Cheapest V8 2 seater?

[KTMsm]

Shifter1 said:

But maybe you just haven't driven a good C4.

My mate was an American car specialist and it was his personal car

I asked to drive it as I fancied one but hated it - if it helps I dislike 911's too !

[Shifter1]

8IKERDAVE said:

AMG SLK55?

Manual?

[spoodler]

Sold this a couple of years back for about four grand...

It was running an ex-Rover Vitesse, fuel injected 3500cc V8 with some R.P.I. bits and bobs and a manual five speed. Thoroughly enjoyable car, great fun in the summer, and warm and dry in the winter. Still managed around thirty to a gallon on a decent run, cheap insurance etc. Well cheap to own, all the bits are available and reliable.

[Pixel Pusher]

Don't know about the cheapest but....

V8 - √
2 seats - √
Manual box - √

[Chromegrill]

Might need a bit of TLC to get going but £3000 snags you this elderly Stag:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...

Others that might be in better nick available onAT from around £11k, or similar money MGBs.

Or there's always this high mileage Audi S4 for £5k:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...

[dmsims]

More than a bit - the engine is seized and it's not quick or fun

Chromegrill said:

Might need a bit of TLC to get going but £3000 snags you this elderly Stag:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd rather buy the best for my budget rather than the cheapest of any car but here are some options:

Maserati Spyder:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...

4.3 Vantage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303014...

[Mr Squarekins]

I would have said TR8 or Daimler Dart maybe? Any v8 conversion on a TR7 or MGB roadster might count?

[CM2020]

Belle427 said:

CM2020 said:

Did Ginetta put the RV8 in any cars? Although no idea how much Ginettas go for. I thought a MG RV8 from the 90s would be on the cheaper side, but was surprised.

http://g33.co.uk/index.html

Oh, I can't imagine that being cheap. Probably very rare. But looks interesting.

[CM2020]

braddo said:

V8 manual sports cars that are fun to drive have always been pretty rare, and by discounting TVRs you narrow the field further still.

And if a TVR doesn't appeal I am surprised that a kit car like a Westfield or a Ginetta would hold any attraction.

What do you think of Wedge TVRs?

They are a bit too square for me and do they handle? I think with TVR the older the worse?

For the record, I did complain the Westfield suggestion was maybe a bit too kitcar and the Ginetta was more a curiosity as I doubt they are cheap. But at least the G33 looks nice.

[CM2020]

Pixel Pusher said:

Don't know about the cheapest but....

V8 - ?
2 seats - ?
Manual box - ?

Hahaha well played.

[CM2020]

Shifter1 said:

Cheap, V8 and manual, we are probably talking about an older car. 80s or 90s. All of which have probably already been talked about. Fun is subjective. But I can't think of a 2 seater V8 and manual which isn't.

After thinking what I really want I found myself on google images googling pop up headlights V8. Basically what you would expect. A lot of images of Corvettes and Esprits.

[Shifter1]

CM2020 said:

Shifter1 said:

Cheap, V8 and manual, we are probably talking about an older car. 80s or 90s. All of which have probably already been talked about. Fun is subjective. But I can't think of a 2 seater V8 and manual which isn't.

After thinking what I really want I found myself on google images googling pop up headlights V8. Basically what you would expect. A lot of images of Corvettes and Esprits.

Quite a few V8s with pop ups and manual. But not for cheap. 308, 328, 348, 355, Silhouette, Jalpa, Pantera, Bora and although not real 2 seaters, GT4, Mondial and Porsche 928, albeit a different pop up. Not big cars.

But the really cheap ones are again the ones already mentioned. C4, TR8 and the TVRs. 928 sometimes can still be found for ok money, if a bit legy or in luck.

[FHCNICK]

CM2020 said:

They are a bit too square for me and do they handle? I think with TVR the older the worse?

For the record, I did complain the Westfield suggestion was maybe a bit too kitcar and the Ginetta was more a curiosity as I doubt they are cheap. But at least the G33 looks nice.

I manage to have fun in mine without dying, can’t make a set of tyres last between MOT’s though.

[CM2020]

FHCNICK said:

CM2020 said:

They are a bit too square for me and do they handle? I think with TVR the older the worse?

For the record, I did complain the Westfield suggestion was maybe a bit too kitcar and the Ginetta was more a curiosity as I doubt they are cheap. But at least the G33 looks nice.

I manage to have fun in mine without dying, can’t make a set of tyres last between MOT’s though.

