What car £12k and 400bhp or more

[321boost]

Is there a car that could be had for £12k or less and give 400 bhp at the flywheel. Stock would be better or maybe with unnoticeable modifications (a remap and not as extreme as an engine swap)? I could think of a high mileage amg.

[Over over under steer]

E55 AMG, as you’d hinted at. Good choice, should get a half decent one in your budget. Wont depreciate much

[321boost]

Over over under steer said:

E55 AMG, as you’d hinted at. Good choice, should get a half decent one in your budget. Wont depreciate much

Not looking to buy I’m just wondering. I already have something with more

[Welshbeef]

Jag XKR 5ltr v8
C5 RS6
E39 M5

[judas]

X350 Jag XJRs can be picked up for peanuts these days - got one myself

[FamousPheasant]

Another Jaguar suggestion would be the XFR with the 500hp 5.0 supercharged engine. I picked up a very tidy 10 year old example with 84k miles for 11k in August after considering more expensive options. The earlier XF SV8 with the 4.2 can be had for even less and output 400hp+.

[culpz]

Jaguar S-Type R with change?

[rev-erend]

Probably the E92 BMW V8 4.0.

[TEKNOPUG]

Cayenne GTS or Turbo.

[Pig benis]

rev-erend said:

Probably the E92 BMW V8 4.0.

Otherwise known as the BMW E92 M3

[stevekoz]

You could have yourself 400bhp in a number of cars for 12k.

Not sure you want one, but word of caution, at 12k and 400bhp the cars mentioned or could be mentioned would be a bit long in the tooth or higher milers and the costs concerning upkeep of said cars does not come down commensurate with age. So you'd still be looking at super saloon/AMG/M-Car/RS Car pricing for servicing and parts and maintenance so would factor those in.

For example at 12k the e92 can be had with a touch over 100k on the clock and as good as they are, they are not without their issues. So being savvy when buying one will have to be a must.

All that said. Why 400bhp? Its kind of arbitrary and there a number of cars that can offer that kind of "pace" with less bhp.

Here are some examples for you though -

e92 M3 -

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011226...

e60 M5 (with haggling)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011236...

Audi RS4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011236...

Maserati Quattroporte - (near as makes no difference 400bhp)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009143...

Mercedes C63 (again haggling, but prices are getting there for older/higher milers)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012207...

e55 AMG

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012016...

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...

Vauxhall vxr8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

Then there are those cars that offer similar speed for less bhp - WRX/Evo/Golf R to name a handful. Though remaps would be a way to go with those,. Not exactly extreme modification needed for near your requirement. So, there are a few of those but not sure that's something you'd be interested in unless we understand the reason you are looking at 400bhp? Is it the "number" or the performance that goes with it?

[Welshbeef]

Standard cars how about
Corvettes?
TVR?

[Paddymcc]

Jaguar XKR 4.2

Around 400hp standard but easily tuned to over 500hp with some mods to the supercharger and software and the engine seems to be more relaible than the later 5.0 models.