Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[harlowrog]

BigBen said:

Same colour combination as my S211, that interior is superb at showing dirt. Also it is a very early car (as is mine) which is shown by the slatted centre grill on the dash as opposed to the mesh grille of the early mini-facelift models. Allegedly the mini-facelift cars have more reliable electrics.

I would have thought it would be reasonably rapid, the 3.2 diesel in mine will do 60 in sub 8 seconds and does not usually feel wanting for go.

Ben

This is petrol though isn't it?

[Minemapper]

Agent Orange said:

Thank you. You've just described my problem!

There must be a medical name for that condition.

My wife calls it AADD. Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder.

[0a]

I was due to be away this week on business but the meetings fell through, so I booked holiday and a flight to Barcelona instead yesterday. I got on the plane and put my copy of Mercedes enthusiast magazine down on the seat while I sorted my luggage. When I sat down the chap next to me enquired as to what era mercs I like - it turned out he's a w123 and r129 nut, and all round car enthusiast! A few mini bottles of wine and many stories later we landed in Barcelona - my copy of Mercedes enthusiast and the economist untouched. Very random but amusing to find someone to talk to about the various benefits and shortcomings of Mercedes engines from the 80s and 90s

On another note it has come to my attention that our own e65ross (Ross Fripp) is fundraising for Brain Tumor Support - cycling 72 miles. Blimey - far more than I could cycle. After all he has been through (thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ) and the great response to the Christmas wishes request, I thoight it was worth posting here:

https://www.justgiving.com/Ross-Fripp/

What a turnaround from last year!

[0a]

longblackcoat said:

Although there are none currently available within thread budget, the time is rapidly approaching when the W251 R-Class will fall into this category - have seen a few up at dealers at the £6.5 - 7k mark recently. They are undoubtedly, er, challenging stylistically (i.e. exceptionally ugly-bugly), but for long distances ther're really very good indeed. And that very ugliness means that they're unloved, yet I'd have one rather than an E-Class wagon any day of the week - 6/7 seats, 4wd, and in most cases a comprehensive spec.

I often seem to get an R-class taxi when I am a little wasted when in Germany - they always seem very comfortable indeed to me!

[0a]

This 190 looks nice http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C606385

[Krikkit]

Is that an original paint scheme? Bright, monotone 190's look wrong to my eyes.

[derin100]

Minemapper said:

Agent Orange said:

Thank you. You've just described my problem!

There must be a medical name for that condition.

My wife calls it AADD. Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder.

Why not really impress her and show her that you don't just selfishly think about your cars all the time but that you do actually also care about making a house a home?!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-v8-m5-engine-table-m...

[Output Flange]

olly22n said:

CampDavid said:

Thanks guys, I can rest easy and not phone him

735i would have easily swung me into action

Call me instead - mine will be for sale when I'm back from hols.

It's a cracker

[SpeckledJim]

0a said:

This 190 looks nice http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C606385

That looks like a far away example of one of these.

[Stegel]

SilverSixer said:

Cheers, CB.

This might be a better bet, needs a damned good clean though, and a tow bar is always a worry, rightly or wrongly.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

I had a Dec 05 (post mini-facelift) E220 CDI S211 for 12 months from new - perfectly adequate performance, particularly on motorways, although not a car for cut and thrust A roads. I only did 12k miles in it, so hardly a great test, but it felt solid and did not give any warnings of impending electrical or other breakdown.

On r129sl's ponderings re a V8 S211, and comments on hill climbing ability, I don't want to open the BHP/torque debate up again, but the V6 diesel, in E320 form, produces more torque even than the 5.5 litre petrol - certainly, our S211, 4 up plus dog, roofbox and kayaks, is rarely found wanting in the "eat my dust / diesel particulates" stakes on long fast ascents.

[r129sl]

Stegel said:

SilverSixer said:

Cheers, CB.

This might be a better bet, needs a damned good clean though, and a tow bar is always a worry, rightly or wrongly.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

I had a Dec 05 (post mini-facelift) E220 CDI S211 for 12 months from new - perfectly adequate performance, particularly on motorways, although not a car for cut and thrust A roads. I only did 12k miles in it, so hardly a great test, but it felt solid and did not give any warnings of impending electrical or other breakdown.

On r129sl's ponderings re a V8 S211, and comments on hill climbing ability, I don't want to open the BHP/torque debate up again, but the V6 diesel, in E320 form, produces more torque even than the 5.5 litre petrol - certainly, our S211, 4 up plus dog, roofbox and kayaks, is rarely found wanting in the "eat my dust / diesel particulates" stakes on long fast ascents.

I did a few thousand miles in a w211 E320 CDI years ago and I agree that the torque output is astonishing. However... for refinement, no diesel is ever going to come close to a big, multi-cylinder petrol. I realise that every time I get in my SL500. The difference is night and day. I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery. Doesn't do it for me: whereas the 5.0litre NA V8 in my SL is all the engine I am ever going to need. If I could be unsentimental about it, I would replace my s124 with this:

http://www.ashteadmotortrading.co.uk/used-car-merc...

