Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]

[0a]

Her Polo was probably more expensive though, and now worth less!

[BigBen]

OK so I have a bit of a 560 obsession this week.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Mercedes-Benz-560-5...

Does not look fantastic but low money for one these days.

[harrykul]

BigBen said:

OK so I have a bit of a 560 obsession this week.

I have this every week- that's why I'm trying to flog a non runner project car, which is nonsense.

No harm in looking though

ETA: Nice colours, not so nice condition. FWIW this guy was also selling a black 560sec on AMG wheels on ebay last year.

[BigBen]

harrykul said:

BigBen said:

OK so I have a bit of a 560 obsession this week.

I have this every week- that's why I'm trying to flog a non runner project car, which is nonsense.

No harm in looking though

ETA: Nice colours, not so nice condition. FWIW this guy was also selling a black 560sec on AMG wheels on ebay last year.

I am on the lookout for either a 560 or a W140 600. I am have a psychological problem with the latter as I had a beautiful W140 S500 which I bought for £1750, which was the going rate at the time, the fact a similar or even lesser example would be more like £5k now upsets me.

[E65Ross]

Those W126s are splendid looking cars aren't they!

[BigBen]

E65Ross said:

Those W126s are splendid looking cars aren't they!

You are not helping.

BTW what are you doing posting, I would have thought you would be off on a lengthy post work drive

[r129sl]

BigBen said:

harrykul said:

BigBen said:

OK so I have a bit of a 560 obsession this week.

I have this every week- that's why I'm trying to flog a non runner project car, which is nonsense.

No harm in looking though

ETA: Nice colours, not so nice condition. FWIW this guy was also selling a black 560sec on AMG wheels on ebay last year.

I am on the lookout for either a 560 or a W140 600. I am have a psychological problem with the latter as I had a beautiful W140 S500 which I bought for £1750, which was the going rate at the time, the fact a similar or even lesser example would be more like £5k now upsets me.

I profoundly regret selling my 500 SEC. Good 126s are now much, much rarer than they were in 2008 when I bought my car; rarer even than in 2013 when I sold it. So far as I can tell, good 126s are now out of reach of this thread, especially coupés. That green one: the colours are lovely and interior looks so rich, but it is shagged out, no? The rust on the front wings is horrific: the photos will conceal rust elsewhere. The scrappy bumpers. The almost-but-not-quite hidden driver's seat wear. They cost a stack to put right, these cars.

My problem with my cars is I can only ever see where they fall short of perfect. I end up losing heart and then getting rid. My 126 was a lovely car which was fundamentally very well resolved. I got rid over a few blebs in the paint. What on earth was I thinking of? And why didn't I buy John McCracken's 500 SEC when (1) it was for sale and (2) I had enough money? Fool, fool, fool.

[bmthnick1981]

r129sl said:

I profoundly regret selling my 500 SEC. Good 126s are now much, much rarer than they were in 2008 when I bought my car; rarer even than in 2013 when I sold it. So far as I can tell, good 126s are now out of reach of this thread, especially coupés. That green one: the colours are lovely and interior looks so rich, but it is shagged out, no? The rust on the front wings is horrific: the photos will conceal rust elsewhere. The scrappy bumpers. The almost-but-not-quite hidden driver's seat wear. They cost a stack to put right, these cars.

My problem with my cars is I can only ever see where they fall short of perfect. I end up losing heart and then getting rid. My 126 was a lovely car which was fundamentally very well resolved. I got rid over a few blebs in the paint. What on earth was I thinking of? And why didn't I buy John McCracken's 500 SEC when (1) it was for sale and (2) I had enough money? Fool, fool, fool.

I remember yours being for sale I think Jonathan, black 500 with a 560 motor? Sold for £4K or so? Looked very smart indeed if it is the car I recall. I was tempted at the time but didn't have the cash. Isn't that always the way. Let's hope c140 coupes go the same way value wise.

[0a]

Jonathan, I think we are the opposite in many respects then. I love the fact that my W124 is scruffy on the outside, but has had attention mechanically, to the extent that I wouldn't for a moment not jump in it and do 1,500 miles in a weekend. I actually fear when I get it back from The Man (when I do eventually put it in) as I will dread that first door dent, I won't be able to park in the tightest spaces any more, I'll actually feel bad about not cleaning it and so on.

I think there are still barge-able W126s in budget. The 560 is the rare one so is leaving/gone, but the rest are common enough and have not reached classic status yet - a reasonable enough 300 or 500 could be done, I'm sure, if you are not too fussy.

Though I think I might get fussy over the R129 (currently in the garage getting a service!).

[Stegel]

bmthnick1981 said:

Let's hope c140 coupes go the same way value wise.

Not until I've persuaded Mrs Stegel that we (I) need to scratch the V12 coupe itch, please!!

[E65Ross]

BigBen said:

E65Ross said:

Those W126s are splendid looking cars aren't they!

You are not helping.

BTW what are you doing posting, I would have thought you would be off on a lengthy post work drive

Assuming great as it is to drive again I'd rather see another man buy an unnecessarily large barge which is super cool....

