Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 12]

[Croutons]

Patrick Bateman said:

Must be a rare sight nowadays-

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

Pity it's not a 530i. Can't be many left still going to the main dealer for a service.

But not for the MOT each time it seems.

Funny how brakes and suspension have been advisories since 2015, from some random garage and BMW, yet when Car Deal Warehouse got it a ticket it was completely clean through first time...

[phil_cardiff]

Croutons said:

Patrick Bateman said:

Must be a rare sight nowadays-

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

Pity it's not a 530i. Can't be many left still going to the main dealer for a service.

But not for the MOT each time it seems.

Funny how brakes and suspension have been advisories since 2015, from some random garage and BMW, yet when Car Deal Warehouse got it a ticket it was completely clean through first time...

Happens all the time unfortunately. My slightly corroded brake pipes re-appeared when I MOT'd my car after buying it from a dealer with no advisories

I'm not complaining though, I'd looked at the MOT history and had a good poke around and knew what was coming.

[Patrick Bateman]

It's always a haggling point.

[mattman]

SpeckledJim said:

Frumpy, plumpy, and makes me grumpy.

I think an E46 coupe or cabrio is a nicer car in every way.

And if one wouldn't be seen in a BMW, the Volvo C70 is smart and respectable, and comes with the usual Volvo benefits of seats and stereo, albeit it's a bit wobbly.

More classy than a crass/chav BMW of similar vintage - if you ignore the tin worm

C70 OK but feel cheaply built in comparison

Any 4 seat drop top from this era is a bit wobbly - some more than others, SAAB - but i think the CLK still cuts quite an elegant dash with instant MB recognition. CLK 55 would be nice - one thats not rusty if possible

[cwoodsie2]

mattman said:

More classy than a crass/chav BMW of similar vintage - if you ignore the tin worm

C70 OK but feel cheaply built in comparison

Any 4 seat drop top from this era is a bit wobbly - some more than others, SAAB - but i think the CLK still cuts quite an elegant dash with instant MB recognition. CLK 55 would be nice - one thats not rusty if possible

Thanks for the replies. Had a couple of E46's so been there, done that and never found them that great with lots of niggling replairs. Volvos and Saabs not to my liking.

I think the 430 would be a stretch and am I right in thinking 20mpg in that would be lucky? I can live with 25, hence the 320. The blue one posted is the exact same spec as the one i was wobbling around on holiday in and it was a pleasant enough thing. Also made a nice noise when provoked. Ran a 500 in W209 guise before and that was very reliable despite 100k miles and numerous owners. Time to scour the classifieds.... thanks

[mattman]

We used to have a 51 plate 200k and that would do about 25mpg average around town, i had a TT 225 and that did 25mpg too and a 645ci cabriolet that did 23mpg - it doesn't seem to matter too much what engine i had, they all did around the same.

You said you've had E46's before - have you tried a E63?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Still a relatively rare sight on the roads and have aged well - this one is just the first i pulled from AT and should be within thread budget with a bit of haggling.

[Patrick Bateman]

Just how ruinous are this shape of S-class?

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

[JamesRR]

Not a proper barge but I thought I’d ask in here in the hope of some sensible advice;
Has anyone of this parish driven a 1.6 Petrol Volvo S40? Nice one for sale locally and contemplating changing my 1.6D C30 for it, but concerned it might be a bit gutless?
Going to go and have a look at the weekend but just thought I’d see if anyone had any input in the meantime?

[Patrick Bateman]

Not driven one but my instincts would be the same as yours.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Thursday 19th October 23:05

[Croutons]

Patrick Bateman said:

Just how ruinous are this shape of S-class?

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

I cannot believe how close these are to thread budget...

[TheLordJohn]

Thread advice requested, please.
Looking at selling/trading in my 996 and been offered reasonable deals on these two:

E65 750i -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750-5-0-362bhp-Auto-...

C215 CL500 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-CL-500-COU...

I've ALWAYS loved the C215 shape (particularly from the rear 3/4) but I can't get on with Merc interiors and I'd prefer almost any other colour (JRG aside) from silver. Car looks well cared for and the taxi interior looks in VGC.

But the 750i is a lot newer, and I can see myself getting on with the interior a lot more.

Neither will be a daily and I'm not averse to running large engine motors.
Need a chunk of cash my way to help out with a house offer.
Alternatively, if someone can find me a dealer with a X300/308 XJR that will trade on a 996, let me know!

Any and all advice appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

mattman said:

SpeckledJim said:

Frumpy, plumpy, and makes me grumpy.

I think an E46 coupe or cabrio is a nicer car in every way.

And if one wouldn't be seen in a BMW, the Volvo C70 is smart and respectable, and comes with the usual Volvo benefits of seats and stereo, albeit it's a bit wobbly.

More classy than a crass/chav BMW of similar vintage - if you ignore the tin worm

C70 OK but feel cheaply built in comparison

Any 4 seat drop top from this era is a bit wobbly - some more than others, SAAB - but i think the CLK still cuts quite an elegant dash with instant MB recognition. CLK 55 would be nice - one thats not rusty if possible

The Mk1 C70 would likely be a far more painless ownership proposition as they don't rust and the mechanicals are very robust, but they feel hilariously old fashioned now. I followed a W208 cabriolet the other day and thought to myself that it looked a lot nicer than the rather repulsive coupe, however I could see the rust scabs on it from 20 yards away. They are a rare site on the roads now, I can't remember the last time I saw one that didn't look extremely scabby.

[Biglips]

TheLordJohn said:

Thread advice requested, please.
Looking at selling/trading in my 996 and been offered reasonable deals on these two:

E65 750i -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750-5-0-362bhp-Auto-...

C215 CL500 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-CL-500-COU...

I've ALWAYS loved the C215 shape (particularly from the rear 3/4) but I can't get on with Merc interiors and I'd prefer almost any other colour (JRG aside) from silver. Car looks well cared for and the taxi interior looks in VGC.

But the 750i is a lot newer, and I can see myself getting on with the interior a lot more.

Neither will be a daily and I'm not averse to running large engine motors.
Need a chunk of cash my way to help out with a house offer.
Alternatively, if someone can find me a dealer with a X300/308 XJR that will trade on a 996, let me know!

Any and all advice appreciated.

I am generally a Merc fan and I love the 215 shape too but would probably go with the bmw. Both are high on the potential bork factor But the ABC on the Merc would make me think twice about one of these. Merc also looks like it has had paint and the fact that the door is a different colour would irritate me! Both lovely cars though.

[TheLordJohn]

Biglips said:

I am generally a Merc fan and I love the 215 shape too but would probably go with the bmw. Both are high on the potential bork factor But the ABC on the Merc would make me think twice about one of these. Merc also looks like it has had paint and the fact that the door is a different colour would irritate me! Both lovely cars though.

I like the fact it's a 750i rather than the 45i, too. Nice interior, nice colours. Will ask him about what tyres are on it and service history and go from there.
Wouldn't mind an Accord Type R, either. Or a Civic Type R. Or an E46 M3.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

JamesRR said:

Not a proper barge but I thought I’d ask in here in the hope of some sensible advice;
Has anyone of this parish driven a 1.6 Petrol Volvo S40? Nice one for sale locally and contemplating changing my 1.6D C30 for it, but concerned it might be a bit gutless?
Going to go and have a look at the weekend but just thought I’d see if anyone had any input in the meantime?

I think dme and Kapitanlangzeit are the chaps for all things Volvo - try a PM to both if you don't get anything here.

[JF87]

TheLordJohn said:

Thread advice requested, please.
Looking at selling/trading in my 996 and been offered reasonable deals on these two:

E65 750i -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750-5-0-362bhp-Auto-...

C215 CL500 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-CL-500-COU...