[BigBen]

harlowrog said:

BigBen said:

Same colour combination as my S211, that interior is superb at showing dirt. Also it is a very early car (as is mine) which is shown by the slatted centre grill on the dash as opposed to the mesh grille of the early mini-facelift models. Allegedly the mini-facelift cars have more reliable electrics.

I would have thought it would be reasonably rapid, the 3.2 diesel in mine will do 60 in sub 8 seconds and does not usually feel wanting for go.

Ben

This is petrol though isn't it?

Yes, so should be quicker than the diesel.

[longblackcoat]

r129sl said:

I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery.

The OM629 is nothing like that - loads of torque, but certainly not all/nothing in its delivery. And extremely refined, though I've yet to drive a (modern) V8 that wasn't.

[Stegel]

longblackcoat said:

r129sl said:

I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery.

The OM629 is nothing like that - loads of torque, but certainly not all/nothing in its delivery. And extremely refined, though I've yet to drive a (modern) V8 that wasn't.

We only got that engine in MLs and GLs in the UK - it must be fantastic in an E or CLS. The OM642 (the V6) probably isn't its peer in linear delivery, and is a little on/off, but mated to the seven speed (9 in current cars) box, once it's on a charge certainly it becomes pretty seamless.

[r129sl]

longblackcoat said:

r129sl said:

I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery.

The OM629 is nothing like that - loads of torque, but certainly not all/nothing in its delivery. And extremely refined, though I've yet to drive a (modern) V8 that wasn't.

I heard a Range Rover V8 diesel the other day and it was pretty hard to tell it was diesel at all. It just sounded like a V8. The Merc V8 diesel I have no idea about: and it isn't or wasn't available in anything I'd want to own! (At least in RHD.) The Merc V6 diesels I find pretty grim, I'm afraid.

Edit: I note that the OM629 develops its maximum power of 300-ish bhp at 3,600rpm! No thanks. Given it develops its massive maximum torque of 525-ish lb/ft at 2,200rpm, I suspect you're looking at a substantial drop off in torque after the peak; were it otherwise, the power figure would be much higher (power being the product of torque and engine speed).

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 22 April 10:52

[Stegel]

r129sl said:

I did a few thousand miles in a w211 E320 CDI years ago and I agree that the torque output is astonishing. However... for refinement, no diesel is ever going to come close to a big, multi-cylinder petrol. I realise that every time I get in my SL500. The difference is night and day. I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery. Doesn't do it for me: whereas the 5.0litre NA V8 in my SL is all the engine I am ever going to need. If I could be unsentimental about it, I would replace my s124 with this:

http://www.ashteadmotortrading.co.uk/used-car-merc...

I agree on the SL - my wife's comments on its rapidity vs her S211 missed the differing nature of the beasts!

That looks very nice - I think the black leather contrasted with the walnut (?) looks better than the black / black stained birds-eye maple in Avantgarde and Sport trim interiors.

[louiebaby]

idiotgap said:

longblackcoat said:

Although there are none currently available within thread budget, the time is rapidly approaching when the W251 R-Class will fall into this category - have seen a few up at dealers at the £6.5 - 7k mark recently. They are undoubtedly, er, challenging stylistically (i.e. exceptionally ugly-bugly), but for long distances ther're really very good indeed. And that very ugliness means that they're unloved, yet I'd have one rather than an E-Class wagon any day of the week - 6/7 seats, 4wd, and in most cases a comprehensive spec.

Hmmm... I had a ride in an R500 belonging to a colleague a couple of weeks ago. His had the captains chairs rather than the 3 seat middle row bench and I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the space inside, I sat in one of those middle chairs and felt quite hemmed in. Wonderful noise and it went well though - especially I guess since he'd recently had to drop ££££s on new air suspension bits.

Whilst I might be on the lookout for a "Unicorn" R63AMG, I suspect an R500L might end up being the next family bus. Not been in one yet though...

[Minemapper]

r129sl said:

I did a few thousand miles in a w211 E320 CDI years ago and I agree that the torque output is astonishing. However... for refinement, no diesel is ever going to come close to a big, multi-cylinder petrol. I realise that every time I get in my SL500. The difference is night and day. I also can't really stand the sudden and non-linear way in which big turbo diesels develop their power and torque, you know, the nothing-nothing-nothing-whoooooosh-nothing delivery. Doesn't do it for me: whereas the 5.0litre NA V8 in my SL is all the engine I am ever going to need. If I could be unsentimental about it, I would replace my s124 with this:

http://www.ashteadmotortrading.co.uk/used-car-merc...

Oh my. That is a lovely lovely thing. So very tempted to ditch the goddamn Touran family bus for that.

• edit. Sold already. Dammit.

Edited by Minemapper on Wednesday 22 April 12:54

[0a]

SpeckledJim said:

That looks like a far away example of one of these.

Weirdly I was just looking at that place - what on earth was he thinking?!

[SpeckledJim]

0a said:

SpeckledJim said:

That looks like a far away example of one of these.

Weirdly I was just looking at that place - what on earth was he thinking?!

I worry that like the arabs, when I eventually (inevitably) go from living in a tent to living in a castle made of crocus stamens, I'll probably do similarly stooopid things.

Stick around. It'll be great fun being my bag carrier.