What V8/V10/V12 as an everyday car?
Discussion
TL;DR: I'd really like something with eight or more cylinders and a fantastic exhaust sound. Ideally usable all year round. Something good looking that could I could keep forever.
I'm looking for some ideas of V8s that I could use as a daily, despite the fact that I drive very little these days. I work from home and live alone so I drive a few times a week on local-ish journeys and only drive longer distances irregularly. So I absolutely don't need a V8, but I'm very worried about future legislation making these things more or less impossible to drive anywhere, so I'd like to do it before it's too late.
My driving career began in 1991 when I passed my driving test first time at age 17. Drove mum's W123 230E and E30 318i for a few years after passing my test, before I could afford my own cars, an MGB GT followed by a Volvo 440 and then an E36 320i at age 21. Ever since then, I've had a succession of 6-cylinder BMWs which I adore, and I still have an E46 330Ci (which is off-road with a blown head gasket) and an E32 730i which is off the road for winter. It was bought as a pot-hole proof daily, but it's too nice to drive when there's salt and filthy muck on the roads. I also have a 2014 Boxster S which sounds great but stays garaged through winter, so my current daily is a 4-cylinder A4 2.0T Avant which serves as my winter and dump car. I bought this car for my mother, but she's in a better place now and I really don't enjoy the car. I hate it being FWD and I hate the turbo power delivery, with nothing, nothing, nothing and then all of a sudden something, but still not very much. And it sounds like a wet fart to boot. I like my cars to have a nice sound. The louder, the better, within reason.
I've always hankered after something with more cylinders. I've got my eye open for a 928 and an 840/850Ci. If one comes up for the right price, I might jump. But neither of these could be considered performance cars, and I'd like something I could use in winter without too much worry about corrosion.
In 2004 I was considering the Vauxhall Monaro, but didn't buy it because it looked like a Blancmange. In 2018 I came very close to buying a Mustang GT, but for some reason I always liked the Camaro better even if it was only available in LHD. But I discounted both as they are too hooligan in my opinion and I'd like something that at least projects and air of civility even if it's really a hooligan underneath. After driving a friend's Jaguar XJ 5.0, I got hooked on the torque. And another friend lent me her Cayenne 4.8 for a couple of weeks. Very comfortable to trundle about in. But SUVs are not really my thing!
Ideally I want something not too big, but fast, comfortable and great sounding. I don't mind making minor changes to achieve this. I'd always hankered after an E39 M5 and would have one in a heartbeat if a good one came up in my price range, but I think they might be too long in the tooth now to make a reliable daily that I could use in winter. It doesn't need to be too practical as I have no family to card around. But it needs to be able to fit golf clubs comfortably.
Cars I've ogled at over the years:
Maserati 3200GT, but I don't imagine I would like the power delivery. And the 4200 looks bland to my eyes.
Audi RS4/6 - I don't particularly want a thief magnet on my drive.
Range Rover - probably the only SUV I would have, but won't because they are too unreliable - or does this also apply to the V8 models?
E92 M3 - Always wanted one but I fear that all of them will have been ragged within an inch of their lives. And I don't think they sound that nice. I've also driven the F82 M4 and the F87 M2 and found both dull, if quick. If it's going to be revvy then I also want it to have more direct steering.
F13 6-series - M6 or 650i. I'm not entirely convinced by the front-end looks.
V8 Vantage 4.7 - haven't driven one so no clue if it's an all-year-round proposition. But I find them very pretty to look at.
My wants now:
Great aural experience. Ideally I'd like something that sounds good without having to press on too hard, so probably naturally aspirated. The sound is probably my most important characteristic in a car. If I can avoid having to buy an EV before I die, so much the better.
Torquey motor
RWD or maybe AWD
Manual transmission preferred but not essential (I know, I know)
Good looks
Reasonable maintenance costs as I'm not a banker.
Budget roughly around £20-25k but for a proper performance car I may be willing to let my Boxster go and then up the budget to 50k. But in an ideal scenario I'd keep the Porsche for summer fun in the mountains. I'd ideally like something that would be worth owning in the future. I'm not interested in financing or leasing something. I do so few miles (3000 a year maybe) that fuel consumption is not a big issue. If it's replacing the Boxster, then I do at least one or two big road trips a year to Southern Europe, so fuel consumption might become a factor. But unless it's a Ferrari or something, then what could replace the Boxster? And I couldn't use a Ferrari all year round.
I haven't decided that I'm going to buy something yet. But there are so many cars out there that I can't even narrow it down. But nobody knows cars like Pistonheads, so I'm asking for your thoughts!
I'm looking for some ideas of V8s that I could use as a daily, despite the fact that I drive very little these days. I work from home and live alone so I drive a few times a week on local-ish journeys and only drive longer distances irregularly. So I absolutely don't need a V8, but I'm very worried about future legislation making these things more or less impossible to drive anywhere, so I'd like to do it before it's too late.
