Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 16]

[swampy442]

LetsTryAgain said:

My E46 Clubsport went yesterday, collected by a Shipley agent at 2100, so I’ve just got to decide the to do with the XJR and then I may start looking at C215’s.

I’ve ‘been looking’ for a couple of years at them now, but yet to take the plunge, and the (almost) inevitable face full of cold water which would follow.

Happy with the price? I thought it was good value

[W00DY]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-740i-L-IL-LWB/17428...

No MOT for a few years makes the price seem optimistic, but that green leather is rather lovely.

[grudas]

talking about ls430..

this is rare in this colourway and exactly the spec I'd want! a bit over thread but yum! black on black ls430 doesn't really pop up often, this is the 2nd one I've seen in the last 2 years or so.



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-LEXUS-LS430-4-3-FA...

[LetsTryAgain]

swampy442 said:

Happy with the price? I thought it was good value

Thank you.
Yeah, I made the smallest amount on it (never the aim, and rarely the case).
Hope it’s a good motor for the next owner and it gets used for as long as possible.
I tend to buy stuff off ‘the list’ (“I’ve always wanted one of these...!), and the lower end of prices, tidy up where possible, give it a good service and enjoy for a while.
Then on to the next one on the list.

One of the main things stopping me selling the XJR at the minute is that we have space for 3 cars on a single width driveway, and one in front of the house.
As the XJR is cosmetically challenged, I have no qualms leaving it parked outside the house.
If I was to find a nice Almandine (?) CL, that almost certainly wouldn’t be the case any more.

Once Al Johnson allows my gym to reopen, I can start using the 30ft garage for a car and motorbikes, rather than a gym and motorbikes.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

grudas said:

talking about ls430..

this is rare in this colourway and exactly the spec I'd want! a bit over thread but yum! black on black ls430 doesn't really pop up often, this is the 2nd one I've seen in the last 2 years or so.



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-LEXUS-LS430-4-3-FA...

Looks better in darker hues for sure, price is quite high though, no? Can get a 460 for that.

Due to an unforeseen family bereavement I've been doing quite a few miles in the LS460 the past 2-3 weeks and when people said "you won't necessarily fall in love with it, but it'll get under your skin" they were spot on. Cruising back last night from London, having already driven from Portsmouth to Eastleigh and then on to London, it was just wonderful at wafting the miles away on a quiet A3M. I've had several family members in it and they've all commented on just how comfortable it is. My brother last night said something like "it is more comfortable than it looks..... From the outside it looks like it'll be very comfortable, but when you're in it, it is even more impressive some how".

Engine isn't bad, either.

[Krikkit]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Due to an unforeseen family bereavement I've been doing quite a few miles in the LS460 the past 2-3 weeks and when people said "you won't necessarily fall in love with it, but it'll get under your skin" they were spot on. Cruising back last night from London, having already driven from Portsmouth to Eastleigh and then on to London, it was just wonderful at wafting the miles away on a quiet A3M. I've had several family members in it and they've all commented on just how comfortable it is. My brother last night said something like "it is more comfortable than it looks..... From the outside it looks like it'll be very comfortable, but when you're in it, it is even more impressive some how".

Engine isn't bad, either.

Sorry to hear that Ross, a good barge is a perfect companion in a time of strife. An oasis of calm and comfort when you need it most.

[dscam]

Ross - nice to see you back but sorry for your loss.

Glad your barge is behaving too.

[swampy442]

Another black interior LS430, but in fetching FSG this time. Black gives it a more business quality inside I feel, only with you could het the rosewood later model GS and LS's came with


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lexus-LS-430-4-3-4...

[bolidemichael]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-740i-L-IL-LWB/17428...

No MOT for a few years makes the price seem optimistic, but that green leather is rather lovely.

I agree with the assessment of the green leather.

However, am I a condescending grammatical snob for being put off by "THe car has age related Mark's to be expected with age and miles etc" [sic]?

[Max M4X WW]

bolidemichael said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-740i-L-IL-LWB/17428...

No MOT for a few years makes the price seem optimistic, but that green leather is rather lovely.

I agree with the assessment of the green leather.

However, am I a condescending grammatical snob for being put off by "THe car has age related Mark's to be expected with age and miles etc" [sic]?

What about the towbar or previous installation of one?

[JOB2.5-16]

55palfers said:

Low miles, first rate MOT history, looks like it lives in a nice house too.

Unpleasant fuel though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-W124-E300D-MUL...

That car looks superb but the facelift cloth interiors, especially in Mushroom are absolutely gross! I would have to chuck that all out, happily I have a grey MB Tex interior that would be much more suitable. Don't need another oil bonning W124 though.

dscam said:

190E with just 25,000 miles. White and meagre spec but this may appeal to a few on the thread. Currently at thread max and likely to go higher.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1988-mercedes-...

I know the owner of this car, it is as good as it looks. I think anything under £8k and it's good value. Many on here will remember the 190E I sold with 9k miles and one owner in March 2019, that is the only tool for reasonable comparative valuation and it was a sight more than that.


In other news, perhaps a little warning for threadists...