I've ALWAYS loved the C215 shape (particularly from the rear 3/4) but I can't get on with Merc interiors and I'd prefer almost any other colour (JRG aside) from silver. Car looks well cared for and the taxi interior looks in VGC.

But the 750i is a lot newer, and I can see myself getting on with the interior a lot more.

Neither will be a daily and I'm not averse to running large engine motors.
Need a chunk of cash my way to help out with a house offer.
Alternatively, if someone can find me a dealer with a X300/308 XJR that will trade on a 996, let me know!

Any and all advice appreciated.

I know you said you're getting a deal, but at list price that C215 looks heavily oversalted to me. Could get a facelift one in similar nick for a bag less.

[Calmchap]

TheLordJohn said:

Thread advice requested, please.
Looking at selling/trading in my 996 and been offered reasonable deals on these two:

E65 750i -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750-5-0-362bhp-Auto-...

C215 CL500 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-CL-500-COU...

I've ALWAYS loved the C215 shape (particularly from the rear 3/4) but I can't get on with Merc interiors and I'd prefer almost any other colour (JRG aside) from silver. Car looks well cared for and the taxi interior looks in VGC.

But the 750i is a lot newer, and I can see myself getting on with the interior a lot more.

Neither will be a daily and I'm not averse to running large engine motors.
Need a chunk of cash my way to help out with a house offer.
Alternatively, if someone can find me a dealer with a X300/308 XJR that will trade on a 996, let me know!

Any and all advice appreciated.

No doubt you have already considered this - but if there are any other options to selling the 996 then hold onto it. Old 911s only go one way in terms of pricing and the 996 is still very undervalued.

[bmthnick1981]

TheLordJohn said:

Biglips said:

I am generally a Merc fan and I love the 215 shape too but would probably go with the bmw. Both are high on the potential bork factor But the ABC on the Merc would make me think twice about one of these. Merc also looks like it has had paint and the fact that the door is a different colour would irritate me! Both lovely cars though.

I like the fact it's a 750i rather than the 45i, too. Nice interior, nice colours. Will ask him about what tyres are on it and service history and go from there.
Wouldn't mind an Accord Type R, either. Or a Civic Type R. Or an E46 M3.

The 750i looks slightly expensive to my eyes and i'm not keen on the dull combo of dark blue and grey leather.

I have a silver with black '05 750i Sport with the bigger wheels, sport seats, option headlights, sunroof, soft close, etc etc and I paid £6k 6 months ago when it had 83k on it, fresh MOT and service. Considering selling it if you are interested ?

[J4CKO]

JF87 said:

TheLordJohn said:

Thread advice requested, please.
Looking at selling/trading in my 996 and been offered reasonable deals on these two:

E65 750i -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750-5-0-362bhp-Auto-...

C215 CL500 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-CL-500-COU...

I've ALWAYS loved the C215 shape (particularly from the rear 3/4) but I can't get on with Merc interiors and I'd prefer almost any other colour (JRG aside) from silver. Car looks well cared for and the taxi interior looks in VGC.

But the 750i is a lot newer, and I can see myself getting on with the interior a lot more.

Neither will be a daily and I'm not averse to running large engine motors.
Need a chunk of cash my way to help out with a house offer.
Alternatively, if someone can find me a dealer with a X300/308 XJR that will trade on a 996, let me know!

Any and all advice appreciated.

I know you said you're getting a deal, but at list price that C215 looks heavily oversalted to me. Could get a facelift one in similar nick for a bag less.

Yeah, no way a five grand car that, three if you are keen.

[cwoodsie2]

mattman said:

We used to have a 51 plate 200k and that would do about 25mpg average around town, i had a TT 225 and that did 25mpg too and a 645ci cabriolet that did 23mpg - it doesn't seem to matter too much what engine i had, they all did around the same.

You said you've had E46's before - have you tried a E63?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Still a relatively rare sight on the roads and have aged well - this one is just the first i pulled from AT and should be within thread budget with a bit of haggling.

Thanks for the info and hadn't thought about the 6 series...... although still not sure myself if i like the look of them?!