Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]
Discussion
E65Ross said:
I've just been out for a random drive in the E65 and a mate came along and I let him drive it. He usually drives a 1.3L (I think) 2009 plate diesel Astra. He absolutely loved it 
Said it was comfortable, smooth and that it hides the speed ridiculously well. He also said he is going to hate turning on the diesel engine after trying the petrol V8
I still want that W124 as well
having seen the prices of some of them I genuinely can't see why they'd command a much bigger premium over the one I viewed. It had a few minor scuffs on the front bumper but was a very tidy example and could be had for £2250 I reckon. As long as it goes to a good home. Oh, and the air-con works. I'm sure I'd get used to it but it did feel quite slow, but probably only a little slower than the 728i to be honest, but that's a 4 speed box and only around 190bhp I guess. Certainly was nice and smooth as I'd expect.
Ross,Said it was comfortable, smooth and that it hides the speed ridiculously well. He also said he is going to hate turning on the diesel engine after trying the petrol V8
I still want that W124 as well
having seen the prices of some of them I genuinely can't see why they'd command a much bigger premium over the one I viewed. It had a few minor scuffs on the front bumper but was a very tidy example and could be had for £2250 I reckon. As long as it goes to a good home. Oh, and the air-con works. I'm sure I'd get used to it but it did feel quite slow, but probably only a little slower than the 728i to be honest, but that's a 4 speed box and only around 190bhp I guess. Certainly was nice and smooth as I'd expect.Edited by E65Ross on Saturday 5th April 22:56
If you're considering having two cars have you considered the following?
You already have one big and very fast barge. So, in looking at 124s, it seems like you're looking for something 'simpler' and more basic, as a contrast? Therefore, whilst I know they don't get talked about too much on this thread, what about a 190E? They are really wonderful little cars!
Thanks chaps.
Would be interested in any previous comments on the 500 I posted.
In terms of the S280, I did wonder if this would diminish the s-class experience but given it's only to smoke/waft around figured it might not be too bad a compromise for such a nice place to spend a commute. Going up the range I wonder if I'd just bypass the S320 and consider a W140 S500...
All the R129 posted look tempting too as a superb weekend car. Incredible value on offer across the board.
Would be interested in any previous comments on the 500 I posted.
In terms of the S280, I did wonder if this would diminish the s-class experience but given it's only to smoke/waft around figured it might not be too bad a compromise for such a nice place to spend a commute. Going up the range I wonder if I'd just bypass the S320 and consider a W140 S500...
All the R129 posted look tempting too as a superb weekend car. Incredible value on offer across the board.
MJK 24 said:
The 500 is local to me. Do you have links to the threads where people passed opinion on it?
Great colour scheme for a W126.
I did have a look but I couldn't find the thread. Did anyone else read it?Great colour scheme for a W126.
The chap went to see it and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as you'd think from the pictures.
0a said:
MJK 24 said:
The 500 is local to me. Do you have links to the threads where people passed opinion on it?
Great colour scheme for a W126.
I did have a look but I couldn't find the thread. Did anyone else read it?Great colour scheme for a W126.
The chap went to see it and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as you'd think from the pictures.
derin100 said:
Ross,
If you're considering having two cars have you considered the following?
You already have one big and very fast barge. So, in looking at 124s, it seems like you're looking for something 'simpler' and more basic, as a contrast? Therefore, whilst I know they don't get talked about too much on this thread, what about a 190E? They are really wonderful little cars!
Certainly not looking at having 2 cars, unfortunately totally out of the question.
Half of me wishes I didn't have the 745i because of its (so far) high running costs and wishes I'd bought a W124. As I said at the moment I'd be happy of someone bought my 745i and then I bought that W124 and kept the change.
However, half of me thinks that because it's something different and I do like to try different cars and I after driving it last night it made me realise I do really really like it. It's a cracking car.
Just hoping to get a good few months with no problems with it. Think the initial spending phase has dampened things a bit but (mot fee and tax aside) I've not had to spend a penny on it in the last 3 months which has helped a bit!
