Best smoker barges 1-5 large [Vol 22]

[TVR Sagaris]

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.

[tobinen]

Agreed. Nothing wrong with the engine choice but not at that price. If someone wants a smoker barge then a small hatchback is not in that equation, Shirley!

[KadettE]

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.

[biggbn]

_Rodders_ said:

biggbn said:

KadettE said:

Happy Friday! https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/citroen/197...

'Recent respray' Two words that scare the bejaysus out of me on old cars...

I suppose it depends where it was done and what supporting evidence there is.

I may be in a minority but I always prefer older classics in their original paint, and don't give a damn how scruffy they look as long as they are mechanically and structurally safe. Its the difference between a DFS Chesterfield and a family heirloom...

[The Don of Croy]

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...

[GeniusOfLove]

£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?

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Sunday 5th April 13:01

[dscam]

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.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Thursday 2nd April 13:22

Increasingly thinking this too. Can’t be many more years before we're at £1k per year for RFL.

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.

[MightyBadger]

Cheap 540i
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C2037600

Edited by MightyBadger on Sunday 5th April 12:55

[MightyBadger]

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

[SpeckledJim]

biggbn said:

_Rodders_ said:

biggbn said:

KadettE said:

Happy Friday! https://www.tradeclassics.com/auctions/citroen/197...

'Recent respray' Two words that scare the bejaysus out of me on old cars...

I suppose it depends where it was done and what supporting evidence there is.

I may be in a minority but I always prefer older classics in their original paint, and don't give a damn how scruffy they look as long as they are mechanically and structurally safe. Its the difference between a DFS Chesterfield and a family heirloom...

A scruffy DS has a charm and beauty that cannot be trumped.

[carinaman]

Mr Tidy said:

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.

Thanks.

[Snubs]

Thanks for all the replies to my XJ query. To answer one question, yes my dad is a lifelong car lover and has owned some very nice ones including a Ferrari 308 GTS and until recently a beautiful MGA. Jag wise, he had an S-Type as a company car and an XF as a personal car. It really has to be a smoker barge, hence raising it in this thread. His real passion is Italian cars, so for a while i was thinking 3200/4200GT. Anything dull would be dismissed out of hand, as would Mercedes despite him having had 3 or 4 of those too (E-classes and an SLK). BMW would be a good choice but seeing as both of my last cars have been BMWs I don't think he would be keen on the grounds of it being a bit samey. I like the look of the 525i MightyBadger just posted. He used to have one of those too as a company car in dark blue.

Seems i picked a dud with my particular XJ example; if anyone could point in the direction of one that would set a benchmark for decent value for money that would be handy. Looking through the Autotrader / Car and Classic ads, prices seem to be all over the place.

A perfect car i suppose would be an interesting, Italian, circa 10k, manual barge with character alongside the ability to cruise the motorways. What might that be

[TVR Sagaris]

Snubs said:

Thanks for all the replies to my XJ query. To answer one question, yes my dad is a lifelong car lover and has owned some very nice ones including a Ferrari 308 GTS and until recently a beautiful MGA. Jag wise, he had an S-Type as a company car and an XF as a personal car. It really has to be a smoker barge, hence raising it in this thread. His real passion is Italian cars, so for a while i was thinking 3200/4200GT. Anything dull would be dismissed out of hand, as would Mercedes despite him having had 3 or 4 of those too (E-classes and an SLK). BMW would be a good choice but seeing as both of my last cars have been BMWs I don't think he would be keen on the grounds of it being a bit samey. I like the look of the 525i MightyBadger just posted. He used to have one of those too as a company car in dark blue.

Seems i picked a dud with my particular XJ example; if anyone could point in the direction of one that would set a benchmark for decent value for money that would be handy. Looking through the Autotrader / Car and Classic ads, prices seem to be all over the place.

A perfect car i suppose would be an interesting, Italian, circa 10k, manual barge with character alongside the ability to cruise the motorways. What might that be

Your dad obviously needs a notoriously reliable Quattroporte: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/227281939655

The XJ GoL posted didn't sell at £1600 which gives some indication of values: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267623411810

[bolidemichael]

TVR Sagaris said:

Your dad obviously needs a notoriously reliable Quattroporte: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/227281939655

I don't recall having seen a facelift one previously. They must be exceedingly uncommon? I have to say that I think they're far better resolved than the pre-facelift with its awkward/iconic nose.

[anotherswifty]

I think you could do worse than a warm rather the full QF Alfa Giulia.
QF out of budget anyway.
He likes Italian cars, that’s half the battle won.
It’s a modern era car that will be good for the miles.You could even look at devil’s fuel for the long trips.

[StescoG66]

Snubs said:

Thanks for all the replies to my XJ query. To answer one question, yes my dad is a lifelong car lover and has owned some very nice ones including a Ferrari 308 GTS and until recently a beautiful MGA. Jag wise, he had an S-Type as a company car and an XF as a personal car. It really has to be a smoker barge, hence raising it in this thread. His real passion is Italian cars, so for a while i was thinking 3200/4200GT. Anything dull would be dismissed out of hand, as would Mercedes despite him having had 3 or 4 of those too (E-classes and an SLK). BMW would be a good choice but seeing as both of my last cars have been BMWs I don't think he would be keen on the grounds of it being a bit samey. I like the look of the 525i MightyBadger just posted. He used to have one of those too as a company car in dark blue.

Seems i picked a dud with my particular XJ example; if anyone could point in the direction of one that would set a benchmark for decent value for money that would be handy. Looking through the Autotrader / Car and Classic ads, prices seem to be all over the place.

A perfect car i suppose would be an interesting, Italian, circa 10k, manual barge with character alongside the ability to cruise the motorways. What might that be

Alfa.166? However Giulia is a great car even in 2.2d form.

[W9LL95]

Maybe one of these if we're thinking DERV? Chairs are a nice colour.

[phil_cardiff]

Quite the niche set of requirements. Good luck.

[tobinen]

Alfa 166 3.0 V6 Busso? Finding a clean one, or one at all, will be tricky though.

Edited by tobinen on Monday 6th April 10:00

[anotherswifty]

There are 2 Breras on AT currently with Q4 awd and plenty of cc s for half your budget.
Mileage at 80 & 100k, and if you are betw Cornwall and 3h travel time they are both at the wrong end of the country if that matters. One is in Keighley so it depends if you apply the blanket Bradford/Birmingham/anywhere else rules or consider potentials with your eyes open.
ETA the lower miles one is our friends up North in the car park…

Edited by anotherswifty on Monday 6th April 16:26