Starting to get the itch to switch - cheap v8s

[Cascade360]

My garage at the moment is my Rover 75 (2.5l v6), TVR Tuscan and Peugeot 205 (which is broken and may never run again, but a story for another time). The Rover was always a cheap stop gap, and is a reliable and useful car, but got the itch to switch at some point over the next six months or so.

It will only do a couple of thousand miles a year, will be used for weekends when it is too wet and miserable to use the Tuscan, occasional sleps into the office, supermarket trips, etc. Budget flexible, but aiming around 5-7k ish. It has to be cool and interesting and have 8 cylinders or more. Running costs aren't really a factor though if we could avoid anything that is overwhelmingly likely to grenade the engine or gearbox then great or have endless niggly annoying problems then great. I can do basic DIY myself but nothing complicated. Ideally, it would be ULEZ compliant (we live just outside the south circular), and the same length or shorter than the 75 (187 inches) to fit on my drive with the gates shut in front of the Tuscan (it's tight at the moment but doable, rear parking sensors a bonus), four seats, half decent boot. But of course it might end up being none of these things. Things I have been thinking about:

MB CLK500 - sensible choice, engine meant to be bulletproof, cool pillarless coupe, right length, no air suspension bork risk. However, 5k for one today seems a lot of money, they were 3k last time I looked, and 5k brings you into budget of some tastier (but borkier) machines...
MB CL500 - much cooler than the CLK500, engine still bulletproof, but air suspension / abc / electrics related bork risk. Lot of car for the money, but is a 5/6k example a bork risk too far?
MB CLS500 - middle ground in terms of bork risk? Not as cool as the coupe's tbh and don't have as much want for one.
Jaguar XK - the 5k or so late 90s / early noughties ones just seem too classic rather than modern for what I want, I think.
Maserati 3200 GT - massive bork risk, more expensive, not ULEZ compliant, but super cool and great engine.
Jaguar XJR - bit big / long and seem to be demanding a lot of money at the moment
Left field: imported Toyota Century v12 - top end of budget, far too long, probably not ULEZ compliant, but super duper cool and something I want to have at some point.

I know there are Audi / BMW coupes but the Audi's seem a bit dull and the BMW's less appealing to me than the MB's with as I understand it more problematic engines. Though I don't know too much about them. I'm very open to suggestions, non coupes included.

Edited by Cascade360 on Monday 9th August 12:11

[biggbn]

Starts with an L ends in an S. Barge or barge/coupe, a lexus will be your friend here...

[Cascade360]

biggbn said:

Starts with an L ends in an S. Barge or barge/coupe, a lexus will be your friend here...

LS400/430 too big, SC430 only two seats ...

[ajguk]

Jag XF?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107175...

There's a couple of 5L ones in budget too on AT. Someone will be along shortly to tell you they're either bulletproof or will lunch themselves but I've a feeling it's the former. I've considered one for my next wafter.

[oilslick]

Cascade360 said:

LS400/430 too big, SC430 only two seats ...

There's the GS430, but they seem to be rare as rocking horse st these days.

[Cascade360]

ajguk said:

Jag XF?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107175...

There's a couple of 5L ones in budget too on AT. Someone will be along shortly to tell you they're either bulletproof or will lunch themselves but I've a feeling it's the former. I've considered one for my next wafter.

These look like a lot of car for the money, modern and one assumes much less borktastic than a five year older big MB coupe. Good shout, onto the list. Though quite long, 9" longer than the 75 ...

[raspy]

Cascade360 said:

LS400/430 too big, SC430 only two seats ...

Yet you have shortlisted MB CL500 and MB CLS500, both of which are longer than your requirement of 187 inches length

[Cascade360]

raspy said:

Yet you have shortlisted MB CL500 and MB CLS500, both of which are longer than your requirement of 187 inches length

That's very true (my requirements are flexible...), though both are quite a bit shorter than the Lexus LS430!

[raspy]

Cascade360 said:

That's very true (my requirements are flexible...), though both are quite a bit shorter than the Lexus LS430!

A shame the Lexus LS400/LS430 would be too long for your requirements. They are very clever in terms of having a very small turning circle for the size of the car, so they are more manouverable in tight spaces than other cars their size or even ones a tad shorter.

[Cascade360]

raspy said:

A shame the Lexus LS400/LS430 would be too long for your requirements. They are very clever in terms of having a very small turning circle for the size of the car, so they are more manouverable in tight spaces than other cars their size or even ones a tad shorter.

Tbh with a bit of effort I could probably squeeze it on my drive but was hoping for something a bit smaller / sleeker / sexier hence the large coupe suggestions. The LS400/430 are very big barges and look very non descript.

[TameRacingDriver]

Monaro - £7,500 - so might be able to haggle down

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105032...

[mattman]

BMW 6 series, E63/E64 can be had for not a lot of money and has aged well imho. 645 gives you a reasonable V8 with 330bhp which is more than adequate.

Worth checking them out if there is one local to you

[MuscleSedan]

Those old Mercs are very highly likely to be money pits. The bare mechanicals might be solid enough but everything else around them has a big potential and likely bork factor.

[georgeyboy12345]

Some left-field suggestions


How about a bit of 90s Americana - Cadillac Seville STS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105142...


Never mind a V8, what about a V12 in this Daimler Double Six?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106093...


If you want a Merc, why not an SL500?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...


Volvo S80 4.4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275...

[ZX10R NIN]

Cat N CLK55 AMG

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164992455147?hash=item2...

[mondayo]

Passat W8.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105012...

S4 Avant
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

Both of them are under £5k and estates.

Here's another Passat at over £5k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...

Quite a few S4's in budget and both those cars are short enough.

Or something a bit longer....https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265452854

[Emeye]

Just bought my first V8, an LS430 from another PHer. Well, he said there is a V8 under the bonnet, but it could be an electric motor as it's so quiet. I might do something to make it louder. And then regret it. But still, it's a V8 and ticks another box.

[TameRacingDriver]

Emeye said:

Just bought my first V8, an LS430 from another PHer. Well, he said there is a V8 under the bonnet, but it could be an electric motor as it's so quiet. I might do something to make it louder. And then regret it. But still, it's a V8 and ticks another box.

I reckon that's the problem with most of these V8 super salons. They were marketed as luxury cars and hence most are virtually inaudible. Easily fixed but something buyers should consider when buying one just so they can have a V8.

[Cascade360]

Certainly coupes appeal over the big saloons, partly for that reason. The Monaro is a decent shout, but maybe it would fill a role too similar to the TVR.

[sbk1972]

You obviously like MB and the 5l engine. Therefore what about a ML55 ? 5.4l engine. bullet proof engine and transmission. No ABC to worry about.

Car tax is £300 and not the 500+ and its ULEZ compliant.

Cheap to buy too.

I have one ! :-) Tremendous.