Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]
Discussion
I didn't buy it, but still undecided.
Wife likes the driving position she can achieve in the S211 and the lighter coloured interior felt good. I liked the drive, but have never driven a 211 before. The sound system was amazing and for novelty value the rear screen is fun. Everything I tried seemed to work - though hard to check everything.
Some bad stuff inside.
You just know the kids are going to end up playing games/watching stuff on tablets really though and the car didn't impress close up to be honest. I don't have that much experience looking round 10yr old cars but there were a few let downs - not sure if too many. The drivers seat has rip in it, as did the trim next to the seat base, the rear seat has a stain across it (maybe biro), there was staining in the boot area where the carpet was bleached by something. The whole car was absolutely filthy inside once you got past the surface, old coffee residue, grime and nastiness everywhere. The seatbelts were discoloured with grime too. The rearmost head restraints were missing. The passenger side door mirror indicator cover was broken and mostly missing though all the leds were working. The passenger side electric seat control switch was broken (the head restraint control broken off). There was broken/missing chrome trim on the glove-box lid. The rear screen was facing a bit too skyward and didn't seem to still be adjustable. The ashtrays/cupholders weren't clean. The rear-most seats are even less useful in a 211 than they are in a 124, occupants must need to be tiny. The drivers sun visor didn't move correctly and once I'd folded it down, it wouldn't go back up flush against the ceiling.
Some bad stuff outside too...
There was a ding in the boot lid which was starting to corrode a little, the trim covering where the rear wiper arm attaches too was corroded. There were deep scratches in all bumper corner trims. The alloys could do with a refurb. Most panels had some scratching. Nexen tyres all round - not sure how bad that is. When you start the car up it makes a funny groaning noise for a while, some pump or something running under the bonnet. The door mirrors groan when they fold in and out. Quite milky discoloured headlights.
--
I appreciate that at this end of the market most are going to buy to run until borked, but I suppose I was hoping it would have been looked after a bit more carefully. It had two former keepers, one servicing exclusively at MB in Hull and another since 2013 using an indie in Wimbledon. Service history, i.e. ticks in boxes on the service record looked finem but there weren't any receipts etc.
The car would work for us, and we might still buy it, I'm just not sure if I am being too picky. I guess to bring it up to stunning condition would take a fair bit but maybe just replacing some of the missing bits and patching it up a bit wouldn't take too much. If I let it go, how long before another non silver/black car with a light interior and memory seats comes up and would that be less grotty...
ETA - getting into the 124 to come home didn't feel too bad at all, it really does feel hewn from granite by comparison and may well be a better cage for our 3 boys age under 6. i can definitely see where Jonathan and Harry are coming from.
Wife likes the driving position she can achieve in the S211 and the lighter coloured interior felt good. I liked the drive, but have never driven a 211 before. The sound system was amazing and for novelty value the rear screen is fun. Everything I tried seemed to work - though hard to check everything.
Some bad stuff inside.
You just know the kids are going to end up playing games/watching stuff on tablets really though and the car didn't impress close up to be honest. I don't have that much experience looking round 10yr old cars but there were a few let downs - not sure if too many. The drivers seat has rip in it, as did the trim next to the seat base, the rear seat has a stain across it (maybe biro), there was staining in the boot area where the carpet was bleached by something. The whole car was absolutely filthy inside once you got past the surface, old coffee residue, grime and nastiness everywhere. The seatbelts were discoloured with grime too. The rearmost head restraints were missing. The passenger side door mirror indicator cover was broken and mostly missing though all the leds were working. The passenger side electric seat control switch was broken (the head restraint control broken off). There was broken/missing chrome trim on the glove-box lid. The rear screen was facing a bit too skyward and didn't seem to still be adjustable. The ashtrays/cupholders weren't clean. The rear-most seats are even less useful in a 211 than they are in a 124, occupants must need to be tiny. The drivers sun visor didn't move correctly and once I'd folded it down, it wouldn't go back up flush against the ceiling.
Some bad stuff outside too...
There was a ding in the boot lid which was starting to corrode a little, the trim covering where the rear wiper arm attaches too was corroded. There were deep scratches in all bumper corner trims. The alloys could do with a refurb. Most panels had some scratching. Nexen tyres all round - not sure how bad that is. When you start the car up it makes a funny groaning noise for a while, some pump or something running under the bonnet. The door mirrors groan when they fold in and out. Quite milky discoloured headlights.
--
I appreciate that at this end of the market most are going to buy to run until borked, but I suppose I was hoping it would have been looked after a bit more carefully. It had two former keepers, one servicing exclusively at MB in Hull and another since 2013 using an indie in Wimbledon. Service history, i.e. ticks in boxes on the service record looked finem but there weren't any receipts etc.
The car would work for us, and we might still buy it, I'm just not sure if I am being too picky. I guess to bring it up to stunning condition would take a fair bit but maybe just replacing some of the missing bits and patching it up a bit wouldn't take too much. If I let it go, how long before another non silver/black car with a light interior and memory seats comes up and would that be less grotty...