My driving career began in 1991 when I passed my driving test first time at age 17. Drove mum's W123 230E and E30 318i for a few years after passing my test, before I could afford my own cars, an MGB GT followed by a Volvo 440 and then an E36 320i at age 21. Ever since then, I've had a succession of 6-cylinder BMWs which I adore, and I still have an E46 330Ci (which is off-road with a blown head gasket) and an E32 730i which is off the road for winter. It was bought as a pot-hole proof daily, but it's too nice to drive when there's salt and filthy muck on the roads. I also have a 2014 Boxster S which sounds great but stays garaged through winter, so my current daily is a 4-cylinder A4 2.0T Avant which serves as my winter and dump car. I bought this car for my mother, but she's in a better place now and I really don't enjoy the car. I hate it being FWD and I hate the turbo power delivery, with nothing, nothing, nothing and then all of a sudden something, but still not very much. And it sounds like a wet fart to boot. I like my cars to have a nice sound. The louder, the better, within reason.
I've always hankered after something with more cylinders. I've got my eye open for a 928 and an 840/850Ci. If one comes up for the right price, I might jump. But neither of these could be considered performance cars, and I'd like something I could use in winter without too much worry about corrosion.
In 2004 I was considering the Vauxhall Monaro, but didn't buy it because it looked like a Blancmange. In 2018 I came very close to buying a Mustang GT, but for some reason I always liked the Camaro better even if it was only available in LHD. But I discounted both as they are too hooligan in my opinion and I'd like something that at least projects and air of civility even if it's really a hooligan underneath. After driving a friend's Jaguar XJ 5.0, I got hooked on the torque. And another friend lent me her Cayenne 4.8 for a couple of weeks. Very comfortable to trundle about in. But SUVs are not really my thing!
Ideally I want something not too big, but fast, comfortable and great sounding. I don't mind making minor changes to achieve this. I'd always hankered after an E39 M5 and would have one in a heartbeat if a good one came up in my price range, but I think they might be too long in the tooth now to make a reliable daily that I could use in winter. It doesn't need to be too practical as I have no family to card around. But it needs to be able to fit golf clubs comfortably.
Cars I've ogled at over the years:
Maserati 3200GT, but I don't imagine I would like the power delivery. And the 4200 looks bland to my eyes.
Audi RS4/6 - I don't particularly want a thief magnet on my drive.
Range Rover - probably the only SUV I would have, but won't because they are too unreliable - or does this also apply to the V8 models?
E92 M3 - Always wanted one but I fear that all of them will have been ragged within an inch of their lives. And I don't think they sound that nice. I've also driven the F82 M4 and the F87 M2 and found both dull, if quick. If it's going to be revvy then I also want it to have more direct steering.
F13 6-series - M6 or 650i. I'm not entirely convinced by the front-end looks.
V8 Vantage 4.7 - haven't driven one so no clue if it's an all-year-round proposition. But I find them very pretty to look at.
My wants now:
Great aural experience. Ideally I'd like something that sounds good without having to press on too hard, so probably naturally aspirated. The sound is probably my most important characteristic in a car. If I can avoid having to buy an EV before I die, so much the better.
Torquey motor
RWD or maybe AWD
Manual transmission preferred but not essential (I know, I know)
Good looks
Reasonable maintenance costs as I'm not a banker.
Budget roughly around £20-25k but for a proper performance car I may be willing to let my Boxster go and then up the budget to 50k. But in an ideal scenario I'd keep the Porsche for summer fun in the mountains. I'd ideally like something that would be worth owning in the future. I'm not interested in financing or leasing something. I do so few miles (3000 a year maybe) that fuel consumption is not a big issue. If it's replacing the Boxster, then I do at least one or two big road trips a year to Southern Europe, so fuel consumption might become a factor. But unless it's a Ferrari or something, then what could replace the Boxster? And I couldn't use a Ferrari all year round.
I haven't decided that I'm going to buy something yet. But there are so many cars out there that I can't even narrow it down. But nobody knows cars like Pistonheads, so I'm asking for your thoughts!
Corrosion will and does kill everything eventually. Even if body shells are galvanised everything else rusts - subframes, brackets, suspension, braces and eventually the sill seams and inner arches and chassis. My (then) 11 year old 997.2 rusted in all those places when used through a few winters. Since then I’ve invested in paying around £1500 to have everything that I’m interested in keeping long term dinitrol treated by a really good rust prevention place. I repeat every 5 years for things like my defender which I still am careful of in salt etc. I never use my 981 Spyder in winter at all. It isn’t just the salt - it’s the corrosive grime and mud that cakes everything. Daily is a G31 530d that is boring as anything but robust. With your mileage and if you’re careful re salt etc you should be fine - particularly if you’re careful re salt etc. With your mileage my thoughts would be:
E61 M5 Touring with manual conversion
6/8 cyl manual Alpina
997 Turbo
Aston of some description (probably most likely given your brief and budget)
E61 M5 Touring with manual conversion
6/8 cyl manual Alpina
997 Turbo
Aston of some description (probably most likely given your brief and budget)
bennno said:
Go and drive a Mustang gt / C63 / LEXUS RCF
This. You may have discounted the Mustang in 2018 but take another look - it's a very flexible motor and readily available as a manual. The running costs of this and the RC F will be a fraction of the others that you list above.Throughout reading your thread I was thinking "M6, M6, M6". So my answer here would be M6. A lot of car for money, you already like the marque and are probably used to where all the controls are and their characteristics.