Basically the pros of the W124 would be:
More cash in the bank and cheaper running costs
Better styling and colour combination
Better seats
Most of the cons are largely technological or refinement in nature in reality and most of them quite small:
lack of cruise (which I use a LOT, something I was fine living without it, but now I've had it for my last 2 cars....)
Considerably slower (and I do like performance and love high speed cruising, I'll admit)
More noisy (and again, I do like peace and quiet, especially after a long day at work!)
Air con which will continue to work and be serviceable!
No heated seats (again, can live without this)
In car phone is bloody handy and use this most days
Getting an unknown car, the E65 is (hopefully) pretty well sorted now
There must be other pros/cons as well?
My problem is.....whilst I have the money available to buy another car now, I can't risk doing that and then finding the 745i won't sell; it'd have to be sold first. Secondly, I'd lose a load of cash on it. Thirdly, my commute is 20 miles each way and not having a car for a while would be a royal pain in the arse! Fourthly, knowing my luck If the E65 did sell there would then be NOTHING on the market worth buying
Edited by E65Ross on Sunday 6th April 08:15
bmthnick1981 said:
I'll try and do this in my e38 v12 this coming week and make a note of the results to share.
Oddly, it doesn't rev any less than the 728i really... It does but only by a small amount. They rev basically the same as my 745i IIRC. Instead of doing bang on 100mph at 3k like the 728i my 745i is doing around 105-106mph or so.
70mph around 1900rpm
80mph around 2200rpm
90mph around 2500rpm
I can't believe how cheap E65's are now 
If I had landed a goodun' I would hang on to it. You've played the roulette wheel and won!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-735i-Se-E32-Manual-/...
Manuel E32. Kinda cool but the novelty would probably wear off.
If I had landed a goodun' I would hang on to it. You've played the roulette wheel and won! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-735i-Se-E32-Manual-/...
Manuel E32. Kinda cool but the novelty would probably wear off.
E65Ross said:
My problem is.....whilst I have the money available to buy another car now, I can't risk doing that and then finding the 745i won't sell; it'd have to be sold first. Secondly, I'd lose a load of cash on it. Thirdly, my commute is 20 miles each way and not having a car for a while would be a royal pain in the arse! Fourthly, knowing my luck If the E65 did sell there would then be NOTHING on the market worth buying
Ross. This is not a time for man-maths, you need to use your head. You've got a lovely car that you know well and have got to a decent standard. To sell, the market is limited (at best) and you'll take a hit. It makes sense to keep what you have (and know, and have invested-in) until you offset the depreciation/investment etc etc. In the meantime, lust after other cars as we all do, but use the car you've lusted after and enjoyed hitherto until selling it isn't financial stupidity, especially if you have other big-budget plans for the near future.
It's rather like being married, and then the new (or in our case, rather older) bird turns up at work. Sure, she turns your head with her simple curves and uncomplicated offers, but the marital commitment makes more sense (at least until you can afford the alternative).
<Marital advice on the internet, courtesy of CdeG>.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
E65Ross said:
My problem is.....whilst I have the money available to buy another car now, I can't risk doing that and then finding the 745i won't sell; it'd have to be sold first. Secondly, I'd lose a load of cash on it. Thirdly, my commute is 20 miles each way and not having a car for a while would be a royal pain in the arse! Fourthly, knowing my luck If the E65 did sell there would then be NOTHING on the market worth buying
Ross. This is not a time for man-maths, you need to use your head. You've got a lovely car that you know well and have got to a decent standard. To sell, the market is limited (at best) and you'll take a hit. It makes sense to keep what you have (and know, and have invested-in) until you offset the depreciation/investment etc etc. In the meantime, lust after other cars as we all do, but use the car you've lusted after and enjoyed hitherto until selling it isn't financial stupidity, especially if you have other big-budget plans for the near future.
