Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 18]

[BlackStang5point0]

stickleback123 said:

BlackStang5point0 said:

Christ that rear third is hideous... Always like that shape Accord but that's a definite nope from me..!!

I'm seeing some Audi C3 100 Avant "inspiration" in that rear 1/3rd

Yes, I can see the similarity. Maybe its the lack of visible D pillar and the fact the wheels look a bit undersized accentuates the rear overhang and that makes it look a bit 'odd' (in my eyes)

[Dapster]

Remarkably sound and non saggy looking Silver Spirit with clean MOT. Anyone own a flat roofed pub or a couple of scary dogs?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROLLS-ROYCE-SILVER-SPIR...

[Krikkit]

Dapster said:

Remarkably sound and non saggy looking Silver Spirit with clean MOT. Anyone own a flat roofed pub or a couple of scary dogs?


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROLLS-ROYCE-SILVER-SPIR...

Benefits of the Cornwall life no doubt - it may be by the sea but so much warmer!

Sounds like a really good money pit starter pack to me. I'd love a really scruffy one of these as a family/school run type car.

[loquacious]

Dapster said:

Remarkably sound and non saggy looking Silver Spirit with clean MOT. Anyone own a flat roofed pub or a couple of scary dogs?



https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROLLS-ROYCE-SILVER-SPIR...

Don't own a pub but I do own two scary dogs... well, scary vet bills even if the dogs are a pair of powder puffs! Had two Bentleys that both blew up (turbo Rs) and cost me several times the gross national debt of a small African nation! Would love a none turbo RR though...

Just, not one with a rotten roof (which it will be) and a dodgy handbrake which will cost a lockdown loan on its own!

In other news; still want another barge but the SLK is such fun and after spending two grand on a new rear subframe, discs and pads all round and a service, I fear it would be a fiscal disaster to flog it right now. Incidentally, when I had it done ALL the advisories on the MOT were done as well - even the 'perishing tyre valves' so some people DO get them done - I didn't even ask the garage, they just did them!

Central Garage in Torquay, MG main dealers (used to be Mazda) are one of the few decent places left in the country and actually properly trustworthy! Shock, horror,it does happen.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Dapster said:

Have we had this final edition 2.8 V6 before? Just 61k


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-80-convertible-cab...

I was going to be very positive about this car but then saw the price. Even allowing for these strange times, that's an 'optimistic' pitch at 10% over max.
Much more appealing rag top to me than a 3 series, baby Merc, Saab or Volvo though.

[Crook]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Dapster said:

Have we had this final edition 2.8 V6 before? Just 61k


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-80-convertible-cab...

I was going to be very positive about this car but then saw the price. Even allowing for these strange times, that's an 'optimistic' pitch at 10% over max.
Much more appealing rag top to me than a 3 series, baby Merc, Saab or Volvo though.

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

[Krikkit]

I can't remember thinking a car had underbite before.

[BobsPigeon]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Dapster said:

Have we had this final edition 2.8 V6 before? Just 61k


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-80-convertible-cab...

I was going to be very positive about this car but then saw the price. Even allowing for these strange times, that's an 'optimistic' pitch at 10% over max.
Much more appealing rag top to me than a 3 series, baby Merc, Saab or Volvo though.

Is the claim of FSH a little misleading? Looking at the photo of the book it was serviced in 2006 on 47k, then by someone with a crayon this year at 61k... I mean fair enough the mileage is low but I don't think Audi would have suggested 15 year service intervals...

[anonymous-user]

Crook said:

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

That has to be in the running for one of the worst looking cars I've ever seen. I have to ask... why is that in my country?

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 14th April 16:54

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

stickleback123 said:

Crook said:

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

That has to be in the running for one of the worst looking cars I've ever seen. I have to ask... why is that in my country?

Edited by stickleback123 on Wednesday 14th April 16:54

It's up there, I think one of the others is the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible. I remember years ago I was a passenger as my dad was driving, we saw one and it said "limited edition" and I just thought "not limited enough!"....Vile things!

[reapercushions]

stickleback123 said:

BlackStang5point0 said:

Christ that rear third is hideous... Always like that shape Accord but that's a definite nope from me..!!

That rear third is glorious! Retro, 90's goodness.

Lowered on a nicer set of alloys (BBS maybe) and that would be ice cold coolness.

[Crook]

That ^ is pretty horrendous however whilst I'm not a fan of the PT Cruiser I do have a small amount of admiration for Chrysler for doing something different.
It was the same time as the Prowler and they'd obviously gone a little doolally but worthy of some marks for intent even if it's nil points for execution.

