Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[JF87]

I'll find out tomorrow! Vendor seemed a decent sort on the phone.

Textbook rebound buy... identical to the Orient Blue 840 I wrote off on an autobahn in January. Except with throwing stars instead of BBSs. And 40k less on the clock. Doubtless more issues & scabs to go with any Cat C panel chasms... but then it's exactly half what the insurance co gave me, & only £500 more than the guy paid for my write-off at the Copart auction!

Fortune may or may not favour the impulsive.

[harrykul]

Best of luck with it! No doubt the e31 is a very nice car, and currently great value.

[idiotgap]

My 124 estate is in the bodyshop today for a passenger side wing repair (the usual place). With the driver's side which was done a year or two back I left it to develop a long while thinking a new wing was the only option but ended up with a lot of rust underneath to be welded, this time we're going to try and save the original so its in without much showing on the surface.

Also having a new windscreen following a crack appearing while we were on a Calais booze cruise last week and some paint to the front bumper insert.

[jke11y]

In a bit of a quandry this monday morning and reckon you chaps may be a good source of reasoning - going on holiday to Nice / Tuscany at the end of this week.

Got a misfire to fix on the 107 first, but don't know whether to take it or the 55. The drive there and back in the SL will be pretty horrible (no AC) but ideal when there on sunny evenings roof down. The drive there and back in the 55 will be easy but I'll look like a salesman in an estate car whilst there. 55 probably more reliable. Wife is 26wks pregnant just to add to the excitement.

[cat220]

jke11y said:

In a bit of a quandry this monday morning and reckon you chaps may be a good source of reasoning - going on holiday to Nice / Tuscany at the end of this week.

Got a misfire to fix on the 107 first, but don't know whether to take it or the 55. The drive there and back in the SL will be pretty horrible (no AC) but ideal when there on sunny evenings roof down. The drive there and back in the 55 will be easy but I'll look like a salesman in an estate car whilst there. 55 probably more reliable. Wife is 26wks pregnant just to add to the excitement.

Difficult one, however the deciding factor for me in your paragraph above is that your wife is 26 weeks pregnant and the 107 doesn't have air con. On that basis I'd take the 55.

[derin100]

jke11y said:

In a bit of a quandry this monday morning and reckon you chaps may be a good source of reasoning - going on holiday to Nice / Tuscany at the end of this week.

Got a misfire to fix on the 107 first, but don't know whether to take it or the 55. The drive there and back in the SL will be pretty horrible (no AC) but ideal when there on sunny evenings roof down. The drive there and back in the 55 will be easy but I'll look like a salesman in an estate car whilst there. 55 probably more reliable. Wife is 26wks pregnant just to add to the excitement.

It's still just about possible to "Motorail" a considerable part of your intended journey. Initially it may not look like a cheap option but if you factor in the saving in fuel, tolls, possibly the cost of having to stop overnight somewhere and the strain on your car (especially if you opt for the R107), yourself and your wife it may make sense?

It could take you from Paris to Nice and thus cut out at least a large chunk of the to and fro part of the journey:

http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm#Auto-Train

[Minemapper]

This will be the last time you don't need to travel with the family wagon. 107 all the way.

[jke11y]

I did weigh up the motorail but it seemed a bit inflexible on times. I am wanting to go in the 55, she wants to take the SL. It is not a bad decision to have to make but I have this feeling that if a car is going to leave us at the side of an autoroute in 35degree heat, its the SL.

[idiotgap]

Huge congratulations on the impending arrival JJ! I've been hoping you'd be sharing some news on that front, really delighted for you.

Is the 129 another option?

I'd go in the 107 if you can sort the misfire, if it's hot put the roof down. I can lend you a genuine MB windstop for the trip if you haven't got one, needs no bracktry and makes the motorway sections a breeze.

[0a]

1994 MERCEDES BENZ S600L (W140.057) 6.0 V12 Limousine, 96,000 miles only, 2 owners from new, service history - £4,950 http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C634195

[jke11y]

idiotgap said:

Huge congratulations on the impending arrival JJ! I've been hoping you'd be sharing some news on that front, really delighted for you.

Is the 129 another option?

I'd go in the 107 if you can sort the misfire, if it's hot put the roof down. I can lend you a genuine MB windstop for the trip if you haven't got one, needs no bracktry and makes the motorway sections a breeze.

Thankyou for the congrats. It is indeed a little bit of light at the end of the very dark tunnel that has been the last 10 months or so.

In a moment of genius* I took the 129 back to Glasgow. Going to put new leads and plugs on the 107 and see where I stand. The decision might be made for me if that doesnt cure it, its already had new distributor cap and arm. If I can get the windbreaker from you that would be ideal, I will keep you posted.

Will get a lot of wine in the 55 thats for sure!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

jke11y said:

... I am wanting to go in the 55, she wants to take the SL.

