Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 15]

[JF87]

bolidemichael said:

If it makes you feel any better, the costs for my E500 have been higher over a period of 40k - the only difference is the initial outlay!

Good read that. Some of your average speeds nudge towards r129sl levels of heroism! I note our shared passions for a certain football club and long-range continental motoring overlapped at the end of May: I drove to Madrid from Limoges (closest airport I could get a short-notice ticket to) and back, albeit in an anti-barge Clio van/estate hybrid.

I paid £8K for my E55 - a decent price, though as we both know, an ageing, big-miles S211 is always going to be a prime embodiment of that well-worn thread maxim: it's not the entrance fee that kills you, but the cost of the drinks at the bar.

In other news, I'm rather taken with that controversial red LS400. Rimz are maybe just a bit much. Anyone who treats an old Lexus to a full respray is a nutter - the kind of nutter you want to buy a car from. That said, the hint of overspray on the door shuts is a vast bummer.

[bolidemichael]

Krikkit said:

bolidemichael said:

TobyLerone said:

bolidemichael said:

If it tempts you further, this is the response to my enquiry (asking for a friend):

"Thanks for your message. The service history is complete, mercedes main dealer for half her life, then specialist independent merc workshops. I have a file full of invoices and receipts which you are welcome to look through which amount to many thousands! I think the car cost 54k new.

The alloys currently on the car have winter tyres. I have driven through heavy snow with them no problem while many other cars were abandoned! The main set came with the car and are 17" with Continental or Pirelli I think.

The vin number for checking spec is:-
WDB2112702A4609131"

Is he a member of the Bargista fold? That man is exactly our kind with a reply like that...

Well, he's priced it fairly and responded after midnight to my earlier message on Saturday; the buyer should invite him - though I believe that this sale represents his ticket out of the one way money pit!

That's a 10/10 response from a barger - including the VIN so you can decode it for option sniffing is a good sign too. Someone buy it.

I actual fact, I asked him for the VIN, he happily obliged.

JF87 said:

bolidemichael said:

If it makes you feel any better, the costs for my E500 have been higher over a period of 40k - the only difference is the initial outlay!

Good read that. Some of your average speeds nudge towards r129sl levels of heroism! I note our shared passions for a certain football club and long-range continental motoring overlapped at the end of May: I drove to Madrid from Limoges (closest airport I could get a short-notice ticket to) and back, albeit in an anti-barge Clio van/estate hybrid.

I paid £8K for my E55 - a decent price, though as we both know, an ageing, big-miles S211 is always going to be a prime embodiment of that well-worn thread maxim: it's not the entrance fee that kills you, but the cost of the drinks at the bar.

I like that saying and it's all too true - and acknowledged, given the asking price for a model such as the E500. It's worth it, though, what a car.

R129 is quite the hero and must possess a strong bladder, too! Less stops mean a higher avg speed!

There are a couple of updates coming, in which the avg speed is nudged even higher. One drive from Madrid city centre to Barcelona city centre avgd about 84mph... it's incredible what pace a David Gray sessions podcast can inspire.

Since of interest, I spotted this yesterday in Camden:

[TommoAE86]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/car/283751143836

A couple of modifications really do help the early LS400.

Ooooh VIP style that colour is epic and the engine bay looks well kept but not over cleaned - always a good sign imo. Only thing I dislike about that style is those silly tables they put over the passenger airbags which I can't imagine help safety at all

[W00DY]

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

320bhp and 480lbft.

[ferrisbueller]

TommoAE86 said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/car/283751143836

A couple of modifications really do help the early LS400.

Ooooh VIP style that colour is epic and the engine bay looks well kept but not over cleaned - always a good sign imo. Only thing I dislike about that style is those silly tables they put over the passenger airbags which I can't imagine help safety at all

Colour is great. Not keen on the rims but that's not a hard swap.

[LetsTryAgain]

ElectricSoup said:

OMFG story of my life. Hence a Nissan Leaf and a Honda Civic on the drive instead of an E500 estate and an Infiniti Q60.

Surely it wouldn’t be a great deal more expensive (if at all) to buy and run a nice E500 than a Leaf?

[bolidemichael]

LetsTryAgain said:

ElectricSoup said:

OMFG story of my life. Hence a Nissan Leaf and a Honda Civic on the drive instead of an E500 estate and an Infiniti Q60.

Surely it wouldn’t be a great deal more expensive (if at all) to buy and run a nice E500 than a Leaf?

Why a Q60? It's a bit left-of-field...

[ElectricSoup]

LetsTryAgain said:

ElectricSoup said:

OMFG story of my life. Hence a Nissan Leaf and a Honda Civic on the drive instead of an E500 estate and an Infiniti Q60.

Surely it wouldn’t be a great deal more expensive (if at all) to buy and run a nice E500 than a Leaf?

My Leaf was a second hand £10k bargain and it's nearly free to run and never presents any repair bills. It's my main daily. For our second car, I've just traded an S211 E320 CDI for a 66 plate Civic Tourer because of the never ending bloody failures and repair bills, and old E500 under £10k will cost me £300-400 a month in fuel, plus repair bills. PCP on my Leaf is £150 a month, I charge it for free at work. There's absolutely no way on God's clean Earth you'd get me out of it in to an E500 or anything else at the moment. The Civic is really the wife's car and for long range for family duties, and she wouldn't have anything as big as an E again, so it's out of the question. I need low, predictable motoring costs for the next few years whilst we're reamed for 2x effing private school bills. Leaf motoring is so cheap, I can't imagine anything else cheaper - when you consider the repairs and maintenance on big old bangers. Been there, done that, can't go back to it until I'm a bit more liquid.

