Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 14]

[Mr Ponkerson]

E65Ross said:

What car is it? I'm shedding....I'm quite enjoying it, sort of. I don't like the car but the hassle-free nature is great. I am still very much a barge-lover....and despite the discussion earlier about it being a frame of mind....I don't think a Toyota Corolla is a barge....

Neithers my 307 estate, but for some reason Im finding it a pkeasure to drive - the engine is quite perky despite only being 140bhp although everything else could be described as vague, or needs refreshed at the very least.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

SLog3 said:

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

Am I allowed to claim that a manual 3 series can never a barge be?

[derin100]

sparks_190e said:

I can clarify a 190e is deserved of this thread. £2k spent since purchase. Love it though.

I haven't spent quite that much (yet!)...but I won't be far behind!

New exhaust went on today. Still a couple of things to sort but the car is getting there now. I love it too.

[Croutons]

Rubins4 said:

Thanks for the clarification, I should have done so myself but job offers, overseas stag-do’s and miscarriages have got in the way :s Why they didn’t galv the whole lot I don’t know.

That Audi’s an absolute shed.

Good, bad, heart breaking

Hope all are doing as well as they can.

[phil_cardiff]

E65Ross said:

phil_cardiff said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

phil_cardiff said:

E65Ross said:

Mr Ponkerson said:

......(and shouldnt have a place here as I no longer have a barge).......

......Barge is a state of mind, not a set of wheels......

eh? Do you still have a car?

Said he had a shed?

I'm shedding, so to speak, at the moment. The bodywork has been banged more times than a garden gate in a hurricane but it's reliable, economical and the interior is in decent nick.

What car is it? I'm shedding....I'm quite enjoying it, sort of. I don't like the car but the hassle-free nature is great. I am still very much a barge-lover....and despite the discussion earlier about it being a frame of mind....I don't think a Toyota Corolla is a barge....

It's a Kia Ceed SW. I don't hate it but dont6live it either. Surprisingly ok to drive, not dissimilar to a Golf of the same era.

It feels like the Koreans benchmarked the Golf for handling and the Focus for interior quality. If only they'd done it the other way...

[phil_cardiff]

Integroo said:

phil_cardiff said:

I'm shedding, so to speak, at the moment. The bodywork has been banged more times than a garden gate in a hurricane but it's reliable, economical and the interior is in decent nick.

That's a very polite metaphor for how many times something has been banged.

Ha, well some of the thread are getting on a bit now and I didn't want to cause undue shock

[phil_cardiff]

SLog3 said:

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

Practical estate
Not too old
Good performance
Good fuel consumption
Low tax

BUT that's a dull interior! I'd fall asleep in the M25 jams

Edit - just checked the MOT history - it ran out last November and has just had a fail. Come back in a few days when the dealer's fixed it.

Edited by SLog3 on Monday 19th August 19:48

I love an E91. But not that one. Low spec and the later, more unreliable engine.

[SLog3]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

SLog3 said:

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

Am I allowed to claim that a manual 3 series can never a barge be?

You're probably right. I thought lazy 3 litre engine with the bigger estate could make it qualify, but it's too dull looking for me.

[dbdb]

We have an E91 325i estate automatic. It's a nice car, but it isn't a 'barge'. It is far too sporty and nothing like smooth-riding enough. Even on standard 17" wheels it bangs and crashes over roads my old XJ40 simply glides over. The Jag is a barge - the 3 Series has a different set of strengths.

Personally I like the way the thread rambles on to cars which aren't barges, but really, for me at least, a 'proper' barge is an 'S' Class / Jaguar XJ/ 7 Series / Lexus LS at the larger end (Rolls-Royce/Bentley is too posh). 'E' Class / 5 Series / Granada type cars are also barges, albeit entry level ones. The 190 is a peculiar 'honorary barge', since though it is far too small, the spirit of the barge runs through it and they were a retirement barge-replacement for a lot of wealthy older people when new. A 3 Series is not a barge. With a six cylinder they're a 'sports saloon'. With a 4-pot diesel, they're a rep's car. But none of this matters really, it's only opinion.

[Rubins4]

Thank you Croutons, the last 5 days have somewhat turbulent.

I’d also like to add another thumbs up for the mini-barge staple that is the w201. Even in 1.8 guise they are just lovely for pottering.

[JOB2.5-16]

Three box design like a barge, ride comfort of a barge, boot space of a barge.

Sub 1200kg weight, tiny compared to a new Fiesta and in many cases lacking true barge cylinder count.

The bargiest mini barge that wasn’t a barge, barge of all time award goes to... W201.

[Rubins4]

dbdb said:

The 190 is a peculiar 'honorary barge', since though it is far too small, the spirit of the barge runs through it and they were a retirement barge-replacement for a lot of wealthy older people when new.

I met a wealthy old chap some time ago who I can only describe as a 90 year old James Bond in retirement. He had pictures of himself in full naval regalia with more service awards and pins on his lapel than there was strictly room for. He was not just present at, but actually standing on top of,the Berlin Wall the evening it came down. He speaks German and Russian fluently. He has grown up children ‘doing something for the government ‘ in Afghanistan and Belgrade, but won’t disclose exactly what. He is ‘proper’ in every sense of the word.

