Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]
Discussion
ked right off the bat.
Huntsman said:
SpeckledJim said:
In other news, I've sold the XJ40.
It was nice enough but not nice enough to be a keeper and wasn't ever going to successfully compete with the XJS for my affection (and for it's share of the meagre maintenance budget).
There's a real rightness about an XJ40 though. I'll have another, one day.
Interesting.It was nice enough but not nice enough to be a keeper and wasn't ever going to successfully compete with the XJS for my affection (and for it's share of the meagre maintenance budget).
There's a real rightness about an XJ40 though. I'll have another, one day.
Specifically as they are on 15's, how does the ride compare to a S1 XJ6?
The reason I ask, I loved my S1, it was the perfect ride for me, super soft, like flying on a magic carpet, but my X300 3.2 Executive, was o n16's and a little too firm, I wasn't totally isolated.
Does the XJ40 offer total isolation from bumps like the S1?
It was bloody good though. Honestly a better ride than ANY modern of my experience, but still a fun car to drive.
They look great in a colour, and I'd honestly recommend a late one as a nice car that looks old and interesting but doesn't come with a concomitant penalty on today's tiresome roads.
dbdb's (for example) is utterly gorgeous.
derin100 said:
So this is a restoration project and potentially, due to its age, of a somewhat different proportion to what you are used to? Given that we know the high standards which you always expect and do achieve with your cars I would say that inevitably your initial estimate of costs will be exceeded. You have, for example, made no estimate things like re-finishing chrome-work, seats etc. Once you have tackled all of the fundamental mechanical, chassis work and had the car re-painted you are not going to be satisfied or fully enjoy owning it if the car falls short cosmetically in other areas. You like your cars to be mechanically top-line...but you also like them to look nice? Of all of them you are really going to want this one to be beautiful?
So, like the people they show on that Grand Designs TV programme there is almost certainly going to be a budget over-spend and a time over-run on this.
However, why do something that is 'easy' if having done something that was 'hard' will give you so much more satisfaction in the end? You already know you can do 'easy'...why prove to yourself you can do that again?
A W108 280SE 3.5 is a rare car in the U.K by any description now. Silver Blue over black is your favoured colour scheme. How small a field of runners have we now got that down to?
I would say that you should go for it! It may clear you out at the present but that situation won't last for too long hopefully. You'll have the car then. Put it away until funds allow you to start the project. Don't think about driving or using it. This car will have to be a hobby but the sense of achievement at the end of the project will be immense.
Get the chassis and all of the mechanical side done first. Don't waste money at this stage worrying about carpets and mats etc...put those thoughts to the back of your mind.
I would imagine that with quite a lot of the work needed you are going to have to farm out to mechanics etc? They always take longer to get stuff done on cars than most of us would like. But, if you take a slightly laid-back approach to them and don't pursue them too hard the time delays allow you to build up and set aside funds for the restoration.
From what you have described above, I would suggest that you think in terms of: "Well, if I buy this car now it isn't going to be ready and finished for this coming summer so I may as well make the aim of it being ready for the following summer."
If I were you...I'd buy it! That's not going to come along again in the next 5 minutes.
Totally agree with this - don't try and do it this year, regard it as a longer term, as and when funds allow, project. So, like the people they show on that Grand Designs TV programme there is almost certainly going to be a budget over-spend and a time over-run on this.
However, why do something that is 'easy' if having done something that was 'hard' will give you so much more satisfaction in the end? You already know you can do 'easy'...why prove to yourself you can do that again?
A W108 280SE 3.5 is a rare car in the U.K by any description now. Silver Blue over black is your favoured colour scheme. How small a field of runners have we now got that down to?
I would say that you should go for it! It may clear you out at the present but that situation won't last for too long hopefully. You'll have the car then. Put it away until funds allow you to start the project. Don't think about driving or using it. This car will have to be a hobby but the sense of achievement at the end of the project will be immense.
Get the chassis and all of the mechanical side done first. Don't waste money at this stage worrying about carpets and mats etc...put those thoughts to the back of your mind.
I would imagine that with quite a lot of the work needed you are going to have to farm out to mechanics etc? They always take longer to get stuff done on cars than most of us would like. But, if you take a slightly laid-back approach to them and don't pursue them too hard the time delays allow you to build up and set aside funds for the restoration.
From what you have described above, I would suggest that you think in terms of: "Well, if I buy this car now it isn't going to be ready and finished for this coming summer so I may as well make the aim of it being ready for the following summer."
If I were you...I'd buy it! That's not going to come along again in the next 5 minutes.
