Which V8 / fun car up to £2k
Discussion
I'm after a fun / quirky / different car for up to £2k. (Doesn't have to be a V8.)
Not entirely sure what to go for, though current ideas are:
BMW 740
BMW 540
Lexus LS400
Audi A8 4.2
Honda Legend
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mazda MX5
Ford Explorer
Alfa
Yank?
Economy isn't too important as I won't be doing many miles in the car. Just want something a bit different. Have been driving mostly Saabs, VW and Skoda recently.
Not too sure on a 3 series for that sort of cash. I have driven a 323i (1998) though that didn't feel quick enough. I'm worried that looking for a 328 would be a minefield. I've never owned a BM so no idea what to look for.
Don't fancy a Volvo, unless it's an "R" though would think that's out of my price range.
MX5 sounds fun - would I need a hardtop for winter use? (Assuming hard tops are available for MX5's).
These are two possibles:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3309378.htm
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bu...
Should that Ring sticker on the A8 put me off? I have visions of it being thrashed round the track - don't know why the owner's left that on..
Any recommendations / advice?
Not entirely sure what to go for, though current ideas are:
BMW 740
BMW 540
Lexus LS400
Audi A8 4.2
Honda Legend
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mazda MX5
Ford Explorer
Alfa
Yank?
Economy isn't too important as I won't be doing many miles in the car. Just want something a bit different. Have been driving mostly Saabs, VW and Skoda recently.
Not too sure on a 3 series for that sort of cash. I have driven a 323i (1998) though that didn't feel quick enough. I'm worried that looking for a 328 would be a minefield. I've never owned a BM so no idea what to look for.
Don't fancy a Volvo, unless it's an "R" though would think that's out of my price range.
MX5 sounds fun - would I need a hardtop for winter use? (Assuming hard tops are available for MX5's).
These are two possibles:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3309378.htm
http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=bu...
Should that Ring sticker on the A8 put me off? I have visions of it being thrashed round the track - don't know why the owner's left that on..
Any recommendations / advice?
D4MJT said:
Late 1997 Jaguar XJ6 with a 4.0 AJ16.
Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
I would love one of these though I've got the impression they'd be very expensive to maintain.Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
treetops said:
Get yourself onto the 'Best Smoker Barges Vol 2' thread on PH Gassing....a great thread to be in on!
Already dribbling over some of the barges in there 
kprm77 said:
D4MJT said:
Late 1997 Jaguar XJ6 with a 4.0 AJ16.
Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
I would love one of these though I've got the impression they'd be very expensive to maintain.Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
treetops said:
Get yourself onto the 'Best Smoker Barges Vol 2' thread on PH Gassing....a great thread to be in on!
Already dribbling over some of the barges in there No you won't need a hardtop for an mx5. It'll be more "fun" than the v8 barges you're considering, if its the actual driveing you like and not just the speed / soundtrack. And the thing is with a luxobarge v8 you won't hear the engine much for the most part, unless you do what my mate did to his v8 merc e-class and stick a straight through pipe on it 
D4MJT said:
Late 1997 Jaguar XJ6 with a 4.0 AJ16.
Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
only if something goes wrong - but you will find that with any of your selections. The 6cyl jags were actually pretty good for reliability Massively under-rated, and if it's a second "different" car, it makes you feel a bit special when you drive it.
Lovely cars.
There is a thread on here in the last week.
Some good suggestions so far 
Any comments on the 3 series?
This GTV is close to me - may be worth a sniff. No mention of history though. Any reliability problems with these?
Garlick said:
I have an LS and it's great (read my reports if bored) but fun? Hmmm.....effective rather than fun I'd say.
I'm after something fun or different or quirky - doesn't have to be more than one. Must admit it would be nice to hear the V8 if I go down that route.Any comments on the 3 series?
This GTV is close to me - may be worth a sniff. No mention of history though. Any reliability problems with these?
Edited by kprm77 on Wednesday 26th October 18:19
sparkyhx said:
Thanks for that Looks like even the V8's shouldn't be more than a problem than the V6's as a lot would have had the problems sorted. First two V8's I've looked at have had new engines.
This XJ8 which is close to me has had a new engine. Doesn't seem too quick at 8.1secs to 60 though. Is that misleading? I like wafting, but I'd like mid range power for the odd overtake.
Edited by kprm77 on Wednesday 26th October 20:35
kprm77 said:
I'm after something fun or different or quirky - doesn't have to be more than one. Must admit it would be nice to hear the V8 if I go down that route.
Any comments on the 3 series?
This GTV is close to me - may be worth a sniff. No mention of history though. Any reliability problems with these?
You have to buy an alfa with service history.. cambelt changes 5 yrs or 50,000 miles..Any comments on the 3 series?
This GTV is close to me - may be worth a sniff. No mention of history though. Any reliability problems with these?
Edited by kprm77 on Wednesday 26th October 18:19
Edited by OperationAlfa on Thursday 27th October 11:00
kprm77 said:
Thanks for that
Looks like even the V8's shouldn't be more than a problem than the V6's as a lot would have had the problems sorted. First two V8's I've looked at have had new engines.
This XJ8 which is close to me has had a new engine. Doesn't seem too quick at 8.1secs to 60 though. Is that misleading? I like wafting, but I'd like mid range power for the odd overtake.
Haha, you won't need to worry about mid range shove from either the straight six or the V8 in the Jag. For comparison, I had a 3.2 XJ6 a few years back, and I put it up against my mates 3.0 N/A MK4 supra (private road). Neck and neck exactly the same until he hit the 112mph jap limiter Looks like even the V8's shouldn't be more than a problem than the V6's as a lot would have had the problems sorted. First two V8's I've looked at have had new engines.
This XJ8 which is close to me has had a new engine. Doesn't seem too quick at 8.1secs to 60 though. Is that misleading? I like wafting, but I'd like mid range power for the odd overtake.
Edited by kprm77 on Wednesday 26th October 20:35
My experience of Jag's is that they're the most reliable car for instellar mileage I've ever had, and I'm looking forward to getting another next year. I'll be picking a later straight six rather than a V8. Reasons are thus:
The V8 is smoother and has a nicer gearbox, but not enough to warrant the extra maintenance work. Timing Chains / tensioners are an expensive job on the V8's and can need doing from anywhere from 60k to 100k intervals. Tell tale rattle will give the game away.
I bought a 3.2 Executive on an R plate with a years test for £900, serviced it immediately with parts from www.britishparts.co.uk (no affiliation, just an really good resource if you have a Jag / Range Rover, link included to show how cheap stuff is) and drove the car every day for 10 months. It had 170k on it when I got it, and 187k on it when I sold it with 2 months test.
Sold it for £1,150
I have had loads of e34 540's and love them.
The auto's are wafty and promote a more relaxed approach to driving, the manual cars are more involving and are my personal preference. The manual cars are thinner on the ground though.
It is very easy to liberate the V8 noise and I couldn't imagine owning one without some louder pipes.
Get a good one and they are very reliable and satisfying to own.
The auto's are wafty and promote a more relaxed approach to driving, the manual cars are more involving and are my personal preference. The manual cars are thinner on the ground though.
It is very easy to liberate the V8 noise and I couldn't imagine owning one without some louder pipes.
Get a good one and they are very reliable and satisfying to own.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff