Cheap luxobarge - maybe veg oil - suggestions?

rev_henry

As I've said on another thread I feel it it time I sold my rover and bought a proper car. I want a luxobarge of some description, but not too ridiculous due to insurance, so no XJs/7 series/S classes please!

Ideally I'd like it to run on veg oil too, with as little tweaking as possible (though I know this possibly is too much to ask), otherwise be reasonably economical.

Currently thinking:

Mercedes W202 C250 diesel (ideally non turbo - insurance, could stretch to an E maybe)
BMW E36 318, 325 or E34 525TDS.

Things I would like:
auto
lots of buttons
relaxed motorway cruiser.
Cheap insurance (though insurance is a bit weird for me - the 525TDS is a fair bit cheaper than the C220 diesel)
Won't break, or at least not fatally.

Any further suggestions? I had my heart set on a C220 diesel until I realised it had a lucas pump. :eek: May still go for one though tbh - 40mpg but hideously slow...

rev_henry

Nothing?! Well you lot are quiet these days!

Rolandtheroadie

Missed it. Seen the bangernomics bit and went to reply but got caught up in something else.

The Merc has a saddle tank that can give problems on veg. I think they can also suffer ring gumming. A lot of the jobs that may need done are difficult apparently. The bigger mercs I believe are better.

BMW? Never really considered them before.


Audi. I've got the 80, which I like loads, but when it's time to change the wifes CRD, I think I'll be on the hunt for something top of the range, pre 2003.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-/9801/i.html?Fuel%2520Type=Diesel&Model%2520Year=2002%7C2001%7C2000%7C1999%7C1998%7C1996&_nkw=audi+quattro&_dmpt=Automobiles_UK&Transmission=Automatic&rt=nc

Join a veg oil forum, think about getting a collection run/filtration system up and running and offset insurance costs against the fuel costs (I had the money for the Audi in a jar, every litre put in a car, £1 in the jar).

rev_henry

scotsman4th wrote: »

Missed it. Seen the bangernomics bit and went to reply but got caught up in something else.

The Merc has a saddle tank that can give problems on veg. I think they can also suffer ring gumming. A lot of the jobs that may need done are difficult apparently. The bigger mercs I believe are better.

BMW? Never really considered them before.


Audi. I've got the 80, which I like loads, but when it's time to change the wifes CRD, I think I'll be on the hunt for something top of the range, pre 2003.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-/9801/i.html?Fuel%2520Type=Diesel&Model%2520Year=2002%7C2001%7C2000%7C1999%7C1998%7C1996&_nkw=audi+quattro&_dmpt=Automobiles_UK&Transmission=Automatic&rt=nc

Join a veg oil forum, think about getting a collection run/filtration system up and running and offset insurance costs against the fuel costs (I had the money for the Audi in a jar, every litre put in a car, £1 in the jar).

Yeah I've read about this ring gumming business, unfortunately don't think I can insure an E300TD which would be better.

Yeah your 80 looked fantastic.
Maybe I can't be bothered with veg, I'm not sure...
This looks ok, and will take veg ok...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201225476100166/sort/locasc/usedcars/price-to/2000/fuel-type/diesel/model/3_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/1/radius/1500/postcode/la11aa?logcode=p

rev_henry

Well I think I'll go and have a look at a few tomorrow. Not necessarily veg oil things, just new cars...
99 golf tdi 100k, 2000 A4 100k, 52 Hyundai elantra 60k, 52 volvo s40 100k
(all diesel)

Any thoughts? They're all around the £1200 mark. Am I being very silly and setting myself up for a large bill very soon...?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Never got involved in trying to run a proper car on mazola, but if i owned a shed worth about thruppence then i daresay i'd give it a go too.

However back in the real world of proper comfortable cars, not sheds, and preferably auto, there is only one way to go, and thats to stick with petrol and go LPG.

Only wish i'd done it ten years previously when i first thought about it.

