Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]
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Mark's a stand-up guy and has a great reputation. That car at the price is being sold to the concours end of the market.
If I was in the mood to buy a decent W201 this green 2.0 petrol with a Suzuki dealer in Exeter would be on my shopping list, though I'd be offering £4200 tops.
https://www.trackssuzuki.co.uk/used-cars/J533KTT/
If I was in the mood to buy a decent W201 this green 2.0 petrol with a Suzuki dealer in Exeter would be on my shopping list, though I'd be offering £4200 tops.
https://www.trackssuzuki.co.uk/used-cars/J533KTT/
Doesn't look a bad car but colour aside its a boring spec, mushroom cloth is my least favourite interior as well. It's looks grim when it's picked up a few marks and stains. The header tank also looks dark, M102s are head gasket prone and I wouldn't be surprised to find some nasties in there. Photographed pish wet through, so you cant see anything of the paintwork and priced a bit keen imo. Maybe my 2.0 Sportline was too cheap! Love the Pirelli P6000s though.
ALawson said:
1992 Mercedes-Benz W201 190D 2.0 Diesel 5sp Manual
https://www.mtsv.co.uk/info/w201190d20msr.htm
Double tread budget!
It was going well until the diesel bit. Then it got worse when you said it was double thread budget.https://www.mtsv.co.uk/info/w201190d20msr.htm
Double tread budget!
Calling on the depth of thread beardage to help with my new quest.
Sister-in-law has asked me to help sell her car - 1997/P Mercedes R129 Sl 320.
Tourmaline Green with cream and coffee(?) interior, 88,000 miles, full service history (not all main dealer), has hardtop and all original apart from a DAB radio fitted. She had a gearbox service earlier this year after it got a bit sticky.
In good overall condition but the bonnet needs a respray due to microbilsters. The wheels were refurbed about 10 years ago and have intital signs of bubbling again near the bolt holes. Think she’s owned it for approx 15yrs and only selling as brother-in-law has retired so downsizing to one car.
Pic of a similar car with same wheels below for reference. So what do you think is a reasonable figure to ask? I was thinking around £7-8k perhaps? Would you prefer to purchase a car of this age with the bonnet as it is or having been resprayed already? Any help welcome
Sister-in-law has asked me to help sell her car - 1997/P Mercedes R129 Sl 320.
Tourmaline Green with cream and coffee(?) interior, 88,000 miles, full service history (not all main dealer), has hardtop and all original apart from a DAB radio fitted. She had a gearbox service earlier this year after it got a bit sticky.
In good overall condition but the bonnet needs a respray due to microbilsters. The wheels were refurbed about 10 years ago and have intital signs of bubbling again near the bolt holes. Think she’s owned it for approx 15yrs and only selling as brother-in-law has retired so downsizing to one car.
Pic of a similar car with same wheels below for reference. So what do you think is a reasonable figure to ask? I was thinking around £7-8k perhaps? Would you prefer to purchase a car of this age with the bonnet as it is or having been resprayed already? Any help welcome
^^^ For the sake of £500 I'd get the bonnet painted and sell it as a minter. I'd also wait until after January at the soonest. Otherwise I think your price point is about right but be prepared to take significantly less. My impression is that cars are not selling very quick. Zonergem keeps very close tabs on the market and no doubt will be along to advise.
In other business, what is happening with the Jedburgh meet?
In other business, what is happening with the Jedburgh meet?
I love a nice W201 but IMHO the diesel engine just doesn't suit them. Unlike the early W124, where the 2.5 diesel was a perfect match, in the W201 it seemed rough & noisy - at least in the ones I drove
Never driven a 2-litre diesel but can't imagine it to be better than the 5-pot. The 4-pot is epically slow but, despite this, a reduced-power version was available to the taxi trade in Germany. 45 BHP, IIRC
Nick Froome
r129sl said:
In other business, what is happening with the Jedburgh meet?
Goddamm timing! I’ve literally just sent you a mail asking if you’d be willing to suggest a place in Jedburgh, as my knowledge of the place is way out of date!There’s 4 confirmed loser conference attendees if we go for the 28th, as Bob-lad can’t make 29th.
Anyone at all is welcome, you don’t even need to own a barge, we’re a likeable crowd, honest!
Sign-up link is here: https://doodle.com/poll/4d2k8p6gga9ytgv6
Prinny said:
r129sl said:
In other business, what is happening with the Jedburgh meet?
