Big noise, small £

[Mutandegrande]

Hi all

Long time lurker and benefitted hugely from all of the informative posts, so thanks to all.

Mrs and I will soon be becoming a two car household and I'm naturally very excited about the prospect! We're probably a couple of years away from having kids and I'm using this as an opportunity to scratch an itch and run something that I've not had the opportunity to experience.

I've had a few cars in the past, quick, refined, new, classic, turbocharged, supercharged, convertibles, bangers, etc etc but something I've never had the pleasure of owning is a vehicle with a noise that only a high cylinder count can provide. All other considerations in terms of practicality, fuel consumption, tax and insurance are of less concern as this will be a weekend car.

I recently went to AMG world and drove the latest E63S and it blew my mind! I absolutely want that kind of noise in my life! I've been following the best lease deals thread for a while and it's clear that with my budget of £15k over a 2 year term I won't be able to stretch to anything more than the 6cyl variants of the audis/mercs/bmws (aware that the 3/4M series these days are 6cyl and would absolutely go with one of those if they were in budget). This is a shame, because although I'm not actually fussed as to whether it is new or not, I've leased before and love the fixed price nature of it and am aware that when things go bang in this sort of market they can be very expensive to put right!

So I've gone away and started researching alternatives. How can I get a used car and keep it as close to fixed price as possible? If I could buy a car that would last the two years then go pop on the last day, it would leave me in the same position as if I had taken a lease, but alas!

So.. Steps I can take. Get a specialist to inspect the car, get an aftermarket warranty, keep a slush fund... Get a grip and stop worrying about it...

I've picked out all sorts of cars that I'd be more than happy with; an XK (or many of the other v8 jags for that matter), an older v8 Merc - slk55, c55 etc, an SRT8 jeep, I even saw the post the other day on the S8 and subsequently spent an hour watching YouTube videos of it! What an absurd car that is! Of course, I'll buy on condition, check the buyers guides and all of the obvious stuff before actually buying anything but do have a few questions if you all would be kind enough to offer some assistance!

- there is obviously no 'does it make a good noise' filter on ch&l! I've been searching for amg mercs, M series bmws and RS audis, am I missing anything that has any chance of being within budget for a lease?
- does anyone have any tips or recommendations with respect to getting a warranty on a used car? Have had a read through the T&Cs of a few policies, read the forum and have priced up the cost on a few of the cars I've mentioned above, but in practice do people think you can trust them to pay out? Any of the companies better than any other? Manufacturers any better than the third parties?
- are there any cars in this sort of market that are simpler to fix, or parts cheaper than others? Thinking maybe that a monaro for example may have cheaper parts being a GM product? Anything else I should be thinking about?
- are there any other steps that others have taken to reduce the risk of unexpected costs?

Trying to preempt questions - I will be using cash rather than finance, would prefer not to up the budget with finance and expose myself to the risk of losing more than the £15k, although I'm a reasonably practical person and have a bit of experience with cars I don't really have the time/space/tools to do much in the way of work on the car myself.

Appreciate there are all sorts of questions there and thanks in advance to anyone who's taken the time to read through it all!

[Gareth1974]

V8 Mustang within budget: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/main-dealer...

[overunder12g]

Wow, that is an essay!

[rlg43p]

Monaro should do it!

[MorganP104]

Gareth1974 said:

V8 Mustang within budget: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/main-dealer...

If it's V8 noise you're after, this is definitely the best bang for your buck.

Are there better cars out there? Of course! For this sort of money per month? Given the brief, probably not.

Look at it this way - in 10 years time, when your kids are a few years old, and you've needed to buy something sensible, you'll be at dinner parties, showing other guests pictures on your phone of the Mustang you used to own. There will be another car man at that dinner party. He'll ask you if it was the EcoBoost or the V8.

You'll give him the "Come on, please!" look. And you'll both know you once rocked a V8 Mustang.

Which will make you feel better about the Mercedes R-Class you have parked outside, that you'll make your wife drive home, because you've had too many glasses of Pinot Noir with the other car guy.

You know all of this makes sense. Don't fight it.

[Mutandegrande]

Gareth1974 said:

V8 Mustang within budget: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/main-dealer...

Thanks for having a look! That's for a three year term unfortunately, I had looked into the mustang and to get it over two years is more expensive than a c63!

[MorganP104]

Mutandegrande said:

Gareth1974 said:

V8 Mustang within budget: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/main-dealer...

Thanks for having a look! That's for a three year term unfortunately, I had looked into the mustang and to get it over two years is more expensive than a c63!

Well, that makes my post redundant!

Joking aside, take everything I've written, and replace "Mustang" with "memorable car of your choice".

Just make sure it's a memorable car.

[Mutandegrande]

MorganP104 said:

If it's V8 noise you're after, this is definitely the best bang for your buck.

Are there better cars out there? Of course! For this sort of money per month? Given the brief, probably not.

Look at it this way - in 10 years time, when your kids are a few years old, and you've needed to buy something sensible, you'll be at dinner parties, showing other guests pictures on your phone of the Mustang you used to own. There will be another car man at that dinner party. He'll ask you if it was the EcoBoost or the V8.

You'll give him the "Come on, please!" look. And you'll both know you once rocked a V8 Mustang.

Which will make you feel better about the Mercedes R-Class you have parked outside, that you'll make your wife drive home, because you've had too many glasses of Pinot Noir with the other car guy.

You know all of this makes sense. Don't fight it.

Haha brilliant! And very right of course.

[ZX10R NIN]

Now I'm bias as I have had a few of these but they're reliable & have a stonking V8 that won't break the bank maintenance wise, but they're rare hold their money very well & have an absolute peach of a V8.

