Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[anonymous-user]

Biglips said:

nobrakes said:

I'll have this one please:

4.2 V8 A6 SE Avant

2006. 109k FASH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

For as much value that it is as a guide: 0-60 6.2 according to the autotrader spec.

This has been on before. I am quite taken by it but know nothing about Audis. What do the Audi experts here make of this one?

I really like the idea of one of these, but I'm put off by the ropey reliability and big bills the various fleet A4s were always throwing up at my last company. Do VAG actually put some effort into the big Audis or are they as poorly engineered as the little ones?

[Riley Blue]

dme123 said:

I really like the idea of one of these, but I'm put off by the ropey reliability and big bills the various fleet A4s were always throwing up at my last company. Do VAG actually put some effort into the big Audis or are they as poorly engineered as the little ones?

I've had both; two A4 TDIs and my current A8. Guess which has been more problematic... yup, the A8 which is on the verge of being written off due to electrical gremlins. I'd have another in a heartbeat though - or an A6 V8 but there's a D2 S8 I have my eye on at the moment.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Krikkit said:

As such, how's this LS400? I like the colours (green leather, natch), and do those wheels signify DHP? Needs a good haggle, but a nice-looking thing anyway. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I really want to like these, but for 3 grand that needs to look a lot smarter than it does.

[cornershop]

dme123 said:

Biglips said:

nobrakes said:

I'll have this one please:

4.2 V8 A6 SE Avant

2006. 109k FASH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

For as much value that it is as a guide: 0-60 6.2 according to the autotrader spec.

This has been on before. I am quite taken by it but know nothing about Audis. What do the Audi experts here make of this one?

I really like the idea of one of these, but I'm put off by the ropey reliability and big bills the various fleet A4s were always throwing up at my last company. Do VAG actually put some effort into the big Audis or are they as poorly engineered as the little ones?

Gearbox issues are the biggest threat, standard issue 5spd ZF box. Main dealers advised no gearbox oil changes required, so issues are a real risk now.

[Krikkit]

It needs a good haggle, but the hinted-at LPG might soften the blow.

Plus... Green leather, it's a gentleman's club on wheels.

[Biglips]

cornershop said:

Gearbox issues are the biggest threat, standard issue 5spd ZF box. Main dealers advised no gearbox oil changes required, so issues are a real risk now.

Ok thanks guys. Will keep looking.

[The Slug Of Doom]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

As such, how's this LS400? I like the colours (green leather, natch), and do those wheels signify DHP? Needs a good haggle, but a nice-looking thing anyway. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I really want to like these, but for 3 grand that needs to look a lot smarter than it does.

Brilliant cars, but someone is in the land of fantasy if they think that one is worth £3k! (ok not quite the levels of lunatic optimism demonstrated by the seller of the £6k LS400 a few pages back)

Drop the asking price by half, clean it, takes some pictures away from your urban gangster backdrop and then a sensible discussion can be had.

[cornershop]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

As such, how's this LS400? I like the colours (green leather, natch), and do those wheels signify DHP? Needs a good haggle, but a nice-looking thing anyway. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I really want to like these, but for 3 grand that needs to look a lot smarter than it does.

The lower cladding panels are easily misaligned due to the way they are attached which doesn't help. That one looks to have a colour mismatch in the cladding, could be hiding something.

LPG doesn't appeal to me at all, but guess that's why you're paying a premium.

Does appear slightly lower than standard so could well be DHP equipped; no option codes from what I understand so not easy to tell. Bigger ARB (+1mm) is one measure. Just stuck DHP wheels on mine, original centre caps are NLA

[cornershop]

Some light reading here re Mk4 Ls400

http://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1414...

[SpeckledJim]

cornershop said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

As such, how's this LS400? I like the colours (green leather, natch), and do those wheels signify DHP? Needs a good haggle, but a nice-looking thing anyway. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I really want to like these, but for 3 grand that needs to look a lot smarter than it does.

The lower cladding panels are easily misaligned due to the way they are attached which doesn't help. That one looks to have a colour mismatch in the cladding, could be hiding something.