There’s 4 confirmed loser conference attendees if we go for the 28th, as Bob-lad can’t make 29th.Anyone at all is welcome, you don’t even need to own a barge, we’re a likeable crowd, honest!
Sign-up link is here: https://doodle.com/poll/4d2k8p6gga9ytgv6
mattman said:
Calling on the depth of thread beardage to help with my new quest.
Sister-in-law has asked me to help sell her car - 1997/P Mercedes R129 Sl 320.
Tourmaline Green with cream and coffee(?) interior, 88,000 miles, full service history (not all main dealer), has hardtop and all original apart from a DAB radio fitted. She had a gearbox service earlier this year after it got a bit sticky.
In good overall condition but the bonnet needs a respray due to microbilsters. The wheels were refurbed about 10 years ago and have intital signs of bubbling again near the bolt holes. Think she’s owned it for approx 15yrs and only selling as brother-in-law has retired so downsizing to one car.
Pic of a similar car with same wheels below for reference. So what do you think is a reasonable figure to ask? I was thinking around £7-8k perhaps? Would you prefer to purchase a car of this age with the bonnet as it is or having been resprayed already? Any help welcome
If it helps .. I offered to help a friend sell his 1995 320SL as I’m retired and he is busy at work. His is also nearly mint with just a couple of minor marks that I’m sure would machine polish out. Wheels are mint, hood as new, hardtop with stand,,, 68k,FSH, and his for ten years. Across the whole summer we had it up at £8495 and had no viewings but a couple of “unseen” offers of 7k and 7.2k. There was a recent article in Modern Classics stating that the market in R129s had been flooded this year with people jumping on the inflated price bandwagon which had driven prices for the R129 down. Will try again in the spring.Sister-in-law has asked me to help sell her car - 1997/P Mercedes R129 Sl 320.
Tourmaline Green with cream and coffee(?) interior, 88,000 miles, full service history (not all main dealer), has hardtop and all original apart from a DAB radio fitted. She had a gearbox service earlier this year after it got a bit sticky.
In good overall condition but the bonnet needs a respray due to microbilsters. The wheels were refurbed about 10 years ago and have intital signs of bubbling again near the bolt holes. Think she’s owned it for approx 15yrs and only selling as brother-in-law has retired so downsizing to one car.
Pic of a similar car with same wheels below for reference. So what do you think is a reasonable figure to ask? I was thinking around £7-8k perhaps? Would you prefer to purchase a car of this age with the bonnet as it is or having been resprayed already? Any help welcome
paulg390 said:
If it helps .. I offered to help a friend sell his 1995 320SL as I’m retired and he is busy at work. His is also nearly mint with just a couple of minor marks that I’m sure would machine polish out. Wheels are mint, hood as new, hardtop with stand,,, 68k,FSH, and his for ten years. Across the whole summer we had it up at £8495 and had no viewings but a couple of “unseen” offers of 7k and 7.2k. There was a recent article in Modern Classics stating that the market in R129s had been flooded this year with people jumping on the inflated price bandwagon which had driven prices for the R129 down. Will try again in the spring.
This. There are plenty of cars out there - some munters but plenty in decent condition or better - and it doesn't help that they were built to last and were often the second/third car in a wealthy household. I wouldn't go to too much trouble and expense trying to iron out minor defects at this stage but I'd take a set of good photos and keep my pricing realistic - ask for £7500 and take anything that doesn't seem offensively low.E39 review! A few thoughts on the new purchase after a couple of drives in it, and comparisons to other barges I have owned or own.
First impressions were that it’s definitely less refined than the LS400. This is to be expected - it’s a class below, and Toyota went all out to deaden everything on the LS. I would say that the LS is a “light” to drive as a Yaris - it was designed to remove feedback as noise, so of course it’s more refined.
It’s more refined than the W124s though in terms of wind noise and general NVH, but I suspect it’s significantly heavier.
General quality has surprised me - the car feels really tight and nice at 136k miles. This is with the caveat that the previous owner spent a lot of money and time replacing bits (see the reader ride thread). The interior is leagues ahead of new BMWs in terms of how firm stuff is, the plastics, and the leather.
However the interior quality is nowhere near a w124. The leather wheel on my 190k w124 was optimally patinered. The leather wheel on the e39 is a bit worn (but okay). It’s hard to describe in more detail, but spend time with both and you get the w124 thing - and also get people who say the e39 is a lot better than modern BMWs.
