Sammo
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,461
Club RR Member Number: 103
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Looking for a wafty barge. Sammo
@sammo
Club Retro Rides Member 103
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Morning, I'm thinking of changing my E36 3 series and quite fancy the idea of a wafty barge to cruise around in. Ideally I'd like either a 4x4 or an Estate of some sort so I can still load it up when needed. Not too fussed on engine size as I'm walking to work these days, although it will get used to cart 5 of us around every so often. I've been eyeing up a Ford Explorer but it seems nobody has a good word to say about them. Still tempted though haha. Any suggestions would be most welcome and if you'd had experience of your suggestion that's even better. Oh and have a pic of an Explorer just to get us started Cheers, Sammo
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Follow Me On Instagram - @parttimecartinkerer
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The Explorer isn't a bad thing if you get a solid one. Top spec ones with leather interior etc are better upholstered than most things available in the sale at DFS, and comfortable places to be for a long trip.
The American spec interlocks and bonging could get a bit loathsome after a while, but otherwise for the money they're selling at, you can't complain.
Some parts are impossible to get (or ludicrously expensive) which was proven by a mate who recently sold his one as spares/scrap when it snapped a front torsion bar and give up trying to source a replacement.
There's a lot of good things to be said about P38 Range Rovers, and the BMW powered L322's, although the newer they are the more complicated they are, with more expensive parts to boot.
A top spec V8 auto Discovery 1 or 2 also holds water, provided it's not got rot issues.
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Ford Falcon. Got 14 mpg towing this horsebox, usually get around 25 mpg just cruising. Availability might be an issue for UK folk though.
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Jun 24, 2017 16:33:29 GMT
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I had one of those Explorers, this one... It was pretty good, but had a drinking habit that would put Oliver Read to shame, and it wasn't any good at towing a trailer either! More information on it here
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Jun 24, 2017 19:34:24 GMT
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I've heard people call them Exploders for some reason...
The cylinderheads on the V8 version are supposed to be a bit better than the regular asthmatic 302 head.
So its at least a good donor...
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Jun 24, 2017 20:06:38 GMT
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Only got the 4 litre version of the Cologne V6 in the UK I think.
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Sammo
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,461
Club RR Member Number: 103
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Looking for a wafty barge. Sammo
@sammo
Club Retro Rides Member 103
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After reading a lot more on Explorers I don't think I can afford to run one. Lots of talk of low teen mpg is putting me right off, plus the difficulty of finding parts.
Any other suggestions of what might suit? Don't want to spend a huge amount ideally!
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Follow Me On Instagram - @parttimecartinkerer
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,329
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Looking for a wafty barge. brachunky
@brachunky
Club Retro Rides Member 72
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A nice Grand Cherokee V8 would also do the trick! Very comfortable although they don't like lpg conversions too much!
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,416
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Looking for a wafty barge. qwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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I'm a fan of the Chevy Blazer. 4.3 V6 so probably no cheaper to run than an Explorer.
Tom
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Jun 25, 2017 10:07:42 GMT
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My latest wafty barge is a Jaguar S-type, cheap as chips to buy, and surprisingly for a V8 quite good on petrol.
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Jun 25, 2017 10:14:46 GMT
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A nice Grand Cherokee V8 would also do the trick! Very comfortable although they don't like lpg conversions too much! I've seen a few gassed 4.7's, they seemed pretty happy. Ran an awful lot better when mapped properly though. The Explorer V6 on gas is also pretty good. I know of one that did over 130k on LPG without complaint, just standard servicing. Rover V8's are also good on gas, but work a lot better with a fresh cam and timing chain, maybe even some head work to get the best out of the engine, regardless of fuel type.
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Jun 25, 2017 11:28:16 GMT
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If you can do work yourself a Range Rover might be within reach. Jeeps are generally more temperamental but a lot cheaper. Estate - Ford Scorpio Ultima (this is a 2.3, if you get the 2.9 it can be wafty or whizzy depending upon requirements). Or any Volvo estate which can be bought very cheaply and are usually big, comfortable, reliable, fully-loaded wafty barges.
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Jun 25, 2017 21:06:44 GMT
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A similar vein would suggest a jeep cherokee, regular or grand version.
I would also suggest a subaru forester or legacy outback, not as high or big or throaty but better economically and parts can be got, although some are dealer only.
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Jun 25, 2017 22:25:09 GMT
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Get an old Toyota LandBruiser! They're pretty big, or if you want to go 'wide-boy' - get yourself an old Nissan Patrol as they're even wider.
