Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 12]

[dbdb]

dme123 said:

They are fabulous, particularly in SWB form. Easily the most competent home that V12 ever had and the engine/ancillaries had pretty much all the foibles sorted (after just 30 years!). I covered big mileages in mine over 3 years and it was bullet proof and a brilliant companion. The four speed autobox really made the engine much easier to exploit.

Very old fashioned now though in terms of NVH and thirst to performance ratio. I'd love one again now I don't drive for work.

They have the big advantage over the XJ40 version (XJ81) of not catching fire...

[olly755]

Zonergem said:

Something close to the ur-Barge (rare, V12, looks mint) and one which would win the thread but for being guided at 5.5-7k.



https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-1...

Thats the nicest and IMO most desirable barge I've seen on here in a very long time. Probably since the last V12 X300 was posted actually.

[SpeckledJim]

MorganP104 said:

I want to have want for this (let's face it, the car is epic), though I just can't escape the fact these X300s (and the X308s that followed) are essentially lightly re-skinned XJ40s. Not that there's anything wrong with the XJ40 (I had one, back in the day), but it was an early 1970s design, released in the 1980s, and facelifted over and over, until it was replaced in 2003 with the X350.

In classic Smoker Barge thread style, I'll end on a positive... How about those X350s, eh? Bit nice, right?

But! But but but...


The X300 is the single most beautiful 3-box saloon ever made. Ever. We forget or ignore that absolutely incontrovertible fact because they're everywhere, and because you can buy one for a snog.


The X350 is merely quite nice.

[Blown2CV]

olly755 said:

Zonergem said:

Something close to the ur-Barge (rare, V12, looks mint) and one which would win the thread but for being guided at 5.5-7k.



https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic/saturday-1...

Thats the nicest and IMO most desirable barge I've seen on here in a very long time. Probably since the last V12 X300 was posted actually.

grail barge that. Interior looks amazing and whole car immaculate. It's a bit of a rarity and with low miles... do we really think it stands a chance of not blowing that guide price right out the water? I am guessing it may end up £12-13k?

[olly755]

cornershop said:

Nice work - the previous advisories on mine didn’t lie, this found earlier today - note the rear on my car had sunk, however this was a front spring (new KYB shocks, Kilen springs and spring insulators being fitted):

Ouch. I think snapped springs are fairly commonplace: I also had one go on my first silver LS400.

Reading some of the US based forums, they seem to mask suspension issues pretty well, and the isolation and insulation from the elements fools the driver into thinking that all is functioning as it should. I'm pretty sure my LS needs what the Septics refer to as sway bar bushes as there is a distant knock when traversing the cattle grid on the drive, yet otherwise the car in normal use rides and steps without complaint.

[dbdb]

SpeckledJim said:

But! But but but...


The X300 is the single most beautiful 3-box saloon ever made. Ever. We forget or ignore that absolutely incontrovertible fact because they're everywhere, and because you can buy one for a snog.


The X350 is merely quite nice.

I know it is regarded almost as swearing on PH, but I prefer the shape of the XJ40 to the X300. I don't like the plastic bumpers.

I think the best looking XJ is the Series 2 - for me probably the best looking 3-box saloon ever made - though it is a close-run thing with the Series 1. The Series 3 has a frumpy roofline - I prefer the XJ40 and X300 to it.

The X350 isn't in the top ten.

[SpeckledJim]

dbdb said:

SpeckledJim said:

But! But but but...


The X300 is the single most beautiful 3-box saloon ever made. Ever. We forget or ignore that absolutely incontrovertible fact because they're everywhere, and because you can buy one for a snog.


The X350 is merely quite nice.

I know it is regarded almost as swearing on PH, but I prefer the shape of the XJ40 to the X300. I don't like the plastic bumpers.

I think the best looking XJ is the Series 2 - for me probably the best looking 3-box saloon ever made - though it is a close-run thing with the Series 1. The Series 3 has a frumpy roofline - I prefer the XJ40 and X300 to it.

The X350 isn't in the top ten.

XJ40 and SII are nigh-on perfect too, IMO.

I prefer the more feline X300, marginally, as a design, but I can't aim any criticism at XJ40. It's bob-on.