Jaguar F Types? Do they come towards budget nowadays? Not sure if it can fit the Golf Clubs though.
Bentley Continental W12? Sound wonderful, but I hear an absolute pain in the arse to work on and pretty much everything will require a drop of the engine, so could be costly to maintain.
Jaguar F Types? Do they come towards budget nowadays? Not sure if it can fit the Golf Clubs though.
Bentley Continental W12? Sound wonderful, but I hear an absolute pain in the arse to work on and pretty much everything will require a drop of the engine, so could be costly to maintain.
You don't need to spend 20 grand and you can still enjoy a v8 and get wind in your hair and even have a manual and probably carry the golf clubs - but they might need to go on the back seats
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316103638870
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316103638870
C63 best sounding by far for that budget, even the part throttle low revs pulling away V8 rumble is fantastic. Could get a nice one for that budget and either coupe,saloon or estate to choose from.
Mustang would also be up there for me, or anything American and V8 will no doubt sound fantastic.
Mustang would also be up there for me, or anything American and V8 will no doubt sound fantastic.
LunarOne said:
Forgot to mention that I'm looking to add an E31 840/850Ci and a 928 to my "collection", but I wouldn't want to put either of those through British winters...
Mustang is your answer if you want a v8 daily thats low cost to run, the parts are peanuts relatively speaking and the cars are designed for higher milage daily use in the us. The engines are a peach, car just needs a roush back box and a set of Ford Racing Product springs to set the ride height to where it needs to be.ATM said:
You don't need to spend 20 grand and you can still enjoy a v8 and get wind in your hair and even have a manual and probably carry the golf clubs - but they might need to go on the back seats
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316103638870
Wow. Rare in manual. Perfect. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316103638870
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502078...
Manual V10 R8 coupe. In red. £50k. Can be driven daily in all weathers. What’s not to like?
(There is a newer lower mileage grey one for 59k too, but possibly out of budget).
I’m sure you could get a bag of golf clubs on the passenger seat.
Manual V10 R8 coupe. In red. £50k. Can be driven daily in all weathers. What’s not to like?
(There is a newer lower mileage grey one for 59k too, but possibly out of budget).
I’m sure you could get a bag of golf clubs on the passenger seat.
Ridiculously cheap now, 710 GBP road tax and euro 5.
Looks nice - if legit !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502098...
Looks nice - if legit !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502098...
nw28840 said:
Ridiculously cheap now, 710 GBP road tax and euro 5.
Looks nice - if legit !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502098...
Who sells a car like that with such a poor advert? Seems like they don't care how much they get. It gives the impression that the engine might be about to blow up or it's stolen!Looks nice - if legit !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502098...
Not a manual but the Lexus RC-F is a great option they really get under your skin & the drivetrain is right up there with the best of them:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501027...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307250...
C63 Coupe Edition 125:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502199...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501158...
The Mustang is a great option & an event at any speed:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412026...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501027...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307250...
C63 Coupe Edition 125:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502199...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501158...
The Mustang is a great option & an event at any speed:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412026...
I drive an 5.0 XKR convertible as my daily, it's fantastic and it hasn't got old after 18 months.
When I've got the kids I need to compromise a bit and I have an XJ Supersport with the same engine. I love supercharged V8s and your options are limited, an S55k would do but they're hard to find and the W220 S Class is a bit crap. No room for turbos in my heart I'm afraid, keep trying them and they're still w
k.
£25k bought me the pair. So far all I've needed in 35k / 2 years of owning them is two ARB bushes and a water pump. Oh and some fuel, a lot of fuel.
I've run a few different V12s as dailies, people talk about V8s getting "mid teens" MPG but I've usually averaged 20mpg - 22mpg. A V12? No you really are looking at mid teens and less in traffic/town, and 50p+ a mile in fuel really does start to irritate after a while.
When I've got the kids I need to compromise a bit and I have an XJ Supersport with the same engine. I love supercharged V8s and your options are limited, an S55k would do but they're hard to find and the W220 S Class is a bit crap. No room for turbos in my heart I'm afraid, keep trying them and they're still w
k.£25k bought me the pair. So far all I've needed in 35k / 2 years of owning them is two ARB bushes and a water pump. Oh and some fuel, a lot of fuel.
I've run a few different V12s as dailies, people talk about V8s getting "mid teens" MPG but I've usually averaged 20mpg - 22mpg. A V12? No you really are looking at mid teens and less in traffic/town, and 50p+ a mile in fuel really does start to irritate after a while.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Monday 24th February 20:08
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