ETA - getting into the 124 to come home didn't feel too bad at all, it really does feel hewn from granite by comparison and may well be a better cage for our 3 boys age under 6. i can definitely see where Jonathan and Harry are coming from.
Edited by idiotgap on Sunday 4th October 14:39
I feel a slice of lust towards this filthy thing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Does look pretty nice!
Sterillium said:
I feel a slice of lust towards this filthy thing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
The seller has done that really annoying thing in the advert heading, naming other models so it turns up in other searches. The calling card of an arse. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
kapiteinlangzaam said:
idiotgap said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Does look pretty nice!Now to sell the S124 and start looking in earnest for an XJS whilst I'm in the good books!
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Aaand ... it's mine! I will shortly have a car made in this century, and already have a happy wife.
Now to sell the S124 and start looking in earnest for an XJS whilst I'm in the good books!
Great news!Now to sell the S124 and start looking in earnest for an XJS whilst I'm in the good books!
I was actually thinking of going for that. It looks terrific.
SilverStar said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271991471943?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITSlightly above thread budget but possibly the best colour for these, even the manual box wouldn't put me off. And mexican hats!
OpulentBob said:
Sterillium said:
I feel a slice of lust towards this filthy thing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
The seller has done that really annoying thing in the advert heading, naming other models so it turns up in other searches. The calling card of an arse. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
SilverStar said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271991471943?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITSlightly above thread budget but possibly the best colour for these, even the manual box wouldn't put me off. And mexican hats!
Sterillium said:
I feel a slice of lust towards this filthy thing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
The front bumper is an egregious dollop of ginothttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111768063085?_trksid=p20...
ttery the like of which is rarely seen outside of Vauxhall products >10 years old.CharlesdeGaulle said:
kapiteinlangzaam said:
idiotgap said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Does look pretty nice!Now to sell the S124 and start looking in earnest for an XJS whilst I'm in the good books!
Krikkit said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
kapiteinlangzaam said:
idiotgap said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Does look pretty nice!Now to sell the S124 and start looking in earnest for an XJS whilst I'm in the good books!
Thanks to all for the nice comments ref the V70 purchase. It strays just outside thread budget even post-haggle, but gets a service, belts and tensioners, MOT and valet, along with some minor cosmetic work, so I can't collect until that's done.
All in all, it'll be quite a change from the venerable Merc (although I am still left with 2 more) but Madame deG is happy and I was impressed with the performance. I recognise that corners might not be its forte, but my goodness it shifts. The dog just won't understand why it finds itself pressed against the rear window when making progress.
I know this makes me sound a bit mumsnet, but I also really like the colour, and keen though I am on big-engined Mercs, I baulked a bit at some of the bills that some owners experience, so hopefully a return to Sweden's finest might make some financial sense as well as helping me get to know the attractive girl on the tills at the local petrol station. Daft VED charges still grate though, and I suspect I'll be buying more black rubber (fnaar) than I've needed in the past.
All in all, it'll be quite a change from the venerable Merc (although I am still left with 2 more) but Madame deG is happy and I was impressed with the performance. I recognise that corners might not be its forte, but my goodness it shifts. The dog just won't understand why it finds itself pressed against the rear window when making progress.
I know this makes me sound a bit mumsnet, but I also really like the colour, and keen though I am on big-engined Mercs, I baulked a bit at some of the bills that some owners experience, so hopefully a return to Sweden's finest might make some financial sense as well as helping me get to know the attractive girl on the tills at the local petrol station. Daft VED charges still grate though, and I suspect I'll be buying more black rubber (fnaar) than I've needed in the past.
With all that included, even for the asking price, that's a good deal. I suppose they're not fashionable for most folk without 4 rings or a propeller on the bonnet.
Precautionary gearbox oil change is probably worthwhile, although a Volvo beard will be along to tell us if those 'boxes are susceptible to issues. Just to cover all the bases.
Precautionary gearbox oil change is probably worthwhile, although a Volvo beard will be along to tell us if those 'boxes are susceptible to issues. Just to cover all the bases.
Jimmy Recard said:
As soon as it was posted I started thinking about organising going to see it but I was beaten.
Thwarted at every turn!
How about this? A decent alternative I thought.Thwarted at every turn!
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I love the colour!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Price probably somewhat toppy, but interesting nonetheless.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Price probably somewhat toppy, but interesting nonetheless.
Krikkit said:
With all that included, even for the asking price, that's a good deal. I suppose they're not fashionable for most folk without 4 rings or a propeller on the bonnet.
Precautionary gearbox oil change is probably worthwhile, although a Volvo beard will be along to tell us if those 'boxes are susceptible to issues. Just to cover all the bases.
I agree. I thought I might get some new oil in the box reasonably sharpish, regardless of reputation. Precautionary gearbox oil change is probably worthwhile, although a Volvo beard will be along to tell us if those 'boxes are susceptible to issues. Just to cover all the bases.
tobinen said:
Congratulations CdG, looks like a good purchase
Many thanks. It's amazing how spousal approval can make a difference too - I've hitherto ignored her (obviously misinformed) opinion - but she loves this and so we're both content. Not a trick I've managed to pull off very often with my recent car purchases to be frank!
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