Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]
Discussion
anotherswifty said:
Slough is Eton borders, or else extends as far as Farnham Common / Burnham Beeches and even Gerrards X in terms of phone nos.
The dialling codes includes Windsor too, which didn't impress my work colleagues when I worked there! But the photo definitely looks more Slough than Windsor.
TVR Sagaris said:
Sorry to Macron in advance but this diesel S211 is in a nice spec:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/147237229810
Bit suspicious that the MOT runs out soon and last time around it originally failed on emissions but let's be optimists.
Nice motor. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/147237229810
Bit suspicious that the MOT runs out soon and last time around it originally failed on emissions but let's be optimists.
Mr Tidy said:
anotherswifty said:
Slough is Eton borders, or else extends as far as Farnham Common / Burnham Beeches and even Gerrards X in terms of phone nos.
The dialling codes includes Windsor too, which didn't impress my work colleagues when I worked there! But the photo definitely looks more Slough than Windsor.
carinaman said:
I was thinking of Slough built Citroens and that setting looks like an industrial estate. I didn't check the std phone code.
I knew about that (my Dad worked on the trading estate many years ago) but I think manufacture there ended in the 60s, so prior to this car being built. What are people's thoughts and experiences on the X350/356/358 gen Jaguar XJ? I'm looking at them around the £10k mark in an attempt to get my dad to buy one. He lives in deepest darkest Cornwall and has has a Fiat 500 for years, which is find for journeys in the local area but not good at all for the 3 hour drive to see me so he gets the train or uses a hire car. He did have in mind to get a Bentley Continental GT but has gone off the idea partly on the grounds of the poor fuel economy. Granted an XJ wouldn't be great on that front either, but it would be a bit more reasonable. I know you can get the newer XJ around the same price, but he likes the look of the X350. Something like this: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C2017178
Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
Snubs said:
What are people's thoughts and experiences on the X350/356/358 gen Jaguar XJ? I'm looking at them around the £10k mark in an attempt to get my dad to buy one. He lives in deepest darkest Cornwall and has has a Fiat 500 for years, which is find for journeys in the local area but not good at all for the 3 hour drive to see me so he gets the train or uses a hire car. He did have in mind to get a Bentley Continental GT but has gone off the idea partly on the grounds of the poor fuel economy. Granted an XJ wouldn't be great on that front either, but it would be a bit more reasonable. I know you can get the newer XJ around the same price, but he likes the look of the X350. Something like this: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C2017178
Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
Is he into his cars? If not I'd suggest getting a good all rounder in the Golf/Passat class. Small enough to live with day to day and refined enough for 3hr journeys.Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
Less ruinous than an ageing Jag also.
Sorry for being sensible
That one looks expensive to me, does he really need the supercharged V8?
My brother has had a petrol 3.0 for many years, better fuel economy, and I'm sure it would still feel good after a Fiat 500! Only issues have been a few electrical gremlins, and I believe others have suffered with rusting fuel tank straps. Quick Autotrader search shows values all over the place though, not sure what extra you're getting in a 12k car over a 4k car?
I had a 2.7 diesel, I liked the car but wouldn't recommend the engine, not sure if later diesels are better.
My brother has had a petrol 3.0 for many years, better fuel economy, and I'm sure it would still feel good after a Fiat 500! Only issues have been a few electrical gremlins, and I believe others have suffered with rusting fuel tank straps. Quick Autotrader search shows values all over the place though, not sure what extra you're getting in a 12k car over a 4k car?
I had a 2.7 diesel, I liked the car but wouldn't recommend the engine, not sure if later diesels are better.
Snubs said:
He lives in deepest darkest Cornwall and has has a Fiat 500 for years, which is find for journeys in the local area but not good at all for the 3 hour drive to see me so he gets the train or uses a hire car.
What's the specific issue with the FIAT 500 that makes it not good at all for the 3 hour journey? I presume anything wider than the FIAT would be an increasing problem in the narrow lanes of Cornwall.Has he tried something like a Yaris Hybrid (probably in base trim with the 16" wheels), which will have an autobox and more power than the FIAT, while being not much bigger?
biggbn said:
KadettE said:
'Recent respray' Two words that scare the bejaysus out of me on old cars...
Snubs said:
What are people's thoughts and experiences on the X350/356/358 gen Jaguar XJ? I'm looking at them around the £10k mark in an attempt to get my dad to buy one. He lives in deepest darkest Cornwall and has has a Fiat 500 for years, which is find for journeys in the local area but not good at all for the 3 hour drive to see me so he gets the train or uses a hire car. He did have in mind to get a Bentley Continental GT but has gone off the idea partly on the grounds of the poor fuel economy. Granted an XJ wouldn't be great on that front either, but it would be a bit more reasonable. I know you can get the newer XJ around the same price, but he likes the look of the X350. Something like this: https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C2017178
Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
I didn't really gel with my X350. It must have felt dated the day it left the factory. Very cramped inside given the external dimensions. Also how easy it it to remove the leaper and restore the bonnet, as loads seem to have them.
They do handle quite nicely and look more graceful than most cars on the road today. It attracted comments from exactly the demographic you'd expect.
It's not a car I'll be rushing to experience again. I paid a little over a third of that £10k budget for a fairly good one. At that budget I'd be expecting something close to immaculate.
Edited by _Rodders_ on Sunday 5th April 11:35
What is going on in this thread? A poster comes with hopes of bringing a new member to the Societe Bargeista with an excellent V8 specimen and is encouraged to consider instead keeping a Fiat 500, or purchasing a Golf or Yaris Hybrid?!
