Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[CharlesdeGaulle]

derin100 said:

What's an RRC?

One of these I think:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[tombar]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'll echo what 0a has said. There are a number of us admiring these so threadist experience is always welcome.

Ok, it's a deal. Perhaps I'll start with how I explain why I've just bought a car without an MOT 60 miles away to a very confused other half.....

[derin100]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

derin100 said:

What's an RRC?

One of these I think:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Ah!...Not my sort of thing either TBH.

Wouldn't even know where to begin. In fact, I've never owned any form of 4x4 car.

Probably the sensible thing for me would just be to stick with buying a few premium bonds...

[CharlesdeGaulle]

tombar said:

Ok, it's a deal. Perhaps I'll start with how I explain why I've just bought a car without an MOT 60 miles away to a very confused other half.....

You can skip that bit, we've all been there!

[olly755]

TheLordJohn said:

LS looks lovely, top work.
Just to take us [/i]slightly[/i] off topic...

Now I'm back in the UK i am getting to grips with my new commuter and getting up to my standards; an E46 330i Auto.
So i've ripped all the seats out and hoovered it all out, removed the weird hands free kit but the beige leather seats really are poor (dirt ingrained into them) and the carpets are really stained is some places.
What would folk recommend to tackle both? Don't mind spending a bit on some decent kit to clean the carpets and get the dirt out the leather.
Bought two new tyres to replace the Sunny's some moron has put on the back of a 3.0 RWD car, got my Dad collecting some refurbished genuine MV1's on the way down south next week. The wheels are poor, as well.
Also given it a full engine service and both auxiliary belts. In a month or two i'll get the queerbox oil and filter changed, too.
Oh, and ordered two new front wings ready painted in 430 (Oxford Green) to replace the rotten ones on it.

Thanks in advance, Stuart.

Try hiring a Rug Doctor from your local retail park. It's astounding how well they clean with the hand tool and how much crap they pull out of fabrics and carpets.

And I do like Dr Leather for cleaning. I use the spray and a soft shoe brush. Discovered it after buying a filthy Honda CRV with cream leather: the usual stuff such as Autoglym wouldn't touch it, yet the Dr Leather and brush saw the crap literally pour out.

[olly755]

tombar said:

Re the LS400, just been over to Montgomeryshire to view it. It is lovely. Have bought it. Now I'm in the hands of my auto electrician!!

Looks great!

[derin100]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

tombar said:

Ok, it's a deal. Perhaps I'll start with how I explain why I've just bought a car without an MOT 60 miles away to a very confused other half.....

You can skip that bit, we've all been there!

True! A year ago, I had to explain to my wife how I had bought a car, not only without an MOT but as a car that hadn't even turned a wheel for 4 years and that I'd had to have transported that morning 70 miles from North Wales had suddenly appeared by lunchtime when there was no suggestion of it first thing that morning!

[ian316]

derin100 said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

tombar said:

Ok, it's a deal. Perhaps I'll start with how I explain why I've just bought a car without an MOT 60 miles away to a very confused other half.....

You can skip that bit, we've all been there!

True! A year ago, I had to explain to my wife how I had bought a car, not only without an MOT but as a car that hadn't even turned a wheel for 4 years and that I'd had to have transported that morning 70 miles from North Wales had suddenly appeared by lunchtime when there was no suggestion of it first thing that morning!

classic

[bmthnick1981]

harrykul said:

@bmthnick this could be a good way to sell your car:

Thanks Harry I may drop them a line.

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks very much for cleaning-based replies, gents.
I'll look into everything suggested.
Pictures to follow....!

[derin100]

Try to do the carpets when the weather is warm, keep all the doors open for as long as possible and don't over soak them otherwise you'll have condensation issues inside the car for ages.

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks for the advice
Always best to learn from other people's experiences where possible...!
When is the next Losers conference? Southern area anyway.

[r129sl]

derin100 said:

Krikkit said:

Ouch, tricky choice then!

Totally different ball game, but the RX7 is on a roll this last couple of years, quietly appreciating nicely. What about an SLC? RRC? 944? Suppose it depends if you want to wrap it in cotton wool as a low-miles hideaway, or just use it.

Hmmm...never really been a fan of the SLC. Don't really want any form of R107 really. I don't want anything that rusts significantly. Although, I would consider an R129 as a contender.

I think the low mileage 944 boat has already sailed. I was looking at them literally just now as I do like them. Yes, it would be just to wrap it up and store away.

What's an RRC?

I think it's a very bad time. Surely the market is peaking? Every car more than five minutes old is described as an "investment opportunity". Prices "can only go one way". So much total st that would be en route to the scrapper is being offered at £4k. The end is nigh. Surely? Surely?

R129 is under-valued still but people are catching on. It is also being dragged up by the r107 which in turn was inflated by the Pagoda. The best Merc opportunity is the c215 CL: these are beautiful cars à la SEC, phenomenally capable, and yet they start at £3k for something vaguely OK and later cars are well built. E36 M3 in my view is unloved still and I'd definitely look at E36 328i coupés. How is the original XK8 faring in the market? I am surprised they are not extremely popular. Original Boxster worth a look, too; I think the train has sailed on the 996, though.

[TheLordJohn]

RRC would be Range Rover Classic.
Also, thanks for the advice. Going to book a rug Dr out and just ordered a full leather ultra clean and replenish kit from Furniture Clinic.

[jke11y]

The market is mad, and I can't complain as in a small way I played it with the 113/107. Things like this though are people on dream land - £33k for an LPG 129? It's a rare car but still.

MERCEDES SL 600 129 AUTO V12
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mer...

