Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[TheLordJohn]

Thanks for the positive responses everyone.
The 3.4 has a dual row IMS bearing (from what i've read!) and it's generally accepted to be a hugely reduced risk of failing than the later 3.6 or 3.8 (up to around '06/'07 can be problematic!).
Having said that, it's probably something i'll get done when it needs a clutch, or in a year or so. Whichever comes first!

Edited by TheLordJohn on Monday 20th March 12:35

[0a]

olly755 said:

0a said:

What's the most comfortable way to travel 300 miles from edinburgh to the midlands for say £2k. Mostly motorway(. It with the odd bit of pleasing A-road where a good handling car would be appreciated?

LS400 (fails the A road amusement)
Jag XJ perhaps

I wouldn't say the LS fails the A or B road test, in fact I preferred it over my X300 on the open, winding B roads that I generally only ever drive on. Steering feel in particular was superior to the Jag, which suffered that usual XJ dead feel around the straight ahead. Neither are 205gti's of course. I've said it before but they do feel like a V8 E39 from behind the wheel. If you want total numb isolation, both in NVH and driver involvement, the '430 is the car.

When is the barge meet? Happy to toss you the keys to mine for evaluation if I can make it (currently on probation with the bread knife following a chap's abroad jolly last weekend).

That would be fantastic thanks. The meet is scheduled for Sunday May 7th http://doodle.com/poll/2iebfe2237i8n6pb

[cornershop]

re dynamism of the LS400, i think its the overly light steering which hampers it on the twisty stuff, even with chunky 235/55s upfront and correct tyre pressures. It doesn't roll as much as I was expecting it to either, not quite on par with the S8 D2 it superseded, but not very far off at all.

If it stays, i'm thinking of fitting some -1" H&R springs to it on existing shocks - bizarrely, these are made in germany for the US market, however not sold in the EU.

Interesting, switching between the SEC and the Lex, you can tell they're a generation apart - 70's design v 80's design.

[8Ace]

Sterillium said:

I really like the look of this, I even really like the smoked chrome wheels.

Service history and ad both read well, but I'd have to throw a few hundred in and have the little bit of rust on the rear section repaired properly.

Wings done, but no mention of NIKASIL or tensioners... I may go and have a look at this one.

Edited by Sterillium on Sunday 19th March 17:56

I spotted that one too. I despise black wheels but think that those ones look brilliant.

I suppose my car fits into this thread - a 3.2 x300 XJ. I bought it for £2200 and at 109k in early 2009 as a stop gap but it's now on 205k and has been utterly brilliant.

I suspect it has maybe only a year or two left however - there is some chassis rust that needs treating (have had to have welding to pass last 2 MOTs) and the suspension bushes are getting a little baggy. The headlining is held up with staples and the lacquer is peeling off - the roof and boot looks like it has psoriasis. Latest issue is a sticky throttle which I'm fixing with help of eBay, but I don't want to have to spend lots on it.

Naturally I've considered what to replace it with and I just can't get round to any other conclusion than another Jag. XJR / S Type R to keep the confort / power / cost ratio just right.

[55palfers]

Green Godess anyone. Have we seen this before?

Looks pretty straight and cared for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132131538854?ul_noapp=tr...

[skwdenyer]

55palfers said:

Green Godess anyone. Have we seen this before?

Looks pretty straight and cared for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132131538854?ul_noapp=tr...

I've had 3 S124s in the past, including a 4-matic (if you see one, don't be tempted...). The last went about 6 years ago. The most I paid was £600. Prices on these are only going one way, and honestly I'm having a hard time not hitting "buy now" - this one especially is a very nice spec (although these later cars do subjectively *seem* to be less well screwed together).

[tobinen]

First owner certainly pushed the boat out with options but didn't go for cruise. Odd.

[SimonConnell]

skwdenyer said:

I've had 3 S124s in the past, including a 4-matic (if you see one, don't be tempted...). The last went about 6 years ago. The most I paid was £600. Prices on these are only going one way, and honestly I'm having a hard time not hitting "buy now" - this one especially is a very nice spec (although these later cars do subjectively *seem* to be less well screwed together).

I hear you. The issue I have is that an estate is essentially a utility vehicle - the coupe or cabriolet versions of the W124 make more sense if you want something special for the weekend.

But then, when they're in that sort of condition and values are rising, it's hard to load it up with children and dogs...

[Lowtimer]

tobinen said:

First owner certainly pushed the boat out with options but didn't go for cruise. Odd.

Odd only if you're in the chunk of the population that likes it and uses it, which is significant now but was a lot smaller 25 years ago. A lot of people have no use for it even today, self included.

My personal equivalent feature is air con. Not very popular at all on 124s and often absent even on the 126 S-class. But for me it's a deal breaker today because I can't get the wife to travel in a car that doesn't have it.

Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 21st March 10:12

[W00DY]

Cruise is fking brilliant. As are 4Matics.



And yellow Volvos.




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/volvo-244-/112340396792

[Krikkit]

If there was a car that shouted 70s in this thread, that is it.

[W00DY]

Krikkit said:

If there was a car that shouted 70s in this thread, that is it.

In '77 someone bought that yellow and brown 244 and my old very blue CX. The world is greyer now.

[Pothole]

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Lovely. Great colour, too.

[cat220]

Pothole said:

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Lovely. Great colour, too.

I have to stop looking at that Volvo, I'm thinking about it far too much! (I know it's an illness!)

[Pothole]

It's a good thing it's 84 miles away or Mrs P would be parking on the road tonight!

[WilkoIW]

cat220 said:

Pothole said:

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Lovely. Great colour, too.

I have to stop looking at that Volvo, I'm thinking about it far too much! (I know it's an illness!)

That is lovely and a bargain in my eyes. MOT check only shows up the last two MOT's though?

[Pothole]

WilkoIW said:

cat220 said:

Pothole said:

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Lovely. Great colour, too.

I have to stop looking at that Volvo, I'm thinking about it far too much! (I know it's an illness!)

That is lovely and a bargain in my eyes. MOT check only shows up the last two MOT's though?

Might have had a reg change?

[MorganP104]

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Carpet stripes?!?!? So. Much. WANT!

[tobinen]

Lowtimer said:

tobinen said:

First owner certainly pushed the boat out with options but didn't go for cruise. Odd.

Odd only if you're in the chunk of the population that likes it and uses it, which is significant now but was a lot smaller 25 years ago. A lot of people have no use for it even today, self included.

My personal equivalent feature is air con. Not very popular at all on 124s and often absent even on the 126 S-class. But for me it's a deal breaker today because I can't get the wife to travel in a car that doesn't have it.

Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 21st March 10:12

Yes, I agree entirely, times were different. I recall my uncle ordered a new Opel Monza 3.0E way back in late 1983, and loaded it up including aircon but cruise was not an option. He sourced an aftermarket system (from Germany I think, can't remember the brand), which had a neat sliding switch mounted near the instrument cluster. As a 13 year old I thought it was space-age tech.

[anonymous-user]

cat220 said:

Pothole said:

dme123 said:

Meanwhile, for people who don't get stiff for old taxis:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...




£1,295, 88k miles, carpet stripes. Could be the last car you ever need to buy.

Lovely. Great colour, too.

I have to stop looking at that Volvo, I'm thinking about it far too much! (I know it's an illness!)

I know, it looks like an absolute bargain. If I had the slightest need (and space) I think I'd be there with cash burning hole in a pocket and my absolute worst price negotiating skills on clear display.