[0a]

stickleback123 said:

Crook said:

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

That has to be in the running for one of the worst looking cars I've ever seen. I have to ask... why is that in my country?

Edited by stickleback123 on Wednesday 14th April 16:54

I had one on hire in the US. Awful things, with a laughable interior and almost no power despite sub 20 mpg. I suppose it was comfy enough in that crap American car way. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to import one. Surely someone up the process of importing and registration would be capable of buying a second hand, well, ANYTHING!

[callahan]

After successfully holding off the inevitable last year, it looks like I'm going to be bargeless pretty soon.

I really don't want to move the 530i on, but my daughter is about to turn 17 and due to lockdown you basically can't book driving lessons until 2022. As such I'm going to have to teach her myself (that should be fun) and get a car that she can be insured on with a manual gearbox too.

I'm loathe to try to sell the barge because it's been running so well since the starter motor was replaced and the n52 is so sweet, but I have my instructions.

Anyhoo, has anyone else had to get a sensible car for offspring to learn in? I'm thinking of a MINI Cooper, probably the 1.5 version, then at least I can have a bit of fun in it.

[twizellb]

Got sent this today, it might give a few of you a giggle.

[Bonefish Blues]

Admirable lack of sense of humour there.

[Phil Dicky]

stickleback123 said:

Crook said:

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

That has to be in the running for one of the worst looking cars I've ever seen. I have to ask... why is that in my country?

Edited by stickleback123 on Wednesday 14th April 16:54

WTF is that, seriously WTAF.

[ian316]

callahan said:

After successfully holding off the inevitable last year, it looks like I'm going to be bargeless pretty soon.

I really don't want to move the 530i on, but my daughter is about to turn 17 and due to lockdown you basically can't book driving lessons until 2022. As such I'm going to have to teach her myself (that should be fun) and get a car that she can be insured on with a manual gearbox too.

I'm loathe to try to sell the barge because it's been running so well since the starter motor was replaced and the n52 is so sweet, but I have my instructions.

Anyhoo, has anyone else had to get a sensible car for offspring to learn in? I'm thinking of a MINI Cooper, probably the 1.5 version, then at least I can have a bit of fun in it.

Run away from any kind of mini I hated Mrs316s with a vengeance, Any kind of work required dismantling the front of the car the only easy thing about them is changing headlight bulbs

[Cascade360]

Cascade360 said:

Gentleman

It's been a while (and under a different username).

A request for an opinion, if I may.

What does thread think of these:

Lexus IS300 Sportcross



Mini barge, perhaps - but proper engine, auto gearbox and an estate, think it counts. Hoping to go take a look at this one for a family member this week. Anything one should know?

As every story needs an end - viewed this today.

Good points - interior very clean, all electrics worked (heated seats, power sunroof, electric wing mirrors, etc), seemed to drive well on my albeit limited suburban test drive - no knocks, no bangs. Started, stopped, clean oil, no smoke.

Bad points - service history was mixed rather than full, Lexus main dealer stamps up to 2011, gap then stamps in 2016, 2018 and 2019. No receipts to back this history up, other than a small pile of parts receipts from the previous owners tenure, which was apparently diy - discs and pads, oil changes etc. Clearly lived a London life - all four alloys were heavily kerbed, scuffs on both corners of both bumpers, front bumper was slightly out of alignment. A little bit of surface rust on front wheel arches, but everything seemed solid and no holes. There was quite a bit of mud trapped in the wheel arches, some of it behind some plastic covers, so let's hope no hidden horrors. Four mismatched ditchfinders, one brand new, two close to end of life.

Conclusion - seemed an honest if imperfect motor, but you don't get perfection on twenty year old sub five grand motors as we all know. Still, not sure if it is worth five times what I paid for my Rover 75 ...

Anyway ... brother knocked £150 off and put a deposit down. I now have the pleasure of driving it 600 miles to him .... let's hope it is in fact a decent car!

Oh and a nice anecdote - the seller apparently part exchanged it for an SC430. I made a comment of "oh they can't be that easy to shift" - apparently the trader hunts them out as they sell like hotcakes! Some in here might be appalled at this idea ...

[Cascade360]

Crook said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Dapster said:

Have we had this final edition 2.8 V6 before? Just 61k


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-80-convertible-cab...

I was going to be very positive about this car but then saw the price. Even allowing for these strange times, that's an 'optimistic' pitch at 10% over max.
Much more appealing rag top to me than a 3 series, baby Merc, Saab or Volvo though.

Is it better than a Sebring Limited though? at 30% under thread max.

(Very) Limited

As ugly as that might be, it looks pretty good value for a six cylinder rag top of that age and mileage...