There's a 1972 car on eBay at present, just broken thread budget with 3 days to go (I'm using eBay app so don't know how to link). It's in primer and pieces and had £12k spent so far according to the vendor - I'm sure both the defence and prosecution could make a case from this example, but I'm citing it as evidence for Derin's argument.
I agree with derin and Stegel on this one - if you've got the space and patience to tuck it away while you build up the readies required to fettle it as appropriate it'll be worth it in the end.
They're rare enough in nice colour schemes, one that tickles your fancy for a reasonable sum won't come up any day...
They're rare enough in nice colour schemes, one that tickles your fancy for a reasonable sum won't come up any day...
derin100 said:
I know...but that's the time to get them. Even if you don't make money on them that's the time to get and experience owning them. Look at what happened to me with E30 M3 and E46 CSL. Would I buy them now for what people have to pay for them now? No bloody way!
Definitely, it's just the ones I've missed still call out to me. there are plenty I've managed to own at the right time though.Give me 100 grand and a barn and I'd have the greatest investment portfolio going. That you could drive.
On the subject of W108s. I love them so much, but the headache of putting a bad car good would kill it for me, much cheaper and less stress to keep a nice on nice I'm sure.
W00DY said:
Wow!Why so cheap?!
Stegel said:
derin100 said:
So this is a restoration project and potentially, due to its age, of a somewhat different proportion to what you are used to? Given that we know the high standards which you always expect and do achieve with your cars I would say that inevitably your initial estimate of costs will be exceeded. You have, for example, made no estimate things like re-finishing chrome-work, seats etc. Once you have tackled all of the fundamental mechanical, chassis work and had the car re-painted you are not going to be satisfied or fully enjoy owning it if the car falls short cosmetically in other areas. You like your cars to be mechanically top-line...but you also like them to look nice? Of all of them you are really going to want this one to be beautiful?
So, like the people they show on that Grand Designs TV programme there is almost certainly going to be a budget over-spend and a time over-run on this.
However, why do something that is 'easy' if having done something that was 'hard' will give you so much more satisfaction in the end? You already know you can do 'easy'...why prove to yourself you can do that again?
A W108 280SE 3.5 is a rare car in the U.K by any description now. Silver Blue over black is your favoured colour scheme. How small a field of runners have we now got that down to?
I would say that you should go for it! It may clear you out at the present but that situation won't last for too long hopefully. You'll have the car then. Put it away until funds allow you to start the project. Don't think about driving or using it. This car will have to be a hobby but the sense of achievement at the end of the project will be immense.
Get the chassis and all of the mechanical side done first. Don't waste money at this stage worrying about carpets and mats etc...put those thoughts to the back of your mind.
I would imagine that with quite a lot of the work needed you are going to have to farm out to mechanics etc? They always take longer to get stuff done on cars than most of us would like. But, if you take a slightly laid-back approach to them and don't pursue them too hard the time delays allow you to build up and set aside funds for the restoration.
From what you have described above, I would suggest that you think in terms of: "Well, if I buy this car now it isn't going to be ready and finished for this coming summer so I may as well make the aim of it being ready for the following summer."
If I were you...I'd buy it! That's not going to come along again in the next 5 minutes.
Totally agree with this - don't try and do it this year, regard it as a longer term, as and when funds allow, project. So, like the people they show on that Grand Designs TV programme there is almost certainly going to be a budget over-spend and a time over-run on this.
However, why do something that is 'easy' if having done something that was 'hard' will give you so much more satisfaction in the end? You already know you can do 'easy'...why prove to yourself you can do that again?
A W108 280SE 3.5 is a rare car in the U.K by any description now. Silver Blue over black is your favoured colour scheme. How small a field of runners have we now got that down to?
I would say that you should go for it! It may clear you out at the present but that situation won't last for too long hopefully. You'll have the car then. Put it away until funds allow you to start the project. Don't think about driving or using it. This car will have to be a hobby but the sense of achievement at the end of the project will be immense.
Get the chassis and all of the mechanical side done first. Don't waste money at this stage worrying about carpets and mats etc...put those thoughts to the back of your mind.
I would imagine that with quite a lot of the work needed you are going to have to farm out to mechanics etc? They always take longer to get stuff done on cars than most of us would like. But, if you take a slightly laid-back approach to them and don't pursue them too hard the time delays allow you to build up and set aside funds for the restoration.
From what you have described above, I would suggest that you think in terms of: "Well, if I buy this car now it isn't going to be ready and finished for this coming summer so I may as well make the aim of it being ready for the following summer."
If I were you...I'd buy it! That's not going to come along again in the next 5 minutes.
