Discussion
Afternoon,
Thinking about picking up a cheap V8... Really after the noise and overall feel good factor. I have concluded that the X308 XJ8 is quite possibly the best value for money as far as old V8 cars go right now. I could buy one cheap, take off the backboxes, fit straight pipes and then refit backboxes when it comes time to sell. Not bothered about economy, practicality, running costs etc as I have a 159 2.4 JTDM and a S-Type 2.7D for daily use so this would just be a weekend car to supplement the upcoming 328i track car..
Anyone hav any leftfield ideas that I may not of considered?? I have looked at E39 540i and E38 740i and neither seems to have be character of the old Jag. Also looked at MK1 LS400 and W202 S430 however I don't think that neither of them would seem 'right' with a modified exhaust.
All suggestions welcome.
Lew.
Thinking about picking up a cheap V8... Really after the noise and overall feel good factor. I have concluded that the X308 XJ8 is quite possibly the best value for money as far as old V8 cars go right now. I could buy one cheap, take off the backboxes, fit straight pipes and then refit backboxes when it comes time to sell. Not bothered about economy, practicality, running costs etc as I have a 159 2.4 JTDM and a S-Type 2.7D for daily use so this would just be a weekend car to supplement the upcoming 328i track car..
Anyone hav any leftfield ideas that I may not of considered?? I have looked at E39 540i and E38 740i and neither seems to have be character of the old Jag. Also looked at MK1 LS400 and W202 S430 however I don't think that neither of them would seem 'right' with a modified exhaust.
All suggestions welcome.
Lew.
I looked at XK8's and then came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be getting anymore satisfaction from it than I would from an XJ8. Yes the XK8 is prettier but that doesn't really bother me I'm just after the V8 
The CLK430 is a good shout. The only thing that bothers me with those is the interior compared to the XJ8 just feels a little pedestrian. I seem to remember Toyota offering the Soarer with a 4.0 V8... I wonder what that is like??
The CLK430 is a good shout. The only thing that bothers me with those is the interior compared to the XJ8 just feels a little pedestrian. I seem to remember Toyota offering the Soarer with a 4.0 V8... I wonder what that is like??
. 
I think the Audi 4.2 V8 sounds superb in terms of engine-only noise. The exhaust tones are always muted, but the engine itself has a lovely V8 whine at low revs and a mighty roar at the top end. Can be had in the old A6 with the flared wheelarches (AutoTrader link)
E34 540i's getting rarer and in turn it's now harder to find a decent example for less.
Like the idea of a TVR. Unfortunately this car will be in a car park and not garaged so I would rather wait for space in my garage when I change another car in the future.
Looked at Range Rover V8's. I do want to be able to use it more than one weekend a month though....
Is there a link to this E39 535i ??
Good shout on the A6. I like that generation and hadn't thought of those..
Tell me more about this E39 540i manual?? All of the cars I have seen are Auto's. It was only a few years ago when I would be tripping over them if I was looking. Now there are very few decent examples for sale. Still not sure if it's my thing, but can't hurt to look.
The Jeep V8's are a little hard to resell compared to the others. Need to think about that in the long run. The other suggestions do have small markets but none as small as an old V8 Grand Cherokee...
Like the idea of a TVR. Unfortunately this car will be in a car park and not garaged so I would rather wait for space in my garage when I change another car in the future.
Looked at Range Rover V8's. I do want to be able to use it more than one weekend a month though....
Is there a link to this E39 535i ??
Good shout on the A6. I like that generation and hadn't thought of those..
Tell me more about this E39 540i manual?? All of the cars I have seen are Auto's. It was only a few years ago when I would be tripping over them if I was looking. Now there are very few decent examples for sale. Still not sure if it's my thing, but can't hurt to look.
The Jeep V8's are a little hard to resell compared to the others. Need to think about that in the long run. The other suggestions do have small markets but none as small as an old V8 Grand Cherokee...
I think that if I wanted the classic V8 experience in the package of a practical car I would put a 55 AMG at the top by quite a way.
I'm not a Merc fan and have owned XKRs and 540i's which were faultless but AMG manage to get a modern OHC V8 to sound and feel like a dirty American pushrod lump. And at the end of the day when we think of V8s it is the pushrod units which first spring to mind.
Later Jags have managed it but you can find the AMG 55 in cars as old as 15 years from just a couple of grand.
I'm not a Merc fan and have owned XKRs and 540i's which were faultless but AMG manage to get a modern OHC V8 to sound and feel like a dirty American pushrod lump. And at the end of the day when we think of V8s it is the pushrod units which first spring to mind.
Later Jags have managed it but you can find the AMG 55 in cars as old as 15 years from just a couple of grand.
skyrover said:
That is absolutely brilliant. I was thinking "Meh, sounds good but not... WHOAH."
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