Talk to me about V8

[rsbmw]

Having never owned a car with more than 4 pots / 2L, I've recently had an itch that I thought only a V8 could scratch. Fell in love with the W216 CL, and today went to drive a 2010 CL500 example. 5.5L V8, 380bhp. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed. Revving the engine with the door/window open sounds epic, but with the door closed you can't hear much inside that luxury double glazed cabin, so the soundtrack becomes pretty irrelevant. Beyond that, it simply didn't feel as fast as I was expecting. Perfectly competent of course, but just didn't feel much quicker in the real world than my current F10 520D. Expected to be blown away by power and throttle response, but even in sport mode the throttle response wasn't brilliant and the gearbox a bit dithery. Maybe I am spoiled by turbo-diesel torque and ZF8 gearboxes. Aside from that the car felt special, although that should be expected from a car that was £100k just 7 years ago.

Is this a typical experience? Maybe once you get past 100mph that engine comes into its own, but that's just not realistic as I wont exceed 80 on the motorway and I wont track it. I want it to feel quick on B roads, without license losing speeds, but the throttle response and torque don't really allow for that. If I'm going to spend twice as much on fuel, I need to be more impressed.

What other options should I be looking at, maybe the supercharged 5L Jag XF? Perhaps the 2011+ 4.7L turbo CL500 is more what I'm looking for?

[djc206]

If you want an exciting V8 going for a big luxury car isn't going to be the way forward. The point of the CL500 is no horrid agricultural diesel noise or a screaming 4 pot, it's supposed to refined more than it is quick hence not having a particularly impressive power output given the displacement. If you want a pokier V8 with a good soundtrack maybe look at VXR8, C63, E63, RS5/RS4, M3. I've put those in order of soundtrack from awesome to decent.

Without knowing the budget it's quite difficult but no don't write off V8's on the basis of that one. I've on my 3rd NA V8 now and I love them.

[Codswallop]

rsbmw said:

I want it to feel quick on B roads, without license losing speeds

An enormous grand tourer such as the CL was really not designed for B-road hooning. I'm not surprised it didn't do what you wanted.

What's your budget? Will it be an only car?

TVR Chimaera or Griffith would be much better, though still not a B-road blaster. Mayble an SLK55 if you want more comfort. Generally though, I can't think of many V8 cars that are designed for B-roads. It's not really their remit. I've got a Monaro CV8 which was still good fun on Welsh b-roads, but my MR2 would have been better in that environment (despite the sewing machine 4 pot soundtrack).

Regarding sensation of speed, V8s deliver power in a linear manner which doesn't feel as dramatic as turboed stuff. The speed is still there, it just doesn't feel as jerky as when a turbo engine suddenly gains a bunch of horsepower when the turbo wakes up.

[rsbmw]

I'd like to keep it around 20k, only car, needs to be practical for family duty and I do like my luxury cabins and toys. I guess I want everything in one car, which may not be achievable.

[liner33]

The XFR is more fun than a car this size should be , it is very very fast , its heavy of course and you do feel the weight but again its better than a car this size should be

I looked at the VXR8 and a few others but the more I drive the big Jag the more I love it , its also better on fuel than most and very practical

[djc206]

rsbmw said:

I'd like to keep it around 20k, only car, needs to be practical for family duty and I do like my luxury cabins and toys. I guess I want everything in one car, which may not be achievable.

Surely a C63 would fit that brief. Not the cheapest car to run though.

[Loyly]

You sound like you're after thrills, but decided to try out a luxury car and were disappointed to find out it's luxurious and refined. The only bit I find suprising is the rather dubious claim it didn't feel much faster than a 520d. Someone better tell Mercedes to stop bothering with these V8's then.

[rsbmw]

liner33 said:

The XFR is more fun than a car this size should be , it is very very fast , its heavy of course and you do feel the weight but again its better than a car this size should be

Thanks, I will give one a try.

djc206 said:

Surely a C63 would fit that brief. Not the cheapest car to run though.

