Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[0a]

bmthnick1981 said:

Chaps, we have had this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-S600-BITURBO-50...

But I can't remember what the collective wisdom was on it?

83 watchers but no offers yet.... I may be tempted to make an offer just wish it had black leather interior.

Jimmy R commented on me posting it: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[0a]

On another note I have an offer to sort the w124's bodywork for £3k (with me supplying the panels) from the same guy who did my r129. The r129 is fantastic. Better than new to the extent I won't drive it as a daily until I sort the roof and it's summer.

Not expensive for what it is, but madness on a 191k 300e. I love the car though. I have history with it, and it has helped me get to/sort some life events.

I guess what I need to be asking is "is it possible to retrofit orthopaedic seats to my newly resprayed 300e?"!

[Krikkit]

0a said:

I guess what I need to be asking is "is it possible to retrofit orthopaedic seats to my newly resprayed 300e?"!

I'm sure it can't be beyond the wit of man to make that happen.

[Sir Snaz]

What do we think of the 166 chaps?.....deserving of being here?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa-Romeo-166-2-0-...

[bmthnick1981]

0a said:

bmthnick1981 said:

Chaps, we have had this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-S600-BITURBO-50...

But I can't remember what the collective wisdom was on it?

83 watchers but no offers yet.... I may be tempted to make an offer just wish it had black leather interior.

Jimmy R commented on me posting it: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Great, thanks. Enquiry sent.

[bmthnick1981]

0a said:

On another note I have an offer to sort the w124's bodywork for £3k (with me supplying the panels) from the same guy who did my r129. The r129 is fantastic. Better than new to the extent I won't drive it as a daily until I sort the roof and it's summer.

Not expensive for what it is, but madness on a 191k 300e. I love the car though. I have history with it, and it has helped me get to/sort some life events.

I guess what I need to be asking is "is it possible to retrofit orthopaedic seats to my newly resprayed 300e?"!

£3k doesnt sound unreasonable for a good job. you clearly love the car so why not do it and get ti to a condition where it can be of presentable use for another 10 years? I am sure the seats can be retrofitted somehow.

[W00DY]

Sir Snaz said:

What do we think of the 166 chaps?.....deserving of being here?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa-Romeo-166-2-0-...

It's really nice, but I just don't think I want one without the V6 at any money.

[W00DY]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONE-OWNER-RARE1999-VOLVO...

Pipe and slippers minty Volvo. Or a classic race car apparently.

[Riley Blue]

W00DY said:

Sir Snaz said:

What do we think of the 166 chaps?.....deserving of being here?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa-Romeo-166-2-0-...

It's really nice, but I just don't think I want one without the V6 at any money.

Me neither. I could happily live with (or in) this:

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

[bob-lad]

Sir Snaz said:

What do we think of the 166 chaps?.....deserving of being here?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa-Romeo-166-2-0-...

Free P&P Nifty.

[MorganP104]

W00DY said:

Sir Snaz said:

What do we think of the 166 chaps?.....deserving of being here?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Alfa-Romeo-166-2-0-...

It's really nice, but I just don't think I want one without the V6 at any money.

Agreed. The Busso V6 is a lovely engine, both to look at, and use. I had a pre-facelift 166 V6, and the engine was its standout feature.

However, special mention should go to the Momo leather seats (excellent), and the stereo system (best sound I've heard in a car this side of a Bentley).

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I'm not sure I 'get' Alfas. I don't think they're notably pretty, high quality, reliable, practical or cheap are they? What gives?

Should one be considering them over Merc, BMW, Jag, Volvo etc? They're not even large enough to be especially barge-y.

[JF87]

^ With you on that. I get a stubborn whiff of Ferrari rally-jacket fan-boy around them.

[Riley Blue]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'm not sure I 'get' Alfas. I don't think they're notably pretty, high quality, reliable, practical or cheap are they? What gives?

Should one be considering them over Merc, BMW, Jag, Volvo etc? They're not even large enough to be especially barge-y.

I sometimes have that discussion with a friend of mine who has owned nothing but Fiats or Alfas. Here's a snippet from recent e-mail from him,

"For some reason people always have to say Alfa's are unreliable - all I can say is that after 36 years of continuous ownership, seven cars, all of them high mileage, I'm inclined to disagree, but who am I to say?"

As for their 'bargi-ness', more 'gondola-esque' perhaps?

[MorganP104]

If I may interject in defence of the large Alfa...

When people think of Alfa Romeo, they tend to think of rust, dodgy electrics and sporty little numbers.

As a result, the 166 gets overlooked. Having previously owned one (for three years), I'm pleased to say it's a good ownership proposition (the characterful V6 being a must, in my opinion). The interior of a well cared for example can feel as special as a Maserati, and you will never, ever tire of giving it the beans to listen to that engine/exhaust note combo.

The Twinny listed here is on the pricey side - half decent 166 V6s can be picked up for little more than shed money (I wouldn't recommend going lower than a bag of sand unless you have NVQ Level 3 in Car Mechanics and a four-post lift in your garage).

As an alternative to BMWs & Mercs of a similar vintage, the 166 makes a fine leftfield choice. To provide some context, think a little further to the left of Saab.

[Krikkit]

From my time with a 156 it was a jack of all trades, master of none, but managed to make a very likeable package overall.

Take the interior as a microcosm - on the + side the Momo leather seats were absolutely superb, the dash excellently thought out (for the most part) with nice dials and switches, tremendously good climate control which never needed adjusting, nicely proportioned steering wheel with good adjustment, good stereo.

In the niggles column the gear change was rubbery, the fog light switches were in an odd spot between the gear lever and handbrake (and the rear fog would randomly turn itself on), the armrest was irritating on a manual as it came too far forward, and the info screen on top of the dash would go blank once it was warmer than 5°C (they all do that, Sir).

A frustrating but lovable thing.

[Hammerhead]

W00DY said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ONE-OWNER-RARE1999-VOLVO...

Pipe and slippers minty Volvo. Or a classic race car apparently.

Like. My old man had one of those (but FWD form) in CD spec back in the day. Very wafty but would rip up the road when prodded. I'm sure the stereo system was by Dynaudio, not Bose as stated in this add.

[W00DY]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'm not sure I 'get' Alfas. I don't think they're notably pretty, high quality, reliable, practical or cheap are they? What gives?

Should one be considering them over Merc, BMW, Jag, Volvo etc? They're not even large enough to be especially barge-y.

And that noise.

[SilverSixer]

W00DY. Did you have to? That interior. Those rear seats. I'm giddy. Sigh.

~ *fires up every car selling website in the known universe*

[phil_cardiff]

The 166 is as worthy of inclusion here as the E39 or W124 for me.