LPG doesn't appeal to me at all, but guess that's why you're paying a premium.

Does appear slightly lower than standard so could well be DHP equipped; no option codes from what I understand so not easy to tell. Bigger ARB (+1mm) is one measure. Just stuck DHP wheels on mine, original centre caps are NLA

What's the best thing in the world, I often wonder.

Well, found it.

The glovebox lid on that car is standard issue Lexus/Toyota/Nissan/Hyundai/Tuk-tuk grey plastic grimness. But open the glovebox, which you'll do about once a year as the only thing in there is a CD changer, and you get treated to a lovely large veneer panel.

Swap your CDs. Shut the glovebox. Back to Grimsville. Population: you. Or your passenger at least.

And that's the best thing in the world.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

cornershop said:

Some light reading here re Mk4 Ls400

http://media.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/files_mf/1414...

Good stuff.

[olly755]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Good stuff.

Seconded.

Quite fancy a JDM Mk4 Celsior next with wool cloth. Because creaking, trumping leather is just so undignified.

Been scanning the auctions: I know you've got to get the thing back here and pay all the taxes etc, but even with the pound on it's arse, every indication shows they are just as worthless over there as they are here.

[cornershop]

i'll stop with LS400 history lesson shortly, some more light reading:

http://blog.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-first-g...

http://blog.lexus.co.uk/innovations-of-the-second-...

[octane83]

cornershop said:

dme123 said:

Biglips said:

nobrakes said:

I'll have this one please:

4.2 V8 A6 SE Avant

2006. 109k FASH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

For as much value that it is as a guide: 0-60 6.2 according to the autotrader spec.

This has been on before. I am quite taken by it but know nothing about Audis. What do the Audi experts here make of this one?

I really like the idea of one of these, but I'm put off by the ropey reliability and big bills the various fleet A4s were always throwing up at my last company. Do VAG actually put some effort into the big Audis or are they as poorly engineered as the little ones?

Gearbox issues are the biggest threat, standard issue 5spd ZF box. Main dealers advised no gearbox oil changes required, so issues are a real risk now.

ermmm, its a 6 speed gearbox in these. I'll be getting mine serviced in the summer. This car is exactly the same as mine actually, colour, spec, mileage, everything. Colour is Oyster Grey, its quite nice in the flesh actually, nicer than photos suggest.

Its my first Audi and its a pretty good all round package, strong engine, comfy ride, nice interior, spacious boot. I've seen upto 28mpg on a long run but normal driving shows an average of around 22mpg, which isn't too bad for a V8. I like the fact that it looks quite unassuming yet packs around 350bhp. I was considering a Subaru Legacy specB 3.0R but MPG wise they weren't much better so opted for the Audi.

When I did my research regarding the things to look out for I found:
--FSI engines coke up, budget around £170 for a round of de-coking, not as big a deal on these as the RS versions though, they're much, much worse.
--Gearbox service from someone that knows what they are doing (look on the ZF website for an approved service agent near you) budget upto £300 (major expense is the oil itself)
--at this mileage it will be coming up to its big service which includes plugs. Plugs (Audi make a big deal of FSI specific NGK plugs) are normally £15 each but Amazon had them on sale recently for £5, plus the major motor factors usually do good discounts if you keep your eyes peeled.
--Takes 9.1 litres of oil, I usually use Opie oils, I got the Oil, oil filter and pollen filter for exactly £100 with PH discount a few weeks ago.
--Pollen filter is a right PIA to get to, my car was serviced by Audi all its life (hell Audi HQ owned it for 18 months from new) but my pollen filter was CAKED in cr@p, possibly because the technicians couldn't be @rsed
--Note the £515 road tax

All in all they're very good car and seem to be built very well, I hope to keep mine for a good few years.

Go for it if you can stomach the mpg and the tax, the one in the advert looks like a well cared for example.

Hope that helps

[TurboHatchback]

octane83 said:

cornershop said:

dme123 said:

Biglips said:

nobrakes said:

I'll have this one please:

4.2 V8 A6 SE Avant

2006. 109k FASH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

For as much value that it is as a guide: 0-60 6.2 according to the autotrader spec.