For some reason I've never been fond of these.

Loyly said:

You sound like you're after thrills, but decided to try out a luxury car and were disappointed to find out it's luxurious and refined. The only bit I find suprising is the rather dubious claim it didn't feel much faster than a 520d. Someone better tell Mercedes to stop bothering with these V8's then.

What a strange post. I would thank you for your input but... there wasn't any.

[MattyB_]

I'm a big V6/V8 fan - and even more a N/A fan. I've never like the artificial "oomph" from a turbo.

However, I've had countless people who drive diesels drive my V6 or V8's and tell me they feel slow. They're used to that short spike in power/torque on a narrow band, so a wide band N/A is bound to feel slower. So their answer is, what's the point? They get better MPG and it feels faster.

Ultimately, if you don't like it, don't buy it just "because it's a V8", everyone has their preference. However, as mentioned, those big barges are designed to be as quiet and cossetting as possible, so you may need to try something less refined to make a proper judgement.

A VXR8 or Monaro, an AMG (SL/SLK55, C63) or an IS-F are good contenders for more involved V8's.

[CAPP0]

I have three V8s sitting on my drive. None of them are epically quick but…..they are all V8s, and that's a good enough reason to have them!

[User33678888]

E39 M5
E90 M3

[HiAsAKite]

Westfield seieight? V8.. and a b-road hooner..

[rsbmw]

CAPP0 said:

I have three V8s sitting on my drive. None of them are epically quick but…..they are all V8s, and that's a good enough reason to have them!

This is how I wanted to feel, but just didn't.

Maybe I'll try the v12 biturbo in the CL63

[ZX10R NIN]

You're trying the wrong car if you want to feel a punch from the V8 then you shouldn't be trying the long geared cooking version! The 500 is a great GT but the whole point of the 2+ ton CL is to waft you along in comfort & silence, the BiTurbo 600/63/65 won't be much (I know the 600/65 are V12's) different in terms of noise but some exhaust work can sort that out performance is cracking on those 3

As for not being quicker than a 520d then it must have had four coil packs unplugged.

If you want a fast noisier V8 then there are some good smaller options but they'll not be GT cars I'd guess your budget is between 15-20k

I'm bias as I have one but a CLK63 is a fantastic car stonking V8 a good chassis & they're holding they're money well.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

The RS4 is another good shout it's an involving drive but you might find it a bit drama free with the 4WD.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Alpina B5 a car that people forget about very fast V8 & a good chassis:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

BMW M3 Saloon (I personally prefer the look of the saloon to the coupe they're rarer to but you will have to have a play with the exhaust to release the engine note)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Lexus IS-F these are really underrated owners love them like the M3 they're a bit torque light compared to a CLK63 for instance but they're no less capable of putting a smile on your face again a bit of exhaust work releases a really nice engine note.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

XF-R very quick & capable with plenty of performance backed up by an exhaust note that you'll definitely be able to hear with the windows shut

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

VXR8 these are great cars with a chassis designed to take more bhp so you might feel that it doesn't quite have the punch you're looking for but I'd recommend a test drive.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

C63 Stonking V8

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

E63 as above but with more go

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

E500 Coupe with the 5.5 that was in the CL but a lighter car & you'll hear the engine at work

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

From the above I'd take the CLK63 (obviously ) then the Jaguar & the Alpina (despite the mileage) as my third choice

[rsbmw]

ZX10R NIN said:

You're trying the wrong car if you want to feel a punch from the V8 then you shouldn't be trying the long geared cooking version! The 500 is a great GT but the whole point of the 2+ ton CL is to waft you along in comfort & silence, the BiTurbo 600/63/65 won't be much (I know the 600/65 are V12's) different in terms of noise but some exhaust work can sort that out performance is cracking on those 3

As for not being quicker than a 520d then it must have had four coil packs unplugged.

