Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]
Discussion
CharlesdeGaulle said:
It's easy to catastroph-ise old car ownership. Sure, you can 'do a Jonathan' and make the car as good as it ever was, undoing years of neglect. Most of us, maybe Lowtimer aside, won't ever do that. And, I'd argue, for most of us it isn't necessary. There will be normal maintenance, and probably some restorative maintenance, but it's usually manageable and fairly predictable. I've had quite a few old cars, and I like to think they have been well looked after in my care, and some have been significantly improved. Not one of them has cost me anything like the amount I'd have lost in depreciation on a modern, and as a happy accident I've managed to sell virtually all my cars for more than I paid.
This chap wants a car that reminds him of a much-loved relative, to do 4k a year in, and which will live outside. In the context of his e39 vs 201 question, the 190 is a no-brainer at his budget, which is closer to bottom thread limit than top. I say go for it.
Thank you, and thanks all. The idea is to purchase for £2k or maybe slightly under, I'll have about a grand stowed away if required, I don't want to blow all my budget and have zero contingency. I'm going to take my time, I'm off to the US in a few weeks so I'm going to properly look on my return. I may have more questions in the coming weeks!This chap wants a car that reminds him of a much-loved relative, to do 4k a year in, and which will live outside. In the context of his e39 vs 201 question, the 190 is a no-brainer at his budget, which is closer to bottom thread limit than top. I say go for it.
mccrackenj said:
I remember the pics of yours, lovely colour. Wasn't it, for want of a better term, 'one coat' paint too? i.e. not clearcoat over base? I would have loved to have a go at that with a machine polisher & some top quality polishes & waxes.
It was indeed. I'm yet to own a proper machine polisher, but even doing it by hand was immensely satisfying.derin100 said:
Is this where you buy it back, going on previous form W00DY said:
mccrackenj said:
I remember the pics of yours, lovely colour. Wasn't it, for want of a better term, 'one coat' paint too? i.e. not clearcoat over base? I would have loved to have a go at that with a machine polisher & some top quality polishes & waxes.
It was indeed. I'm yet to own a proper machine polisher, but even doing it by hand was immensely satisfying.ian316 said:
derin100 said:
Is this where you buy it back, going on previous form No...but it was a lovely car that I owned for over 7 years. I've actually been offered that car back on two separate occasions since I sold it...which must be approaching 10 years ago? Once, I could have had it back for £2300! Time has moved on since then though...
I'm not sure if the vendor was aware (I've told him now) that I had Eibach and Bilstein suspension fitted to that car not long before I sold it. It was quite a costly exercise at the time as the front top-mounts had to be changed and the correct ones were only available direct from BMW in Munich. However, it totally transformed that car for the better. The ride wasn't adversely affected but it just eliminated the standard really wallowy feel of an E32 and actually made it more comfortable, reassuring to drive at speed and handle really well for such a big car. The ride height wasn't noticeably altered either but it did eliminate that somewhat 'nose-up' stance of the E32 when travelling along.
I once saw 145 mph on the speedo in that car...allegedly, Your Honour!
Those aren't its original or correct wheels on it now. The correct ones are/were actually the ones in my pics here:
http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
It really, really was a nice car.
W00DY said:
mccrackenj said:
I remember the pics of yours, lovely colour. Wasn't it, for want of a better term, 'one coat' paint too? i.e. not clearcoat over base? I would have loved to have a go at that with a machine polisher & some top quality polishes & waxes.
It was indeed. I'm yet to own a proper machine polisher, but even doing it by hand was immensely satisfying.derin100 said:
Scottsz said:
Suggestions please - I have a daily V70, weekend/warm day daily triumph trophy, but I feel something is missing, weekend car with space for two adults and a two year old? Nothing too fancy as no drive space, up to a few grand?
Mercedes R129?C215 500? C124?
Scottsz said:
derin100 said:
Mercedes R129?
My budget would get a ropy 280 or 320, which would probably be more misery than enjoyment and I'd struggle to fit everyone I would think, however I was thinking about a 124 CE and they seem to be much nicer condition for the same sort of money.Krikkit said:
derin100 said:
Scottsz said:
Suggestions please - I have a daily V70, weekend/warm day daily triumph trophy, but I feel something is missing, weekend car with space for two adults and a two year old? Nothing too fancy as no drive space, up to a few grand?
Mercedes R129?C215 500? C124?
CharlesdeGaulle said:
'Up to a few grand'? You need to be more specific if you want sensible advice. Some great recommendations, but one man's 'a few' could be quite different from another's.
Mid thread budget is probably best for my relationship, but this is nice - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-Mercedes-Benz-S420-...Scottsz said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
'Up to a few grand'? You need to be more specific if you want sensible advice. Some great recommendations, but one man's 'a few' could be quite different from another's.
Mid thread budget is probably best for my relationship, but this is nice - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-Mercedes-Benz-S420-...Also, if you study their cars, as I have done recently for other reasons, they don't sell their cars "cheap". I'm not saying they're not worth it but just be aware.
Finally, you say along the lines of "...only a 280 or 320SL?" as if maybe their performance is lacking for what you seek? But then there isn't really a 'normal', non-AMG CE that could match an SL320.
I've had both 280 and 320 SLs. Even the 280 wasn't exactly 'slow' it just needed to work a bit harder engine-wise than I might have preferred in an SL. The SL320 was perfectly good and didn't feel slow at all.
That said, you're not going to get a half-decent SL at mid-thread budget...but I don't think you'll get a half-decent CE at mid-thread budget price either.
BMW E46 Convertible? Saab Convertible? Both have rear seats.
Edited by derin100 on Sunday 26th February 20:51
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