Recommend a V8 for a mate

[Jeremy]

Ok I've got this mate right and he has decided it's time to own a V8 before it's too late. (rhyming purely accidental I promise)

No particular logical reason, but the mate has never owned one and wants to put that right. My mate isn't sure what to buy though and would be glad of some suggestions.

No set budget but ideally 2 or 3k, maximum of £10k but not looking to spend that much if possible.

So far the mate has thought of a Lexus LS400, a MG ZT V8, a 5 litre mercedes of sorts, a 4.4 v8 BMW of sorts or a Monaro at the top end of the budget. Maybe even a 4.0 Jag of some kind. No TVRs allowed.

What's the best choice and what has my mate missed ?

Regards,

Jeremy

[Rich H]

Range rover...

[Jeremy]

Thanks Rich but he also has a Volvo XC90 in the garage so had ruled out the Range Rover on the grounds that it was too similar

[dlogan]

Why no TVRs?

10k gets you a very very nice chimaera.

Eg.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2550142.htm


If i was looking for a v8, i dont think i could see past them, oh, and they manage to make v8 sound like nobody else could/can.

[Shug]

Audi a8. If you want it to work for longer than 5 minutes. I love my S8 in a slightly unhealthy manner and you can pick up a good one for £7-8k. An A8 would be more like £2k for a minter. Huge amount of car for the coin.

[Ferg]

Merc SL500?

[Corranga]

What about an Aussie V8 in British clothes? The Vauxhall Monaro.

Or the car where the MG ZT got it's engine from, a modern Mustang (or indeed another slice of Americana).

Personally, i'd be looking at something like those or a TVR. If he's particularly looking to own a V8, I say go for the full experience and get a car built for a v8, not a car you can get a V8 in alongside a ranger of 4 / 6 pots... (though I appreciate the Mustang also can come with 6).

Chris

[KevD]

TVR would seem a good bet, a V8 saloon won't be the same experience as a roof off V8 rumble. Evo had a long termer recently, worth a read of that report.

[GregR]

Your mate ahs set a very strange target of simply owning an engine What sort of thing does he hope to accompany his engine? Lots of toys? 4 doors and a huge boot? Fast top speed? Fast acceleration? Supreme luxury? Ability to remove roof?

I'm going to apply my own sub-10k "gotta own a V8 soon" criteria of two doors, li'l bit pf prestige/rarity and the fact it was on a pencil case of mine when I were a lad (extremely important this one):-

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2779126.htm

Just tell your mate to remember V8s are big engines, normally squeezed into small spaces so servicing and repairs cost a fortune given the amount of dismantling required. Buy one that's been looked after and don't fall into the trap of thinking a £5k car + £3k slush fund is as good as an £8k car that some nice man has just spend £5k repairing.

Your friend will also doubtless be aware that a pint of petrol is costing almost as much as a pint of speciality lager thesedays and road tax (and for the moment, parking in Edinburgh) is linked to engine size.

[Rich H]

928 will get you a V8 cheap, but if it goes bang... That said a good one will be fine forever.

XK8 or XKR both relatively cheap now.

Or tell him to MTFU and buy an XJS v12 for £2k and spend the rest on fuel.

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

The A8 is an interesting one and a quick flick through Pistinheads confirms how cheap they are. The 4.2 is the V8, I that right ? What are they like to steer ? My mate is pretty cold on Audis in general as he has found them to be wooden and soulless but he has never driven an A8 before and likes to keep an open mind so this could be a contender.

I'll pass on the tips about the high running cost but I suspect he maybe thought about these already

TVR is out as he already owns another fragile fibreglass British sports car and although he loves it to bits he doesn't want another one.

The Porker is lovely but maybe a step too far risk factor wise.

Other than that, no specific criteria other than a cheap V8 with a fruity exhaust note, the less likely it is to break or blow up, the better. If you start applying too much logic to such decisions then you end up with a Passat Tdi

Regards,

Jeremy.

[GregR]

The only V8 Audi I found 'chuckable' was the RS4. The big S8 - I imagine, and am happy to be corrected by those that have driven one more recently than me (1998) - will be more geared to wards the comfort end of the 'steer' spectrum.

A quick bit of editing due to a thunderclap of inspiration:-

http://motors.shop.ebay.co.uk/Cars-/980 ... 86.c0.m282

Not many people think these are unexciting in the twisties...

[BiggestNizzy]

Xj8 ?

Been watching this thread with interest as I have been looking for something and was just about to get a clio, I have moved back to the bigger stuff

[Shug]

The only V8 Audi I found 'chuckable' was the RS4. The big S8 - I imagine, and am happy to be corrected by those that have driven one more recently than me (1998) - will be more geared to wards the comfort end of the 'steer' spectrum.

A quick bit of editing due to a thunderclap of inspiration:-

http://motors.shop.ebay.co.uk/Cars-/980 ... 86.c0.m282

Not many people think these are unexciting in the twisties...

Yep, it's not going to set your synapses on fire. Not driven the cooking A8 but the S8 is very accomplished at covering ground. Steering is numb, but once up to pace, it's very balanced. Grips like a limpet, pulls like a train.

[Tom]

Or tell him to MTFU and buy an XJS v12 for £2k and spend the rest on fuel.

Good suggestion Rich