Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol11]

[TheLordJohn]

Krikkit said:

J4CKO said:

TheLordJohn said:

r129sl said:

Since when has good equated to cheap?

And what is a Citroën C1 and what do you use it for?

The rest of your post makes a lot of sense, though. Thank goodness they closed the library in the village. But I'm not worried: my wife says she has to go to the WI every night.

Well done for responding.
I dismissed it as gibberish and ignored it...

My post about running the CLS was gibberish ?

If so will reformat to make it clearer, was doing a sort of end of ownership report as thought it may be in context of the thread but perhaps rushed it a bit.

No, the bks posted by the other chap about a C1 being better.

Saved me a job, Mr Jimminy, thank you.

[BigBen]

Krikkit said:

As an urban runabout the Barge has very little going in its favour other than being auto imo, a C1 is a better city tool.

Costs are a key factor, and many barges can endure a managed retreat for a long time, but ultimately a little car will generally be cheaper to look after. Citroen/Peugeot parts in particular are very easy to fit and cheap, something which Merc bits generally aren't in either case.

But Barge is a way of life, not just a monetary equation. I've gone from a small, cheap French car as a daily to a barge and don't regret it one bit (well, parts cost aside).

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

[idiotgap]

I recently started doing more miles in my barge. I will still need one for towing the caravan, going to the tip, carrying kids and their mates about etc. but maybe I need to think about a c1 or similar for the 28 mile a-road round trip trek I do each day as part of my commute. Seems silly to be doing mid 20's mpg by myself on the way to work.

Thing is, an e-class estate with the seats down is a very easy way to carry a bike about. Is there a C1 type cheap efficient thing that will easily swallow a full size bike? Wheels off doesn't really help much due to commuting bike mudguards.

[SpeckledJim]

idiotgap said:

I recently started doing more miles in my barge. I will still need one for towing the caravan, going to the tip, carrying kids and their mates about etc. but maybe I need to think about a c1 or similar for the 28 mile a-road round trip trek I do each day as part of my commute. Seems silly to be doing mid 20's mpg by myself on the way to work.

Thing is, an e-class estate with the seats down is a very easy way to carry a bike about. Is there a C1 type cheap efficient thing that will easily swallow a full size bike? Wheels off doesn't really help much due to commuting bike mudguards.

Dacia Logan MCV.
Big boot, cheap, extremely good economy.

[TheLordJohn]

BigBen said:

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

[Krikkit]

I'd be looking at a diesel estate barge igap...

BigBen said:

Krikkit said:

As an urban runabout the Barge has very little going in its favour other than being auto imo, a C1 is a better city tool.

Costs are a key factor, and many barges can endure a managed retreat for a long time, but ultimately a little car will generally be cheaper to look after. Citroen/Peugeot parts in particular are very easy to fit and cheap, something which Merc bits generally aren't in either case.

But Barge is a way of life, not just a monetary equation. I've gone from a small, cheap French car as a daily to a barge and don't regret it one bit (well, parts cost aside).

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

They're more comfortable for really heavy traffic - London is a special environment for driving, most of the time is spent either stationary or crawling, suddenly comfort becomes a much bigger priority. Elsewhere it's useful to have something nippy, that can be parked more easily, and squeezes through the smallest gaps.

[idiotgap]

I'm shocked, the new shape logan isn't nearly as minging as I remember the old one being.

Much as I find the economy of my petrol S211 on the steep side, the 320cdi doesn't seem to do enough more to motivate me to switch to one. What kind of figures does one really see?

[Mark-C]

TheLordJohn said:

BigBen said:

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

You do realise it's possible to have more than one car? And that sometimes different cars are good at different things? I used to run an Octavia Estate alongside the Jag but now that skip runs and dog hauling are a thing of the past I have a Ka - it's rather good fun and I really don't care if I apparently look "tragic"

[J4CKO]

TheLordJohn said:

BigBen said:

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

Some folk arent bothered, cant afford or dotn want a big car.

Some may be thinking that the bloke in the ancient BMW looks tragic, thats the issue, when your perception of ourselves and how others view us conflicts, BMW X6 drivers probably dont think everyone mutters c*** under their breath as they pass (on the chevrons usually)

I am going to look a little tragic for a few months, it will serve to get me ready for something more exciting, like having a long walk before a big meal, a sorbet to cleanse the palate.

[BigBen]

Mark-C said:

TheLordJohn said:

BigBen said:

Then why do you see so many more S-classes than C1s in central London

A few weeks ago I was out in my barge and fell in behind a horsebox. If I was in a C1 I could still be behind that horsebox two weeks later.....

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

You do realise it's possible to have more than one car? And that sometimes different cars are good at different things? I used to run an Octavia Estate alongside the Jag but now that skip runs and dog hauling are a thing of the past I have a Ka - it's rather good fun and I really don't care if I apparently look "tragic"

I run a Nissan Leaf alongside my barge, previously a Renault Zoe. Barge + EV is a winning formula.

[Lowtimer]

Little lightweight low-powered cars can definitely be useful in the right circs, especially in towns and cities. Sometimes it's just fun to drive something different for a day or so. I used to get a C1 courtesy car occasionally and never felt it was beneath me.

