Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 19]

[Emeye]

rider73 said:

honestly in my never ending barge hunt, i've started looking at VITO/VIANOs instead of SUVs /M class/G class- the height of them is the biggest factor - the thought of being able to wheel in my 2 bikes down the side, dog on the 2 middle seats with factory window tints, comfy up front leather .....

problem is finding one that not moon miles and not a million miles away.


friday barge allowance all used up here i think :

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105112...

I am a posh van convert - we love our VW T5 Caravelle Executive. It's the ultimate large family SUV, school bus, day tripper, holiday wagon. It just fits under the 2m height restriction at the tip and with the seats folded down it easily fills 2.4m sheets of plasterboard etc. Taking the seats out to make it a full van is a challenge as they weight a tonne, but is possible. Oh and it has roof bars and a webasto night heater and the seat convert into a bed - just awesome, which is probably why they are so expensive and hold their value. The Mercs seem to be cheaper - not sure why, but it could be that they're just not as cool? Or because rust.

[sdh2903]

Happy Friday, although she doesn't look too happy, maybe it's just thrown a big bill.....

[V6Nelo]

Weas said:

I haven't checked MOT history but one former keeper and full history, decent spec and (I think) a great exterior colour. £3300

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124799214930

That petrol S80 does look nice, comes with the £585 tax which will feel like tax+cambelt every year compared to my current Wonder how much that will grate. With my 1998 Alfa I may have spent more in tax over the years than buying it.

Plus points of petrol over the D5 would be less charges to drive into low emission zones, although tempted to try living with an acclaimed D5.

Shed of the week caught my attention, phase 1 S80 (well 2002, if I got my phases wrong)

[louiebaby]

Emeye said:

The Mercs seem to be cheaper - not sure why, but it could be that they're just not as cool? Or because rust.

Are they not a bit lower?

I rented a Merc a couple of years ago and a T6 last year. The Merc felt a bit more tall MPV and the T6 felt a bit more small Van. Maybe it was just because one had a fixed bulkhead whereas the other was configured as an airport shuttle...

Agreed on the family do-it-all though. I'm working on moving to a small convertible + T6 (or other) family bus as my fleet.

[bobiwine]

This seems to have avoided covid pricing

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1364165

[louiebaby]

bobiwine said:

This seems to have avoided covid pricing

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1364165

Gravel with Z4M (I think) in the background.

Sounds good to me...

[tombar]

V6Nelo said:

That petrol S80 does look nice, comes with the £585 tax which will feel like tax+cambelt every year compared to my current Wonder how much that will grate. With my 1998 Alfa I may have spent more in tax over the years than buying it.

Plus points of petrol over the D5 would be less charges to drive into low emission zones, although tempted to try living with an acclaimed D5.

Shed of the week caught my attention, phase 1 S80 (well 2002, if I got my phases wrong)

The MOT history on this one is pretty good except the car has been asleep since 2018. Elderly / infirm owner perhaps? Not necessarily a problem. It does look lovely despite the tax. Where do I put the dog though 😀

[Macron]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021062642...

9-5 Aero with sub 100k, fat tax as 2008 and saloon, but £1690 and seems to be all working. Wowsers, it is 2019 in here today.

Meanwhile I've decided against buying the XJR, lovely as it really is, I don't have anywhere to park the current fleet let alone add to it. A shame, I've had it for a few days and it does make a very pleasing and naughty noise...

[rider73]

i feel a disturbance in the force, like a great friday post was suddenly wiped out.........

[carinaman]

louiebaby said:

bobiwine said:

This seems to have avoided covid pricing

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1364165

Gravel with Z4M (I think) in the background.

Sounds good to me...

I noticed the Z4M too. I like the lack of sunroof and the wood interior.

I checked the MoT history, seems a Tester was concerned about a rear brake pipe that snakes above the fuel tank. Does the tank need dropping to do it?

Front tyre issues on the MoT history suggest curbing, potholes or speed bumps?

Edited by carinaman on Friday 30th July 12:38

[bolidemichael]

rider73 said:

i feel a disturbance in the force, like a great friday post was suddenly wiped out.........

Repost with a spoiler insert?

