Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]

[W00DY]

Looks atrocious in white too. They've got a 15 grand 14 plate XC70 T6 as well which is the car for literally no-one.

[Mr Tidy]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136915472542

Purple.

Already sold!

[Mr Tidy]

CMTMB said:

Nicely specced 350 manual with a sad story.

I very nearly bought one of these last year, they look like great value.

That's a real rarity and looks like a bargain for someone. I might have been tempted if I didn't already have a Z4!

[BlueMR2]

biggbn said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136915472542

Purple.

What a lovely car. My mate had one the same colour but the diesel turbo version.

My Dad’s estate version was the 2.4l, they are abit under powered, so they need plenty of revs, which in turn uses plenty of fuel and plenty of noise. I could well imagine the 3.2 being more economical overall. Fine for more 30-40mph roads with the odd motorway trip.

[Venisonpie]

biggbn said:

TVR Sagaris said:

bolidemichael said:

GeniusOfLove said:

biggbn said:

W00DY said:

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1997742

Deposit taken, but a charming old-school estate.

What a lovely and reasonably priced old thing...

I think someone has put another zero on the price since you saw it?

Does 'best smoker barge' now mean 'survivor'? I know that we're reprimanded by momentary contributors for many over-budget barges, but I'd rather that evil than this!

Agreed, boring overpriced low spec estate with small engine 10x too expensive.

This car would do someone like me for a long time. These Passats were a quality bit of kit. I'd prefer the 1.9tdi but 3k buys you very little just now. A lot of (useful) life left in this although I concede, likely not the right thread for it..

I had a saloon 1.9 Td red I as a company car back in 2002 and it was brilliant racking up 90000 miles in just over 2 years! I'd say its a smoker barge as by now they will all smoke a bit and it was a bit of a barge even then.

A quick MOT check suggests RK02BRV didn't live long!

[Rocket Ricardo]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157598194300?

Nicely specced 350 manual with a sad story.

Any thoughts on the air scarf/heated seat fix? Common fault?

[CMTMB]

bolidemichael said:

I'm not sure that we've had such an egregious example of crack pipe pricing in a while -- Jap import R350 facelift with almost 90k on the clock.

|https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129094513[/url]

Always pleasing to see the little border around the tinted windows, means you know it can be removed easily.

[Krikkit]

CMTMB said:

bolidemichael said:

I'm not sure that we've had such an egregious example of crack pipe pricing in a while -- Jap import R350 facelift with almost 90k on the clock.



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202601129...

Always pleasing to see the little border around the tinted windows, means you know it can be removed easily.

Yes very pleasing isn't it!

That seller is taking the piss, they haven't even re-coded the language in the infotainment, they've maybe paid £5k for that plus shipping.

[carinaman]

With regard to the blue Passat estate not being a barge, I found it of interest and I've never seen those alloys before, but it's not a barge. I like this thread lots.

Should there be another thread 'This caught the eye of a barge thread poster' or do one of the other two existing threads meet the requirements and 'survivors' or 'interesting cars' could be sign posted from this thread?

[carinaman]

Rocket Ricardo said:

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157598194300?

Nicely specced 350 manual with a sad story.

Any thoughts on the air scarf/heated seat fix? Common fault?

I may've got potential bargain FOMO about that lastnight, fortunately I shouldn't really be looking and unless I can get a colleague to allow me to use their phone I won't have Internet access when that auction ends.

It's not a barge. I've learnt Merc. managed to produce a car with a decent manual shift. IL6s sound the best to my ears so.......

Regarding the heated seat fix on that R171 google throws up a fault finding guide that includes disconnecting the heated seat connector and measuring the resistance across that connector. 0 ohms indicates a short circuit.

[anotherswifty]

W00DY said:

Looks atrocious in white too. They've got a 15 grand 14 plate XC70 T6 as well which is the car for literally no-one.

They’re not too far from me and have a flow of Volvo imports, previously at about the normal price level. Wonder what’s caused the price hikes unless just trying their luck.
The XC70 would maybe have been a car for me but at half to two thirds of the price. I guess it’s worth an increment that it’s a 10yo not a 15yo car. The tax will be less being an import.

[Skodillac]

anotherswifty said:

W00DY said:

Looks atrocious in white too. They've got a 15 grand 14 plate XC70 T6 as well which is the car for literally no-one.

They re not too far from me and have a flow of Volvo imports, previously at about the normal price level. Wonder what s caused the price hikes unless just trying their luck.
The XC70 would maybe have been a car for me but at half to two thirds of the price. I guess it s worth an increment that it s a 10yo not a 15yo car. The tax will be less being an import.

I think petrol cars in much greater demand due to spreading ULEZ things. But most barges of a certain age in this country are diesel - large petrol estate cars/MPVs/whatever an R Class is, are very, very rare. So that would be my guess as to what's pushing up prices for things like this, and Japan is a rich source of petrol engined RHD vehicles of this type.

[MightyBadger]

W00DY said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157598194300?

Nicely specced 350 manual with a sad story.

I really like that, lovely thing. Indeed a sad story.

[carinaman]

R171s aren't lookers are they? They make an Lexus SC430 look attractive.

[Krikkit]

Skodillac said:

anotherswifty said:

W00DY said:

Looks atrocious in white too. They've got a 15 grand 14 plate XC70 T6 as well which is the car for literally no-one.

They re not too far from me and have a flow of Volvo imports, previously at about the normal price level. Wonder what s caused the price hikes unless just trying their luck.
The XC70 would maybe have been a car for me but at half to two thirds of the price. I guess it s worth an increment that it s a 10yo not a 15yo car. The tax will be less being an import.

I think petrol cars in much greater demand due to spreading ULEZ things. But most barges of a certain age in this country are diesel - large petrol estate cars/MPVs/whatever an R Class is, are very, very rare. So that would be my guess as to what's pushing up prices for things like this, and Japan is a rich source of petrol engined RHD vehicles of this type.

It's also things like specs we can't get over here, inherently exceptional condition etc.

If you want some kind of forever-barge then a JDM import can be an easy answer. e.g. an S212 550 estate.

[E90_M3Ross]

carinaman said:

R171s aren't lookers are they? They make an Lexus SC430 look attractive.

Errr nothing is that bad looking

[C Lee Farquar]

E90_M3Ross said:

Errr nothing is that bad looking

Land Rover Discovery 5 from the rear?

The only car I've come up behind on a motorway and felt I needed to pass it

[Hippea]

This looks a nice well cared for example



https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1994911

[Rayny]

E90_M3Ross said:

Errr nothing is that bad looking

When did you last look into a mirror

Sorry for typing like an asshole, but sometimes I just cannot help it.

Edited by Rayny on Wednesday 14th January 14:17

[MightyBadger]

Hippea said:

This looks a nice well cared for example



https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1994911

Tidy, a smidgen expensive too.