Lightweight V8 coupes?
Discussion
Lightweight V8 coupes? The 2005 V8 Vantage or the Jaguar F-type are not lightweight. Corvette neither.
What's out there? A lightweight sports car with a powerful V8 is probably the most fun to be had. Specifically if it's a manual.
To be lightweight we are probably talking 2 seats I would guess.
What's out there? A lightweight sports car with a powerful V8 is probably the most fun to be had. Specifically if it's a manual.
To be lightweight we are probably talking 2 seats I would guess.
xstian said:
What do you class as light weight? There's a lot of difference between a modern car and a car over 20 years old.
True. And I was indeed talking about more modern cars. This is the reason I brought up the Vantage and F-type. That's about the age range.So yes 20 years and younger we could say. I know older cars will be lighter. They had nothing in them compared to more modern cars.What I would class as lightweight? Something at least under 2800-2900lbs or so.
jeremyc said:
TVR Cerbera. 
Marcos Mantis
Ferrari 328, 355, 360, 430, 458, 488 ..., or perhaps F40.
McLaren (any)
Ford GT40 or GT.
Koenigsegg (any)
Morgan Aeromax
I meant without going that old. Marcos Mantis
Ferrari 328, 355, 360, 430, 458, 488 ..., or perhaps F40.
McLaren (any)
Ford GT40 or GT.
Koenigsegg (any)
Morgan Aeromax
McLarens, ok. But who can afford them? And some of them are not that lightweight. P1 weighs 3400lbs.
robbieduncan said:
That’s 1300kg. Find a modern coupe with any engine that weighs that! A BMW M2 (hardly a huge vehicle) is 300Kg too heavy!
A modern coupe with any engine that weighs that? I give you the Alfa Romeo 4C. 2000lbs to 2300lbs depending on the version. And of course the Lotus Exige, Alpine A110 too. You said any engine.
But well yes, hence the thread. I tried thinking of some and couldn't really come up with much. There is the new TVR Griffith, if it ever comes out. It is supposed to be around 2750lbs.
aka_kerrly said:
The weight obsession is a tough one to deal with, yes lighter is generally good but not when it comes at the expense of a well engineered chassis.
Personally I'd rather a decent chassis and almost any engine rather than a v8 in a chassis made of rotting scaffold bars with some fibreglass over it. That sentence makes it sound like I hate//don't appreciate TVRs an odd kit cars, I do like them just not for the sort of money they go for these days.
But I don't think it needs to be a bad chassis to be light. Carbon is second to none in materials basically. But a carbon chassis or tube will be very light. I don't think lightweight is related to bad quality.Personally I'd rather a decent chassis and almost any engine rather than a v8 in a chassis made of rotting scaffold bars with some fibreglass over it. That sentence makes it sound like I hate//don't appreciate TVRs an odd kit cars, I do like them just not for the sort of money they go for these days.
The new Griffith is a proof of that. Chassis is carbon as is the body if I remember correctly. Result is a V8 car with a weight of less than 2800lbs
cerb4.5lee said:
I'm fairness I do understand this and I can relate to it when I compare the Cerbera 4.5 I had(1180kg) and the E92 V8 M3 I had(1650kg). I always moaned about the weight of the M3...but the high speed composure and the chassis were on a different planet to the TVR for sure.
I think this is a matter of what the car is intended for. A motorway cruiser will benefit from some weight. As you say it will be more stable. But a lightweight coupe is for a different type of driving. Different strokes. Then it's also not only the weight but the size itself. It should probably be a small car. So more Sagaris or T350c than Cerbera or Morgan Aero. Even the new Griffith is also edging on the larger size.
I realize this is niche we are dealing with. I also feel that this will need to be something shoehorned. Like a small car probably not made for a big engine which a manufacturer decides to stick a big V8 in. Maybe even by a tuner.
With all that in mind, a couple of options just came to mind. Even though not a coupe, something like SLK55 would fit. Except of course that car despite being the right size and having a V8 is not light at all at 3400lbs.
So maybe the Brabus SLK 6.5 V8.
That thing is probably intoxicating to drive. I remember Clarkson threw high praise at it when it came out. Again not a coupe of course. But at least it's a hardtop convertible. Would be even lighter if it was a coupe though. But I would love to drive one. A V8, 450hp, RWD in a lightweight car. This is really the spirit. But not a chance of finding one. I think they made like 5 or something and the price was like 175K. And again we are going older.
But yes, niche and shoehorned is probably the only alternative. Nothing will be affordable I'm afraid. And a modern car probably doesn't exist anyway.
What maybe me start searching for this was that I got to drive a TR8 the other day. Despite the car getting a lot of bad press it handles really well and the V8 makes it a very fun drive. The engine wasn't stock at all and made decent power. The car weighs nothing and is small. Very fun. So I started thinking about a modern version of it. Something with some modern amenities, a V8, small, lightweight, fun. Doesn't seem to exist.
irocfan said:
or even a normal R171 SLK55 (though I suspect that they're a little porky for the OP)?
