Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 15]

[Bonefish Blues]

What's the budget?

[Jimmy Recard]

ah, I forgot to mention that. I asked here because I’m working on smoker barge thread budgets.

So I suppose I need a reliable mini barge in thread budget!

[Bonefish Blues]

Way less than top thread will get a Euro 4 D5 that will romp up and down motorways for fun. Usual Volvo checkpoints apply.

[sparks_190e]

99.9% of other drivers will see my barge as an old shed and won't care, but it still annoyed me today to come out and find a car park ding and some white paint on the driver's door of my 190e today

Tossers.

[Prinny]

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

In the search for a D5 ovlov in barge budget, 30 miles from Coventry... This is a later P2, so has a DPF, which makes it less ‘good’ in terms of reliability, but if your brother’s doing motorway miles that’s neither here or there. The gearbox was changed for the later cars (iirc - could be wrong) which means this should be OK in that regard.

These are tough old buses & can do lots of miles. They do eat bushes & control arms for fun though, and are heavy on front tyres, but those are the incredibly common 225/45/17, so cheap enough.

The MOT history is interesting for this one, the dealer obviously bought too high, ‘cause to me, this ain’t a 4k car, and the fact it’s been sat with him for 10 months on no MOT means everyone agrees. I can’t decide whether the handbrake is high or not (the h/b shoes can fail on these & lock the rear hub), the photo from the rear seat makes it look like you’d need to be double jointed to release it, from the side, it looks OK.

If something like this appealed, I’d be looking at a test-drive with a view to paying under 3k - the dealer might be at the point of just wanting rid. You never know. It might also be a complete bag o’ste.

I find it hard to believe this one’s only done 86k looking at the seat, and it definitely needs a suspension refresh, if the rear brakes did in fact get done for the last MOT.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

And this S60 seems to have been run by a previous owner whose idea of servicing is to get it repaired when it fails the MOT, but the mileage looks more honest for the seat vs. above...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Both those two will have the earlier gearbox & so be susceptible to ‘flare’ when warmed up - go for at least a 30 min drive and then try (reasonably)brisk acceleration to about 50/60. If the changes aren’t smooth, you’ll know. I wouldn’t recommend either btw.

I’d probably buy this:

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

Not the best colour for me, but they’re nice to drive, no real horror issues in servicing, etc that I know of. Do a f/b swap for smaller alloys with more sidewall & you’re all set to go.

[Bonefish Blues]

Prinny said:

...a later P2, so has a DPF, which makes it less ‘good’ in terms of reliability, but if your brother’s doing motorway miles that’s neither here or there. The gearbox was changed for the later cars (iirc - could be wrong) which means this should be OK in that regard.

These are tough old buses & can do lots of miles. They do eat bushes & control arms for fun though, and are heavy on front tyres, but those are the incredibly common 225/45/17, so cheap enough.

In this application dpf's irrelevant, as you say. Of more relevance is that the E4 pays with significantly poorer mpg than the E3 - but it gets more power & torque, so you pays your money.

Agree re suspension components, they are heavy on them. I find fronts last fine (and I use softish Rainsports) because I'm meticulous about alignment (Kwik Fit's 'Geocare 2 years unlimited visits ). Any misalignment and they chew them up for fun, though.

Later 'box is a 6-speed, it changed with the change to E4 engines. Always needs careful checking (just as the 5-speed) when thoroughly warm because no scheduled changes 'sealed for life' oxymoronic service regime...

Or I can recommend a trusted Volvo specialist who will source you a good one at relatively little premium over Scroggins Backyard Traders inc.

ETA
Oh, and Aux Belt changes are key, plus tensioner, but as long as water pump's OE, don't fuss about them, they last forever. The tensioners are renowned for failing, jumping the belt, which interferes with the Timing Belt, and lunches the engine that way (as opposed to the Timing Belt failing, which is very very infrequent)

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Sunday 24th November 17:01

[kharma45]

Jimmy Recard said:

Not a bad idea! I’ll scout around. I wonder if the IS220d is bad, or just bad by Lexus standards. If so, it’s probably pretty good overall

I remember reading that the gear ratios are appalling on it.

[SpeckledJim]

kharma45 said:

Jimmy Recard said:

Not a bad idea! I’ll scout around. I wonder if the IS220d is bad, or just bad by Lexus standards. If so, it’s probably pretty good overall

I remember reading that the gear ratios are appalling on it.

Very frustrating 6th (i think to hit the C02 number they needed) which won't pull on a motorway incline, necessitating a drop to 5th.

I think that was a big reason why I went for an E90 320d instead, back in the day.

[Zonergem]

Prinny said:

Polis’ MB appreciation society.




Had an MPH clock set, so likely a UK car. Couldn’t see any rust, but its obviously not moved in a while.

