard sell if you don't like it. A friend of mine has bought two Passat's off them. One he bought twice. He went to look at it and reported to them as having a gearbox fault. They re-listed with the gearbox fault noted and he got it a second time much cheaper. So this 760 has probably been rejected once.

[BigBen]

Rincewind209 said:

hornetrider said:

sly fox said:

Rincewind209 said:

A BMW 760iL on EBAY, still 6 days to go but stuff from these guys generally goes cheap as they are straight from Auction. Reporting a slight mis-fire at 50mph so bravery needed.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-760-LI-AUTO-BLA...

Edited by Rincewind209 on Tuesday 21st April 09:09

Bravery needed? Chuck Norris levels of bravery surely?

I don't think Chuck would go near that with several very long poles. You'll also be bidding against the wall with that seller.

To be fair to them all they ask is you go and look. They don't give you the hard sell if you don't like it. A friend of mine has bought two Passat's off them. One he bought twice. He went to look at it and reported to them as having a gearbox fault. They re-listed with the gearbox fault noted and he got it a second time much cheaper. So this 760 has probably been rejected once.

My colleague bought a car from them then found it did not have the two keys per the advert. They thought the key was still with the auction house but if it had not turned up they were prepared to pay the £200 odd for a new one. Decent service and up front about what they do and don't offer IMO.

[Krikkit]

I've heard the same about them - no-nonsense, honest sellers.

[dbdb]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Not a barge per se, but it has velour, rear seats, is a Merc, and is an unfancied model.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C606013





Most likely a dog, and I'd walk round that with a magnet, but if has an MOT could be cheap and cheerful.

These are one of my favourite Mercedes models.

[SilverSixer]

confused_buyer said:

0a said:

A friend of mine had a c200 (or 180?) kompressor from the same era and it was a nasty sounding engine that gave poor fuel efficiency. I would imagine this would be as bad in the E class chassis.

From that era it should be a M271. They are all 1.8 litre and are badged in various Mercs as 180,200 or 230 depending on state of tune.

I haven't encountered many in an E Class but they're OK in a C where more usually found. They're a bit whiney and the timing chains have been known to have issues but they're pretty good on fuel. A C180/C200 Auto can easily do 40-45mpg on a run and high 30's in mixed diving.

They're way better on fuel than the pre-2003 180/200/230 Kompressors if not quite as reliable.

Cheers, CB.

This might be a better bet, needs a damned good clean though, and a tow bar is always a worry, rightly or wrongly.

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

[r129sl]

I am back from another long trip in my barge. 2,300miles in a week, including 980 miles in 30hours on the return journey. In best barge fashion, the air con failed just when I needed it.

Anyway, despite the car getting us and an awful lot of our possessions to south west France and back without fail and at some speed, I started to doubt the wisdom of entrusting my family to a 22 year old machine with 305,000miles on the clock. I also feel I could do with a bit more "in reserve" on those long, steep autoroute gradients. It's dispiriting watching the needle sink from 95 to 80 while the temperature gauge climbs. I love the way my SL500 absolutely mullers gradients. I have started thinking about a S211. I'd like an E500 Elegance, preferably a facelift, preferably a 5.5litre version. But they don't seem to exist. Maybe I just need always to be buying cars.

Anyway, I came across this which is almost within budget and looks spiffing. Dark blue over cream (what did they call it? "shell" or something?) with only 25,000miles up. Smooth and satisfying, I should imagine, if not very rapid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E320-Elega...

[BigBen]

r129sl said:

I am back from another long trip in my barge. 2,300miles in a week, including 980 miles in 30hours on the return journey. In best barge fashion, the air con failed just when I needed it.

Anyway, despite the car getting us and an awful lot of our possessions to south west France and back without fail and at some speed, I started to doubt the wisdom of entrusting my family to a 22 year old machine with 305,000miles on the clock. I also feel I could do with a bit more "in reserve" on those long, steep autoroute gradients. It's dispiriting watching the needle sink from 95 to 80 while the temperature gauge climbs. I love the way my SL500 absolutely mullers gradients. I have started thinking about a S211. I'd like an E500 Elegance, preferably a facelift, preferably a 5.5litre version. But they don't seem to exist. Maybe I just need always to be buying cars.

Anyway, I came across this which is almost within budget and looks spiffing. Dark blue over cream (what did they call it? "shell" or something?) with only 25,000miles up. Smooth and satisfying, I should imagine, if not very rapid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-E320-Elega...

Same colour combination as my S211, that interior is superb at showing dirt. Also it is a very early car (as is mine) which is shown by the slatted centre grill on the dash as opposed to the mesh grille of the early mini-facelift models. Allegedly the mini-facelift cars have more reliable electrics.

I would have thought it would be reasonably rapid, the 3.2 diesel in mine will do 60 in sub 8 seconds and does not usually feel wanting for go.

Ben

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Would a saloon be big enough for a growing family?

[Agent Orange]

r129sl said:

Maybe I just need always to be buying cars.

Thank you. You've just described my problem!

There must be a medical name for that condition.