I never took to that styling. But one thing that is nice about these old V8 TVRs is the weight. Anything with a V8 will weight about 300kg more. Even the Corvettes. Compared to the TVR they are boat anchors.

With newer things even V6 is way heavier. A V6 370Z is a staggering almost 500kg heavier. Actually the heavy cars bore me. 350Z and 370Z at this point just bore me. Feel too heavy. Don't sound as nice. Just not as fun. Part of the reason I started looking at V8s. The weight is why I was looking at 2 seats only.

[C5_Steve]

CM2020 said:

After thinking what I really want I found myself on google images googling pop up headlights V8. Basically what you would expect. A lot of images of Corvettes and Esprits.

If you're thinking Vettes there are loads of us about who will be happy to show you around one/take you out in one (depending on where you are in the country!). C4s seem to be going up in price a bit for decent ones, C5s holding steady.

[KTMsm]

If you want a cheap lightweight 2 seat V8 the answer has to be TVR Chimera

By a later one with PAS and you shouldn't have too many issues - they're generally cheap / easy to fix too

There is the odd MX5 / RX7 conversion using the Rover / Lexus / LS V8s but they are probably even riskier (I've owned a few)

[cerb4.5lee]

CM2020 said:

FHCNICK said:

CM2020 said:

They are a bit too square for me and do they handle? I think with TVR the older the worse?

For the record, I did complain the Westfield suggestion was maybe a bit too kitcar and the Ginetta was more a curiosity as I doubt they are cheap. But at least the G33 looks nice.

I manage to have fun in mine without dying, can’t make a set of tyres last between MOT’s though.

I never took to that styling. But one thing that is nice about these old V8 TVRs is the weight. Anything with a V8 will weight about 300kg more. Even the Corvettes. Compared to the TVR they are boat anchors.

With newer things even V6 is way heavier. A V6 370Z is a staggering almost 500kg heavier. Actually the heavy cars bore me. 350Z and 370Z at this point just bore me. Feel too heavy. Don't sound as nice. Just not as fun. Part of the reason I started looking at V8s. The weight is why I was looking at 2 seats only.

The Cerbera properly spoilt me weight wise too as you say and most things feel heavy after a TVR I reckon. The Z4M Roadster that I had after it felt really heavy(1485kg) and not all that quick after it either. Then I had exactly the same weight problem with the E92 M3(1650kg) after the Z4M as well.

I think that I've just got used to the 370Z Roadster weight wise now(1600kg) and I just accept it for what it is(a GT cruiser mainly). However in an ideal world I'd prefer it if it was around 400kg lighter though for sure, and I was really happy with the 200SX I had and that was around the 1200kg mark.

[CM2020]

C5_Steve said:

CM2020 said:

After thinking what I really want I found myself on google images googling pop up headlights V8. Basically what you would expect. A lot of images of Corvettes and Esprits.

If you're thinking Vettes there are loads of us about who will be happy to show you around one/take you out in one (depending on where you are in the country!). C4s seem to be going up in price a bit for decent ones, C5s holding steady.

Yeah I noticed C4 prices climbing. I guess it was just matter of time. They couldn't stay underappreciated forever. Between C4 and C5 I think I would lean towards the C4 for the 80's vibe. But finding a C4 with a manual is away more difficult than a C5.

What have always put me off Corvettes is the mass produced cheap feeling. TVRs might not be well made. But they at least have a bespoke more special feeling to them. Specially the interiors. My problem with them is more the vulgar or loud designs.

But I supposed a nice well sorted manual C4 for the right price could scratch the itch, if nothing else is viable. A C5 would need to be of the right colour. Probably black. I find the body so badly proportioned.

[CM2020]

KTMsm said:

If you want a cheap lightweight 2 seat V8 the answer has to be TVR Chimera

By a later one with PAS and you shouldn't have too many issues - they're generally cheap / easy to fix too

There is the odd MX5 / RX7 conversion using the Rover / Lexus / LS V8s but they are probably even riskier (I've owned a few)

I think before I would take a Chimera I would look at 1980's TVRs. Same engine but they look at least better, because pop up headlights.

But would have to be a convertible. The coupe is a bit too boxy for me.

They are probably lighter than a Chimera too, being older?

Another advantage of the 80s ones is they are somewhat more sober. Less over the top. Maybe they were over the top when new. But now they are almost conservative in comparison to the last TVRs. The only TVR I find classy is the T350C. At least the outside.