Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[r129sl]

0a said:

I just can't see the 210 like I do the w124 or even the 211 and later mercs. A personal view of course, but I see ugly, poor build, and inevitable rust under the shine. Sorry. For that money I'd want a w124 for the "classic", or a newer e class for a dull competent car.

I know what you mean about ugly and the rust is indubitable. But the build is otherwise pretty sound, especially the engines, and they feel very "Mercedes".

But—E430 and E55 aside—a 124 is better in every way.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

But—E430 and E55 aside—a 124 is better in every way.

We've had this debate before, but I doubt a 124 is truly 'better'. Preferable and more characterful probably, but I bet the mirrors, heating and ventilation, ICE etc are better in the new car. Whether that's important to anyone here is moot, but cars have tended to improve over time.

[SuperHangOn]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

harrykul said:

r129sl said:

I am rather taken by this. Over-priced but, as we so frequently remark, the initial price is almost irrelevant. The spec is almost perfect: Elegance, tan leather, air con, heated seats, memory seats. It is a shame it doesn't have seven seats but they are an easy retrofit.

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

Ruddy hell, I really like that.

As the saying seems to go, plus one.

If that was petrol-engined, in those colours, I'd be very tempted.

I can't praise the turbo OM606 enough. It's a wonderful engine and perfect for a big estate. Even 5 up with tonnes of stuff in the boot they don't feel strained in the slightest.

[SpeckledJim]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

But—E430 and E55 aside—a 124 is better in every way.

We've had this debate before, but I doubt a 124 is truly 'better'. Preferable and more characterful probably, but I bet the mirrors, heating and ventilation, ICE etc are better in the new car. Whether that's important to anyone here is moot, but cars have tended to improve over time.

W124 is more charming and likeable, and the 'better' car in engineering terms.

But if there was a nice E300D example of W124 and W210 flavours outside, it was 11pm, and I was about to drive to Glasgow, I'd not think twice about jumping in the munter. W210 is a superior way to cover miles, if not a more appealing car to own.

[r129sl]

SpeckledJim said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

But—E430 and E55 aside—a 124 is better in every way.

We've had this debate before, but I doubt a 124 is truly 'better'. Preferable and more characterful probably, but I bet the mirrors, heating and ventilation, ICE etc are better in the new car. Whether that's important to anyone here is moot, but cars have tended to improve over time.

W124 is more charming and likeable, and the 'better' car in engineering terms.

But if there was a nice E300D example of W124 and W210 flavours outside, it was 11pm, and I was about to drive to Glasgow, I'd not think twice about jumping in the munter. W210 is a superior way to cover miles, if not a more appealing car to own.

Yes, that's rather what I thought. However, I was rather hoping you would all agree with me and then my doubts about the wisdom of running a 124 would be dissolved.

[Blown2CV]

r129sl said:

SpeckledJim said:

amstrange1 said:

JF87 said:

josh00mac said:

Some great bargain merc s on eBay at present:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252646143307
Very near me - would surely be worth two or three times the price as an estate?

That does look good. *awkward cough* What are you waiting for?

Is there any way of retrofitting ISOFIX to the W210? I think the W211 had it as standard.

Neither of my W211 had it. 53 plate and 55 plate.

I think it is only viable if there is a bespoke kit and there usually only is a bespoke kit if the car was available from the factory with it. I don't think the w210 ever did. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=137...

I don't think ISOFIX was available on the w210. And I also think Merc welds in the brackets rather than bolts them in.

A much easier and more attractive retrofit is the Integrated Child Seat option: you just need a replacement seat base. I fitted this to a friend's w210. He was sceptical when I told him about it but was a complete convert when we did it.

unfortunately those type of child seats are illegal now

[cat220]

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

[CharlesdeGaulle]

r129sl said:

Yes, that's rather what I thought. However, I was rather hoping you would all agree with me and then my doubts about the wisdom of running a 124 would be dissolved.

It's a simple justification in my mind. Not that it's better, but that it's the environmental choice and that it marks you/me/us as a contrary individual with excellent taste.

No-one else may agree on the latter point, but it's good enough for self-reinforcement.

[Krikkit]

0a said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

Sometimes I think it's because the 3rd and 4th order harmonics of the engine have all dissolved into the road vibration, everything seems smoother and more settled. That, and you're usually right into the cam profile which makes the performance feel much more effortless.

What a delightful couple of sentences; worth quoting.

I won't pretend that I understand it, but it feels very thread.

Is this why the drone at 60 in my 190 2.6 irritates me, but I love bopping along at 100-120 in it? Officer.

On a six it's more the cam profile and the harmonics in the exhaust, perhaps it's on a non-OE exhaust system?

[r129sl]

Interestingly enough—well, not really—some Porsche high up was talking about re-issues of past icons. He illustrated his point by reference to retro trainers. He suggested that Porsche felt there was a market in retro 911s. No st, Sherlock. But that it might be big enough for them to get into is more interesting. Whether such an approach would ever appeal to Daimler is harder to say. Of course Jaguar have just done some follow on cars, I can't remember what, C- or D-types or XJ13s or something, and last year they did a few E-Type lightweights, but that end of the market has an extra zero—or two—in the price tag.

