Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[CharlesdeGaulle]

sparks_E39 said:

I'm more of a wafter anyway, tired of E39's after 8 years and modern cars don't inspire me.

I love the styling. MPG I'm expecting 30ish on a run? It has to be auto. I've heard everything about them is bombproof, and they don't even rust terribly... true?

Bombproof and pretty rust resistant is generally true in my limited experience. The bigger engines are pretty much essential if you do long distances or regular motorway work. I've said here before that fuel economy and barge-ism are profoundly incompatible, but you'll certainly get economy that won't make you cry. Only a madman would buy a manual MB.

They are brilliant cars - much smaller and simpler than an e39 of course - and delightfully retro without being terribly old fashioned.

2 grand will get you a cracker. Once you've had one, you'll see what all the fuss is about.

[ian316]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

haha oh dear still £1.24s not a bad price

[CharlesdeGaulle]

mccrackenj said:

Spotted that last night. As 'the young' are wont to exclaim these days, "OMG!"

'OMFG' seems more suited to that car. I really like it.

[mccrackenj]

W00DY said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-Mercedes-Benz-E260-...


Early 124s in good colour schemes are always a treat. Makes me miss my 230.

l

Looks pretty shoddy. Filthy interior, scuffs round the arches and high miles. No ta. Was up for for £2350 then £1850. I bow to no man in my enthusiasm for pre-Sacco saloons, but that's £1000 for me, max.

[mccrackenj]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

mccrackenj said:

Spotted that last night. As 'the young' are wont to exclaim these days, "OMG!"

'OMFG' seems more suited to that car. I really like it.

Jeez, you're quick tonight! And you're right. OOOHH MYYYY GOOOOODDD!!!

[mccrackenj]

mccrackenj said:

0a said:

The old faithful w124 passed its MOT with the usual "corroded brake pipes" trinket advisory today. It really is getting enthusiastic with the rust on the arches, but I am rather attached to it so have treated it to two new tyres and some tracking and will drive it up to and around the highlands at some point in the next few weeks. I like the old thing.

Mine is up tomorrow at 13:40, and I'm expecting exactly the same advisory. Spent a couple of hours underneath least weekend rubbing them down along their whole length (mostly pretty good really) painting then smearing a thin coat of hot runny Waxoyl over them. Hopefully be OK.

Apart from that I'm expecting to sail through. 700 odd miles since last MOT, I should be ashamed.

Maybe get the steels & winters off next weekend & get the 15 holes & Contis on.

As predicted, fresh MOT granted, and an advisory for brake pipes!

Turns out the MOT guy is a big fan of the 190e.

[ian316]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

a cinquecento is a wonderful thing, I've had two in the past

[CharlesdeGaulle]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[CharlesdeGaulle]

One here, albeit with the delightfully phonetic/auto correct 'lacker peal'.

At, £1495, plenty of margin for titivation.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C841589

[Max M4X WW]

0a said:

Max M4X WW said:

0a said:

Jimmy Recard said:

More and more I'm thinking that what I'd really like is a W220 S-Class. I don't know why - I was pretty indifferent but they're just growing rapidly in their appeal to me

I know... I keep going back to this one 600. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/272544661983?dest=h...

£7,295 - has it come down at all?

Yes, I have been watching for a couple of months. I believe it started at £7995, then £7495, then £8995 at which point I emailed to ask what was going on - they said they needed it gone, now they didn't but I could have it for £7495. More recently it had gone back down to £7495 and now reduced to its all time low of £7295.

By the time I have money passing through my account in a month or so time it will hopefully still be around and priced at mid thread budget

That looks like a lot of car for the money assuming the miles check out

Did anyone buy it? It seems to have gone!

[0a]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Wow that's fantastic. Seems like great value to me as well.

[0a]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[0a]

cornershop said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Nice old thing here. Decent MOT history too.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C841444

really really wish you hadn't posted that ..... looks splendid

Agreed. What a nice motor: when a 280 comes around I'll have it.

[nobrakes]

WilkoIW said:

This looks lovely -



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-735i-SE-AUTO-E32-ONL...

It looks like one those cars that garages like Hexagon (?) pick up then advertise for about £25k.
(Sorry cmoose etc, I don't seem to get the "quote all" option)

[0a]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's a great buy...

[0a]

My 300e has just turned 190k and I can't wait to get it back from my mechanic and put another 2k on it next week (I have some holiday I'm taking). I'd imagine that car feels very fresh indeed.

Pre Sacco panels are always good as well. And the w124 was better made the earlier you go.

[0a]

The 4 door w124s are lighter and drive better than the c124 and estates.

Amusingly the bulk of my insurance premium is the w124 - both the 190 and the 500sl get classic insurance and an agreed value which drops their element of the premium dramatically.

The w124 is insured as worthless and costs me more than the 190 and 500sl combined!

[mondayo]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

A 320ce here but this one is a project and AMG stylee http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/1992-MERCEDES-320-CE-W124-...

[mondayo]

And this one is lovely looking. Slightly over thread budget but it's price does at least start with a 5 (just).
I think something like this would make a lovely weekend wafter for carrying the family about...the mx5 I have doesn't have great rear legroom for the sproglets.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-W124-300CE-2...

Edited by mondayo on Sunday 26th February 07:55

[sparks_E39]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

One here, albeit with the delightfully phonetic/auto correct 'lacker peal'.

At, £1495, plenty of margin for titivation.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C841589

Nice! Regarding the earlier comments about needing the bigger engine, I get it, however this won't be doing a lot of miles and will not be used for motorway/long hauls very often. The odd trip from Dorset to North Wales and to Heathrow once a year. I can find a few 2.0's around, the higher powered versions seem a bit thin on the ground. Are the advantages of the 2.6 more high end? We're possibly getting a new car financed through work (discounted as I'm in the motor trade) so it won't be my daily, probably 3-4K a year. Sadly it will live outside, but I can cover it up.

A bit of backstory, my beloved Nan passed away last year and left me a few grand, not as much as the high end of the thread budget but enough for something like the 190 and a bit of a contingency fund. Whatever I end up with will be in her memory and something I'd keep for as long as possible, so I want to get it right first time! I'm in no hurry, but after everything I've been considering recently, I think a 190 makes the most sense.

A sorted E39 is a lovely thing, however it just needs so much "sorting" to keep it right.. testing my patience and my wallet. BMW were shocking when it came to rust protection. I will look back to my two with fondness, but time for something different I think. A W124 is another beauty, however they seem to command a premium over the 190.