[nobrakes]

ElectricSoup said:

LetsTryAgain said:

ElectricSoup said:

OMFG story of my life. Hence a Nissan Leaf and a Honda Civic on the drive instead of an E500 estate and an Infiniti Q60.

Surely it wouldn’t be a great deal more expensive (if at all) to buy and run a nice E500 than a Leaf?

My Leaf was a second hand £10k bargain and it's nearly free to run and never presents any repair bills. It's my main daily. For our second car, I've just traded an S211 E320 CDI for a 66 plate Civic Tourer because of the never ending bloody failures and repair bills, and old E500 under £10k will cost me £300-400 a month in fuel, plus repair bills. PCP on my Leaf is £150 a month, I charge it for free at work. There's absolutely no way on God's clean Earth you'd get me out of it in to an E500 or anything else at the moment. The Civic is really the wife's car and for long range for family duties, and she wouldn't have anything as big as an E again, so it's out of the question. I need low, predictable motoring costs for the next few years whilst we're reamed for 2x effing private school bills. Leaf motoring is so cheap, I can't imagine anything else cheaper - when you consider the repairs and maintenance on big old bangers. Been there, done that, can't go back to it until I'm a bit more liquid.

“ Effing private school” - is that in Borksville?!

[nobrakes]

TobyLerone said:

How about a brace of V12s?

Mercedes S600 V12 BiTurbo

A strong haggle at £6,000 ONO, mind.







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

But it is silver...

Or, a forum favourite;

E38 750iL

£3,695



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

Bit tatty, needs a new windscreen - but it does have double glazing...

Looks like bidding for the S600 endsin a couple of hours - get in there..

[ElectricSoup]

nobrakes said:

“ Effing private school” - is that in Borksville?!

Almost, its name is taken from the little village of Much Effingham-up-the-Junction, which is just outside Borksville. Near Stony, in Brassickshire.

Edited by ElectricSoup on Tuesday 21st January 13:34

[Northbrook]

[j4ck100]

W00DY said:

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

320bhp and 480lbft.

This looks like value but i suppose in the not too distant future you won't be able to drive it within 10 miles of a medium sized conurbation?

Also remember reading less than kind words about the transmissions on these..

[CharlesdeGaulle]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

SilverStar said:

A lengthy ad for possibly the cleanest looking S210 I've seen for a while.........
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-Mercedes-E430-V8-E...

I like that. A Lot.

A decent service and A Man that does spheres, and I'd be driving that and feeling like A Lord.

I was invited out for drinks last night and, on return, did the squiffy-bidding thing. Perhaps luckily, the algorithms denied my bid on the grounds that 'the seller won't deliver to Luxembourg'(!)

There are still a few days to run, but I suspect my ill-advised bid would have bought it. I perhaps ought to stop drinking ...

[W00DY]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C32-AMG-estate...

Not the best looker, but I'm sure it'd be a lovely thing to own.

[Northbrook]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

did the squiffy-bidding thing.

A couple of clicks to change your location, then a nice threadist to drive it to Lux for you. You're nearly there - keep going!

[ali_XF]

My Barge search is not going well, and with the clock ticking (deadline end of this month) I am trying to come up with some viable options towards the bottom end of thread budget and this has piqued my interest:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I co-owned an LS400 for a short while, so familiar with its foibles (e.g. alternator). Also up to speed with the 460 thanks to this very thread, but the 430 is an unknown for me- at this price I am expecting it to be fairly ropey, but anything in particular I should be looking out for?

[nomank]

ali_XF said:

My Barge search is not going well, and with the clock ticking (deadline end of this month) I am trying to come up with some viable options towards the bottom end of thread budget and this has piqued my interest:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I co-owned an LS400 for a short while, so familiar with its foibles (e.g. alternator). Also up to speed with the 460 thanks to this very thread, but the 430 is an unknown for me- at this price I am expecting it to be fairly ropey, but anything in particular I should be looking out for?

Three things in my view:
Air suspension struts
Steering wheel adjustment motors
Windows delaminating
Corrosion

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

nomank said:

ali_XF said:

My Barge search is not going well, and with the clock ticking (deadline end of this month) I am trying to come up with some viable options towards the bottom end of thread budget and this has piqued my interest:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I co-owned an LS400 for a short while, so familiar with its foibles (e.g. alternator). Also up to speed with the 460 thanks to this very thread, but the 430 is an unknown for me- at this price I am expecting it to be fairly ropey, but anything in particular I should be looking out for?

Three things in my view:
Air suspension struts
Steering wheel adjustment motors
Windows delaminating
Corrosion

That's four

[W00DY]

nomank said:

ali_XF said:

My Barge search is not going well, and with the clock ticking (deadline end of this month) I am trying to come up with some viable options towards the bottom end of thread budget and this has piqued my interest:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I co-owned an LS400 for a short while, so familiar with its foibles (e.g. alternator). Also up to speed with the 460 thanks to this very thread, but the 430 is an unknown for me- at this price I am expecting it to be fairly ropey, but anything in particular I should be looking out for?

Three things in my view:
Air suspension struts
Steering wheel adjustment motors
Windows delaminating
Corrosion

Also make sure all 3 wheels are in good shape.


That looks cheap if it's any good.