Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 10]

[bob-lad]

Bonefish Blues said:

edo said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Literally 2 miles down the road, but strikes me as a little pricey?

Low miles and clean MoT history.

[Croutons]

W00DY said:

Thankyou4calling said:

Please bear with me on this.

The definition of barge has been debated lately and I understand there is no definitive. I thus put this forward for consideration. Other ages and mileages are available.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Definitely a barge. Definitely hideous.

I just can't see past the selection of other barges available at that money which are nicer and not appealing in every way. The earlier DeVille V8s has at least amusement value.

Am I the only one expecting arms to pop out as it stands up next to Optimus Prime?

[tenfour]

Thankyou4calling said:

Please bear with me on this.

The definition of barge has been debated lately and I understand there is no definitive. I thus put this forward for consideration. Other ages and mileages are available.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

A car made by the people who invented the Barge as we know it?

I'm in.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Croutons said:

OMG how did I not know the 'not particularly relevant to RR' (X Reg or older ONLY) sales section' existed on Retro Rides?

Some tosh of course, and much below min thread budget (which looks like it), but a few perhaps of interest:

C43 Estate at 5500 is a little toppy on 172k miles but claims to be in fine nick
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/190924/rare...

I feel that I should know better, but I actually really like that. Good spot.

I think I'd want to spend rather less than 5.5k though at that mileage.

[Stegel]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I feel that I should know better, but I actually really like that. Good spot.

I think I'd want to spend rather less than 5.5k though at that mileage.

There was a similar mileage estate on eBay a few weeks ago, with a plain black interior (thank heavens), service history and the later tiptronic box, but rusty, which failed to find a buyer at £3,500, so agree it seems pricey. They appear well thought of, but seem to take ages to sell - there's few of us nutters around I suppose!

[layercake]

for some reason i fancy a phaeton always liked them, maybe i'm looking for something abit more newer these do seem remarkable value for money if you buy the right one
which year or model do you lads recommend?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Phaeton-3-2-V...

[derin100]

tenfour said:

Thankyou4calling said:

Please bear with me on this.

The definition of barge has been debated lately and I understand there is no definitive. I thus put this forward for consideration. Other ages and mileages are available.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

A car made by the people who invented the Barge as we know it?

I'm in.

I kind of like it too...in an FBI agent kind of way?

[derin100]

edo said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

TBH, I don't even really know what it is but...Wow! 29k miles would be like a new car and inside thread budget. Impressed!

[Thankyou4calling]

layercake said:

for some reason i fancy a phaeton always liked them, maybe i'm looking for something abit more newer these do seem remarkable value for money if you buy the right one
which year or model do you lads recommend?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Phaeton-3-2-V...

I'm not seeing that as remarkable value for money. It's a moderate mileage but it's still the entry level of the range, 13 years old and £4000.

I think you can do better for the money, a similar age S Class would be a £1000 less.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

derin100 said:

edo said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

TBH, I don't even really know what it is but...Wow! 29k miles would be like a new car and inside thread budget. Impressed!

Good cars, but anyone that wasn't blind and posessed of a modicum of good taste will hate the interior. Very Asian, but not in a good way.

[derin100]

Stegel said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I feel that I should know better, but I actually really like that. Good spot.

I think I'd want to spend rather less than 5.5k though at that mileage.

There was a similar mileage estate on eBay a few weeks ago, with a plain black interior (thank heavens), service history and the later tiptronic box, but rusty, which failed to find a buyer at £3,500, so agree it seems pricey. They appear well thought of, but seem to take ages to sell - there's few of us nutters around I suppose!

A Merc specialist mechanic I used to use had a C43. AMG specific gearbox went on him...£5000 for him to fix it himself. Although it does say this 'box has been replaced once already...albeit 130k miles ago. Maybe replceing it with an E55 gearbox was a more robust option?
Without a warranty and 170K miles...Brave Pills on repeat prescription?

[derin100]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

derin100 said:

edo said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

TBH, I don't even really know what it is but...Wow! 29k miles would be like a new car and inside thread budget. Impressed!

Good cars, but anyone that wasn't blind and posessed of a modicum of good taste will hate the interior. Very Asian, but not in a good way.

Ah! See what you mean. Some of the exterior styling seems to come with a small portion of rice included for free as well? And not of the necessarily edible variety?

[Stegel]

derin100 said:

A Merc specialist mechanic I used to use had a C43. AMG specific gearbox went on him...£5000 for him to fix it himself. Although it does say this 'box has been replaced once already...albeit 130k miles ago. Maybe replceing it with an E55 gearbox was a more robust option?
Without a warranty and 170K miles...Brave Pills on repeat prescription?

I have seen one car advertised as having an E55 gearbox so it sounds a solution to the fragile boxes these cars seem to have. It would seem rude not to allow the engine to follow, which was I believe an AMG option when the cars were new.

[Bonefish Blues]

bob-lad said:

Bonefish Blues said:

edo said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Literally 2 miles down the road, but strikes me as a little pricey?

Low miles and clean MoT history.

Just so undesirable in saloon flavour though - and I love them dearly. I'll keep an eye on that as I pass.

[Croutons]

1994 530I touring with 110k for £2250, lovely.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


1997 LS400 with under 100k a shade below thread min. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


2002 406 3.0 coupe in "flamboyant" colour scheme for £2395
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[TheLordJohn]

Stegel said:

Agree on the wheels, but isn't that an early non-twin turbo car? It does look good, but isn't it the case that later, TT, cars are substantially better in many ways, particularly the engine's reliability and bork-potential?

Ahhh, I am not up on my Mercs really. So that would explain why it's dirt cheap if it's the least desirable of the huge-engined motors.

[josh00mac]

FWIW - my barge criteria

Has to be RWD unless French (Honda legend out - sorry).
Diesel is also out - unless over 4.0.
Has to have a highly comfortable ride quality - difficult to rule on early S8 etc. I omit E55 as too performance focussed.
Good noise insulation - nothing like a quite convo at 120.
Auto (and this comes from a manual fan)
Coupes can be in

Generally I think if it is big, large capacity, and makes you drive in a serene manner because of the calming effects of the attributes - its a barge.

Mini barges are out for me - space, capacity, sound, ride all compromised.

I currently run a P38 4.0 RR as my barge. My current search list rather unimaginatively consists of
Merc 300SE
LS400
e38 740

[bob-lad]

If you aren't phased barging a P38, why not have an L322 on the list?

They're within thread budget now.

[josh00mac]

Funnily enough my well heeled mate just bought a one owner, FLRSH L322 4.4 on autotrader unseen for 5k after seeing how nice mine was but wanting something a bit newer. I am going to watch his experience with interest and may take it off his hands in a couple of years if it seems unproblematic.

[E65Ross]

A decent E65 will fit that bill nicely. Some find the ride a bit firm for a barge, but it's better than an E38 in my opinion.

Merc S class is a good call, although watch for rusty ones!