Which V8 coupe for £12k?

[rainmasterb]

So, I have to have 4 seats and I NEED a V8, so having excluded the Maserati 3200/4200 because I'm just not brave enough, I'm down to these 2:

CLK55 AMG - 2002/3, less than 60k miles

Monaro VXR - 2005/6, less than 30k miles

Currently swaying towards the AMG.

What is the opinion of the council? Or am I missing something (must also be RHD so no Americans!).

Thanks, Ben.

[theironduke]

How big do the back seats have to be?

Would a Cerb be in budget?

[Another Fluffer]

Monaro, every time!

[CampDavid]

Man up and buy the Massa 4200

Alternatively, a Porsche 928 GTS will be fabulous and should keep it's value

[TonyRPH]

Will the Monaro rust as much as the Merc?

[wackojacko]

Monaro 6.0 or Cerbera everytime.....



As much as I love TVR's I'd Probably opt for the Monaro to be honest....

[rainmasterb]

Back seats would need to accomodate adults, so really rules out the Cerb and 928, lovely as they both are...

[Zwoelf]

TonyRPH said:

Will the Monaro rust as much as the Merc?

Givne that they were Aussie built and I don't think undersealed the way we generally do, probably.

[k15tox]

Zwoelf said:

Givne that they were Aussie built and I don't think undersealed the way we generally do, probably.

most owners have undersealed theres now.

there no way near as bad a jap imports though, i ran a fresh import skyline 1 winter without underseal within a year and a half the arches the sills and the weld in the engine bay was rusting through.

really crap thin metal.

monaro every time, bags of character, rare and tuneable.

but i would say that

[CampDavid]

rainmasterb said:

Back seats would need to accomodate adults, so really rules out the Cerb and 928, lovely as they both are...

I've sat in the back of a 928 and I'm 6 foot 2. My neck is very nearly better now...

[SVX]

Mercedes CL500 is a great shout for that budget - just check for mobilo-life warranty and buy post 2001 for the dreaded tin worm issues.

I *will* have one at some point.

[V88Dicky]

Most Monaros are well looked after and as K15tox said, have been rustproofed properly by now.
£12k should get you a nice pampered example with low miles and some sensible mods already done like exhaust/headers/brakes etc.

[braddo]

Got a strong preference for either auto or manual?

I'm not sure if there are any auto Monaros, while the Merc is auto only.

[Jw Vw]

Another vote for the Monaro!

[MX7]

CampDavid said:

Man up and buy the Massa 4200

I agree, but now I'll run away and buy a Nissan Note.

[B.J.W]

Gotta be the Monaro. Much more character than the AMG.

[rainmasterb]

Am not too fussed either way manual/auto. I do love the engine and 'back-to-basics' of the monaro, but I'm not sold on the styling (a little OTT) or the interior (quite the opposite!). I'm surprised there has not been at least 1 fan of the AMG.

Thought somebody might suggest the CL, and perhaps a 6-series, but the CL is just too big for me and I really don't like the 6.

[Zad]

Based on a couple of people I know that have had AMGs, I suspect the Merc will be ruinously expensive to maintain.

[SVX]

rainmasterb said:

Am not too fussed either way manual/auto. I do love the engine and 'back-to-basics' of the monaro, but I'm not sold on the styling (a little OTT) or the interior (quite the opposite!). I'm surprised there has not been at least 1 fan of the AMG.

Thought somebody might suggest the CL, and perhaps a 6-series, but the CL is just too big for me and I really don't like the 6.

Only thing putting me off a CLK55 is the tin worm, the W207 series really did suffer. Apart from that, my god, what an affordable package. Simply awesome (I've driven several).

[TonyRPH]

What about a BMW 645i - admittedly the looks are very 'marmite', but you should be able to pick up one of those within budget.