If you're prepared to forgo the badge, and take a gamble on something very comfortable but undesirable for most, then exceptional bargains can be picked up, which even if you have to fork out a grand for a LPG conversion will still make serious bargains for luxo barge motoring with Diesel hatchback running costs.

Even proper Volvo's (not rebodied Focus') make poor money used, and quite a few dual fuelled from new come up for sale.

I'm thinking along the lines of Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magenti and such cars, cars which are very good, will likely have been owned by the right previous one mature owner who has looked after it and will have years of comfortable reliable use left, stick an 80 litre LPG tank in the boot and you've cracked it.

It would take something very drastic to happen or an exceptional Diesel bargain for me to come off LPG for my next car.

Much depends on where you live and the LPG indy supplier situation, indies usually 5 to 10 ppl cheaper than forecourts.

My 3.2 litre petrol auto luxo barge costs about the same to run as a manual (pause to spit) Diesel euroclonebox but gives almost silent smooooooth running, and doesn't stink, unlike every single Diesel car on the road.

Worth having a mull over, i wouldn't go back by choice.

rev_henry

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Never got involved in trying to run a proper car on mazola, but if i owned a shed worth about thruppence then i daresay i'd give it a go too.

However back in the real world of proper comfortable cars, not sheds, and preferably auto, there is only one way to go, and thats to stick with petrol and go LPG.

Only wish i'd done it ten years previously when i first thought about it.

If you're prepared to forgo the badge, and take a gamble on something very comfortable but undesirable for most, then exceptional bargains can be picked up, which even if you have to fork out a grand for a LPG conversion will still make serious bargains for luxo barge motoring with Diesel hatchback running costs.

Even proper Volvo's (not rebodied Focus') make poor money used, and quite a few dual fuelled from new come up for sale.

I'm thinking along the lines of Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magenti and such cars, cars which are very good, will likely have been owned by the right previous one mature owner who has looked after it and will have years of comfortable reliable use left, stick an 80 litre LPG tank in the boot and you've cracked it.

It would take something very drastic to happen or an exceptional Diesel bargain for me to come off LPG for my next car.

Much depends on where you live and the LPG indy supplier situation, indies usually 5 to 10 ppl cheaper than forecourts.

My 3.2 litre petrol auto luxo barge costs about the same to run as a manual (pause to spit) Diesel euroclonebox but gives almost silent smooooooth running, and doesn't stink, unlike every single Diesel car on the road.

Worth having a mull over, i wouldn't go back by choice.

I had considered LPG - do like the look of the magentis etc (or even one of those weird Hyundai XG things if I could find one) but not seen any locally already converted. I'm looking around the £1200 mark so not going to spend another £1200 on a conversion, but if one already converted pops up...

Notmyrealname

Lexus L400. Lots and lots of buttons. Earlier ones are much cheapness and they can even be found with front seats that massage you.

rev_henry

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Lexus L400. Lots and lots of buttons. Earlier ones are much cheapness and they can even be found with front seats that massage you.

Alas don't think I could afford the insurance on anything that big - I'm looking for C class/3 series size.

Saw a couple of A4 TDIs today. Both about 100k, one 2000X looked nice online but didn't look as if it'd been looked after and no history so that's off the list.
Another 1997 (so probably veg oil) I very much liked. Automatic too (yay). Stacks of service history, same family from new (2 owners) newish pirelli P6000s all round, my only concern was whether the ATF had been done recently (couldn't see it in the history but I only flicked through as there was so much) and I think the cambelt may be due. Last done 87k 2008???

almillar

I've never thought of a C-Class or 3 Series as luxobarges, but why not add to this list the Lexus IS200 (techie) or Jag X-Type.

fivetide

I think the slightly older 190 Merc is the one to go for when it comes to running on veg oil.

Can't go wrong with a good barge if it's been looked after and isn't full of tin worm!

5t.