There's a 1972 car on eBay at present, just broken thread budget with 3 days to go (I'm using eBay app so don't know how to link). It's in primer and pieces and had £12k spent so far according to the vendor - I'm sure both the defence and prosecution could make a case from this example, but I'm citing it as evidence for Derin's argument.
derin100 said:
W00DY said:
Wow!Why so cheap?!
Heater works fine, apparently. I don't think it's a shed by any stretch of the imagination. I suspect it is better than most cars I've bought. The interior looks very good indeed. I suspect it needs a bit of welding and a thorough service to be perfectly good for 3,000 miles a year and proper medium distance work. Crumbs, it was easier when you all said no.
r129sl said:
Heater works fine, apparently. I don't think it's a shed by any stretch of the imagination. I suspect it is better than most cars I've bought. The interior looks very good indeed. I suspect it needs a bit of welding and a thorough service to be perfectly good for 3,000 miles a year and proper medium distance work. Crumbs, it was easier when you all said no.
That's very important. Most other stuff one can work around.At the risk (nay, certainty) of being a total party-pooper, there are two questions being answered here.
1. "Is this the right example of a W108 for someone who's not feeling over-cashified at the moment, and wants a driver, not a resto project?".
and
2. "How good would it be to enjoy a 100 page Reader's Cars thread on this, ending up as a £35K total spend over the next three years"
These are both questions which it is easy and enjoyable to answer. But only one of them has been asked.
1. "Is this the right example of a W108 for someone who's not feeling over-cashified at the moment, and wants a driver, not a resto project?".
and
2. "How good would it be to enjoy a 100 page Reader's Cars thread on this, ending up as a £35K total spend over the next three years"
These are both questions which it is easy and enjoyable to answer. But only one of them has been asked.
We're now in the C215's carpe-diem sweet spot - I can't see them ever being cheaper than this. On looks alone they must be the most futury-classicy of all future classics.
But I'm regrettably no longer in a position to acquire one, so it would be great if people could stop posting them up. Especially in almandine.
But I'm regrettably no longer in a position to acquire one, so it would be great if people could stop posting them up. Especially in almandine.
I drove past this poor w220 on the way home from work last night. Noticed the for sale sign on the window advertising it for £1,200. So thought I'd search to see if it was a advertised anywhere on line...
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/w-red-merc...
A lesson on how not to advertise a car. I don't think its even worth a gold ring!
https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz/w-red-merc...
A lesson on how not to advertise a car. I don't think its even worth a gold ring!
- Was also parked on a busy road, not the one in the advert with no tax*
derin100 said:
r129sl said:
Heater works fine, apparently. I don't think it's a shed by any stretch of the imagination. I suspect it is better than most cars I've bought. The interior looks very good indeed. I suspect it needs a bit of welding and a thorough service to be perfectly good for 3,000 miles a year and proper medium distance work. Crumbs, it was easier when you all said no.
That's very important. Most other stuff one can work around.How closely have you inspected the car? Have you had a really good look for rust? - That's the thing which would concern me with the W108. Like all cars of their era, they are really quite rust prone. My uncle had one years ago which was eventually killed by rust - despite spending its life in a dry country.
They are undoubtedly wonderful old cars; the V8 makes them. They're very charismatic.
If it is not laced with rust - it really is confined to a handful of sites, then I would probably get it. I would buy it as a longer term restoration job though, to pace myself with the expense.
I have not been to South Africa for many years, but the last time I went these W108s - and especially the 3.5 litre ones - seemed more numerous there than they did here. It is a much kinder climate for them out there, except perhaps for the interior. I wonder if you could still find a good one out there to bring back? The decline in the pound since the Brexit vote doesn't help things though.
As far as I know, the W108s out there were made in West Germany - certainly my uncle's 280SE 3.5 was.
Lowtimer said:
At the risk (nay, certainty) of being a total party-pooper, there are two questions being answered here.
1. "Is this the right example of a W108 for someone who's not feeling over-cashified at the moment, and wants a driver, not a resto project?".
and
2. "How good would it be to enjoy a 100 page Reader's Cars thread on this, ending up as a £35K total spend over the next three years"
These are both questions which it is easy and enjoyable to answer. But only one of them has been asked.
True.1. "Is this the right example of a W108 for someone who's not feeling over-cashified at the moment, and wants a driver, not a resto project?".
and
2. "How good would it be to enjoy a 100 page Reader's Cars thread on this, ending up as a £35K total spend over the next three years"
These are both questions which it is easy and enjoyable to answer. But only one of them has been asked.
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