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vulgalour
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 7,243
Club RR Member Number: 146
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Looking for a wafty barge. vulgalour
@vulgalour
Club Retro Rides Member 146
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Jun 25, 2017 23:25:37 GMT
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I'm not sure what you're really after here because in my world 'wafty barge' does not equate to 4x4s or estates so I suspect what you're really after is a highly specced SUV/soft roader. I don't really know anything about those, so instead I'll suggest some cars I consider to fit the waft and barge criteria within what you have stated. Your criteria have been above teens mpg, seats five in comfort and can carry stuff. No budget idea here, no general vehicle size. For reasonable fuel economy, reasonable part support, comfort, surprising refinement and space the Rover 75 Tourer is a very good fit. Easy to get, easy to sell and if you're not bothered about the image, it's like driving around in a comfortable BMW. Buy the best one you can afford, you might find yourself getting attached to it, quite a few people do. Honda Legend is another good choice for being relatively unknown, well specced, smooth engined and a lot of car for your cash. Generally Honda offer very good parts support for even quite old cars and the toys make them comparable to a modern in most ways. They also have bags of modifying potential that is mostly untapped in the UK. If you think the Legend as a saloon is a bit small and want even more plush, grab yourself a big Lexus. The boots on these things are vast, they seat five with room to spare, they're not short of waftability and people always think they're worth far more than you can buy them for. I'd recommend an LS400, but probably not a Mk1 due to rear subframe issues. The Mitsubishi Legnum is likely more what you want, it errs more towards a sporting estate or grand tourer than a true waft-barge but they are quite spacious and a reasonable compromise all round for what they are. Some mechanical parts can be difficult to acquire, but generally not impossible. Okay with imports? How about a mid-90s Chevrolet Caprice. Because it's a Chevrolet parts availability isn't going to be a problem if you can tolerate the postage costs on anything big. Basic tools will fix almost everything on it and there's going to be good support. It will fit five and all their stuff with ease but can be somewhat oversized for non-US roads.
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Last Edit: Jun 25, 2017 23:26:12 GMT by vulgalour
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Davey
Posted a lot
Resident Tyre Nerd.
Posts: 2,320
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Another vote for the Rover 75, i have an MG ZT saloon and I've fallen for it not as bland as most moderns and plenty of toys for the money! Plus the 75 ZT owners club is possibly the best group of guys I've ever known! Always willing to give a hand or even give away parts.
Big buying guide on the forum if you fancy one!
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K11 Micra x3 - Mk3 astra - Seat Marbella - Mk6 Escort estate - B5 Passat - Alfa 156 estate - E36 compact Mk2 MR2 T-bar - E46 328i - Skoda Superb - Fiat seicento - 6n2 Polo - 6n polo 1.6 - Mk1 GS300 EU8 civic type S - MG ZT cdti - R56 MINI Cooper S - Audi A3 8p - Jaguar XF (X250) - FN2 Civic Type R - Mk2 2.0i Ford Focus
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paul99
Part of things
Posts: 410
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Saab 9-5? or a 9000 hatchback (just as much space) if you can find one.
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Jun 26, 2017 14:42:09 GMT
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Get an old Toyota LandBruiser! They're pretty big, or if you want to go 'wide-boy' - get yourself an old Nissan Patrol as they're even wider. Unfortunately even ropey examples of early cars are fetching decent money now. A mate of mine had a mid 80's petrol Land-Cruiser, he did tend to drive it hard but it returned under 10mpg!
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Sammo
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,461
Club RR Member Number: 103
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Looking for a wafty barge. Sammo
@sammo
Club Retro Rides Member 103
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Jun 26, 2017 17:33:03 GMT
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Saab 9-5? or a 9000 hatchback (just as much space) if you can find one. I used to own a 400hp Saab 9000 which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately I just couldn't afford to run it at the time so had to sell it on. Haven't seen or heard of it since so don't actually know what happened to it in the end.
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Follow Me On Instagram - @parttimecartinkerer
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Sammo
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,461
Club RR Member Number: 103
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Looking for a wafty barge. Sammo
@sammo
Club Retro Rides Member 103
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Jun 26, 2017 17:37:13 GMT
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Lots of very helpful suggestions Thanks for that. I agree that perhaps wafty barge isn't exactly what I've been looking at. Basically I want something big, lazy, automatic ideally, that doesn't take the curse word with fuel consumption but has a half decent turn of speed if I do decide to put my foot down. Budget wise I'm at the bargain basement end of things with maybe £2k to spend at a push! Big ask I know, but I know there's plenty out there. Funnily enough I've looked at all your suggestions before you suggested them.
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Follow Me On Instagram - @parttimecartinkerer
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