Now this ones a convertible but you won't find a coupe without big miles on the clock for you budget.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-MERCEDES-CLK63-AMG...28AAOSwnONZCfJ~

Coupe I know the drivetrain is bombproof but this would be a bit to higher a mileage for me, although the coupes command a premium I think they're pushing it on the price of this one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now for a lot less you can have 115bhp less but still have a sweet V8 under the bonnet that has some proper get up & go.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...



Don't go & look at this one the paint hasn't been matched when it's had some paintwork & look like a patchwork car when you see it in the flesh.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-CLK55-5-4...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Very rare facelift model but even with that in it's favour I think they're a bit optimistic on they're pricing (while these are starting to rise in price they're not quite on the same playing field as the C55's

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Gareth1974]

Mutandegrande said:

Gareth1974 said:

V8 Mustang within budget: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/main-dealer...

Thanks for having a look! That's for a three year term unfortunately, I had looked into the mustang and to get it over two years is more expensive than a c63!

Sorry, thought I’d set the filter to 2 year deals, obviously hadn’t.

On Ford’s website, a 2 year 0% PCP comes in at £15k on a Mustang GT

[Angpozzuto]

How about a Toyota soarer/ Lexus sc430? Jap reliability reasonable price and v8

Edited by Angpozzuto on Sunday 11th February 00:20

[Mutandegrande]

@NIN thanks for the suggestions, these were along the lines of the cars I've been looking at. Have you been confident enough of those drivetrains in the past not to bother with a warranty?

@Gareth thanks again, think the best lease deals have brainwashed me into thinking pcp is the devils work. Will have to reconsider! Good find. I wonder what the impending new model is doing to the prices, will have to investigate.

Not considered the Japanese metal - will have to get googling, thanks!

[Gareth1974]

Mutandegrande said:

@Gareth thanks again, think the best lease deals have brainwashed me into thinking pcp is the devils work. Will have to reconsider! Good find. I wonder what the impending new model is doing to the prices, will have to investigate.

It’s rare for a PCP to work out cheaper than a lease in my experience, this seems to be the exception, helped by the 0% rate. I stuck in the lowest mileage band, but it only went up £7 a month at the 9000 annual mileage tier.

[RSTurboPaul]

Have a quick search by engine on PH brought up these, all of which I quite fancy and should have decent engine noise, but not all of which are V8s!

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 11th February 13:40

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Sunday 11th February 13:43

[Yipper]

Get a loan and get a C63 AMG circa >2010.

[iwantagta]

Buy one of these:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Comes with the 5.2 V10 - you WILL need to also get one of these;
http://millteksport.com/exhaust.products.cfm?varia...

To get the sound you are after as its annoyingly muted.

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

I just bought an S6 avant and its great fun in a straight line, cornering is less great but i still love it. MPG is a bit on the, erm, "challenging" side.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mutandegrande said:

@NIN thanks for the suggestions, these were along the lines of the cars I've been looking at. Have you been confident enough of those drivetrains in the past not to bother with a warranty?

Not considered the Japanese metal - will have to get googling, thanks!

I've never had a warranty on the 55/63 there's really nothing that goes wrong with them the, make sure the gearbox oil has been changed every 40k if it hasn't then take £250 off to get this done also at around 100k I'd change the diff oil too,

You may in time have the AC pump fail this makes a very disconcerting noise similar to bottom end knock which when you first experience it makes the blood drain from your face but it's obviously not a major issue once you realise this.

Front Bushes wear but this isn't a labour intensive job as you buy the arms complete, I'm trying to find a CLK500 coupe with the 5.5 (which will see me get around the Mayors T Charge which was why I sold my last 55) these are very rare & worth seeking out.

I'd buy any of the 55's above (as long as they checked out) without any thoughts towards a warranty, the 63 convertible is another good option but I'm not a fan of convertibles you won't blow your budget & you get a cracking car that won't break your budget maintenance wise, if you put £1000-1500 as a max down for maintenance that would cover you for 2 years.

The 55 does needs to have it's secondary cats removed (this has no effect on your emissions/M.O.T) to release that note an X-Pipe makes it even better.

The 63 needs nothing (although I have added a whole host of upgrades to mine) with 485bhp & 464lb/ft by comparison the 55 is 364bhp & 376lb/ft the torque comes in low down on both so they make great cruisers too, in comparison to the V8 M3/RS4 (my brother has the M3) they're comfortably better than those units & maintenance wise are comfortably less costly (I had an RS4 so know they're significantly more costly although I have to add mine was supercharged so that didn't help) than those two.

Handling wise they're not as sharp as the M3 but are on par with an RS4 & they can be made a sharper steer (eibach springs & some poly bushes) if you want this but standard they're great 8/10th cars after that you start to feel the understeer which is where the M3 steps away everywhere else the Mercedes in my bias opinion is the better car, my brother agrees but he keeps his because he loves those rare occasions where he can make his chassis work & V8 sing.

It's horses for courses as much as I like the Mustang they're a fun car (just starting one makes you smile & driving them is grin inducing) for the money I'd be trying to find some extra funds & get this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I forgot to add that the late 55 is nearly fully loaded it's missing the following: Air Cooled Seats/Electric Rear Blind/Freeview & a Sunroof.

It does have the Designo Interior & three way digital climate control all of which were optional the late ones also benefit from the same exhaust setup as the 63 & the same 6/4 pot brake set up whereas the earlier 55's will have 4/2 pot setup neither lack bite but the later setup has a better pedal feel IMO.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I hope this helps if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Forgot to add if you want a true performance V8 Japanese saloon then you'll have to stretch the budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 11th February 21:39