Ayios Georgious harbour. (sadly a bit too busy for a good shot)


And some old MB’s on the road back toward Paphos too (and one happy dad driving it)


After a 60 mile-ish trip, things to report/fix.

• there’s a slight oil leak somewhere - NSF of the block as serp belt is a bit greasy.

Obviously very happy to see this.

I did replace the power steering reservoir to pump hose, with various gaskets etc. That's in the area you describe.

[Zonergem]

Possibly interesting LS400 in Chigwell, claimed one owner. £1500



https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/13750663...

[Baked_bean]

Jimmy Recard said:

Not a bad idea! I’ll scout around. I wonder if the IS220d is bad, or just bad by Lexus standards. If so, it’s probably pretty good overall

I worked for Lexus about 7 years ago and the amount of these I saw that had completely shat themselves...I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, let alone a threadist! On top of the reliability issues, they don’t drive well either- clunky gear change, laggy power delivery and springy clutch.

[sjc]

Wonder how close to thread budget you could nab this for ?
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1179755

[Chromegrill]

21st Century Man said:

cornershop said:

W00DY said:

Macron said:

dscam said:

This one’s just had a haircut taking it down to thread max



https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Oof. 85k, owned for 4 years, goodness that’s nice.

Great colours and wheels too. Lovely.

Yes, but: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Gulzared!

Vinyl wrap go faster stripes on an S600? Wrong thread, try the badly modified car thread instead...

[AutoZiele]

sjc said:

Wonder how close to thread budget you could nab this for ?
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1179755

I like the look of those A8s and that one in particular, what's the bork potential on these?

This one has a day to run and no bids yet @ £2600 to start:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-AUDI-A8-4-2-petrol...

[Krikkit]

Baked_bean said:

Jimmy Recard said:

Not a bad idea! I’ll scout around. I wonder if the IS220d is bad, or just bad by Lexus standards. If so, it’s probably pretty good overall

I worked for Lexus about 7 years ago and the amount of these I saw that had completely shat themselves...I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, let alone a threadist! On top of the reliability issues, they don’t drive well either- clunky gear change, laggy power delivery and springy clutch.

Apologies for the continued partial barging diversion, but if I had to nominate a car that you would see burning vast amounts of oil and leaving a blue cloud behind it, my experience days the IS220D is your winner.

[LetsTryAgain]

AutoZiele said:

I like the look of those A8s and that one in particular, what's the bork potential on these?

This one has a day to run and no bids yet @ £2600 to start:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-AUDI-A8-4-2-petrol...

[IMG]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IFsAAOSwi7RdtbQV/s-l1600.jpg[/thumb]

Can't speak of that particular model with any authority but I don't rate the manufacturer at all.

[TurboHatchback]

Zonergem said:

Possibly interesting LS400 in Chigwell, claimed one owner. £1500



https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/13750663...

I've not checked the MOT history or anything but on the face of it that looks delightful for the price.

[Speed addicted]

AutoZiele said:

sjc said:

Wonder how close to thread budget you could nab this for ?
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1179755

I like the look of those A8s and that one in particular, what's the bork potential on these?

This one has a day to run and no bids yet @ £2600 to start:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-AUDI-A8-4-2-petrol...

[IMG]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IFsAAOSwi7RdtbQV/s-l1600.jpg[/thumb]

I had a look at the big diesel versions previously, I think the gearbox was a potential weak link (it was a while ago though) that and having large quantities of electrical gizmos.

[stevethegreek]

LetsTryAgain said:

AutoZiele said:

I like the look of those A8s and that one in particular, what's the bork potential on these?

This one has a day to run and no bids yet @ £2600 to start:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-AUDI-A8-4-2-petrol...

[IMG]https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IFsAAOSwi7RdtbQV/s-l1600.jpg[/thumb]

Can't speak of that particular model with any authority but I don't rate the manufacturer at all.

Tiptronic gearbox at that mileage. If it hasn't had a fluid change (sealed for life, blah blah) then I'd be concerned. That's what killed my 4.2 A6, at around that mileage. The one posted earlier looks sensational however imo.

[forzaminardi]

Jimmy Recard said:

I need to find my brother a car. He was planning to go the route of a recent Corsa/Fabia/similar but I think I’ve persuaded him of the virtues of an older Lexus.

Does anyone know anything about the IS220d? Most of his driving is decent motorway runs so I’m thinking diesel is good and DPF shouldn’t be a big problem. We have spotted this one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Generally, advice I've had in the past is to steer clear of the diesel IS. The engine is poor, gear ratios are wrong, meaning the supposed benefits of a diesl are lost. I doubt for steady motorway use it'd be much more fuel-efficient than a IS250 which while hardly a ball of fire is a very good car.