Old retro luxury sofa wafting barges

[bass]

Hi guys

I am after some recommendations, Basically I'm after an old school barge that rides super smooth, I'm not interested in power and handling i just want something retro pimptastic silky smooth and quite. idealy something that will average 25mpg at least round the doors. Budget of up to 2k, that doesn't mean i have to spend it all, id be happy to pay £500 quid and spend 1500 fixing it up etc.

just after some recommendations, expect typical bmw and merc replies but open to anything, I'm really not clued up on old mercs, i like some of the ones ive seen but there it loads of them and don't know all the names etc.

[omega]

rover 75

[bass]

Not retro enough for me, I'm thining 80's very early 90's late 70's even

[duncanmartin]

Citroën XM. Super smooth, turbo petrol or diesel engines, built in lows!

[grifterkid]

Blimey, there is a lot to choose from...!!!

Renault 25
Alfa Romeo 164
Saab 9000
Volvo 760 (or 740)
Citroen XM (as already mentioned)
Peugeot 604
Ford Granada Mk2
Rover SD1

I am sorry for the lack of pictures!!!

[gazjon]

E28's all day!

[Foxy]

XJ Jag!!! Day in, day out, like wafting along on a cloud of smugness.

[gurnersimps1963]

s241.photobucket.com/user/gurnsimps/media/SDC12296.jpg.html?filters[user]=55068081&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=199
May not be old enough for you but Lexus gs300,I bought one for the wife and its an awesome bit of kit.
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/153254/gurns-new-daily

[adam73bgt]

Got to be a Jag XJ40 surely?

[Llewelyn_]

An E23 BMW would be a lovely old wafter!



Failing that, how about:

(think slightly earlier than XM/164 era as mentioned above)

Mercedes W126
XJ6 Series 3
Citroen CX (!!)
E32 7 Series

[composimmonite]

I don't know if it fits the bill but what about Austin Princess or Ambassador. Then there is the Wolseley 2200, Rover 800, Audi 90, Vauxhall Royale, Rover P5 & P6 plus numerous US models.

Paul H

[hotfuzz]

What about an early Vauxhall Senator or the later version: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-SENATOR-3-0I-CD-AUTO-GOLD-FULL-LEATHER-MOT-SEPT-2014-/121235196200?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c3a2e4928

[Deleted]

w116 merc : )

[Llewelyn_]

^ Gets my vote too

[TurboDieselWeasel]

I think you want an Olds Custom Cruiser

[Del]

<- Mk3 Granada

[hezekiel]

Citroën CX. Much smoother ride than the newer models of the same make, superb Diravi steering. Choose an estate or Prestige if you need more space.

[stwat]

W126 S-Class 300SE Silky smooth 3.0L straight six.

[gavs1]

triumph 2000

[Deleted]

Rather than telling you about cars I know little about, I'll talk about one I know a lot about: Austin Princess/Leyland 18/22

For what you're after, I would advise a 2ltr HLS manual or auto. I think you'll find the 1.7 HL or L will fall short of your expectations and I think you'll find the 2.2ltr HLS to be too thirsty, particularly urban driving. The HLS has all the whistles and bells, so you'll get power assisted steering, halogen headlights and armrests in the front seats. You'll also get a walnut veneered dash and acres of velour and plush carpetting.

They're a very quiet car and feel quite refined inside. Wind noise is only an issue at high motorway speeds and they're pretty good in side winds due to their wide track and shape. Seating position is not as upright as it is on other British cars and the seats are so adjustable I'd be surprised if you couldn't get comfortable in them. The seats themselves rival the French for comfort levels and are surprisingly supportive.

Parts are easy to acquire, particularly for the 1.7 and 2.0 which have the O series engine. If you go for the Princess 2 you'll find you're not going to be saddled with the B series engine which while quite worthy will probably be thirstier than you'd like around town. There is a lot of mechanical parts bin going on so most of the mechanicals components can be got easily and cheaply.

The two things people will tell you is to be wary of rot and the hydragas suspension. Fact is, by the time the Princess 2 came along the rot problems were virtually eliminated. Scabby door bottoms are not uncommon, and the same is true of the driver's side front wing. But while replacement doors can be tricky to find, they are fairly straightforward to repair. Wings can be got in steel and fibreglass if needed but can also be repaired. Sills are generally very solid and the floor pans don't rot like old Fords do. As for the suspension, the spheres can fail and unfortunately there are no brand new replacements so you have to rely on finding NOS (which are astonishingly rare) or good second hand ones. There are still spheres available, priced from £25-130 depending on visual condition.

Providing it's got an O series engine, you can run it on unleaded. They're more than happy loping up and down motorways and respond better to being used than being sat idle. I use mine every day and would love to spend more cash getting everything back to as new, but the car puts up with a surprising amount of use and abuse for its age and reputation and I'd encourage anyone out there to purchase one.

I've got two of them:
1980 Austin Morris Princess 2 1.7 HL - bought for £450 in Feb 2012 with T&T. Been through the wars a bit in my ownership, but I doubt I've exceeded £1000 including purchase price and that's with doing a lot of undoing of previous owner bodges.


1981 Austin Morris Princess 2 2.0 HLS - FREE. This is now nearing MoT and while a respray and a suspension pump up would make it look as good as it could be, including getting it delivered from 300 miles away I think I will have spent somewhere in the region of £400-500 to get it on the road again after being laid up since 1997. This cost includes a new interior, a head rebuild and various other sundries.


One day, they'll both hopefully look as good as this HLS spec in metallic bronze with all the chrome bits.