It's rather like being married, and then the new (or in our case, rather older) bird turns up at work. Sure, she turns your head with her simple curves and uncomplicated offers, but the marital commitment makes more sense (at least until you can afford the alternative).
<Marital advice on the internet, courtesy of CdeG>.
Very high cost to change too. Rocksteadyeddie said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
E65Ross said:
My problem is.....whilst I have the money available to buy another car now, I can't risk doing that and then finding the 745i won't sell; it'd have to be sold first. Secondly, I'd lose a load of cash on it. Thirdly, my commute is 20 miles each way and not having a car for a while would be a royal pain in the arse! Fourthly, knowing my luck If the E65 did sell there would then be NOTHING on the market worth buying
Ross. This is not a time for man-maths, you need to use your head. You've got a lovely car that you know well and have got to a decent standard. To sell, the market is limited (at best) and you'll take a hit. It makes sense to keep what you have (and know, and have invested-in) until you offset the depreciation/investment etc etc. In the meantime, lust after other cars as we all do, but use the car you've lusted after and enjoyed hitherto until selling it isn't financial stupidity, especially if you have other big-budget plans for the near future.
It's rather like being married, and then the new (or in our case, rather older) bird turns up at work. Sure, she turns your head with her simple curves and uncomplicated offers, but the marital commitment makes more sense (at least until you can afford the alternative).
<Marital advice on the internet, courtesy of CdeG>.
Very high cost to change too. 1 - I'd soon regret selling it and totally losing the money I'd spent on it (and possibly more)
2 - I'd likely get over the "oooh this is nice" as the "new" car thing wears off
3 (and perhaps most importantly) - I'd soon get hit with bills from the new car and have to spend more money on it, and regret buying it.
I'll keep the E65, I've no idea what it's worth but suspect about the £5k I paid for it, give or take. Wait until I move (hopefully by the end of the year) and see what's what and avoid spending excess on it (ie get done what genuinely needs to get done and not much more)and hopefully it'll prove relatively cheap (within reason for a 4.4L V8 barge) to run over the next year or so.
E65Ross said:
Some very, very good advice.
I'll keep the E65, I've no idea what it's worth but suspect about the £5k I paid for it, give or take. Wait until I move (hopefully by the end of the year) and see what's what and avoid spending excess on it (ie get done what genuinely needs to get done and not much more)and hopefully it'll prove relatively cheap (within reason for a 4.4L V8 barge) to run over the next year or so.
Good man. I'll keep the E65, I've no idea what it's worth but suspect about the £5k I paid for it, give or take. Wait until I move (hopefully by the end of the year) and see what's what and avoid spending excess on it (ie get done what genuinely needs to get done and not much more)and hopefully it'll prove relatively cheap (within reason for a 4.4L V8 barge) to run over the next year or so.
Doesn't stop you looking though!
CharlesdeGaulle said:
E65Ross said:
Some very, very good advice.
I'll keep the E65, I've no idea what it's worth but suspect about the £5k I paid for it, give or take. Wait until I move (hopefully by the end of the year) and see what's what and avoid spending excess on it (ie get done what genuinely needs to get done and not much more)and hopefully it'll prove relatively cheap (within reason for a 4.4L V8 barge) to run over the next year or so.
Good man. I'll keep the E65, I've no idea what it's worth but suspect about the £5k I paid for it, give or take. Wait until I move (hopefully by the end of the year) and see what's what and avoid spending excess on it (ie get done what genuinely needs to get done and not much more)and hopefully it'll prove relatively cheap (within reason for a 4.4L V8 barge) to run over the next year or so.
Doesn't stop you looking though!
Also, what are the W140's like in comparison to the W124s to drive and their general "feel"?
One thing I'll openly admit, that W124 did feel well screwed together. Not that anything feels cheaply put together on the E65....it was just something you can't put your finger on. Still get that in the W140?