This brings me to two things I like immensely about the car. The first is the engine. BMW straight 6s have had a certain sound and way of propelling a car for decades. My old e23 732i had it, the 325 compact I used to get a lift from the pub in had it - and this e39 definitely has it. I don’t think they are the most refined straight 6s, but they have a lot of character. The tiptronic box thing seems very good at letting you make unnecessary noises without going too fast. Very welcome after the boring “two 4 cylinder” Lexus v8. It’s significantly slower than the Lexus though.
The final and defining thing is the ride and handling combination. The Lexus and my old A8 D2 were quick and soft (the Lexus more so). The e39 is firmer, but goes down a B road and sticks to it - rather than a sofa bouncing up and down. I wouldn’t say “sporty” - but it is confidence inspiring. The ride is generally really comfortable - I’m very pleased I have the SE spec with small wheels.
I can see why the e39 528i was crowned the best in its class when new now. The Lexus will probably get the wheel bearing and a couple of other bits done in the new year before being sold.
That said I also loved spanking the w124 300e. I will return after a few hundred more miles and compare those two. I think the old w124 300e engine was a touch more refined as well.
First impressions were that it’s definitely less refined than the LS400. This is to be expected - it’s a class below, and Toyota went all out to deaden everything on the LS. I would say that the LS is a “light” to drive as a Yaris - it was designed to remove feedback as noise, so of course it’s more refined.
It’s more refined than the W124s though in terms of wind noise and general NVH, but I suspect it’s significantly heavier.
General quality has surprised me - the car feels really tight and nice at 136k miles. This is with the caveat that the previous owner spent a lot of money and time replacing bits (see the reader ride thread). The interior is leagues ahead of new BMWs in terms of how firm stuff is, the plastics, and the leather.
However the interior quality is nowhere near a w124. The leather wheel on my 190k w124 was optimally patinered. The leather wheel on the e39 is a bit worn (but okay). It’s hard to describe in more detail, but spend time with both and you get the w124 thing - and also get people who say the e39 is a lot better than modern BMWs.
This brings me to two things I like immensely about the car. The first is the engine. BMW straight 6s have had a certain sound and way of propelling a car for decades. My old e23 732i had it, the 325 compact I used to get a lift from the pub in had it - and this e39 definitely has it. I don’t think they are the most refined straight 6s, but they have a lot of character. The tiptronic box thing seems very good at letting you make unnecessary noises without going too fast. Very welcome after the boring “two 4 cylinder” Lexus v8. It’s significantly slower than the Lexus though.
The final and defining thing is the ride and handling combination. The Lexus and my old A8 D2 were quick and soft (the Lexus more so). The e39 is firmer, but goes down a B road and sticks to it - rather than a sofa bouncing up and down. I wouldn’t say “sporty” - but it is confidence inspiring. The ride is generally really comfortable - I’m very pleased I have the SE spec with small wheels.
I can see why the e39 528i was crowned the best in its class when new now. The Lexus will probably get the wheel bearing and a couple of other bits done in the new year before being sold.
That said I also loved spanking the w124 300e. I will return after a few hundred more miles and compare those two. I think the old w124 300e engine was a touch more refined as well.
Edited by 0a on Sunday 23 December 19:01
0a said:
E39 review! A few thoughts on the new purchase after a couple of drives in it, and comparisons to other barges I have owned or own.
Biggest difference for me was the gearbox. The BMW 5-speed makes the W124 4-speed seem remarkably dimwitted. And the tighter torque convertor makes it step off so much more decisivelyNick Froome
I'll still take my E39 in manual form for preference, and a 124 or 129 in auto.
Glad you are enjoying the car, 0a, they are such good all-purpose machinery.
I am up for Jedburgh on 28th and seem to have all three old cars vaguely serviceable and full of fuel, so the question of which I bring depends on what the weather is like. If it's snowing, the BMW, if it's merely wet probably the Porsche as I have not had that out for a while and it could do with the exercise.
Glad you are enjoying the car, 0a, they are such good all-purpose machinery.
I am up for Jedburgh on 28th and seem to have all three old cars vaguely serviceable and full of fuel, so the question of which I bring depends on what the weather is like. If it's snowing, the BMW, if it's merely wet probably the Porsche as I have not had that out for a while and it could do with the exercise.
Northern Barge Meet location update:
0a said:
That said I also loved spanking the w124 300e. I will return after a few hundred more miles and compare those two. I think the old w124 300e engine was a touch more refined as well.
And they respond so well to it. A W124 or W201 being driven at 6/7 10ths is a happy W201 or W124!Edited by 0a on Sunday 23 December 19:01
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