Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[Krikkit]

Shirley, if we're talking boot hinges then why hasn't the Phaeton featured yet?



Agreed on the global car de-numptyfication though - why manufacture a set of hinges for Europe and the litigation-infested US when you can tool one set for all cars?

[anonymous-user]

Jobbo said:

That's archaic - introduced by Audi on the first aero 80 in about 1986. Looks clever but impossible to automate and the flange round the boot opening takes all the load.

The new type like in the W211 aren't a swan neck; they slide through an arc rather than rotating, so they have to be enclosed and can't trap anything.

I have an automated boot on one of our cars and it's absolute fking rubbish of the first order. It takes ages to motor itself up while you stand their like a tt in the rain, and then ages to motor down just to bounce back again if anything is poking out a bit. I've taken to grabbing the boot and forcing it down in frustration more than once.

It's one of those rare features that rather than improving the car or being largely neutral is an active annoyance on a daily basis.

Didn't they use rather OTT hinges on the Phaeton that didn't take up a load of space? Were they automated?

[Jobbo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It is beautiful, I concede. But googling reveals the same problems with older Phaeton boots as any other saloon; you operate the automatic release from the fob and it unlocks but doesn't open. The springing in the new type of hinges seems to make that a non-issue.

I do appreciate they're hardly elegant, but functionally the new type are really good.

ETA: I'm a convert to an automatic boot, but I always have estates. Gas struts failing to lift the tailgate doesn't seem to be an issue with electric ones.

[anonymous-user]

Jobbo said:

ETA: I'm a convert to an automatic boot, but I always have estates. Gas struts failing to lift the tailgate doesn't seem to be an issue with electric ones.

However...
changing gas struts = £50 ever decade or so
Automated rams failing on a Volvo V70 = £800

All for the pleasure of being irritated but being able to show off in the school car park by opening your boot from the fob.

[kprm77]

Scottsz said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

This looks nice.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...



Looks good in green.

I've just got back from seeing this, the car and owner were both great. Unfortunately I'm yet again cursed by being over 2m tall and couldn't fit. The car itself was wonderful though, definitely a steal at the asking price so a massive disappointment that I didn't fit!

Whereabouts in Herts is this? Hoping it's not near Welwyn Garden City as I was there last week!

[Krikkit]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The only scenario I would say they are useful is on an Estate/4x4 where you can wave a foot under the boot and have it open itself - I've been impressed by those in the past, and could envisage that being genuinely useful.

[Jobbo]

Electric bootlids are great. Even the S124 had an electric release. We don't need to get too hair-shirt when discussing bargain barges

[Fresh Prince]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

tombar said:

There is plenty of room otherwise in an LS400 except the boot isn't as massive as you'd think.

Interesting; that doesn't seem to be the consensus view up-thread.

I'd agree with tombar, the LS400 boot isn't as big as you'd expect, it's a bit shallower than some of its more recent contemporaries, and I suspect the fuel tank sits between the boot and the rear seats.

ETA - tombar has confirmed my suspicion above.

Edited by Fresh Prince on Monday 5th December 17:44

[r129sl]

Electric boot lids? For crying out loud!

[anonymous-user]

I have a lot of love for that LS400, ever since I had to sell mine when my commute went through the roof I've wished I kept it. OK so it became SOTW which at least gave me 15 minutes of PH fame, but they are just such great cars. Commute down to 5k miles a year now..... so tempting.....

[SuperHangOn]

kprm77 said:

Scottsz said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

This looks nice.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...



Looks good in green.

I've just got back from seeing this, the car and owner were both great. Unfortunately I'm yet again cursed by being over 2m tall and couldn't fit. The car itself was wonderful though, definitely a steal at the asking price so a massive disappointment that I didn't fit!

Whereabouts in Herts is this? Hoping it's not near Welwyn Garden City as I was there last week!

I don't think anywhere in Herts is much more than half an hour from WGC!

Looks a good car. Interior is a bit grim but ripping off that stick on wood stuff would help.

[derin100]

r129sl said:

Why did the original owner specify everything but heated seats?

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...

HAEMORRHOIDS!

Just belatedly checking-in btw.


(Beat that for an entrance! Although anatomy books might pedantically insist that word should only be used in relation to an exit.)

[olly755]

Fresh Prince said:

I'd agree with tombar, the LS400 boot isn't as big as you'd expect, it's a bit shallower than some of its more recent contemporaries, and I suspect the fuel tank sits between the boot and the rear seats.

ETA - tombar has confirmed my suspicion above.

Edited by Fresh Prince on Monday 5th December 17:44

The later, facelifted LS400 actually had a smaller boot than the original, despite being a bigger car in almost every way.

>strokesbeard<

[SpeckledJim]

SpeckledJim says the car that for him had the most surprisingly big boot was:

E39 saloon.

[cornershop]

Any one mentioned this SEC yet? love the interior

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C814966

[W00DY]

cornershop said:

Any one mentioned this SEC yet? love the interior

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C814966

One of the nicest I've seen in ages.


Utterly captivating.

[r129sl]

W00DY said:

cornershop said:

Any one mentioned this SEC yet? love the interior

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C814966

One of the nicest I've seen in ages.


Utterly captivating.

I'll second that. Although the MOT history suggests some fettling of the undercarriage may be required (as it were) and the proper tyres are £300 a shot. Even so, it's a very tempting proposition.

[0a]

Fantastically little wheels. I love it.

[0a]

We had this up previously as a comedy ad - it's back again at £4,219. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C799534

I really want to know what the real story is... surely noone can be that ambitious?!

[mickyveloce]

0a said:

We had this up previously as a comedy ad - it's back again at £4,219. http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C799534

I really want to know what the real story is... surely noone can be that ambitious?!

The vendor is clearly as mad as cheese.

However, if it was in perfect condition,had a glovebox full of gold ingots and a passenger seat full of Carol Vorderman it would be worth £80,000.

Take this man out and shoot him.