[Jim the Sunderer]

That XJ12 is nice, I could have bought it and a year's six month's fuel for the price of my XF.

[giblet]

My LS400 also passed it’s MOT recently with no advisories. Let’s see how it fares on the roadtrip!

I owned an X308 XJR, brother has had a X350 diesel and X350 4.2 V8 sport. Whilst the 350s are more modern the 308 is the one for me. I still long for a X308 XJR with the R1 package. Black or dark blue with cream interior and no leaper. That would be perfection for me.

[0a]

Any good cars for sale? I fancy a purchase! All the goodish cheap w126s seem to have dried up recently

[hondafanatic]

In need of some advice please

I've just got rid of my C63 Estate (I'll be back in one sometime soon) as I'm having to take a sensible approach money wise. It was my first Merc and I have to say, even coming from a newer Audi, the Merc had something about it...granite like quality. It was a 2011 model.

So I've got £5000 to play with for a replacement. Currently on Easter holidays so I've got just short of two weeks to source a replacement. Ideally I don't want to drive 000's of miles from my Lancaster postcode. I was filtering 40 miles away but if there's something ideal I will travel for it.

My commute to work is an 80 mile round trip which is virtually all motorway and outside of normal commuting hours. I tend to stick cruise on around 70ish so my cars have an easy if very boring life. I will do the odd trip into town but normally take the better half's car. My car will be used for the odd camping trip which is four up plus a lab. Roof rails are a 'nice to have'.

I'll only keep the car for 12 months max as I'll be looking to upgrade back up to C63s etc.

Ideally I'd like an auto, cruise and bluetooth for all my podcast listening. Other than that I'm not too fussed if it's petrol or diesel. Anything will feel ecomoical against a 6.2 V8. I think I'd like to avoid Jap cars as i've had 19 Honda's and quite like the German barge's although I have one shortlist which is over budget and a bit of trek find that I like the look of that is Italian.

So I've got four cars shortlisted...three are close by and one, as mentioned is too much and too far away for the budget but heyho it's pulling at my heart rather than head. My cars are maintained by a good friend of mine and thrown in straight away for a check over and service regardless and I'm happy to do 6k oil changes regardless of service schedules.


Merc C class estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Merc E class estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW 5 series estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Left field choice
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

In saying that, if theres anything else that might be interesting e.g. something like a Jag XJ or other barge-like saloon then I can sacrifice the estate part.

Would really appreciate everyone's input as I'm out of my depth here as I've tended to by new/newish cars...the C63 being the oldest car i've owned.

Edited by hondafanatic on Tuesday 27th March 12:29

[Prinny]

I like the e-class, but the plate doesn’t show on mot history for me? (maybe just changed from a pp and not yet updated?) I can see it has a parrot kit, but don’t know whether that allows bt streaming?

I like the fact that the 5-series has comfort seats (the best I’ve ever been in). The bluetooth on the 5- however won’t stream music, for phone calls only. Also hidden plates annoy me as no ability to history check...

Therefore hard to choose without viewing/more detail.

So you should buy the 159.

[hondafanatic]

Prinny said:

I like the e-class, but the plate doesn’t show on mot history for me? (maybe just changed from a pp and not yet updated?) I can see it has a parrot kit, but don’t know whether that allows bt streaming?

I like the fact that the 5-series has comfort seats (the best I’ve ever been in). The bluetooth on the 5- however won’t stream music, for phone calls only. Also hidden plates annoy me as no ability to history check...

Therefore hard to choose without viewing/more detail.

So you should buy the 159.

I dooooo really like the 159. And thank you for checking out the others

[bob-lad]

SpeckledJim said:

MorganP104 said:

I want to have want for this (let's face it, the car is epic), though I just can't escape the fact these X300s (and the X308s that followed) are essentially lightly re-skinned XJ40s. Not that there's anything wrong with the XJ40 (I had one, back in the day), but it was an early 1970s design, released in the 1980s, and facelifted over and over, until it was replaced in 2003 with the X350.

In classic Smoker Barge thread style, I'll end on a positive... How about those X350s, eh? Bit nice, right?

But! But but but...