Yesterday Zonergem and I embarked on a somewhat mammoth day out in the 300TD (with no AC factory fitted and high temperatures of 27 degrees) to look at an R129 and a C140.

Leaving Chesterfield at 07:30 to head south for an R129 which appeared to be the bargain of the century; you might have seen it on C&C, though the ad is now removed. It was a 199 Blueblack 300SL-24 with 75,000 miles, and "extensive service history". According to the advert again, it was for sale following a period of lack of use and major recommissioning by a specialist, incidentally one that I've never heard of.

Upon arrival it was clear that the bodywork was in much poorer condition than photographed, the interior trim had almost all been out and bodged back together by someone with super-glue and a 12lb hammer, the roof didn't work (contrary to the advert) and we were generally left un-impressed and came away empty handed. That said, being disappointed by a near 30 year old car is not a hangable offence and it was too good to be true anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

The C140 that followed though is another story, and really a matter of safety that no one attempts to take this car near a public highway before carried out some pretty major repairs. Again advertised on C&C but now removed, the CL600 was advertised for £3300. Cheap enough to make anyone's nose twitch.

I was straight on the trumpet and quickly had additional photos and videos of the car running. The rear arches looked horrendously rusty and the driver's seat a mess, but at the cost of entry our plan was to try and get it shipshape as cheaply as possible, smoke around for a month or so each and move it on without blowing our brains out. Why the heck not?

Anyway, all was well with the car upon inspection, everything inside apart from the driver's side rear power head rest seemed to work and the car ran on 12 cylinders, engaged and moved in forward and reverse gears and seemed ok. Even the jacking points were all fairly minty. Moments from handing over the doe and a keen eyed Zonergem emerged from the front right wheel arch, complexion greened and said something unrepeatable on this show. What met were two massive rust holes on the inner wing but also the upper control arm mount completely rusted to the point of the arm being detached at one side. Any hope of not blowing our brains out had now vanished.

Forfeiting a £100 deposit to a previously charming, but now slightly affronted and less charming seller seemed a small consequence compared to the imminent prospect of the wheel falling off. The vendor had not highlighted any of this, whether he knew is open for debate but slightly irrelevant, but surely no one with any sort of social conscience could release something so dangerous in to the wild. Just imagine if someone hadn't noticed and driven it away, attempted M120 slip road heroics and paid the absolute price.

There is no such thing as a cheap Mercedes....

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

Untitled by Jack O'Brien, on Flickr

N.B. 526 miles on a tank in the 300TD, I filled up this morning and we averaged 38.4mpg, better than normal performance on a similar run, which I put down to the high ambient temperature.

[BrettMRC]

Scary stuff - and sadly no surprise. Some people seem to think rust is just a cosmetic thing..I mean, it's only the metal, right?

[drophead]

swampy442 said:

Another black interior LS430, but in fetching FSG this time. Black gives it a more business quality inside I feel, only with you could het the rosewood later model GS and LS's came with


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lexus-LS-430-4-3-4...

Although this model of the LS was meant to have moved it along, I find myself prefering the DHP model of the facelift LS400. Looks sleaker even if it may not be better to drive.

[tobinen]

Bloody hell that C140 is bad. I now feel someone better that mine is very good underneath.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

drophead said:

swampy442 said:

Another black interior LS430, but in fetching FSG this time. Black gives it a more business quality inside I feel, only with you could het the rosewood later model GS and LS's came with


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Lexus-LS-430-4-3-4...

Although this model of the LS was meant to have moved it along, I find myself prefering the DHP model of the facelift LS400. Looks sleaker even if it may not be better to drive.

I think the facelifted LS430 is much nicer than the earlier cars. I have never got to grips with the looks of the 400. I appreciate it for what it is and represents, but I don't think any of them are good looking things.

[harrykul]

That c140 as is back up btw.... And I think that it's more money!!!!

[martin mrt]

harrykul said:

That c140 as is back up btw.... And I think that it's more money!!!!

It is, £450 more

That rust is bad, really bad.

It’s a shame about the R129 as it looks great in the picture

[jke11y]

My W140 businessman edition had similar rust holes in the inner wings. It however had an MOT (later I found out given by a man who would pass anything for £50).

Shame about the 129, sounds similar to the experience I had the other day with the one up here.

[Zonergem]

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1228155

Run away. Owner's brother owns Manchester's answer to Cerberus too, who was busy trying to chew through stainless steel fence to have at us during the viewing as well.

Oh, and if he didn't know before he definitely knows now.

Edited by Zonergem on Thursday 21st May 17:20

[Krikkit]

Zonergem said:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1228155

Run away. Owner's brother owns Manchester's answer to Cerberus too, who was busy trying to chew through stainless steel fence to have at us during the viewing as well.

Oh, and if he didn't know before he definitely knows now.

My Brother in law lives round the corner from there.

What a shocker that is, such horrendous safety-related rust and they're quite happy to let it go to someone with no quibbles at all.

The SL sounds a bit suspect, but understandably it's been outgunned in the terror stakes by the CL. Even so it's highly irritating to have travelled a decent distance to find a car not even close to as-described.