It's not even that. At that weight we are basically very close to the weight of a V8 Vantage or even M3 coupe with the V8. It is just not the same type of feeling I'm looking for.I think it's just too heavy for the size of the R171 too.
If going for that much weight then there is quite a few.
But that was not the idea at all. It will never be the same feeling.
The R170 is lighter than the R171 at least.
Wiesmann. German Morgans. None of those for sale on pistonheads though. Although there is a different model. For 120K!
C6 ZO6 is a good shout. Still not the car I'm talking about though. It's physically larger. Different behavior. But not a bad shout.
R8? Which one of them is bellow 2900lbs? They are all heavy.
C6 ZO6 is a good shout. Still not the car I'm talking about though. It's physically larger. Different behavior. But not a bad shout.
R8? Which one of them is bellow 2900lbs? They are all heavy.
Olas said:
E46 GTR is a lightweight V8 coupe - considerably less common than the TVR and Marcos previously referenced in this thread.
But the E46 is a large car in comparison. If you go back to my first post I mention 2 seats. The idea is a small car. With a smaller footprint.
I think many might not understand what I'm looking for if you have never driven this type of car. Basically a ridiculously light car with a ridiculously big engine of sorts. Because of the light weight, any bleep on the pedal throws you against the seat. The small footprint makes it change directions very easy. It's just heck of a fun toy.
I guess the Atom probably gets you that. But it's not a coupe type. It's almost a formula car of sorts.
Think a modern Shelby Cobra of sorts, but coupe. I guess the Shelby Daytona was the coupe of that. But that kind of package. Probably doesn't exist outside of something which is 25-30 years old minimum.
Edited by ZackM on Tuesday 10th March 14:49
Johnniem said:
I think your main problem is that you require a V8 and a more modern car. Small and fast is easy. There are many that will do as you require speed-wise but apart from the 'older' Cerbera, there isn't really anything that ticks all boxes. You have dismissed most offerings (politely, I might add) but I am beginning to think that your ideal car doesn't really exist. How about dropping the number of cylinders to 6?
JM
Yes sure. But I think the V8 is a big part of it. It just wouldn't be the same with a 4-cyl. turbo. Even a 6. I really think the V8 is a big part of it all. NA V8 has a thing of its own.JM
About dismissing, some of the suggestions might seem like I dismissed but not really. For example the Z06. It is indeed a very good suggestion. But I don't know why, I never fancied a Corvette. They never made me feel anything. The power is there, the performance is there, prices are fair. But still, there is something missing. Am I alone?
But I don't totally dismiss it as it might be the only thing which comes close and comes in budget. Apart from something custom. But it leaves me so cold.
I agree with you. I have been saying all along the car all want probably doesn't exist.
300bhp/ton said:
Car like those have rarely had V8’s in unless they are full on LeMans style race cars.
Beside shoving a V8 in any of those plus the bigger gearbox and drivetrain likely required would push the weight up anyway. Albeit still lightweight.
As said. Wishful thinking.....
I know. I was just kidding around, as he did say, any engine.Beside shoving a V8 in any of those plus the bigger gearbox and drivetrain likely required would push the weight up anyway. Albeit still lightweight.
As said. Wishful thinking.....
I'm not disagreeing this might be wishful thinking.
Maybe as suggested, if I do something custom. I took a quick look after posting the Brabus SLK and it seems people drop V8s in those little R170s. It seems to be a direct bolt on too as the engine family is the same.
Although the retractable roof doesn't please me at all.
300bhp/ton said:
You are coming across rather obtuse. Why does it need to be for sale on PH???
Do you have an actual budget in mind? Are you actually looking to buy? Why must it be a new car?
A Lister Bell with a V8 would probably tick the weight and V8 and new boxes. And maybe some Cobra replicas. There is pretty much nothing else.
No, no. It doesn't need to be for sale on PH. I was kidding, implying that it is probably just too rare. Do you have an actual budget in mind? Are you actually looking to buy? Why must it be a new car?
A Lister Bell with a V8 would probably tick the weight and V8 and new boxes. And maybe some Cobra replicas. There is pretty much nothing else.
Way above what I would pay too. These types of cars are just not in the radar. Can't afford that.
About budget, honestly I wasn't thinking about this till I drove that TR8.
So I'm not desperately looking for it. I don't have to have it. I would love to and would buy if I can get something I can afford.
For a number things like the GT86, Z06, M3s, V8 Vantages and so on are definitely in an OK price range. Things like the Weissmann are definitely not. I have not set a number. I wanted to look what was out there. But it is feeling could out here.
jeremyc said:
Gardner Douglas T70. Currently for sale, 7 litre V8, 608bhp, negligible weight. This I can guarantee will re-arrange your internal organs when the throttle is mashed.
Edited to add: about 900Kg.
That is interesting. But 90k no chance.Edited to add: about 900Kg.
Is it a replica of some sort or maybe a mix of things? Exterior is appealing. In a different colour could be nice. I don't care for the interior.
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