[Krikkit]

idiotgap said:

I'm shocked, the new shape logan isn't nearly as minging as I remember the old one being.

Much as I find the economy of my petrol S211 on the steep side, the 320cdi doesn't seem to do enough more to motivate me to switch to one. What kind of figures does one really see?

I'm seeing 40mpg, or thereabouts, on my mixed commute in a W211, and I don't hang about.

[Motorrad]

TheLordJohn said:

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

I feel comfortable in whatever vehicle does the job best. Quite happy to buzz about in a Fiat 500 as I am to waft in a V8.
Try parking a barge downtown and become a SMART car enthusiast.

[idiotgap]

I might be getting carried away here, but maybe a <>£5k hybrid would work. Maybe I could encourage one to be all electric for my normal 28 mile working day and only use fosil fuel when necessary.

Peugeot 508 RXH Hybrid4 £6480
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

This is idle hankering atm rather than a statement of intent, hence I'm not going to be so precious about the thread budget, this thing depreciates fairly rapidly so will be in budget not long after teatime anyway.

Edited by idiotgap on Wednesday 27th September 17:41

[Stegel]

Krikkit said:

idiotgap said:

I'm shocked, the new shape logan isn't nearly as minging as I remember the old one being.

Much as I find the economy of my petrol S211 on the steep side, the 320cdi doesn't seem to do enough more to motivate me to switch to one. What kind of figures does one really see?

I'm seeing 40mpg, or thereabouts, on my mixed commute in a W211, and I don't hang about.

I take it that's a straight 6? Our V6 can be below 30mpg on a slow commute, and even fast cross-country struggles to see 40mpg (and then only if you use cruise at no more than 75mph for most of the journey - anything enthusiastic sees mid-30s.

[Stegel]

SebastienClement said:

I figured this was the best place to ask this...

W211 E Classes. I really like these - a nice dark red with small wheels would look really anonymous yet a nice place to eat up miles inside.

Are there any engines to avoid? I assume most are diesels, but are there any petrol options? eBay shows the odd E200 but nothing >2l. I’ve never seen a rusty one, so was that sorted out before the introduction of this model? Major pitfalls?

Many thanks!

Early 500s used the M113 engine which is usually well regarded. Post facelift switched to a 5.5 litre engine (M273?) with early ones having trouble with defective timing gear sprockets allowing chain slippage. Early 320s were straight 6 (unsure of engine designation) with facelift 350s using a V6 (M272?) which in early cars has balancer shaft issues as well as defective cogs IIRC. Unsure on benefits and pitfalls of the 4cylinder petrols. You could go full fat petrol AMG - E55K is well regarded, and I think just about all E63 211s will fall into the head bolt issue engine range, although they have probably either been fixed, will be unaffected or have died by now.

[Bonefish Blues]

idiotgap said:

I recently started doing more miles in my barge. I will still need one for towing the caravan, going to the tip, carrying kids and their mates about etc. but maybe I need to think about a c1 or similar for the 28 mile a-road round trip trek I do each day as part of my commute. Seems silly to be doing mid 20's mpg by myself on the way to work.

Thing is, an e-class estate with the seats down is a very easy way to carry a bike about. Is there a C1 type cheap efficient thing that will easily swallow a full size bike? Wheels off doesn't really help much due to commuting bike mudguards.

I'd recommend something like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=spons...

Big enough, Suzuki engineered, nice little 1.6 with chain not belt, proper 4wd will locking diff, perfect do-anything, go anywhere little (actually not so little - a bike will go in) car for when the barge isn't right. I still miss mine.

[Krikkit]

Stegel said:

Krikkit said:

idiotgap said:

I'm shocked, the new shape logan isn't nearly as minging as I remember the old one being.

Much as I find the economy of my petrol S211 on the steep side, the 320cdi doesn't seem to do enough more to motivate me to switch to one. What kind of figures does one really see?

I'm seeing 40mpg, or thereabouts, on my mixed commute in a W211, and I don't hang about.

I take it that's a straight 6? Our V6 can be below 30mpg on a slow commute, and even fast cross-country struggles to see 40mpg (and then only if you use cruise at no more than 75mph for most of the journey - anything enthusiastic sees mid-30s.

Yep, straight 6. If you go crazy it does drop pretty quickly, but an 80mph cruise over 200 miles sees an average of 40ish. Tank range is > 600 miles which is really nice too.

[Jimmy Recard]

TheLordJohn said:

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a man in a little first-time-driver motor.
My BMW was only £1500, but it's a 3.0 straight six, has cruise control and full leather and is comfortable and quiet. It's a 2002, has 141k and has nothing wrong with it (aside from bodywork).

I honestly don't understand how people happily drive such st motors, even if they are new/newer. Little rattle boxes that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Not for me, thanks.

What an odd view. I'm a man and I'm perfectly happy to drive any car - superminis, family hatches, big saloons, 4x4s, whatever. I wouldn't say there is anything tragic about it at all.

They all perform the role of transport but each have their own attributes. I've had shortlists when going to buy a car as diverse as a Peugeot 106 diesel and a petrol Range Rover and in the end settled on something totally different to either.

I've not regretted any of my cars yet.

[edo]

lot of car for the money?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...