Owning a V8 in the UK?

[Big Tav]

Hi guys, just wanted to ask the owners of V8's here in the UK if they regret owning it with the fuel prices here. I am from Australia and your fuel is about 50% more expensive than ours. I know a V8 is not a diesel Golf and never will be and if you want performance you've got to pay but I'm just asking if it's worth it or should I consider something else?

I'm not broke (don't have a job yet though) and I know some will think if you have to ask you can't afford it but I just don't want to make a stupid impulsive mistake then regret it.

Hear from you soon!

[rufusgti]

Buying a V8 if you have no job is a mistake.

[rottie102]

rufusgti said:

Buying a V8 if you have no job is a mistake.

Well, I'd say it depends on priorities.
I know many people driving tiny engined cars and blowing much more money than the petrol for the V8 would cost them on clubbing, clothes etc.

I've just spent £1.5k servicing a 1.4 Renault Kangoo where the BMW 540 didn't cost me a thing over a year in maintenance.

There are many good BMW , Jag and MB V8s to be had and enjoyed for little money.

Also - it's just a car, it's not for life. If it costs you too much just sell it and buy something economical.

Big Tav - UK is not worse than OZ - we make up the difference for the more expensive fuel by the much lower 2nd hand car prices.

Edited by rottie102 on Tuesday 4th January 20:22

[groomi]

rufusgti said:

Buying a V8 if you have no job is a mistake.

Precisely. What you need is a swish V12 to woo the posh (and wealthy) ladies...

[neil_bolton]

rufusgti said:

Buying a V8 if you have no job is a mistake.

[AnotherClarkey]

A V8 what? Is the car it is attached to of no importance?

[Jasandjules]

If you are not doing high mileage then it's not so bad........

[tinman0]

Big Tav said:

Hi guys, just wanted to ask the owners of V8's here in the UK if they regret owning it with the fuel prices here.

Yes and no. Nothing beats it, but it does cost a bit to run. So much so that it's back off the road this week and when the tax runs out at the end of next month it'll be sorn'd for several months. If I wasn't emigrating (and taking the car with me) I would be hard pressed to keep it.

If I were to buy the car today, it would depend on where I lived. London, definitely not. 200 miles and £70 of fuel gets annoying. It soon loses it's appeal if you see a pump twice in a week.

If I lived outside London (eg spending a week in Scotland as we did last week), then it's certainly easier to live with. But filling up still makes you wince even when it is 300 miles or so to a tank.

If you are worried about the running costs now, I would advise against a V8.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

groomi said:

rufusgti said:

Buying a V8 if you have no job is a mistake.

Precisely. What you need is a swish V12 to woo the posh (and wealthy) ladies...

If you're doing any meaningful miles teens to the gallon is going to get very expensive.

[HD Adam]

I have 2 V8's and no regrets on running either of them.

[Zod]

I have a V8, a V10 and a V12. I need my job to pay to keep them running.

[Zod]

swerni said:

Zod said:

I have a V8, a V10 and a V12. I need my job to pay to keep them running.

and a 1.2 polo


traitor

Quite right. That's what I'd be left with if I were without a job for too long.

[randomwalk]

Depends on your proposed annual mileage, if car is under 3 yrs you will lose much more in depreciation than fuel costs. I am from Australia so find the fuel expensive here too, but then I really only use the car for pleasure on weekends, London is not practical for driving around and the public transport is so good compared to Sydney. Therefore depending on where you live you could find your annual mileage at least 50% less than back in Oz, this would negate the increased fuel costs here, just a thought !

[TTwiggy]

You only spend the depreciation.

[swilding]

I'm sure its been said before but fuel prices are not likely to be reducing so now is as cheap as its going to be to fuel that V8 itch!

[Gareth79]

I had a 8 mile commute and didn't drive much elsewhere and it was fine, although they were novelty cars so the fun of driving outweighed the costs.

Longer commute now but it's probably short enough for something thirstier than the Micra to be drivable!

edit: If you get something that you intend to keep for a while then look into an LPG conversion.

Edited by Gareth79 on Tuesday 4th January 20:35

[Hereward]

V8's won't be around in 20 years. Own one before it's too late.

[LuS1fer]

You can balance it. For example, I have a 2005 Mustang and it's relatively cheap to insure, cheaper to tax than a UK supplied 2.0, will do 24mpg and depreciates far lass than a normal car. The one I have now is alow mile garage queen but I've run them as dailies in the past and only a family prevents me doing so now.

[Camaro91]

Nothing beats the sound of a V8... it's like burbling along on cloud 9. A slightly older motor will be exempt from this CO2 tax band nonsense (actually, as long as they aren't sold officially here so are new American imports).
Fuel wise, yes, it is going to be thirsty - but not too bad really. I daily drove my '93 Thunderbird (5.0L) and was averging 27 miles to the gallon, it was a very relaxed cruiser (80mph at about 2500rpm iirc )

Edited by Camaro91 on Tuesday 4th January 20:40

Edited by Camaro91 on Tuesday 4th January 20:40

[cerb4.5lee]

I have 2 v8s & one is a daily driver & i do get frustrated with fuel costs but you cant have it both ways i love bigger engines.