Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[Patrick Bateman]

Does that generation of S and CL class still have the properly horrific bork potential with the suspension?

[Jimmy Recard]

I know that I'm always banging on about weird stuff and this one isn't even a barge (just a Saab 93), but it does look comfortable and it's somewhere around the middle of the thread budget, so it should fit. Also more cylinders than the cheaper models and the right fuel.

I think it looks ok - I'm tempted, actually. And a bonus as a rare 06 plate on the previous tax levels:

[anonymous-user]

W00DY said:

dme123 said:

W00DY said:

I loved my XJ40, but there's no denying that an average mpg of 13 hurt.

13mpg? Was it a V12? I averaged about 20mpg over a long period with my 1996 X300 4.0 and about 17mpg from a 1995 XJ12.

4.0.

I was 21 and either in Cardiff or commuting through quiet B/A roads. The way it would remain so composed whist being chucked about over rough roads was a work of genius.

I found the same with mine, roads that you'd have to be quite cautious of in a "sporty" car due to their bumpyness could be approached with reckless abandon. My XJR-S is the same, very composed indeed. I did find that rear dampers were an 80,000 mile service item if you wanted it to stay that way.

[Stegel]

hornetrider said:

No self respecting threadist would dare buy a dag-dag barge and even admit to it, much less post about it. So I'm ruling this out as a non starter.

How very dare you!! Diesels currently outnumber petrols 2:1 in our household - in mitigation, following the departure of one now redundant diesel non-barge this week and a hitherto unannounced "intra-thread purchase" of a petrol (non-thread qualifying) barge next week we will achieve parity, with the petrols far exceeding diesels in cylinder count.

(apropos nothing, currently working in France - I have lost count of the number of E34s and E39s seen today, far in excess of a typical day in the UK, with a sole 190E holding up the MB side. A few of the 5s have been rather barryied, but mostly dark colours, good condition and sparkly clean.)

[W00DY]

Jimmy Recard said:

I know that I'm always banging on about weird stuff and this one isn't even a barge (just a Saab 93), but it does look comfortable and it's somewhere around the middle of the thread budget, so it should fit. Also more cylinders than the cheaper models and the right fuel.

I think it looks ok - I'm tempted, actually. And a bonus as a rare 06 plate on the previous tax levels:

In the lis of "Things I don't want" a Saab 9-3 in an American frock.has to be pretty far up there.

[Jimmy Recard]

I like the Saab 93 and I don't think it's a bad looking thing. I posted it more for the oddity value

[W00DY]

Jimmy Recard said:

I like the Saab 93 and I don't think it's a bad looking thing. I posted it more for the oddity value

Oh, it's interesting and I can see why it'd appeal, but I wouldn't want to own it.

[Jimmy Recard]

Just to add, I've realised that I forgot the link to the sale:

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I've never really noticed them or been bothered by them, but after stumbling across that one, it appeals to me.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Isn't the Saab linkage completely irrelevant? It isn't a saab, it's a Cadillac, and no attempts to Euoropean-ise it will make it any more appealing. Smacks of those irritating ads on the Bay that claim a Bentley engine for a VW, or that say 'Not-a-something-else'.

Barge, yes. Wantage, no.

[Six Fiend]

Jimmy Recard said:

Just to add, I've realised that I forgot the link to the sale:

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I've never really noticed them or been bothered by them, but after stumbling across that one, it appeals to me.

Me too. Looks a pleasant enough place to be and a reasonable engine to boot.

[Jimmy Recard]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Isn't the Saab linkage completely irrelevant? It isn't a saab, it's a Cadillac, and no attempts to Euoropean-ise it will make it any more appealing. Smacks of those irritating ads on the Bay that claim a Bentley engine for a VW, or that say 'Not-a-something-else'.

Barge, yes. Wantage, no.

It is totally a Saab 93 with a Cadillac looking body. Even the interior is pretty much the same.

Windows and roof are also the same. It's entirely Saab, not at all Cadillac (apart from the badge). Built in Saab's factory in Sweden.