The X300 is the single most beautiful 3-box saloon ever made. Ever. We forget or ignore that absolutely incontrovertible fact because they're everywhere, and because you can buy one for a snog.


The X350 is merely quite nice.

This ^

And that's coming from someone with a mint X350 XJR.

[bob-lad]

SpeckledJim said:

XJ40 and SII are nigh-on perfect too, IMO.

I prefer the more feline X300, marginally, as a design, but I can't aim any criticism at XJ40. It's bob-on.

Sometimes the XJ40 looks like it sniffed too hard at an Allegro and gained an extra grill.



I think it could be the twin headlights that emphasise it.

Edited by bob-lad on Tuesday 27th March 13:26

[SpeckledJim]

bob-lad said:

SpeckledJim said:

XJ40 and SII are nigh-on perfect too, IMO.

I prefer the more feline X300, marginally, as a design, but I can't aim any criticism at XJ40. It's bob-on.

Sometimes the XJ40 looks like it sniffed too hard at an Allegro and gained an extra grill.



I think it could be the twin headlights that emphasise it.

Edited by bob-lad on Tuesday 27th March 13:26

Yuck. That's horrid. Is that a Chasseur or something?

[Krikkit]

Criminal defacing of the XJ40 there. I'm undecided between the single and twin-headlamp versions.

hondafanatic said:

Prinny said:

I like the e-class, but the plate doesn’t show on mot history for me? (maybe just changed from a pp and not yet updated?) I can see it has a parrot kit, but don’t know whether that allows bt streaming?

I like the fact that the 5-series has comfort seats (the best I’ve ever been in). The bluetooth on the 5- however won’t stream music, for phone calls only. Also hidden plates annoy me as no ability to history check...

Therefore hard to choose without viewing/more detail.

So you should buy the 159.

I dooooo really like the 159. And thank you for checking out the others

That Parrot does support BT streaming, we have one, a very competent unit.

I'd probably go for the 211 out of that bunch, although if you can run a V8 I would. That 211 is the facelift with the V6 diesel, not a great unit.

I wouldn't bother with the 159, as beautiful as they are they're not a high-quality product! That engine is rather spiffing though.

What about a V70? Very solid, nice enough cars to steer. T5 easily within budget.

[bob-lad]

SpeckledJim said:

Yuck. That's horrid. Is that a Chasseur or something?

Not sure about that, but here's another twinheadlight XJ impersonating an Allegro

[hondafanatic]

Krikkit said:

Criminal defacing of the XJ40 there. I'm undecided between the single and twin-headlamp versions.

hondafanatic said:

Prinny said:

I like the e-class, but the plate doesn’t show on mot history for me? (maybe just changed from a pp and not yet updated?) I can see it has a parrot kit, but don’t know whether that allows bt streaming?

I like the fact that the 5-series has comfort seats (the best I’ve ever been in). The bluetooth on the 5- however won’t stream music, for phone calls only. Also hidden plates annoy me as no ability to history check...

Therefore hard to choose without viewing/more detail.

So you should buy the 159.

I dooooo really like the 159. And thank you for checking out the others

That Parrot does support BT streaming, we have one, a very competent unit.

I'd probably go for the 211 out of that bunch, although if you can run a V8 I would. That 211 is the facelift with the V6 diesel, not a great unit.

I wouldn't bother with the 159, as beautiful as they are they're not a high-quality product! That engine is rather spiffing though.

What about a V70? Very solid, nice enough cars to steer. T5 easily within budget.

Thanks for the info. When you say 'not a great unit', do you mean anything specific? It's just a motorway plodder so I'm not looking for anything particularly memorable.

I looked for a nice V70 that was London based but they seem very thin on the ground. Doesn't even have to be T5.

I think i'm basically looking for a comfy armchair car.

This looks a nice place to sit...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edit to add that I actually really quite like that ^^^

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

And another! ^^^^

Edited by hondafanatic on Tuesday 27th March 14:01

[Zonergem]

0a said:

Any good cars for sale? I fancy a purchase! All the goodish cheap w126s seem to have dried up recently

Why haven't you bought that green one in Edinburgh with the cloth interior? Price dropped to 4.5k too. What's happened to the Oa we know and love! Next thing we know you'll be leasing an X3 or something.