He acquired a w201 in West Germany which he purchased new I understand in the late 80’s. He had it imported to the UK when he returned and was, until around last year his daily driver (I happened to see him recently and he was driving some sort of modern Kia, adapted to cater for his increasingly immobile wife). Under his ownership, he was the only person to have driven it which must make it almost unique. I hope it didn’t get scrapped.

[snake_oil]

Apologies if already posted...

E39 530iSE Touring. 76K. One owner. Cloth. Xenons.

3 bags. Just needs a trim on the rear quarter light as far as I can tell...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

[bolidemichael]

tobinen said:

Gents, I am after advice from wiser heads than I as to how to approach a dilemma I have with the bodyshop which has my CL.

My gut feeling, misguided or otherwise, is that he's underpriced the job and doesn't want to do it. It was an eyebrow-raisingly low price.

I intend to go there this Friday unannounced and have a chat if he's there and check that the car still there. I am considering raising the issue of price in a sort of 'look, are you sure the price is correct and is that preventing you starting it. I am happy to discuss'.

Is this a 'good idea' or should I sit it out for a while longer? Thanks

Hi Tobinen, sorry to hear about that, what a pain.

My feeling is twofold. Firstly, the 'have you underquoted me?' question should definitely be addressed. If he needs a bit more, didn't quote the paint cost, vat, whatever then an opportunity to rectify it on the proviso that he gets going is a healthy and respectful conversation.

The second though that I had is, 'if he has been recommended by your antecedents, then he's probably getting on a bit and his superpowers are fading'. It may be time to find your own 'man'. Good luck.

[bolidemichael]

ElectricSoup said:

paulguitar said:

olly755 said:

What am I missing? Just says “numberplate light not working” or something

Look at the advisory.

There isn't one. Maybe it's been removed.

Someone may have taken a NSFW screenshot, for posterity

[Jaffers]

snake_oil said:

Apologies if already posted...

E39 530iSE Touring. 76K. One owner. Cloth. Xenons.

3 bags. Just needs a trim on the rear quarter light as far as I can tell...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

That looks really nice! Although the trader thinks cloth upholstery is suede.... and the vacuuming stripes on the boot floor look like they were done by a five year old :-)

[bolidemichael]

nobrakes said:

Worth a post in:

Because Estate Car for its rarity,

Where can this thread be found?

[carinaman]

snake_oil said:

Apologies if already posted...

E39 530iSE Touring. 76K. One owner. Cloth. Xenons.

3 bags. Just needs a trim on the rear quarter light as far as I can tell...



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

The same trim strip on the OSR door is out of line with the driver's door, there's a scuff on the rubbing strip on the OSR door and it seems the OSR wheelarch has been scuffed from 3 O' clock to 12 O'clock?

[EarlOfHazard]

Rubins4 said:

dbdb said:

The 190 is a peculiar 'honorary barge', since though it is far too small, the spirit of the barge runs through it and they were a retirement barge-replacement for a lot of wealthy older people when new.

I met a wealthy old chap some time ago who I can only describe as a 90 year old James Bond in retirement. He had pictures of himself in full naval regalia with more service awards and pins on his lapel than there was strictly room for. He was not just present at, but actually standing on top of,the Berlin Wall the evening it came down. He speaks German and Russian fluently. He has grown up children ‘doing something for the government ‘ in Afghanistan and Belgrade, but won’t disclose exactly what. He is ‘proper’ in every sense of the word.

He acquired a w201 in West Germany which he purchased new I understand in the late 80’s. He had it imported to the UK when he returned and was, until around last year his daily driver (I happened to see him recently and he was driving some sort of modern Kia, adapted to cater for his increasingly immobile wife). Under his ownership, he was the only person to have driven it which must make it almost unique. I hope it didn’t get scrapped.

There was a 190 for sale -last year I believe-that had been purchased new in Germany by a member of the armed forces.
It was proper poverty spec with manual windows, manual gearbox, and a carb. It was only about 1500 quid. Someone on pistonheads purchased it. May be the same car, may not be.

[nobrakes]

tobinen said:

Gents, I am after advice from wiser heads than I as to how to approach a dilemma I have with the bodyshop which has my CL.

It's been there three months and it hasn't been started. The MoT has run out. He initially told me two weeks which I knew was optimistic so I was prepared for it to take longer. He has a good reputation. He was recommended by my uncle who runs a garage and has been using him for many years, as has my grandad before him.

The first excuse what that two of his guys, a panel beater and a sprayer, were involved in an accident so were off work and as he is a small concern it left him with himself and one other. Perfectly plausible and he called me and I believed him. Another month rolls past and then he said they still weren't back and he'd done his back in so was only working a few hours a day. Again, I believed him. He was very apologetic.

My gut feeling, misguided or otherwise, is that he's underpriced the job and doesn't want to do it. It was an eyebrow-raisingly low price.

I intend to go there this Friday unannounced and have a chat if he's there and check that the car still there. I am considering raising the issue of price in a sort of 'look, are you sure the price is correct and is that preventing you starting it. I am happy to discuss'.

Is this a 'good idea' or should I sit it out for a while longer? Thanks

Sounds like he doesn’t want to do it. Kind of like not wanting to be the one to break a relationship, yet wanting it to end.