Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]

[Krikkit]

BlueMR2 said:

Just don t let the battery go flat with the doors deadlocked.

No worries if it's got a towbar, can charge it through that

[phil_cardiff]

W00DY said:

phil_cardiff said:

Arches are going. Are the headlights from a facelift?

Whoops. I should've looked properly! Not really worth it then.

Headlights definitely aftermarket.

It's shed money so the arches aren't too bad. I could probably live with the headlights for the price too.

[Hippea]

bolidemichael said:

Hippea said:

Probably the wrong spec for this thread but this looks incredibly good condition for the mileage



https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1974814

This warrants many oooofs.

Have to say I'm tempted

[KadettE]

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

[Rusty Old-Banger]

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

What. A. Car.

Although, WTF is on the gearknob? Willywarmer?

[BlueMR2]

Krikkit said:

BlueMR2 said:

Just don t let the battery go flat with the doors deadlocked.

No worries if it's got a towbar, can charge it through that

Fair enough, mine didn’t .

[KadettE]

530i at half thread, seems unusually cheap for what sounds like a trader https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389243516357

[tobinen]

With small wheels too, nice. Just check the gearbox doesn't slip in top and reverse works up an incline

[anotherswifty]

Bear-n said:

I believe GOL's view is this is the most reliable engine of the lot, but thirsty. I wanted a V70 for so long, but in my mind they've tipped over the edge of desirability into looking proper old now. Unless grey and very tidy - that would still turn my head

Like this one then that s a 240 with an engine transplant and lots of other mods. At least one of the wings isn t a good match as it sounds like it s had a front end transplant. Not too much barge like about it but definitely a fun mobile dog department. I like the interior a lot but the steering wheel spoils it and needs a nice wood rimmed or more original one.
https://retroste.com/competition/volvo-240-turbo
Get those tickets bought now !

Bah ! PH has censored the URL - use your imagination for a well known old car and stuff lottery site.

Edited by anotherswifty on Tuesday 18th November 23:09

[Venisonpie]

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

[InfamousK]

Venisonpie said:

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

Looks like a possible Lexus fan, a GS, an IS and the LS all within different photos

[E90_M3Ross]

Venisonpie said:

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

Lot of car for the money. As a car I couldn't really fault mine. It was dull and I never wanted to take it for a drive for no other reason other than to go for a drive, but for being a barge it was very, very good.

Looking at its MOT history it looks like it's dead though, and not too long after I sold it. Odd, it was in good fettle.

[phil_cardiff]

E90_M3Ross said:

Venisonpie said:

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

Lot of car for the money. As a car I couldn't really fault mine. It was dull and I never wanted to take it for a drive for no other reason other than to go for a drive, but for being a barge it was very, very good.

Looking at its MOT history it looks like it's dead though, and not too long after I sold it. Odd, it was in good fettle.

Maybe written off?

[GeniusOfLove]

Bear-n said:

macron said:

Petrol and 6 pots, what's not to like?

What do we think of these? 2.4 a bit wheezy? SE a bit bland? 111k on it seems low for one of these.

I believe GOL's view is this is the most reliable engine of the lot, but thirsty. I wanted a V70 for so long, but in my mind they've tipped over the edge of desirability into looking proper old now. Unless grey and very tidy - that would still turn my head

Yes the naturally aspirated 2.4 is the most reliable engine, uses as much fuel as the turbos with a lot less torque though.

The youngest ones are almost 20 years old now, in my experience they're nowhere as needy as an old Mercedes but these P2 cars will chuck up the odd big bill. I had a really nice T5 as the family car when my kids were small and the 2nd Ms GoL gave it a very hard life up to a very respectable mileage but in 2025 I think they fall into the category of just being old and a bit crap rather than feeling properly nostalgic and classic.

At the risk of upsetting their fans I think they are complete duffers dynamically, managing to neither ride or handle with any real ability, they're noisy by modern standards, and their time as a durable and pleasant workhorse has probably passed now. I never really gelled with the P3 cars that came afterwards, but a late one with the twin turbo D5 could be a decent bus although I can't remember if any were ever Euro6 compliant (if that matters to you).

FWIW at any given moment in time Volvo are almost always the most heavily represented brand on BCA in the "wow that's a lot of miles" category with only the Toyota Prius coming close for how many 250,000+ mile examples you see. Single owner megamiles cars are a pretty common sight too, like this 230k mile 2001 single owner from new bad boy:

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Wednesday 19th November 11:00

[E90_M3Ross]

phil_cardiff said:

E90_M3Ross said:

Venisonpie said:

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

Lot of car for the money. As a car I couldn't really fault mine. It was dull and I never wanted to take it for a drive for no other reason other than to go for a drive, but for being a barge it was very, very good.

Looking at its MOT history it looks like it's dead though, and not too long after I sold it. Odd, it was in good fettle.

Maybe written off?

Don't know, it's registered as SORN, but the MOT expired March last year, so possibly broken for parts and not declared scrapped. ML56 ZVE.

[trevalvole]

trevalvole said:

Merc CLS55 AMG being auctioned: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326859297170

This went for £7100.

[donkmeister]

Venisonpie said:

KadettE said:

LS460 with reasonable miles and had some bits done on the suspension this year. Is apparently getting a new set of tyres before the sale too? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511157...

That's excellent.

Clearly he'll be getting a Christmas card from Amayama with that list of work done!
Assuming it is indeed all genuine parts (he says it is) then that's a bit of a bargain. The only thing to be aware of is it isn't E10 compatible.

[TVR Sagaris]

KadettE said:

530i at half thread, seems unusually cheap for what sounds like a trader https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389243516357

MOT history looks OK and it's ULEZ-friendly, too. I think that could be a really good buy.

[MightyBadger]

KadettE said:

530i at half thread, seems unusually cheap for what sounds like a trader https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389243516357

If you are ok with an auto that is a low milage bargain, in great condition by the look of it and sound of the description. Tidy looking unmessed with LCI. Great engines. Worth the money imho.

Edited by MightyBadger on Wednesday 19th November 19:23

[Hippea]

https://www.carandclassic.com/make-an-offer/1995-c...