[josh00mac]

Looks clean inside... dodgy bumpers? Look badly sprayed to me.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C839169

[callahan]

bmthnick1981 said:

0a said:

bmthnick1981 said:

You should buy my low mileage E63 0a, advert has gone live in the PH classifieds today.

I was just looking at your car on ebay via MB club. I'm looking to spend less really. Man maths goes "thread budget plus 190 sale money plus a bit"! Your car looks fantastic though: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252768868502?ssPageName=...

Thanks 0a. I set out to spend less when I bought the car as well. I soon discovered that the higher mileage (80-90k) cars that were up for £13-14k ish would easily need £3-4k spending on them in the next 12 months or so. On that basis (man maths) I persuaded myself to spend more on a lower mileage car with full MB history. I think it's worked, other than a replacement belt (£300) all I have had to do over the last 6,000 miles and 10 months is a set of rear tyres (£330 this month), tax it and pour petrol in it. It's not due a service for 5,000 miles.

happy to have a conversation about price if you are genuinely interested.

That is a genuinely lovely car. I'm hoping to be in a position to get something similar in a few months, if a job interview goes well. Good luck with the sale, but if you still have it in a few months we could see my second AMG thread purchase in a year....

[BigBen]

On the subject of investment grade barges the C215 is a good shout, but carries quite a high risk of something expensive not working if you turn your back for a few seconds.

The R129 remains excellent value and convertible Mercs have no precedent for not ending up as very valuable cars sooner or later. Admittedly they have gone up in value over the past few years but I bet there are still some decent one elderly owner cars around for the dedicated hunter.

[0a]

BigBen said:

On the subject of investment grade barges the C215 is a good shout, but carries quite a high risk of something expensive not working if you turn your back for a few seconds.

The R129 remains excellent value and convertible Mercs have no precedent for not ending up as very valuable cars sooner or later. Admittedly they have gone up in value over the past few years but I bet there are still some decent one elderly owner cars around for the dedicated hunter.

I do think the C215 will struggle given how the previous generation of big merc coupes is doing, and as BB says the possibility of massive bills along the way.

The r129 is a great call. It's an SL, so offers pretty refined drop top motoring, and while the roof mechanism is complicated, other parts of the car are relatively simple and parts are affordable (okay apart from complete exhausts as I am finding). I think they are getting better and better looking as modern cars get uglier and uglier. The important thing is not finding a car that needs more money spending on it than the car is worth. I am not very good at this. The biggest trouble with the r129 is that the better examples are starting to appear at strong money.

Perhaps a merc C124 that someone else has spent a fortune restoring? (!)

Edited by 0a on Sunday 19th February 14:53

[derin100]

r129sl said:

derin100 said:

Krikkit said:

Ouch, tricky choice then!

Totally different ball game, but the RX7 is on a roll this last couple of years, quietly appreciating nicely. What about an SLC? RRC? 944? Suppose it depends if you want to wrap it in cotton wool as a low-miles hideaway, or just use it.

Hmmm...never really been a fan of the SLC. Don't really want any form of R107 really. I don't want anything that rusts significantly. Although, I would consider an R129 as a contender.

I think the low mileage 944 boat has already sailed. I was looking at them literally just now as I do like them. Yes, it would be just to wrap it up and store away.

What's an RRC?

I think it's a very bad time. Surely the market is peaking? Every car more than five minutes old is described as an "investment opportunity". Prices "can only go one way". So much total st that would be en route to the scrapper is being offered at £4k. The end is nigh. Surely? Surely?

R129 is under-valued still but people are catching on. It is also being dragged up by the r107 which in turn was inflated by the Pagoda. The best Merc opportunity is the c215 CL: these are beautiful cars à la SEC, phenomenally capable, and yet they start at £3k for something vaguely OK and later cars are well built. E36 M3 in my view is unloved still and I'd definitely look at E36 328i coupés. How is the original XK8 faring in the market? I am surprised they are not extremely popular. Original Boxster worth a look, too; I think the train has sailed on the 996, though.

I think so much of what you say is true. But, old habits are dying hard with me...I shouldn't even be thinking about cars at this juncture. The E34 540i only actually went last Tuesday but habitually I log on to all the usual sites and see what's about etc. It truly is a disease!

Yes, I've noted that people are catching on with R129s but I don't think the boat has sailed on them yet. But the Pagoda to R107 to R129 domino effect seems inevitable.
You'd be surprised... the E36 M3 'thang' is happening as we speak. I noted it whilst scouring the 'net yesterday. People are trying to ask big money for them already. Trouble is, I don't like 'em! Not that they aren't good-looking cars and not that they aren't fast; it's just that their build quality is so shoddy that having had three E36s I don't think I ever want an E36 again. The interior, compared with an E46, is just horrible IMO.

I don't know about Jags. I like most of them actually but for some reason they always seem to take half a lifetime to start appreciating and be worth anything? I mean look at XJSs. The good ones are only starting to be worth decent money now. It's taken 30-40 years for them to get anywhere. At the age of 54 in 2 weeks time I'm sure I can buy a decent XK8 for not much these days; not sure I've got enough time left to wait for it to become worth anything though?

Boxster seems a decent call...particularly one of those Anniversary ones. But, I was a young man when they first came out and were branded a "Girlie" car (sexism was pretty much an accepted norm still in the 1980's). I still have difficulty feeling completely comfortable with them.

Yep, 996 boat seems to have sailed...having been towed off the quayside by the air-cooled 911 hype even if they're not.

Ok, shelving 'classic cars' as an investment to stop money depreciating in a bank and accepting that Premium Bonds aren't the most imaginative alternative to come up with what other alternatives are there for me to put the money into in the medium term (say, 5-ish years)?