Big 'Bargain' Barges

[adam73bgt]

So soon I'm going to be finished with uni, and I'm planning to take the MG off the road for a bit to do some work on it. Which means I need a second car.

Now for most guys my age, that would mean some sensible hatchback but after seeing a mate buy a Lexus IS I've decided I need more than 4 cylinders

Now there are lots of big cheap barges on the net, and I've been wondering how bad they would actually be to run daily, the road tax would be the same as the MGB, the fuel economy would be largely the same (LPG could help also), insurance isn't too bad either, I'd do servicing myself so that wouldn't be too bad.

So am I mad? or should I go for it? anything I've overlooked? Some pictures to show the sorts of things I've been looking at

Jag XJ40





Jag X300 (EDIT: I think the white one might actually be an X308..)





Lexus LS



BMW E34





Volvo 850

[TurboDieselWeasel]

Can be had reasonably cheap - but I imagine getting spare parts could be a nightmare... Same goes for this, can be had cheap but probably comes with a price:



But then...

[joem83]

Nice, but none of those are full size barges:

W140:


E38:


Go big or go home lol

[adam73bgt]

Ahhh yes I'd missed off the 7 series, the lure of a V12 would surely ruin me though...

[captainwow]

My vote would go for a 140, I absolutely love mine. Only thing I'll say is that you'll need VERY deep pockets, and not just for fuel. They're cheap for a reason

[doobie]

Have a look at the Renault Safrane if its not too new for you... later ph2s have the volvo inline 5 volvo engine with 160 bhp. all electric inc leather heated seats lazy autobox cruise etc and the best ride of any car i have ever driven, insurance group is remarkably low and you should get a good one for under £500. It also has the added bonus of being a hatchback and almost unique as i have yet to see another on my travels in it.

[adam73bgt]

Mar 24, 2014 10:06:27 GMT captainwow said:

My vote would go for a 140, I absolutely love mine. Only thing I'll say is that you'll need VERY deep pockets, and not just for fuel. They're cheap for a reason

Do they go wrong often? I think that is what worries me slightly, my car at the moment is very simple and cheap to fix, so something with a lot of electronics and stuff to go wrong would be a bit of a change..

[captainwow]

I've been pretty lucky with mine I think. It seems to be one of those things, that if you buy a good one they're ok. Cheap ones are cheap for a reason. Parts can be very expensive and they eat suspension arms and bushes for fun. I'm not a million miles away from you, if you want to have a look at mine you'er more than welcome. You'll want one if you do though, be warned...

[Deleted]

its not the day to day running you need to be to worry about so much. its the price of parts when something unexpected breaks have a good look round at parts prices before making a final decision : )

[adam73bgt]

Hmm I shall be sure to do some research on parts prices, I suppose the weight of these sorts of cars will wear out suspension and tyres quicker

Hmmmmm Alfa 164, nice V6 sound, very nice to look at, but I think I would have to be mad to buy a cheap Alfa for use everyday sadly :/

[captainwow]

Mar 24, 2014 10:25:47 GMT @mjp said:

its not the day to day running you need to be to worry about so much. its the price of parts when something unexpected breaks have a good look round at parts prices before making a final decision : )

This. Exactly this. People assume it's the fuel costs etc that are the issues with these. They're not cheap to fuel, granted, bit other running costs are monstrous. I do maybe 100 miles a month in mine, if that, and it costs me into the hundreds with work, parts etc to keep it going.

[adam73bgt]

Aye, fuel costs aren't a huge worry as I wouldn't be doing massive miles plus I've been running a car doing mid 20's mpg anyway

Anyone know what the Jag's are like for things to go wrong? I do quite like the look of an XJ6 (XJ40 or X300)

[captainwow]

Mid 20s? Around town you'll struggle. Mine is well into single figures pootling around. Afraid I can't help on the Jag thing.

[HoTWire]

Renault 25

L'Autoroute Stormiererere

[Deleted]

i only just get 26 mpg out of my 300te24 taking it steady on the motorway its not worth thinking about running around locally. theres also the early audi a8 and cadillac sts to be considered both can be picked up for reasonable prices now.

[joem83]

I get the impresion that it's cheaper to maintain a 7 series, possibly due to the fact there are more being broken for parts & more of them forsale.

Have some LPG barges:

Gangsta 728:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-728-LPG-CONVERSION-SLAMMED-ON-20-INCH-RIMS-SWAP-PX-SWAP-/161257499908?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item258bb22d04

Green on Green 535:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bmw-535i-lpg-e39-/261432126731?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cde91ad0b

Propper 740i:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-740i-4-4-V8-Auto-LPG-Converted-2001-Facelift-Model-Sat-nav-Rear-screens-/171277574607?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e0f061cf

Honest looking 728:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-728I-LPG-Converted-Auto-TV-Car-phone-50MPG-Running-Costs-Blue-New-MOT-/181359200477?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a39d9c8dd

Only decent looking W140 with LPG:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-MERCEDES-S280-AUTO-LPG-converted-tax-and-mot-/121294369786?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c3db533fa

[Deleted]

mjp l was also vote for Audi a8 theres a 4.2L V( quattro on fleebay for 2k ohh tempting. Or a lardy Range Rover 4.0 V8

....but anyway lets stop messing around it's got to be a jag

[joem83]

XJR's are very affordable

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJR-4-0-V8-Supercharged-380bhp-Most-bhp-per-u-can-get-Plate-included-/321356185687?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ad2524057

[adam73bgt]

Mar 24, 2014 11:09:11 GMT joem83 said:

I get the impresion that it's cheaper to maintain a 7 series, possibly due to the fact there are more being broken for parts & more of them forsale.

Have some LPG barges:

Ahh thanks for those, just what I didn't need haha The equipment level on that 740 is nicee

The A8 is another car I thought of but the german stuff just seems a little.. anonymous?

French stuff is quite cool too but seems fairly rare, possibly an issue getting parts?

I am leaning towards a jag at the moment

[adam73bgt]

Mar 24, 2014 11:17:57 GMT joem83 said:

XJR's are very affordable

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJR-4-0-V8-Supercharged-380bhp-Most-bhp-per-u-can-get-Plate-included-/321356185687?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ad2524057

Hmm insurance quotes of £700 and £1300 in Ipswich and Coventry respectively (home and uni) .... well that is interesting I think my fuel economy would suffer with 380bhp at my disposal though