If you want a fast noisier V8 then there are some good smaller options but they'll not be GT cars I'd guess your budget is between 15-20k

I'm bias as I have one but a CLK63 is a fantastic car stonking V8 a good chassis & they're holding they're money well.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

The RS4 is another good shout it's an involving drive but you might find it a bit drama free with the 4WD.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Alpina B5 a car that people forget about very fast V8 & a good chassis:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

BMW M3 Saloon (I personally prefer the look of the saloon to the coupe they're rarer to but you will have to have a play with the exhaust to release the engine note)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Lexus IS-F these are really underrated owners love them like the M3 they're a bit torque light compared to a CLK63 for instance but they're no less capable of putting a smile on your face again a bit of exhaust work releases a really nice engine note.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

XF-R very quick & capable with plenty of performance backed up by an exhaust note that you'll definitely be able to hear with the windows shut

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

VXR8 these are great cars with a chassis designed to take more bhp so you might feel that it doesn't quite have the punch you're looking for but I'd recommend a test drive.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

C63 Stonking V8

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

E63 as above but with more go

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

E500 Coupe with the 5.5 that was in the CL but a lighter car & you'll hear the engine at work

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

From the above I'd take the CLK63 (obviously ) then the Jaguar & the Alpina (despite the mileage) as my third choice

Thanks for that. I'm sure the CLK is a great drive, but I'd struggle to drop 20k on a 12 year old 80+k miler with that interior!

I'm not an Audi man, and have looked at the Alpina but despite the engine I think it would feel like a downgrade moving to essentially the previous gen of my current car.

XF's I'm definitely going to take a look at, though would feel hard done by not going for the facelift, I think the front end on the <2011 looks quite dated.

the IS and C class, don't really do it for me for whatever reason.

The E's however, I will definitely take a look at.

I guess I'm looking for a car I can love, which of course is never going to be my cooking diesel, but whatever I buy needs to feel like an upgrade or I'll always be a bit disappointed I think.

[anonymous-user]

My brother has a 2013 XFR and it's a great car with plenty of shove, looks great too in black. I have a supercharged Monaro which is agricultural but practical, modified in the engine dept and a tad thirsty as a result. It makes me smile every time I drive it though and everyone else seems to love it too. How could you not love something that sounds like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvTzFx2zuU

[300bhp/ton]

rsbmw said:

I'd like to keep it around 20k, only car, needs to be practical for family duty and I do like my luxury cabins and toys. I guess I want everything in one car, which may not be achievable.

Factory V8's are usually muted. Especially in luxury cars. So much so that in any good luxury car you'd be hard pressed to know the cylinder count of the engine just by driving it.

If you want V8 fun you'll need something raucous. Might be a few years older now, but maybe look out for 300C SRT-8. 6.1 Hemi V8. Add an aftermarket exhaust and I suspect you'd be well impressed. Plenty of family room space too.

[ZX10R NIN]

wormus said:

My brother has a 2013 XFR and it's a great car with plenty of shove, looks great too in black. I have a supercharged Monaro which is agricultural but practical, modified in the engine dept and a tad thirsty as a result. It makes me smile every time I drive it though and everyone else seems to love it too. How could you not love something that sounds like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htvTzFx2zuU

Is it thirstier because of the mods or because you're enjoying the mods

[300bhp/ton]

CAPP0 said:

I have three V8s sitting on my drive. None of them are epically quick but…..they are all V8s, and that's a good enough reason to have them!

+1

[gamefreaks]

There's two reasons for putting a V8 in a car.

1) Your luxobarge needs an engine around 3.5 - 5.5L. A V8 just happens to be the right form factor. Engineers will spend lots of time and effort taming the characteristics of this V8 and ensuring the car is as smooth and quiet as possible. Big Jags, Mercs and BMWs.

2) To build a rip-snorting monster. American muscle cars, Rover V8 TVRs, AMGs, BMW M3/5.
Try one of these types of car if you want a car where the V8 dominates.

The V8 is an engineering compromise, that's what gives them their character.