Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 12]

[olly755]

Zonergem said:

Clean ex-Japan S124 300TE with sensible miles and nice cosmetics.

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

The original importing dealer doesn't have the greatest name in the game but I would be tempted at this price anyway.

That's really nice. Scuffy bumpers and a bit of mismatched paint on the OS detract a bit, although I suppose the absence of tin worm would be the main attraction. Rare to see a JDM car without air con, especially mixed with dark colours- that must have been hell to live with. Maybe Japanese imports came with clear indicators too?

I've been looking more closely at the venerable old W124 recently, a TE in particular. It's been 14 years since I last owned one (where does time go?) and if I'm honest we didn't really gel the first time around. Maybe time is a healer. An estate would be a very useful thing, and now that pram and isofix requirements are a distant memory, I can foresee football and cricket team transportation requirements in the not too distant future. An early TE with my preferred spec of hubcaps, ribbed leather and air con in Beryl looks good on Ebay at the moment. Although there is a certain attraction to owning a disposable ratbag of a workhorse too, and I really don't need another mint car in my life: they are such bloody hard work to keep that way. I can't help feeling that this would clean up OK, and last up until the MOT expires, at which point you get your money back as a spares or repair on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Mercedes-Benz-E300...

[Triumph Man]

louiebaby said:

My E39 has developed the unusual practice of the climate control not blowing.

Everything else seems to work, it just doesn't blow. Internet self-diagnosis (after disconnecting the battery to try the old IT method) suggests I need a new spiny mammal. Further investigation suggests it isn't that expensive a part, but resides in one of those kinds of places where getting to it requires the operator to work at least part time as a contortionist.

I've asked my local Indie to price up a fitted replacement as:

1. I'm not a contortionist.
2. I have a tendency to break little plastic clips that mean it forever rattles somewhere in the dash board.
3. My bodge-up to get it back together would invariably result in the glove box dropping on the wife's legs when she and the kids are asleep and I'm ploughing up the motorway at a "making progress" kind of speed.

It would be helpful if they consider my previous spending habits with them, and also not find anything else wrong at the same time.

Do what I do sometimes - employ said woman to do the fiddly bits (as they have smaller more nimble hands) to act under my instruction to do the job with the promise of a back rub afterwards.

[louiebaby]

Triumph Man said:

Do what I do sometimes - employ said woman to do the fiddly bits (as they have smaller more nimble hands) to act under my instruction to do the job with the promise of a back rub afterwards.

My other half has the mechanical sympathy, coordination and nimbleness of an epileptic gorilla playing electric guitar on top of a hill in a lightening storm.

She has got small hands though.

[Camelot1971]

0a said:

Slightly out of budget, but the Doug DeMuro review of the old Aston Lagonda is fantastic. What an interior and dashboard! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP07Jq5b88M

That car is completly bonkers, especially the "TV" screen dials. He said it was 4 feet longer than a Golf but I think he meant 14 feet!

Edit: Love the interior on this 300E https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300E-Auto...

Edited by Camelot1971 on Friday 22 June 10:52

[0a]

Camelot1971 said:

That car is completly bonkers, especially the "TV" screen dials. He said it was 4 feet longer than a Golf but I think he meant 14 feet!

Edit: Love the interior on this 300E https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300E-Auto...

Edited by Camelot1971 on Friday 22 June 10:52

The 10 unmarked buttons on the transmission tunnel got me. And the sunroof that’s only in the back. Just mad!

[Camelot1971]

0a said:

The 10 unmarked buttons on the transmission tunnel got me. And the sunroof that’s only in the back. Just mad!

Was hilarious watching him try to get in the back! I think the exterior styling has aged pretty well actually. But not the interior. Or the interior space vs the size of it!

[tobinen]

When I used to play golf as a junior, one of the old members had one - this would be in the late 1980s. Turned heads wherever it went. There really is nothing like a Lagonda.

[Krikkit]

One of my favourite ever cars, tremendous. Another quick film from Top Gear with James May showing the original LED dash as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxtPYDcCdM

In cheery news my sulky 211 has been revived by a replacement airmatic pump - the leaky strut has burnt out the original, now top of the list to sort.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 22 June 16:52

[W00DY]

Krikkit said:

One of my favourite ever cars, tremendous. Another quick film from Top Gear with James May showing the original LED dash as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxtPYDcCdM

In cheery news my sulky 211 has been revived by a replacement airmatic pump - the leaky strut has burnt out the original, now top of the list to sort.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 22 June 16:52

That was much more watchable than Doug. I just can't cope with the ambling pace and hyperbole that mean he spends forever talking about how many badges it has and about 30 seconds behind the wheel. I don't know how everyone else doesn't find him incredibly annoying.

[edo]

this doesnt seem silly money for a Lagonda ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[anonymous-user]

W00DY said:

That was much more watchable than Doug. I just can't cope with the ambling pace and hyperbole that mean he spends forever talking about how many badges it has and about 30 seconds behind the wheel. I don't know how everyone else doesn't find him incredibly annoying.

