Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 9]

[Baryonyx]

I was impressed to see an LS400 wedding car in Newcastle this morning, wearing the plate 'JA**G' which I assume used to be on a Jaguar! It looked as fresh as a brand new car, driven by an older bloke with a lady whom I suppose was his daughter, the bride, in the back, pulling up outside the Tyneside Cinema. The LS400 is often derided for it's slightly derivative styling, but I have to say that it looked absolutely perfect at the roadside. Save for an XJ, I don't think you could ask for a better wedding car, but the LS400 has the edge over the XJ because it's less atypical of weddings.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

That XC90 looks really good value. Obviously there's a risk, but it's mitigated by the very low cost of entry. I like!

[0a]

I picked the SL up this afternoon following the new exhaust. I called this morning to ask how it sounded and the chap laughed saying much more like a V8 (I asked for it to be a bit louder!)

It's definitly louder and very naughty indeed in the few miles I have driven it so far. This is their first 500SL exhaust so I might go back for some tweaks as it's may be a little too boomy. Very fun though and this isn't my main car so more noise is acceptable.

[Lowtimer]

I also vanished temporarily due to the thread change over so apols for a dull post to get me back into the "my topics" list.

Oa, remind me whereabouts you've had this exhaust made? Mine seems perfectly solid and intact for the time being but when the time for replacement comes I might hazard a slightly wooflier one.

[r129sl]

Oa, did you get my email about Sunday?

Is anyone else interested in the Concours d'Elegance at Holyrood House this weekend?

[KrisP]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

It confuddles me every time we hit a new volume and the watched thread disappears out of my list!

Anyhoo.

£1-5k XC90s should usually be set fire to, however this one seems very decent indeed. Seller is on the Volvo UK forums and the car seems very honest.

£3495 ONO





http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?p=197...

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/vol...

Edited by kapiteinlangzaam on Friday 4th September 17:07

This looks to be very good for what I am looking for right now - the only downside appears to be the lack of xenons, as I can't abide poor headlamps these days, I'd even enjoy the round trip to Scotland to get it home
You seem to know a lot about these xc90's, is there a buyers guide you can point me to somewhere please?

[Eski1991]

r129sl said:

Is this one of us? Mega spec: 24valve, 5spd auto, leather, air con, heated seats, 7 seats. Bit frilly in places but nothing that shed loads of cash couldn't sort out.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Merecedes-Benz-300TE-24v...

Is there any consensus on this as I may have stuck a bid on it?

Mondeo needs replacing and that looks very comfy.

[r129sl]

Eski1991 said:

r129sl said:

Is this one of us? Mega spec: 24valve, 5spd auto, leather, air con, heated seats, 7 seats. Bit frilly in places but nothing that shed loads of cash couldn't sort out.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Merecedes-Benz-300TE-24v...

Is there any consensus on this as I may have stuck a bid on it?

Mondeo needs replacing and that looks very comfy.

It strikes me as a great specification in fairly typical condition, i.e., the air con doesn't work, there's a fair bit of corrosion around the edges of the bodywork and there are a few niggly faults which ought to be fixed. The mileage means some of the long-term consumables may be getting to the end of their life. They new tyres are a good sign. If you paid less than £1,250 for it, I'd say it's a great buy. If you pay more than £2,500 I'd say you're insane. But at the end of the day it depends whether you want a young classic or something more banger-nomical. If the former, then the purchase price is fairly irrelevant. If the latter, then this would be great at the right price. The engine/transmission combination is superb.

Edited by r129sl on Friday 4th September 22:02

[CharlesdeGaulle]

A sparse ad, but could be a nice car. Good road trip back home too if a Southerner buys it.

V12 XJS. 5k. No interior pics and thin on history. I rather like it.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C655497

[0a]

r129sl said:

Oa, did you get my email about Sunday?

Is anyone else interested in the Concours d'Elegance at Holyrood House this weekend?

Hello r129, I just checked my email and replied. I'm attending with my father and a friend on the Sunday, but will be about tomorrow evening (Saturday).

I drove by the palace today and saw some of the cars... now very much looking forward to it. They have some pictures of the cars on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConcoursOfElegance?ref=hl

I must admit that of all the cars, I am looking forward to seeing this Ferrari F40 GT that will be there. The few times I have seen an F40 parked up I have spent all day looking at them.

Lowtimer said:

Oa, remind me whereabouts you've had this exhaust made? Mine seems perfectly solid and intact for the time being but when the time for replacement comes I might hazard a slightly wooflier one.

I used Longlife exhausts in Edinburgh. It will need some fettling and they took ages but they are fairly local to me, and had good reviews.

I took the car out just now and it really made me smile (probably too much!). I might see how it copes with a 300 mile trip.

[Eski1991]

Not after a classic (Although the classic insurance will be nice), would be run as a daily/family hack. The corrosion is certainly not the worst I've seen, arches look better than average after looking at a few old Mercs, especially considering mileage.

Won't be going too high with my maximum bid. As you say the niggly faults are just that and are strange considering the advert talks about the owners search for the car.