One thing that might "annoy" me a little with a W124 is the lack of power, the W140 can at least have a V8 or a V12 which is nice. It's kind of annoying now having owned the 745i for a while I've since driven a few other cars and all of them (bar an E92 M3 and F13 M6!!) feel positively slow now the 745i has become "normal" and doesn't feel particularly quick. One thing my mate said yesterday was "f
k, I'm doing 100, I thought I was doing about 70! It hides it's speed well"Edited by E65Ross on Sunday 6th April 11:52
E65Ross said:
Indeed!
Also, what are the W140's like in comparison to the W124s to drive and their general "feel"?
One thing I'll openly admit, that W124 did feel well screwed together. Not that anything feels cheaply put together on the E65....it was just something you can't put your finger on. Still get that in the W140?
One thing that might "annoy" me a little with a W124 is the lack of power, the W140 can at least have a V8 or a V12 which is nice. It's kind of annoying now having owned the 745i for a while I've since driven a few other cars and all of them (bar an E92 M3 and F13 M6!!) feel positively slow now the 745i has become "normal" and doesn't feel particularly quick. One thing my mate said yesterday was "fk, I'm doing 100, I thought I was doing about 70! It hides it's speed well"
Regarding the lack of power I drove my A8 for a couple of weeks (300 ish bhp v8?) and then god back in the 300e and thought "my God this is slow", but then within a few days you adjust and realise the power is right for the car. To be honest i'm not that bothered about having more power in this type of car; one of the reasons I scrapped the idea of a c43. I found it just meant going faster for the sake of it. I wouldn't want much less though, so the 4 cylinder W124s would be out; overall the 6 cylinder seems a good balance. Also, what are the W140's like in comparison to the W124s to drive and their general "feel"?
One thing I'll openly admit, that W124 did feel well screwed together. Not that anything feels cheaply put together on the E65....it was just something you can't put your finger on. Still get that in the W140?
One thing that might "annoy" me a little with a W124 is the lack of power, the W140 can at least have a V8 or a V12 which is nice. It's kind of annoying now having owned the 745i for a while I've since driven a few other cars and all of them (bar an E92 M3 and F13 M6!!) feel positively slow now the 745i has become "normal" and doesn't feel particularly quick. One thing my mate said yesterday was "f
k, I'm doing 100, I thought I was doing about 70! It hides it's speed well"Edited by E65Ross on Sunday 6th April 11:52
One of the things I like about the W124 is that I give it a good spanking without venturing into irresponsible speeds, and that it doesn't seem to make any difference to the fuel consumption either.
You should keep the E65 though if you like it. Even that 'good' example of a W124 is still a 135k mile, 23 year old car which will inevitably need work done to make it / keep it nice. People report buying 'restored' ones that still need work doing down the line.
Or just keep the E65 and buy a W124 as well, then you can decide on a true comparison basis!
About time we had another 124.
Is after-market aircon a good thing or a bad thing? I think one of the systems (was it diaveo?) was dealer-fitted. I suppose the key is whether it works or not.
Interesting colour combo.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300-Estate...
Is after-market aircon a good thing or a bad thing? I think one of the systems (was it diaveo?) was dealer-fitted. I suppose the key is whether it works or not.
Interesting colour combo.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300-Estate...
E65Ross said:
Indeed!
Also, what are the W140's like in comparison to the W124s to drive and their general "feel"?
Probably more like your e65. I ran one for a bit. They have double glazing* and are very long which can make parking tricky even in SWB form, they are longer than any parking bay I ever found. The driving position is quite elevated almost SUV height. The looks grew on me, like someone took a w124 and magnified it one and a half times then melted it a bit. When it was launched they made a big play on the fact the handling was transformed from the previous w126 and you can hustle them along if the road is wide enough.Also, what are the W140's like in comparison to the W124s to drive and their general "feel"?
- first car to offer that?
E65 prices will continue to plummet though. I sense the E65 is almost too good for it to be an exciting prospect, though I am still faithful to the E38 728 I've had for 5 years now. Decisions to be made soon. Fuel tank or gearbox failure would make the decision for me but the '38 for me has that classic car look/feel whilst having the essentials like- airbags, a/c, good stereo etc..
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