[phil_cardiff]

louiebaby said:

Emeye said:

The Mercs seem to be cheaper - not sure why, but it could be that they're just not as cool? Or because rust.

Are they not a bit lower?

I rented a Merc a couple of years ago and a T6 last year. The Merc felt a bit more tall MPV and the T6 felt a bit more small Van. Maybe it was just because one had a fixed bulkhead whereas the other was configured as an airport shuttle...

Agreed on the family do-it-all though. I'm working on moving to a small convertible + T6 (or other) family bus as my fleet.

Image tax definitely plays a part. There are at least 15 vans used on my kids' school run, all are VW.

Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes, PSA, Renault, Toyota etc could build a van 20x better than a VW Transporter; everyone would still by the VW in the belief that there's some sort of lineage back to a split-screen and that it completes their head to toe Passenger and North Face ensemble.

[mondayo]

phil_cardiff said:

louiebaby said:

Emeye said:

The Mercs seem to be cheaper - not sure why, but it could be that they're just not as cool? Or because rust.

Are they not a bit lower?

I rented a Merc a couple of years ago and a T6 last year. The Merc felt a bit more tall MPV and the T6 felt a bit more small Van. Maybe it was just because one had a fixed bulkhead whereas the other was configured as an airport shuttle...

Agreed on the family do-it-all though. I'm working on moving to a small convertible + T6 (or other) family bus as my fleet.

Image tax definitely plays a part. There are at least 15 vans used on my kids' school run, all are VW.

Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes, PSA, Renault, Toyota etc could build a van 20x better than a VW Transporter; everyone would still by the VW in the belief that there's some sort of lineage back to a split-screen and that it completes their head to toe Passenger and North Face ensemble.

I agree on the scene tax comment.

I've been trying to buy a Viano V6 diesel for the last 12-16 months but the prices have gone up quite a bit in that time and therefore tightness has prevented me from taking the plunge. And also why I have the S210.

A lot of the descriptions of Viano's are not brilliant, with half of them being described as a compact, when they're clearly not.
I want a long (or the middle sized one) with all individual seats and not silver. Ideally a facelifted one.... unfortunately they're pretty much unobtainable.

[Kayess5]

Only one full bag for a 7 seater Volvo. MOT until March 2022 so some decent mileage possible. Dealer reviews are not encouraging though!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

[BigBen]

Or perhaps this is a better bet for a Hoovies style purchase of "the cheapest TDV8 in the country"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184918095141?_trkparms=...

Sounds like £4250 would take it with fresh MOT and the suspension warning light fixed.

Ben

[mondayo]

Kayess5 said:

Only one full bag for a 7 seater Volvo. MOT until March 2022 so some decent mileage possible. Dealer reviews are not encouraging though!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

Maybe it would be worth the gamble if you could plug a diagnostic machine in first, and as it says they accept card payments, buy it on your credit card.

And also have the expectation it's going to break, at some point.

[Emeye]

Krikkit said:

Congrats and commiserations! The new BM looks excellent, I actually quite like that shape, and you can't argue with the useful tech like HUD etc.

Glad it all worked out in the end, although I must selfishly admit I was hoping I'd be needed

You might be yet....

[Macron]

phil_cardiff said:

everyone would still by the VW in the belief that there's some sort of lineage back to a split-screen and that it completes their head to toe Passenger and North Face ensemble.

I wish I could find it, but I am lazy, there is a great youtube vid with a guy in his 40s (ish) with the board, van, language etc, and of course the parody is he works in accounts.

mondayo said:

therefore tightness has prevented me from taking the plunge.

Edit- BTW I assume that XC90 is ULEZ compliant, but being the 2.9 don't we always moan about the Cadbury's gearbox? Just like this week's SOTW will have the same as it's a 2.9 S80?

Edited by Macron on Friday 30th July 15:23

[Macron]

It's as white as white can be, but this 60 plate Passat CC at £5.5 with a 3.6 ltr engine has to be a rare thing...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...

[W00DY]

Macron said:

It's as white as white can be, but this 60 plate Passat CC at £5.5 with a 3.6 ltr engine has to be a rare thing...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...

The CC has aged awfully. White doesn't help