[SpeckledJim]

r129sl said:

SpeckledJim said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

But—E430 and E55 aside—a 124 is better in every way.

We've had this debate before, but I doubt a 124 is truly 'better'. Preferable and more characterful probably, but I bet the mirrors, heating and ventilation, ICE etc are better in the new car. Whether that's important to anyone here is moot, but cars have tended to improve over time.

W124 is more charming and likeable, and the 'better' car in engineering terms.

But if there was a nice E300D example of W124 and W210 flavours outside, it was 11pm, and I was about to drive to Glasgow, I'd not think twice about jumping in the munter. W210 is a superior way to cover miles, if not a more appealing car to own.

Yes, that's rather what I thought. However, I was rather hoping you would all agree with me and then my doubts about the wisdom of running a 124 would be dissolved.

I think most of the argument in favour of W124 over a good example of W210 is non-quantitative stuff about appearances, gut-feeling, styling, rightness, je ne sais quoi, coolness and interest.

A W210 E320 CDi is a very very nice way of getting around. Perhaps the most usable-yet-engaging blend of 'modern car' with 'proper Mercedes'. Maybe W140 is better still, with a little more bias towards 'proper Mercedes'.

[SpeckledJim]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I honestly doubt it could work, even if legislation allowed it to.

The numbers who would volunteer for a 1980's car at 2016 prices would be very low, and the way the cars were put together would require some real manufacturing hurdles to be crossed.

And the magic of a perfect 993 is somewhat lessened, for me at least, if I know it was in brand-new component form a few months ago.

A bit Neo-Georgian by Taylor Wimpey if you see what I mean.

[phil_cardiff]

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

[0a]

phil_cardiff said:

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

Looks a bit pricey to me. The market for these must be microscopic, even at the sub 5k level.

[Stegel]

SpeckledJim said:

I honestly doubt it could work, even if legislation allowed it to.

The numbers who would volunteer for a 1980's car at 2016 prices would be very low, and the way the cars were put together would require some real manufacturing hurdles to be crossed.

And the magic of a perfect 993 is somewhat lessened, for me at least, if I know it was in brand-new component form a few months ago.

A bit Neo-Georgian by Taylor Wimpey if you see what I mean.

By a strange coincidence, I surveyed a neo-Georgian pile today, and one built by the MD of a "significant housebuilder" (not TW) at that. This was a true recreation, in proportions, scale and quality and therefore far more along the Jaguar lightweight E type lines than the TW estate version, with a price tag to match. As such, its market is miniscule, and the same is likely to be the case with any 911 / 124 re-born.

I enjoy the feel and solidity of my 124, and feel it only right to fix and fettle it as testament to the non-throwaway engineering which underpins it, but if I could revert it to as-new I would still choose a 211 (I have never driven a 210) for any long distance journey where weather and heavy traffic were going to be issues. I feel vulnerable in the 124, almost entirely due to the poor mirrors and lights, and while it is undoubtedly safer than contemporaries, and perhaps some cars made today, I'll choose a 211 for any major shunt, and regard it superior for comfort and ergonomics.

[ReaperCushions]

0a said:

phil_cardiff said:

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

Looks a bit pricey to me. The market for these must be microscopic, even at the sub 5k level.

Agreed. This one in particular is a 2k car max for me.

[Croutons]

0a said:

phil_cardiff said:

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

Looks a bit pricey to me. The market for these must be microscopic, even at the sub 5k level.

£515 p/a tax is what usually puts thread off these. That and the whopping plastic slab of dash. That is a cheap example, but we've seen slightly later ones with 80k on for not a lot more.

If you don't mind the tax. Or dash.

[0a]

Croutons said:

0a said:

phil_cardiff said:

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

Looks a bit pricey to me. The market for these must be microscopic, even at the sub 5k level.

£515 p/a tax is what usually puts thread off these. That and the whopping plastic slab of dash. That is a cheap example, but we've seen slightly later ones with 80k on for not a lot more.

If you don't mind the tax. Or dash.

So keep it 10 years and you've spent maximum budget!

[phil_cardiff]

0a said:

phil_cardiff said:

cat220 said:

I did'nt realise the "new" model Legends had dropped so far, granted this has done over 150k but sub 4k...



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

You'd have realised if you read page 4 ;-)

But yes, they're under £5k now and intriguing.

Looks a bit pricey to me. The market for these must be microscopic, even at the sub 5k level.

There's probably about 6 of us. And I'm not buying at the moment.

But I like the 4 wheel drive, it seems to steer well, it should be reliable, it's full of toys and it's not vulgar.

What else can you get that delivers the above and is undsr 5k?

[SVX]

Ssshh about the Legend, I'm possibly in the market in the New Year, and after a drive in a leggy one, its that or a Lexus.