See what happens I suppose, if it doesn't go in budget something else will appear.

[r129sl]

Eski1991 said:

Not after a classic (Although the classic insurance will be nice), would be run as a daily/family hack. The corrosion is certainly not the worst I've seen, arches look better than average after looking at a few old Mercs, especially considering mileage.

Won't be going too high with my maximum bid. As you say the niggly faults are just that and are strange considering the advert talks about the owners search for the car.

See what happens I suppose, if it doesn't go in budget something else will appear.

They make a great family wagon: they are very well-thought out, especially with 7 seats.

[0a]

r129sl said:

Eski1991 said:

r129sl said:

Is this one of us? Mega spec: 24valve, 5spd auto, leather, air con, heated seats, 7 seats. Bit frilly in places but nothing that shed loads of cash couldn't sort out.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Merecedes-Benz-300TE-24v...

Is there any consensus on this as I may have stuck a bid on it?

Mondeo needs replacing and that looks very comfy.

It strikes me as a great specification in fairly typical condition, i.e., the air con doesn't work, there's a fair bit of corrosion around the edges of the bodywork and there are a few niggly faults which ought to be fixed. The mileage means some of the long-term consumables may be getting to the end of their life. They new tyres are a good sign. If you paid less than £1,250 for it, I'd say it's a great buy. If you pay more than £2,500 I'd say you're insane. But at the end of the day it depends whether you want a young classic or something more banger-nomical. If the former, then the purchase price is fairly irrelevant.

My view with w124s is that there are two things that matter:

1. The right spec - body, engine, options
2. Not paying too much

Unless the car has had wings and a full respray, it will need both to look smart in a short amount of time.

If the car has done 120k or more, and doesn't have a full suspension refresh in the history, it will need it.

This W124 has the best body, the best engine/gearbox combo, and a great spec. It's worth paying a little more over bargain prices in order to get the right base to smoke around in while you put the funds together for a restoration.

Don't end up with a 180k mile 300E 4 door that you sink loads of cash into - sink the cash into something that will be worth something at the end of it

[harrykul]

0a said:

My view with w124s is that there are two things that matter:

1. The right spec - body, engine, options
2. Not paying too much

Unless the car has had wings and a full respray, it will need both to look smart in a short amount of time.

If the car has done 120k or more, and doesn't have a full suspension refresh in the history, it will need it.

This W124 has the best body, the best engine/gearbox combo, and a great spec. It's worth paying a little more over bargain prices in order to get the right base to smoke around in while you put the funds together for a restoration.

Don't end up with a 180k mile 300E 4 door that you sink loads of cash into - sink the cash into something that will be worth something at the end of it

This is bang on.

[0a]

harrykul said:

This is bang on.

Here's my 300E when it wasn't that rusty.



Now it's rusty but i'm too attached to the old thing (and have invested vast amounts in the non-paint area). It will only ever be worth about 10p

[cat220]

Can't believe that Vitesse posted earlier is still available, especially at £695! Fond memories of driving these when new and they were no slouches!

Edited by cat220 on Friday 4th September 23:32

[harrykul]

barchetta_boy said:

idiotgap said:

Yes, you would.

(If you do end up wanting to sell it, please, please, please can you pop over to Lingfield in it first and if it's nicer than mine I'll buy it and flog mine on!)

We had a great trip out to Tetbury in ours at the weekend to meet up with a load of mates. Bikes go on the back just fine and it cruises really nicely. In all honesty I have a love hate relationship with ours, but the love part means it stays (it's better than meh/hate or even meh/meh). I don't have much emotional pull toward a T4, no real reason... I can see the practical appeal though.

Belated thanks to v12amg and BigBen for your S211 council last week.

Happy Barging everyone.


p.s. Local indy 'Pedro' is working on putting an SLK230k motor into a 124 estate at the moment as a kind of after hours project/experiment. I think the plan is to see if it's viable to offer a range of more modern engines in order to make them an upcycling possibility. I reckon they might try to make an S124 E220CDI at some stage.

I have chatted to Pedro about this. I advised him to do the transplant with an S210 E55 motor. If you're going to do it...

Ref the VW Golf, my wife does a lot of miles and we could do without the fuel bills the Merc would generate if she was to use it daily, plus she likes the small size for parking.

Should have added the family love the VW Camper even more more than the Merc!

Idiotgap, you about this weekend?

Guys, can you please put me in touch with Pedro? I'm fed up with my project v12 just sitting there, so I'm looking for someone to either complete it for me, or just buy it to complete themselves. Perhaps he could be the man for the former.

[0a]

Please do... I want to see this!

[PlayersNo6]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

A sparse ad, but could be a nice car. Good road trip back home too if a Southerner buys it.

V12 XJS. 5k. No interior pics and thin on history. I rather like it.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C655497

I like that too. Ad and pics feel right.

[Geekman]

V12 AMG said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151800860441

CL600 bi-turbo
60k miles
£5000
NOT silver!!
Proper forged wheels fitted.



Don't get more bang for your buck.

Just emailed the seller. Providing everything checks out I'll be buying, although I'm on holiday right now which might make things difficult