I love the idea of his videos, and he has some great cars, but he squanders the opportunities he has with boring wiffle asking as if really quite ordinary things are breathtaking. Also the door locks that he was banging on about were just regular Jaguar parts from the Series XJ and XJS.

I love the Towns Lagonda, but I find it hard to get excited about £70k for one when they were £15-20k not that long ago.

[ian316]

olly755 said:

That's really nice. Scuffy bumpers and a bit of mismatched paint on the OS detract a bit, although I suppose the absence of tin worm would be the main attraction. Rare to see a JDM car without air con, especially mixed with dark colours- that must have been hell to live with. Maybe Japanese imports came with clear indicators too?

I've been looking more closely at the venerable old W124 recently, a TE in particular. It's been 14 years since I last owned one (where does time go?) and if I'm honest we didn't really gel the first time around. Maybe time is a healer. An estate would be a very useful thing, and now that pram and isofix requirements are a distant memory, I can foresee football and cricket team transportation requirements in the not too distant future. An early TE with my preferred spec of hubcaps, ribbed leather and air con in Beryl looks good on Ebay at the moment. Although there is a certain attraction to owning a disposable ratbag of a workhorse too, and I really don't need another mint car in my life: they are such bloody hard work to keep that way. I can't help feeling that this would clean up OK, and last up until the MOT expires, at which point you get your money back as a spares or repair on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Mercedes-Benz-E300...

I'd go for the scruffy blue one and get it how I wanted in, there's enough money left for a respray

[0a]

W00DY said:

Krikkit said:

One of my favourite ever cars, tremendous. Another quick film from Top Gear with James May showing the original LED dash as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxtPYDcCdM

In cheery news my sulky 211 has been revived by a replacement airmatic pump - the leaky strut has burnt out the original, now top of the list to sort.

Edited by Krikkit on Friday 22 June 16:52

That was much more watchable than Doug. I just can't cope with the ambling pace and hyperbole that mean he spends forever talking about how many badges it has and about 30 seconds behind the wheel. I don't know how everyone else doesn't find him incredibly annoying.

This is what I love about his videos. I am a total geek and can watch them from beginning to end. I am pleased that I now know how many Lagonda badges it has, where they are, but that the engine says Aston Martin as well. It's very sad really. I will remember this kind of thing but often forget names of people I have met many times.

[DoctorX]

edo said:

this doesnt seem silly money for a Lagonda ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Nice.
The tyres look odd these days when we’re so accustomed to low profiles. I’d never noticed the supplementary lights in the boot before. Carpet fit looks interesting.

[Prinny]

Lovely windscreen picture. It drove home fine, didn’t get any worse thankfully. Drop off at dealer tomorrow morning.


Still, when you compare to the space in the A3 I’ve been driving all week, it makes you appreciate a barge so much more. This is the rear legroom behind me, when I got the seat where I wanted it.


Dutch roads are perfectly fine for the s-line suspension though.

[BrabusMog]

Croutons said:

Primera eGT, 166K and some touring car mods, but mid thread and a rare sight I'll bet

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/204211/1995...

Is that a tow bar I can see in one of the pics?! Odd for a car modded in this way.

[ian316]

Prinny said:

Lovely windscreen picture. It drove home fine, didn’t get any worse thankfully. Drop off at dealer tomorrow morning.


Still, when you compare to the space in the A3 I’ve been driving all week, it makes you appreciate a barge so much more. This is the rear legroom behind me, when I got the seat where I wanted it.


Dutch roads are perfectly fine for the s-line suspension though.

I don't know which picture is worse, clearly an A3 isn't a family car with leg room like that

[BrabusMog]

ian316 said:

Prinny said:

Lovely windscreen picture. It drove home fine, didn’t get any worse thankfully. Drop off at dealer tomorrow morning.


Still, when you compare to the space in the A3 I’ve been driving all week, it makes you appreciate a barge so much more. This is the rear legroom behind me, when I got the seat where I wanted it.


Dutch roads are perfectly fine for the s-line suspension though.

I don't know which picture is worse, clearly an A3 isn't a family car with leg room like that

How tall are you, Prinny?! I'm 6ft5 and I was in the works pool A3 yesterday with someone behind me and not complaining. Although maybe they just didn't want to moan to their boss

[ian316]

BrabusMog said:

How tall are you, Prinny?! I'm 6ft5 and I was in the works pool A3 yesterday with someone behind me and not complaining. Although maybe they just didn't want to moan to their boss

I'm 6ft 4 and having met Prinny he's a similar size, I do think it depends on your leg, arm size I love an Alfa driving position lots of people hate it, I can imagine an A3 would be a 3 seater for me though

[CharlesdeGaulle]

ian316 said:

I'm 6ft 4 and having met Prinny he's a similar size, I do think it depends on your leg, arm size I love an Alfa driving position lots of people hate it, I can imagine an A3 would be a 3 seater for me though

Nah, prinny's a short little fella. Fat too. Typical bmw driver really.