Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 14]

[bolidemichael]

Promises full MB Service history with a mint interior. I personally love the partially wooden steering wheels.

1999 Mercedes S Class S500 L W140 For Sale

[derin100]

Available locally...take back on the ferry.

Apart from worn bolster and sagging headlining, looks mega clean for a W202?
Reduced to well below thread budget too!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/29353919...

Also spotted today on a drive around the mountains a Spanish (actually) C124 Sportline :

[Krikkit]

tobinen said:

The new Harry's Garage features some more costs updates

That is interesting, not as pricey as I thought for the most part. He definitely spent richly on the engine rebuild for the spider though.

Link for anyone interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UCJ0bc4acE

SpeckledJim said:

Krikkit said:

SpeckledJim said:

5 years and 30,000 miles in my XJS have cost less than £4,500, including buying the bloody thing, welding 50% of the bits you can't see, and repainting 80% of the bits you can.

That's a bargain, I bet you couldn't find another for that outlay these days, never mind run it!

It was lucky accidental timing to drop on mine at a throw-away price in not-throw-away condition, at around the point the market finally woke up to them.

Even if it was now worth nothing at all, it would have been a cheap adventure. Because I haven't tried to make it something it'll never be: very nice.

A very savvy purchase indeed, unfortunately the ship has long-since sailed on a decent XJS for a couple of grand.

Shame as it's one of my all-time favourite cars.

[anonymous-user]

SpeckledJim said:

Me too, but he’s only looking for one buyer, and that’s still a proper Mercedes, IMO.

Not a top-tier, real-deal, pukka old-school Mercedes, but it’s one of those cars that still drove and felt like only a Mercedes drove and felt. It’s still idiosyncratic, in a way that the cars which followed are not.

I'm going to be controversial here and say that when I drove one of these new-ish in 1999 it was disappointment itself, visited upon the world in four wheeled form. Drab, slow, horribly trimmed, stodgy, slow, drab, slow, drab, and slow. Did I mention it was really rather slow and a bit drab?

Edited by dme123 on Monday 20th May 17:24

[ilikejam]

Currently on it's way back from the moon, but at sub-3 bags it's surely worth a punt? Someone please do it!

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

[Bonefish Blues]

Someone's obviously reverse-clocked it in order to give it an air of reliability

Impressive though

[carinaman]

'Wired for Heated Steering Wheel'?

So it needs another Steering Wheel to get that function?

[alec.e]

These seem like fantastic value, shame about the stupid 'Turbo S' badging...

[ilikejam]

Bonefish Blues said:

Someone's obviously reverse-clocked it in order to give it an air of reliability

Impressive though

The reason I looked them up was because someone mentioned how reliable theirs is - not the general consensus?

carinaman said:

'Wired for Heated Steering Wheel'?

So it needs another Steering Wheel to get that function?

I read that as “Heated steering wheel works at its own discretion...”

alec.e said:

These seem like fantastic value, shame about the stupid 'Turbo S' badging...

Easily resolved with a hairdryer and some dental floss!

[NotSoSure]

Is there any reason the Audi A8 W12 doesn't get much of a mention here?

This one is just under thread budget:

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

This one just over:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-AUDI-A8-6-0-QUATTR...

Seems to be prime bargain barge material, or are they just too troublesome?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Krikkit said:

SpeckledJim said:

I'd love a caravan.

What puts me off is caravan parks. I'd want to be nowhere near a caravan park.

Me too - that's what attracts me to a full-size camper instead, you can park up wherever you choose instead of having to sit with others.

Without wishing to prolong the seedy descent into niche activities, isn't the real problem more likely to be fellow 'vanners rather than the location they choose to park their flimsy dwellings?

I mean, a thread camp-site would be an interesting place to be, and probably a laugh, but a normal camp-site would be like a real-life NP&E. <Shudder>

[Krikkit]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I mean, a thread camp-site would be an interesting place to be, and probably a laugh...

An attractive idea, but how many camp sites have a workshop with a two post lift though?

[SpeckledJim]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Krikkit said:

SpeckledJim said:

I'd love a caravan.

What puts me off is caravan parks. I'd want to be nowhere near a caravan park.

Me too - that's what attracts me to a full-size camper instead, you can park up wherever you choose instead of having to sit with others.

Without wishing to prolong the seedy descent into niche activities, isn't the real problem more likely to be fellow 'vanners rather than the location they choose to park their flimsy dwellings?

I mean, a thread camp-site would be an interesting place to be, and probably a laugh, but a normal camp-site would be like a real-life NP&E. <Shudder>

Not at all convinced. There are few as weird as car enthusiasts. Especially when they're flocking.

When I'm on Pistonheads and anyone asks what I'm doing, I tell them I'm watching granny porn. The truth is just too embarrassing. I have a name to protect.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Krikkit said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I mean, a thread camp-site would be an interesting place to be, and probably a laugh...

An attractive idea, but how many camp sites have a workshop with a two post lift though?

Battery chargers, tow cars, on-site mechanic, and a fk-off bar. How do I book?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

SpeckledJim said:

Not at all convinced. There are few as weird as car enthusiasts. Especially when they're flocking.

When I'm on Pistonheads and anyone asks what I'm doing, I tell them I'm watching granny porn. The truth is just too embarrassing. I have a name to protect.

You have a point speckled one. I think one of the meets 'benefitted from' a certain Kevin, who made your internet predilictions seem positively tame compared to barge-dom.

[W00DY]

ilikejam said:

Currently on it's way back from the moon, but at sub-3 bags it's surely worth a punt? Someone please do it!

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

I quite like it in that rather drug-dealer spec (without the badging of course) and it looks like awful lot more than £3k. Good miles for a 4.5, I've read that the Turbos are seen as significantly more reliable.

[Northbrook]

So, I've been in touch with a barge owner, conversations were had, a meet up was organised, money was exchanged, and I'm driving something new-to-me home.



First impressions: good lord, that's a lot of insect guts.

[SpeckledJim]

[Northbrook]

SpeckledJim said:

I know. And the car was only washed yesterday.

[Krikkit]

Good grief, hell must have frozen over. I hope you'll keep us posted about its trials and tribulations? Please think of the thread if you ever want rid.