Cheap(ish) V8's, what would you go for?

[Otispunkmeyer]

With the Monaro feature earlier I had a peruse of various classifieds. They're a bit thin on the ground those things aren't they?!

But I had a look round and for similar coin you can be stepping into some nice V8 metal.

Do you for instance go all Ronin and bag a D2 Audi A8/S8 (seen a lovely dark blue one on AT)?

Do you down size a little and plump for a B6 S4 Tourer?

Do you cheap out completely and net a LS400 for not much more than a bag ?

Do you have mafia aspirations? perhaps a Chrysler 300C 5.7 HEMI is for you and if thats not silly enough, why not consider the SRT 8 version with its 6.1 HEMI (admittedly more expensive)

Do you go Bavarian with a 540i/740i?

Financial ruin and luxury of those above not good enough? How about a CL 500 or S500?

British beef more your thing? Would sir like to consider an S-type R or the elegance of an XJ/XJR?

How about some rare meat? A VW Pheaton with VAG's 4.2? (as an aside, you can get a 3.2 V6 Pheaton for literally no money, what a possible bargain those things are!)

Sticking with VW, though more left field and if you can bloody find one, does the odd-ball Passat W8 intrigue you?

Failing all the above, do you go completely off the reserve and buy some Americana? I found a Dodge Dakota R/T pick up with 5.9 litre V8 and there were a few F150's about too. Perhaps a good search may find you some comically large Cadillacs like the Seville/STS and its north star V8?


I'm a secret red neck so I'd be plumping for some badly made, flobbery handling barge with a colossal push-rod V8. As shown above, there is a very good choice of V8 sound track available. What would you go for if you had like 5-7k to spend?

[jimbop1]

Old Range Rover.

[ewenm]

How about a P38 Range Rover V8? Grumbly wobbly goodness!

Edit: Doh! Snap!

[Pentoman]

I've tried quite a few of those listed, and rarely does the V8 in a luxobarge actually bother to make itself noticed. Usually these cars are a disappointment in the engine stakes. Gearing, weight, and a desire for quiet are all factors that work against them.

So for the above reason I'd go for a CLK55 AMG.

Good thread .

[lbc]

Range Rover makes a nice noise, but is quite slow.

[jimbop1]

lbc said:

Range Rover makes a nice noise, but is quite slow.

It is slow (ish) but feels powerful, sounds good and drives like a proper V8.. On comfy suspension.

I'd chose it over the others you have mentioned.

[BritishRacinGrin]

I've seen Chevy Camaros and Pontiacs change hands in the UK well within your budget.

You mentioned 540i and 740i, Let us not forget the 840i which is more exclusive and pulls off the V8 Grand Tourer thing pretty well. I noticed one for sale in your budget yesterday.

There's classic British stuff too, Rover P6 3500 etc.

How about a Ferrari V8? Take several brave pills and look for a ropey Maserati.

ETA: Oh and I bet you could get an old TreVoR with a V8.

However I think if you gave me 7k and tole me to buy something with a V8 it may well be an MG ZT 260 tourer. Now there's a car which is often overlooked. I think it'd have enough space for me, I think it'd probably tow pretty nicely, It's exclusive and with a little tinkering that Mustang V8 can perform a muscle car soundtrack.

Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Wednesday 16th July 05:24

[BenMk3]

I'd probably be sensible and get a Lexus LS400/430. But I'd spend a fair bit and get a proper late model 430 (The shape before the hybrid models, 2002/3 I think they stopped, might be wrong) in mint condition, at least if the budget allowed

[skyrover]

LS400 is the best bang for buck in the UK

1uzfe is a stonker of an engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AsWG41Bc_k

Old V8 land rover's aren't too expensive either

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZyNLz_dlg

Edited by skyrover on Wednesday 16th July 06:07

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

They made a Rover 75 thingy with a V8 in. That should be real bargain basement V8 motoring (if you can find one )

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

...but the obvious answer is of course TVR

[jamieduff1981]

The good thing about having a nice engine layout is that the car need not actually be all that fast. Infact, a positive aspect of a slowish V8 is that you can listen to it for a while. On all the mental performance current generation of V8 cars it's all over before it's started. Something with a bit less power and a bit of noise would be nice.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Yes sorry folks I forgot about Range Rovers and the like I don't really pay attention to SUVs in general so slipped my mind.

As for things like Maserati's ... hmmm you'd need more than brave pills! I do often find flat-plane V8's to sound a bit weak unless their shrieking around their red lines. Give me deep burbly noises any day.

And yes I forgot TVR which is a bit unfortunate given where we are.

[ewenm]

BritishRacinGrin said:

However I think if you gave me 7k and tole me to buy something with a V8 it may well be an MG ZT 260 tourer. Now there's a car which is often overlooked. I think it'd have enough space for me, I think it'd probably tow pretty nicely, It's exclusive and with a little tinkering that Mustang V8 can perform a muscle car soundtrack.

Good shout

[t400ble]

Jag S type 4.2 V8

2002 car, so newer dash, and got the 4.2 v8 with new geabox

Love mine, engine sounds great. Up for sale very soon at a good price

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-...

[IanA2]

Lexus G430. Cracking car.

[confused_buyer]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

They made a Rover 75 thingy with a V8 in. That should be real bargain basement V8 motoring (if you can find one )

Anything but. They've bottomed out and are appreciating and never got that cheap anyway.

[DavidJG]

Surprised no-one's mentioned the 928. One of the best cars I've ever owned was a 928GT - I'd happily have another if I had room for one at home!

[R6VED]

I went for a CLS 500 back in October 2012, slightly under £10k bakc then so in budget now I would imagine.

Exhaust resonator removed for £100 and replaced with straight through pipe = it sounds awesome.

[BritishRacinGrin]

ewenm said:

BritishRacinGrin said:

MG ZT 260 tourer

Good shout

Of course I had to browse net for an example for sale after I posted this, you know, just to check that they are indeed available in budget and I wasn't being silly.

Unfortunately there are several saloons in budget and a handful of tourers, and they're being advertised for the same sort of cash as they were last time I had a pang of 'want' for an exclusive, British V8 tourer. Scratch the yank V8 and 'stickshift' itch without looking ostentatious, enjoy a pretty well built practical car which won't depreciate and support your local filling station- what's not to like? I've almost convinced myself!