I like to do bit

It's not just driving again which is nice, to be honest.... The best bit is actually what it signifies to me (last stage of my recovery, get my independence back etc)

It's great. Had a lovely drive back from work. The E65 is so quiet and comfortable, lovely interior at night, climate control set just right, nice music on and a silky V8 petrol under the bonnet.

Wonderful!

[BigBen]

r129sl said:

I profoundly regret selling my 500 SEC. Good 126s are now much, much rarer than they were in 2008 when I bought my car; rarer even than in 2013 when I sold it. So far as I can tell, good 126s are now out of reach of this thread, especially coupés.

My S500 went overseas, which I suspect is what has happened to most of them, hence they are much much rarer. There are a few 560s around at the £7k mark which to be fair is not that much of a rise, given good ones rarely seemed to dip into thread budget even a few years back.

W140s on the other hand seem to have approximately trebled in value for a decent one and late cars have become much rarer, again a few 600s around but they are pre-facelift examples which I just don't like as much.

Ah well I will keep looking

Ben

[r129sl]

bmthnick1981 said:

I was tempted at the time but didn't have the cash. Isn't that always the way.

It's always the way with me.

bmthnick1981 said:

Let's hope c140 coupes go the same way value wise.

I'll be interested if and when you want to off load it. What's it like?

We're thinking of an Alpine skiing holiday (God help me) in the spring. I need something with a bit more panache than the estate car; not to mention more speed. This sort of thing:

[0a]

E65Ross said:

Assuming great as it is to drive again I'd rather see another man buy an unnecessarily large barge which is super cool....

I like to do bit

It's not just driving again which is nice, to be honest.... The best bit is actually what it signifies to me (last stage of my recovery, get my independence back etc)

It's great. Had a lovely drive back from work. The E65 is so quiet and comfortable, lovely interior at night, climate control set just right, nice music on and a silky V8 petrol under the bonnet.

Wonderful!

You must be very pleased that you didn't sell it (as a few of us including me suggested... we love a good barge hunt after all!). It does seem like the right thing to do now. Straight back out on the road with a well sorted car without the worry of a new (second hand) barge to shakedown and sort out.

[Emeye]

r129sl said:

I'll be interested if and when you want to off load it. What's it like?

We're thinking of an Alpine skiing holiday (God help me) in the spring. I need something with a bit more panache than the estate car; not to mention more speed. This sort of thing:

Love that. I have a thing for cars with skis on the roof - remember the Lotus Esprit from For You Eyes Only?

[harrykul]

Bloody hell, it's THAT green again. On a c126.

I need a c126 in my life, STAT.

What's the opinion on this one? Wonder if that amaretto(?) interior finish is repairable.....

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C608391

[CharlesdeGaulle]

0a said:

You must be very pleased that you didn't sell it (as a few of us including me suggested... we love a good barge hunt after all!). It does seem like the right thing to do now. Straight back out on the road with a well sorted car without the worry of a new (second hand) barge to shakedown and sort out.

I'm really pleased that Ross is so pleased with his car.

I was one of those who said he should sell, partly to avoid the car sitting around unused for a year, and partly because the hankering/research/wantage seems to be such a powerful and addictive attrraction that it can only aid rehabilitation. I'm delighted that he chose what was right for him, and look forward to catching-up and seeing the plutocratic beemer at the Christmas 'strange-men-from-the-Internet' meet.

[BigBen]

Emeye said:

r129sl said:

I'll be interested if and when you want to off load it. What's it like?

We're thinking of an Alpine skiing holiday (God help me) in the spring. I need something with a bit more panache than the estate car; not to mention more speed. This sort of thing:

Love that. I have a thing for cars with skis on the roof - remember the Lotus Esprit from For You Eyes Only?

I think we have had that picture on the thread before. As far as I am concerned the number plate means it could also go in the "these pictures make my teeth itch" thread

[CharlesdeGaulle]

harrykul said:

What's the opinion on this one? Wonder if that amaretto(?) interior finish is repairable.....

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C608391

Exterior colour fail. 'Swade' looks knackered, but probably readily re-trimmable. Overall, I love it!

[E65Ross]

0a said:

E65Ross said:

Assuming great as it is to drive again I'd rather see another man buy an unnecessarily large barge which is super cool....

I like to do bit

It's not just driving again which is nice, to be honest.... The best bit is actually what it signifies to me (last stage of my recovery, get my independence back etc)

It's great. Had a lovely drive back from work. The E65 is so quiet and comfortable, lovely interior at night, climate control set just right, nice music on and a silky V8 petrol under the bonnet.

Wonderful!

You must be very pleased that you didn't sell it (as a few of us including me suggested... we love a good barge hunt after all!). It does seem like the right thing to do now. Straight back out on the road with a well sorted car without the worry of a new (second hand) barge to shakedown and sort out.

Yes it's nice to be back and have a fully functioning car without anything to sort out.... Touch wood! I'm sure it'll hit me with a bill soon enough!

I did find out that there is a MUCH cheaper fix for the dreaded N62 coolant leak which only requires the water pump to be removed and instead of being a 4 figure bill, it can be done for a couple of hundred.... Which is nice to know for the future. At the moment I can honestly say that it doesn't need any work! Not even any niggles or anything to sort out!