Best sub-£2.5k V8?!?

[Bad Sir Culation]

Right. I want a V8. I always have done. And I have decided that I am having one, either this year, or in 12 months' time, depending on how my change of car pans out and what I end up buying as a daily driver.

I've got my heart pretty much set on an E34 540i, 6-Speed manual. But as these are very thin on the ground, even more so with less than 100k on the clock, I thought I'd try and come up with a backup plan.

I'm not overly fussed on the style of car, but I want it to be RWD, lots of fun, reliable and with a nice engine note, be that with or without breathing mods. I do want a manual, or at the very least an auto that can be fairly cheaply converted if need be.

So what's out there? What are people's recommendations?

[giw12]

I wouldn't worry too much about getting a sub-100k car. Buy on condition and history.

[Caulkhead]

This. This. This.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

It is cast from solid granite and will never let you down. You also have £1500 left in the bank. Buy it now before I do.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's not manual. . . . .

[Bad Sir Culation]

Too wafty, not manual! The thing I like with the E34 is that it's not as much a big waft-mobile as it may at first seem. Sub 1600KGs makes it about the same weight as a modern Impreza etc. It could be set up to handle really nicely.

[jbi]

Toyota/Lexus Soarer



One of the strongest engines ever built and a relatively easy swap to a supra manual gearbox (w-58 or R-154)

here's a video of what she sounds like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJssuiPwK_s

and with a supercharger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyKORTJO0I

Edited by jbi on Wednesday 20th July 12:03

[350Wedge]

Caulkhead said:

This. This. This.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Buy it now before I do.

Or before Garlick spots it

[Justayellowbadge]

There was an E55 AMG posted at £1800 a few days ago...

[redgriff500]

Caulkhead said:

This. This. This.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Cloth seats and

"small amount/time of money required to restore this classic"

I guarantee you it won't be a small amount !

[redgriff500]

As suggested if you want an Auto the Soarer has to be the best VFM IMO.

But cheap V8 Manual - the BMW is pretty much the only option.

Unless you want a ropey TVR wedge or if you were exceptionally brave / stupid a 928

[Bad Sir Culation]

jbi said:

Toyota/Lexus Soarer



One of the strongest engines ever built and a relatively easy swap to a supra manual gearbox (w-58 or R-154)

here's a video of what she sounds like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJssuiPwK_s

and with a supercharger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyKORTJO0I

Edited by jbi on Wednesday 20th July 12:03

I like Soarers. How do they feel, are they drivers' cars? What sort of power output do they give, and what do they drive like with the 6-Speed Supra box? Is it a relatively cheap conversion?

[vescaegg]

redgriff500 said:

Caulkhead said:

This. This. This.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Cloth seats and

"small amount of your £161million euro millions money required to restore this classic"

EFA

[Bad Sir Culation]

vescaegg said:

EFA

[300bhp/ton]

Bad Sir Culation said:

jbi said:

Toyota/Lexus Soarer



One of the strongest engines ever built and a relatively easy swap to a supra manual gearbox (w-58 or R-154)

here's a video of what she sounds like

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJssuiPwK_s

and with a supercharger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVyKORTJO0I

Edited by jbi on Wednesday 20th July 12:03

I like Soarers. How do they feel, are they drivers' cars? What sort of power output do they give, and what do they drive like with the 6-Speed Supra box? Is it a relatively cheap conversion?

They are a big GT car more than sports car and quite heavy. So brisk with good top speed more than out right tarmac tearing ability.

5 speed manual will really wake them up. Power iirc is circa 270-290hp depending upon year.

Engine is very nice, but expensive to n/a tune. But takes to forced induction or nitrous well without any engine mods.

It can certainly be made to perform very well.

Manual conversion is meant to be fairly easy, although I don't know how easy it is to get all the parts in the UK for sensible money.