Snubs: I like those XJs a lot and a V8, preferably supercharged, is the only choice. But I think as Tobinen has said, that's an expensive one and their prices are falling. GoL will be along soon to advise more specifically I'm sure.
Snubs: I like those XJs a lot and a V8, preferably supercharged, is the only choice. But I think as Tobinen has said, that's an expensive one and their prices are falling. GoL will be along soon to advise more specifically I'm sure.
TVR Sagaris said:
What is going on in this thread? A poster comes with hopes of bringing a new member to the Societe Bargeista with an excellent V8 specimen and is encouraged to consider instead keeping a Fiat 500, or purchasing a Golf or Yaris Hybrid?!
Indeed, someone asks advice about Bentley vs XJ so surely a small hatch isn't the answer?I'm assuming the fiat might be retained for runabout duty and the barge for longer trips? I'd say an X350 is a decent choice for that and doesn't cost the world.
_Rodders_ said:
biggbn said:
KadettE said:
'Recent respray' Two words that scare the bejaysus out of me on old cars...If its deepest darkest Cornwall then you'll need the added security of part time AWD plus raised ground clearance?
Has to a be S/C full fat RR or Cayenne Turbo at the least, no? Not sure the Bentayga is in thread yet (but they're getting there).
But if the sun comes out switch to some extreme soft top option - like the SL upthread - or another Bentley.
Is that suitably thread? Off for my Sunday sherry now...
Has to a be S/C full fat RR or Cayenne Turbo at the least, no? Not sure the Bentayga is in thread yet (but they're getting there).
But if the sun comes out switch to some extreme soft top option - like the SL upthread - or another Bentley.
Is that suitably thread? Off for my Sunday sherry now...
£12k for a >100k early X350, even a Super V8, is absolute "hitting the crack pipe since dawn". Completely insane.
I like the X350 but they're ancient now and feel it (and bork like it) and only make sense as as a cheap smoker. They're too modern and cheesy to be a real classic but they're on the cusp of being a bit too old and crap to be a reliable daily; I wouldn't want a 2003 Super V8 as my only car.
If he's not stuck in the "it must have four round headlights to be a Jaguar" mindset then the X351 is a far superior car and £10k should get you into a very nice 5.0 Portfolio. It's hardly a great time to be the seller of a naff old 20mpg car so you should be able to get a decent deal if you're not dealing with a deluded chancer dealer who thinks his leggy old X350 is a £12k car.
I'd pick up an honest reasonably leggy (100k miles say) 3.0 SE or Sovereign for a couple of grand and let him smoke that for a bit before committing to a big spend. That 3.0 is very adequate indeed if you're just driving like a normal person, and they're all really well equipped.
It is a 20+ year old car though, expect niggles.
ETA
This scraped 4.2 bad boy should close at sub 2k and looks an honest car
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267623411810
The X350, like a lot of interesting cars, is a model where loads are advertised for foolish sums and hang around forever while you see other sensible cars for 1/3rd as much come and go regularly. Presumably it's worth holding out for a buyer for your £12k X350 because you'll make £8k margin when it finally sells, but who wants to be that buyer?
I like the X350 but they're ancient now and feel it (and bork like it) and only make sense as as a cheap smoker. They're too modern and cheesy to be a real classic but they're on the cusp of being a bit too old and crap to be a reliable daily; I wouldn't want a 2003 Super V8 as my only car.
If he's not stuck in the "it must have four round headlights to be a Jaguar" mindset then the X351 is a far superior car and £10k should get you into a very nice 5.0 Portfolio. It's hardly a great time to be the seller of a naff old 20mpg car so you should be able to get a decent deal if you're not dealing with a deluded chancer dealer who thinks his leggy old X350 is a £12k car.
I'd pick up an honest reasonably leggy (100k miles say) 3.0 SE or Sovereign for a couple of grand and let him smoke that for a bit before committing to a big spend. That 3.0 is very adequate indeed if you're just driving like a normal person, and they're all really well equipped.
It is a 20+ year old car though, expect niggles.
ETA
This scraped 4.2 bad boy should close at sub 2k and looks an honest car
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267623411810
The X350, like a lot of interesting cars, is a model where loads are advertised for foolish sums and hang around forever while you see other sensible cars for 1/3rd as much come and go regularly. Presumably it's worth holding out for a buyer for your £12k X350 because you'll make £8k margin when it finally sells, but who wants to be that buyer?
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Sunday 5th April 13:01
GeniusOfLove said:
W.R.T. the tax on post 2006 barges I think it is at the level where it's really killing them. If you have some old smoker convertible you want to do 1500 miles a year in you're looking at 50p a mile in RFL alone if you don't dick about declaring it SORN. Normal people used to keep the likes of an older SL or XK as a hobby but coughing up £800 for nothing before you even turn a wheel rather poisons the experience. How unlike government to try and destroy something nice.
Increasingly thinking this too. Can’t be many more years before we're at £1k per year for RFL. Edited by GeniusOfLove on Thursday 2nd April 13:22
That buys a lot of routine maintenance on an old barge that’s doing low miles so even for the believers the tipping point may not be far away when it’s simply not palatable.
Objectively it is still far cheaper (and more enjoyable) running an older car than paying the monthlies on white goods but the psychological shift is real.
A grand over budget but absolutely worth it because manual and lovely colour. Looks to have been cherished, great condition for age.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C2035249
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C2035249
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