[E65Ross]

Have any of you seen the BBC TV series "River"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4258440/

The main character drives a dark green W140

[bob-lad]

Jimmy Recard said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Isn't the Saab linkage completely irrelevant? It isn't a saab, it's a Cadillac, and no attempts to Euoropean-ise it will make it any more appealing. Smacks of those irritating ads on the Bay that claim a Bentley engine for a VW, or that say 'Not-a-something-else'.

Barge, yes. Wantage, no.

It is totally a Saab 93 with a Cadillac looking body. Even the interior is pretty much the same.

Windows and roof are also the same. It's entirely Saab, not at all Cadillac (apart from the badge). Built in Saab's factory in Sweden.

It may have been a SAAB once, but this one has been badly beaten by the ugly stick and someone appears to have taken a dump where the badge should be.

Nasty.

[anonymous-user]

Jimmy Recard said:

Just to add, I've realised that I forgot the link to the sale:

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I've never really noticed them or been bothered by them, but after stumbling across that one, it appeals to me.

That Cadillac "arts and crafts" design language, or whatever it was they called it, really is quite horrible isn't it. Flat surfaces, odd angles, every car just looks blocky and cheap to me. That seems cheaper than an equivalent spec/engine 9-3 and could be a bargain, but it just looks too crap. I can't see anyone beyond one of those weirdos who like all things American wanting it, maybe once their PT Cruiser finally dies.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

bob-lad said:

It may have been a SAAB once, but this one has been badly beaten by the ugly stick and someone appears to have taken a dump where the badge should be.

Nasty.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say really.

[Jimmy Recard]

It's all subjective and all that, but I actually think it looks better than a 2006 X-Type, 3-Series, A4 or C-Class on the outside. Not so much the inside though.

I was always a fan of the angular Cadillacs from that era. I think the XLR looks fantastic, although the STS is the weak link to my eyes.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

SpeckledJim said:

Hashtag plutocrat.

Nice work sir.

[carinaman]

I didn't know those Cadillacs were SAAB.

Do they ride as badly as the SAAB 9-3 or are the suspension settings better?

Do they have the night dash panel feature?

It seems a lot of bangs for the buck and even more left field than Alfa and Saab.

It's nowhere near as appealing as that Friday night £1600 E39 530i Sport.

[Jimmy Recard]

carinaman said:

I didn't know those Cadillacs were SAAB.

Do they ride as badly as the SAAB 9-3 or are the suspension settings better?

Do they have the night dash panel feature?

It seems a lot of bangs for the buck and even more left field than Alfa and Saab.

It's nowhere as appealing as that Friday night £1600 E39 530i Sport.

I have done a bit of reading today and they are softer sprung than the 93, there's not much other difference that I can find.

Night panel? Good question. I've just googled 'Cadillac BLS night panel' and found no mention of it, so maybe it doesn't have it.

It has a really naff clock instead though, the Saab version doesn't get that!

Also just looking at pictures of the two cars, it doesn't have the Saab turbo meter thing (although the instrument clusters are otherwise the same)

Do we have any Saab beards here? I've got some questions I'd like to ask, if we have anyone

Edited by Jimmy Recard on Monday 27th March 20:28

Edited by Jimmy Recard on Monday 27th March 20:29

[AlfaManc]

W00DY said:

Very tempting. Someone buy it so that I don't have to.

The photos really sell the car. The main issues with this model are the need for a cambelt change (every 4yrs/60K miles for a V6), and also the fact that the 2.5V6 engine has about the same economy as the 3.0V6 with obviously less power. If you get this car for around a grand though, these are small issues.

The recent exhaust, suspension, and brake work, decent MOT, and working electrics suggest it would be a great punt. Wrt the cambelt, it costs around £500 with a metal water pump. If it was me then I would wait to see what the next MOT throws up, and then decide if it’s a keeper. The Twinspark engines are more prone to cambelt failure anyway, so I’d risk running the car as is for a bit.