Some other options not mentioned already. Rover SD1 or a Triumph TR7 V8. The latter is probably the most "sporty" option on your budget and makes a good budget TVR alternative. RV8 is nice and makes a good noise, but isn't a powerhouse in HP terms. That said, 200-250hp is quite doable and something like a TR7 only weighs around 1100kg.

[tomsugden]

Surely the only way to break one's V8 virginity is with something that says TVR on the back? Ok, it's not going to be as reliable as a german barge, but at least you'll arrive everywhere with a big grin on your face.

I had a TVR 350i as my only car for about 18 months. I used it every day, rain or shine, and although things broke, it never actually let me down. 30 mpg was also possible if you drove it sensibly.

Edited by tomsugden on Wednesday 20th July 13:26

[djt100]

I've been looking at buying a Jag XJR and seen a few in this price range, most with good service history, and fro what i''ve read not wafty at all. Although no manual box. I think if manual is a must then your stuck with a BMW, and then thay seem as rare as rocking horse sh**.

There are a few Manual XJ8 4.0 about , but again quite rare

[stewjohnst]

For £2.5k your budget could probably stretch to an reasonable condition E39 540 with 4.4 V8 - Loved mine.

Yes, most of them will be tiptronic/auto but there's plenty of torque and power to play with.

Stick the box in semi-auto and it will respond more or less quickly enough for you to pretend its manual anyway.

Plus the switchable auto means you get the other advantage of a big lazy V8, cruising around on waves of torque without when you can't be bothered to rag it.

As for an XJR,

I always hankered after an XJR myself but if you do go that option, just make sure you check they start properly otherwise the block might be on it's way out - back in the high sulphur petrol days, the fuel ate the engine liners (google Nikasil & Jaguar for the history of why). If the XJ still starts fine when you check it given it'll be at 100k+ miles, it's probably going to be fine.

[300bhp/ton]

stewjohnst said:

As for an XJR,

I always hankered after an XJR myself but if you do go that option, just make sure you check they start properly otherwise the block might be on it's way out - back in the high sulphur petrol days, the fuel ate the engine liners (google Nikasil & Jaguar for the history of why). If the XJ still starts fine when you check it given it'll be at 100k+ miles, it's probably going to be fine.

It rather bugs me when people play this same old broken record!!!

1. It affect BMW, Porsche and anyone else who used Nikasil liners too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. It was years and years ago. Any affected will likely have been replaced yonks back. Those that didn't are probably fine and will continue to be. You'd have to be pretty unlucky to buy one that has only just developed nikasil issues.

[stewjohnst]

300bhp/ton said:

It rather bugs me when people play this same old broken record!!!

1. It affect BMW, Porsche and anyone else who used Nikasil liners too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. It was years and years ago. Any affected will likely have been replaced yonks back. Those that didn't are probably fine and will continue to be. You'd have to be pretty unlucky to buy one that has only just developed nikasil issues.

It' still a valid point and given someone mentioned the xjr, thought it was worth mentioning. It caused a gradual erosion of the liner, those that went kaput will have been replaced but some won't experience complete lack of compression, just a partial power loss so its worth noting imo. I walked away from an xjr that was struggling to start because of it. However, most that are alive now are probably going to be fine (pretty sure thats what I put in my post).

I only referenced the XJ as somebody specifically mentioned them...

[300bhp/ton]

stewjohnst said:

It' still a valid point and given someone mentioned the xjr, thought it was worth mentioning. It caused a gradual erosion of the liner, those that went kaput will have been replaced but some won't experience complete lack of compression, just a partial power loss so its worth noting imo. I walked away from an xjr that was struggling to start because of it. However, most that are alive now are probably going to be fine (pretty sure thats what I put in my post).

I only referenced the XJ as somebody specifically mentioned them...

No worries. It just seems a common theme that mention Jag V8 and this comment gets rolled out. Mention a same era Porsche or BMW (which have both also had a mention) and you almost never see nikasil comments leveled against them.

[sparks_E39]

E39 540 Manual ticks all the right boxes, except there are hardly any out there.