Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 13]

[Prinny]

SL updates; for those of you following, the man has done most everything for the suspension & brakes now, but is struggling to get an exhaust.

Needs to be the part from approx. where the gearlever is, to the back of the car, so no cat required, but silencers, etc...

Any suggestions as to a good oem equivalent replacement? (I don’t want a shouty one). My google-fu has turned up some tatty 2nd hand ones from breakers, but nothing ‘good’ IMO.

I also ‘might’ have acquired some wheels for it today - can you guess which type?

[tobinen]

I think Silchester Garage used to claim they made exhausts for MBs but their website is no longer working. 0118 970 1648

[Minemapper]

barchetta_boy said:

E280 provisionally sold. Thanks for all interest.

Thank dog for that. I was on track for divorce court there.

[SpeckledJim]

Minemapper said:

barchetta_boy said:

E280 provisionally sold. Thanks for all interest.

Thank dog for that. I was on track for divorce court there.

But on the upside, you'd have been able to play 'young at heart' by the Bluebells very very loudly in your new S124 with the sooper dooper stereo.


(anyone remember that advert? God, she was gorgeous)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRf1LvMoO9s

[ian316]

Dr Interceptor said:

Mercedes 190 fans, your desk is not complete without this beautiful piece of sculpted glass.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-190-Glass-Pape...

If anyone wants it, I'll send it in exchange for a few quid to charity. Drop me a PM.

I'm actually bidding on this as a naff xmas present for my brother, who had a diesel 190 90s this is probably faster

[Croutons]

0a said:

Croutons said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

Volvo v8 goodness: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sensible price, no pics of the apparent bodywork required though. Still miss my blue one.

How do these compare to a Lexus of similar vintage?

No idea I'm afraid, I know nothing of the big lex!

The Volvo is a lovely car, the engine is smooth and lazy as you'd expect, with a wonderful turn of speed when you want it that a derv might pretend to give with a blower and all that torque, but not with such a "turbine" feel to it. 0-60 in 6 on the nose is still respectable, I don't think the D5 gets close to that, even if it might be a more sensible choice, give or take diesel gubbins to go wrong and of course, the black pump stench and rattles.

The interior (mine was SE Lux, that one is SE Sport it says, thought they were all Lux until the model names changed*, but there you go), has heated electric leather (mine was the same cream as that) and the "floaty" centre dash you either love or hate. Lots of toys and the twin sunroof makes it a light, airy place to be. Tax is dire (£555 now, yikes), turning circle also abysmal, as you'd expect.

Where they do sell, and usually over thread budget, I can't see it being a classic any time, and I'm surprised one with that low miles (relatively) has not been perfectly looked after given it needs bodywork. Owners tend to be fastidious. We've seen 07's and 08's on here at 6-8k with more miles, so what do I know?

(* There is a 2010 Executive on AT at a whopping £25K, same co2 as the older ones, you've really got to not want a German car for that much, I suspect it will be for sale forever, or will realistically shed near 10K to be bought).

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Croutons said:

0a said:

Croutons said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

Volvo v8 goodness: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sensible price, no pics of the apparent bodywork required though. Still miss my blue one.

How do these compare to a Lexus of similar vintage?

No idea I'm afraid, I know nothing of the big lex! ...

... but not with such a "turbine" feel to it. 0-60 in 6 on the nose is still respectable

That's an apples and oranges comparison I think. This Volvo will feel much quicker and sportier. It's smaller and cheaper (although I suspect the V8 is an anomaly). The Lexus, at least the bargey LS, is not a sporty car but a boringly impressive, boringly dependable, boring interestingly tour-de-force that becomes impressive and interesting not because of the headlines, but because of what it does under the radar. They don't excite, but they do impress. My LS is the first 4 door saloon I've ever bought and, whilst I don't think that I personally would buy another bargey saloon, I really can see why people do. I'm in no rush to sell mine that's for sure.

[0a]

Parked next to a w140 earlier, a model a year earlier than the Lexus, so contemporary competitors. Only the ls400 makes the w140 look good looking...!