Having royally pissed-off my wife, I'd recommend doing what yours says. In any case, it's the most appealing option.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

idiotgap said:

My 124 estate is in the bodyshop today for a passenger side wing repair (the usual place). With the driver's side which was done a year or two back I left it to develop a long while thinking a new wing was the only option but ended up with a lot of rust underneath to be welded, this time we're going to try and save the original so its in without much showing on the surface.

I'm building-up to doing the wings on mine. The driver side is rather worse than the passenger. Do you mind giving a ball-park idea of cost for wings, welding, remediation and paint please?

[LordGrover]

I'm not in the market for a proper barge, but is there a similar thread for 'mid-size' barges that I've missed?
I need something £1,000-£5,000 relaxed and comfy, but limo-size luxo barge is simply too big - I'm thinking more Jaguar S type, BMW E39 size. Any pointers, please?

[idiotgap]

jke11y said:

Thankyou for the congrats. It is indeed a little bit of light at the end of the very dark tunnel that has been the last 10 months or so.

In a moment of genius* I took the 129 back to Glasgow. Going to put new leads and plugs on the 107 and see where I stand. The decision might be made for me if that doesnt cure it, its already had new distributor cap and arm. If I can get the windbreaker from you that would be ideal, I will keep you posted.

Will get a lot of wine in the 55 thats for sure!

Fingers crossed on the ht leads, my wife and I did a very memorable road trip in the 107 with her about 30 weeks to a wedding in southern Ireland just before we had any nippers. You can do the wine run in the 55 any time.

I got 150 odd bottles in the 124 last week on our Calais run with the whole family in the car and could see out the back. It was a really fun day out for the kids who had a great run about on the beach. Saturday will be a fun day too when we attempt to drink the lot at our joint 40th birthday bash.

[0a]

jke11y said:

idiotgap said:

Huge congratulations on the impending arrival JJ! I've been hoping you'd be sharing some news on that front, really delighted for you.

Is the 129 another option?

I'd go in the 107 if you can sort the misfire, if it's hot put the roof down. I can lend you a genuine MB windstop for the trip if you haven't got one, needs no bracktry and makes the motorway sections a breeze.

Thankyou for the congrats. It is indeed a little bit of light at the end of the very dark tunnel that has been the last 10 months or so.

In a moment of genius* I took the 129 back to Glasgow. Going to put new leads and plugs on the 107 and see where I stand. The decision might be made for me if that doesnt cure it, its already had new distributor cap and arm. If I can get the windbreaker from you that would be ideal, I will keep you posted.

Will get a lot of wine in the 55 thats for sure!

I would definitely try for the 107. It won't be so easy to make such trips in such a car (to say the least) in the future. At the end of the day it's what these cars were built for, and if you take it steady and allow for breaks (and are flexible to allow you to stop early in a hotel on the way). With all the speed enforcement nowadays, a car that encourages you to take things a little steadier isn't necessary a bad thing!

Good luck with whatever you take!

[idiotgap]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

idiotgap said:

My 124 estate is in the bodyshop today for a passenger side wing repair (the usual place). With the driver's side which was done a year or two back I left it to develop a long while thinking a new wing was the only option but ended up with a lot of rust underneath to be welded, this time we're going to try and save the original so its in without much showing on the surface.

I'm building-up to doing the wings on mine. The driver side is rather worse than the passenger. Do you mind giving a ball-park idea of cost for wings, welding, remediation and paint please?

The guy I use isn't far from you in Chobham, best bet is to pop over or call and discuss options because there are a lot of variables.
- new wings or repair
- pattern or genuine
- how far gone the inner wings and bumper brackets etc. have gone
- paint strategy (the 107 is my nice car so I haven't got obsessive with blending on the 124. Have been lucky with the match so far)

[QuantumTokoloshi]

LordGrover said:

I'm not in the market for a proper barge, but is there a similar thread for 'mid-size' barges that I've missed?
I need something £1,000-£5,000 relaxed and comfy, but limo-size luxo barge is simply too big - I'm thinking more Jaguar S type, BMW E39 size. Any pointers, please?

Audi C5 S6 4.2, Skoda Superb Mk1 3.6, Citroen C5, Saab 95, Alfa 159, Lexus IS300. Some different options there.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

QuantumTokoloshi said:

Audi C5 S6 4.2, Skoda Superb Mk1 3.6, Citroen C5, Saab 95, Alfa 159, Lexus IS300. Some different options there.

And obviously the newly-much-loved MB 190E!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

idiotgap said:

The guy I use isn't far from you in Chobham, best bet is to pop over or call and discuss options because there are a lot of variables.

Good point. Many thanks.

On reflection, I will almost certainly leave it until I move to Gloucester/Cheltenham next month and find someone there, but I would appreciate a ball-park idea of costs once you have a feel if possible.