This has been on before. I am quite taken by it but know nothing about Audis. What do the Audi experts here make of this one?

I really like the idea of one of these, but I'm put off by the ropey reliability and big bills the various fleet A4s were always throwing up at my last company. Do VAG actually put some effort into the big Audis or are they as poorly engineered as the little ones?

Gearbox issues are the biggest threat, standard issue 5spd ZF box. Main dealers advised no gearbox oil changes required, so issues are a real risk now.

ermmm, its a 6 speed gearbox in these. I'll be getting mine serviced in the summer. This car is exactly the same as mine actually, colour, spec, mileage, everything. Colour is Oyster Grey, its quite nice in the flesh actually, nicer than photos suggest.

Its my first Audi and its a pretty good all round package, strong engine, comfy ride, nice interior, spacious boot. I've seen upto 28mpg on a long run but normal driving shows an average of around 22mpg, which isn't too bad for a V8. I like the fact that it looks quite unassuming yet packs around 350bhp. I was considering a Subaru Legacy specB 3.0R but MPG wise they weren't much better so opted for the Audi.

When I did my research regarding the things to look out for I found:
--FSI engines coke up, budget around £170 for a round of de-coking, not as big a deal on these as the RS versions though, they're much, much worse.
--Gearbox service from someone that knows what they are doing (look on the ZF website for an approved service agent near you) budget upto £300 (major expense is the oil itself)
--at this mileage it will be coming up to its big service which includes plugs. Plugs (Audi make a big deal of FSI specific NGK plugs) are normally £15 each but Amazon had them on sale recently for £5, plus the major motor factors usually do good discounts if you keep your eyes peeled.
--Takes 9.1 litres of oil, I usually use Opie oils, I got the Oil, oil filter and pollen filter for exactly £100 with PH discount a few weeks ago.
--Pollen filter is a right PIA to get to, my car was serviced by Audi all its life (hell Audi HQ owned it for 18 months from new) but my pollen filter was CAKED in cr@p, possibly because the technicians couldn't be @rsed
--Note the £515 road tax

All in all they're very good car and seem to be built very well, I hope to keep mine for a good few years.

Go for it if you can stomach the mpg and the tax, the one in the advert looks like a well cared for example.

Hope that helps

That one has the earlier indirect injection V8 unless I'm much mistaken. Slightly less powerful and economical than the FSI engine, also needs expensive cambelt changes but obviously won't suffer the same coking issues. I had an FSI V8 saloon and it was fantastic, I would absolutely recommend one and the one linked looks very nice to me.

[cornershop]

octane83 said:

ermmm, its a 6 speed gearbox in these.

my bad, however they have the same issues re 'lifetime fill' transmission oil, being stipulated by dealers.

[Mark-C]

So a conversation with my Dad ... involving his Brandy collection led me to this --> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/162367859526?clk_rv...

Well it’s certainly in budget! Anyone got any experience of running something like this or a Hyundai XG30 (?) - I’m mildly intrigued!

[bob-lad]

Were you on the cooking brandy left over from the Christmas cake?

The advert looks like you drank it all. Horrible, childish advert for an old Japanese shopping trolley. It's barely a taxi, let alone a desirable barge.


"NO STAINS ON THE SEATS" Woohoo. Must be a winner.


Even Honest John reviews it as "Soggy handling and a generally baggy drive."

Edited by bob-lad on Tuesday 24th January 23:19

[0a]

Mark-C said:

So a conversation with my Dad ... involving his Brandy collection led me to this --> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/162367859526?clk_rv...

Well it’s certainly in budget! Anyone got any experience of running something like this or a Hyundai XG30 (?) - I’m mildly intrigued!

I would salute you if you purchased this. Come to the next barge meet and park it next to Bob-Lad's old Jag and extol the solid roof, economy and reliability. Please!

A cheap and comfortable way to be miserable.

[bob-lad]

ROFL.

Amazingly that daft V12 manages a whiff over 21mpg on a run.

Back in the day, my D2 S8 did 19.7.


Why didn't I drive a V12 back then?