[alec.e]

Patrick Bateman said:

Swapping between my dad's XJ and the e65 you'd never believe they were of the same generation.

That being said, the XJ done in the right colurs (ivory leather, dark dash etc.) has a style the BMW just can't match.

Agree/Disagree! Comparing my Super V8 to my E64, the BMW is much more modern styled, the metal paddles, ect are lovely, but feels a bit old bmw in places and you can tell where they cut corners. The Jag on the otherhand is deliberately old fashioned, I don't find the switches any worse than the BMW, apart from the generic steering wheel adjustment knob.

I know I am not comparing like for like, but considering the X350 came out in 2003, the interior holds up well compared to newer cars imo. Feels much more upmarket than my Mum's 2013 A6!

[ian316]

0a said:

Parked next to a w140 earlier, a model a year earlier than the Lexus, so contemporary competitors. Only the ls400 makes the w140 look good looking...!

[Mr Ponkerson]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

The Lexus, at least the bargey LS, is not a sporty car but a boringly impressive, boringly dependable

I wish I could agree with this

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Mr Ponkerson said:

I wish I could agree with this

Go on ...

[Mr Ponkerson]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

I wish I could agree with this

Go on ...

Just an on going misfire issue with my LS. Every rule has it's exception I suppose and it seems I am experiencing said exception. Just starting to give up on it (on going since July).

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Mr Ponkerson said:

Just an on going misfire issue with my LS. Every rule has it's exception I suppose and it seems I am experiencing said exception. Just starting to give up on it (on going since July).

Bummer. That's pretty infuriating. Hope you get it sorted. The smoothness of the engine is a major part of the car's appeal.

Mine is in the local imported car specialist garage for a pre-test check and to address an illuminated eml and audible demand for an aircon filter. I'm not expecting the bill to be brilliant value for money.

[0a]

Mr Ponkerson said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

I wish I could agree with this

Go on ...

Just an on going misfire issue with my LS. Every rule has it's exception I suppose and it seems I am experiencing said exception. Just starting to give up on it (on going since July).

Sounds like you need a better mechanic!

[Mr Ponkerson]

Thanks for the supporting words chap. As each day passes I get closer and closer to seeing how much of a cheeky offer Mr Bateman would accept.

[ian316]

0a said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

I wish I could agree with this

Go on ...

Just an on going misfire issue with my LS. Every rule has it's exception I suppose and it seems I am experiencing said exception. Just starting to give up on it (on going since July).

Sounds like you need a better mechanic!

+1

[Troubleatmill]

ian316 said:

0a said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

I wish I could agree with this

Go on ...

Just an on going misfire issue with my LS. Every rule has it's exception I suppose and it seems I am experiencing said exception. Just starting to give up on it (on going since July).

Sounds like you need a better mechanic!

+1

My LS has a misfire when foggy/ cold/ damp. It sorts itself out in 2 minutes.

I haven't found the need to spend £££ on it.

It just runs and runs and runs...

[carinaman]

ian316 said:

0a said:

Parked next to a w140 earlier, a model a year earlier than the Lexus, so contemporary competitors. Only the ls400 makes the w140 look good looking...!

The W140 looks slab sided and the proportions are all to cock, possibly due to the meddling that went on during the development, M-B having been spooked by the LS400 and BMW having a V12 for the 7 Series.

[ElectricPics]

bob-lad said:

Of our cars, three are Jags and don't really give a hoot about touchyness of the screens.
Provided that slower stuff can be overtaken with ease where appropriate and either the cricket, BBCR4 or BBCR3 are available on the radio that's all that matters. Otherwise it's conversation or the sound of silence.

Get in, travel in comfort, arrive.

I'd been barge hunting for a while but ended up spending double thread budget on an XF a couple of weeks ago and it doesn't disappoint on the get in, travel in comfort, arrive front and I don't give a hoot about the slowish touchscreen either. It's a delightful thing to waft around in.