For now, you can still get affordable V-8 power, and these models are your best bet on the market.
Everyone who likes cars knows what it’s like to want a fast car. But as car fans, there are certain goals we try to reach, and having a V-8 car is one of them. With the way the market is right now, it can be hard to find good cars that are also affordable. Between dealer markups and the fact that the value of our dream cars keeps going up, it seems like we’ll never be able to buy them. But the car market is big, and despite trends like downsizing, SUVs, and BEVs, the used car market is still full of V-8 models that you can buy. There are many different kinds, and some models are more popular than others.
There are American classics, Japanese luxury cars, British grand tourers, and German roadsters among the options. The V-8 engine is known for its speed and power, and we’ve put together a list of some of the best-known brands with this engine layout. We looked at the price per horsepower to decide which models to include on our list, and these seem to be the best ones on the market right now. Keep in mind that these are used items, and some of them are from before the year 2000. If you buy one, you might have to spend a little more on it after you buy it.
Ford Mustang GT
This is about the early S197 model of the Ford Mustang GT, which was made from 2005 to 2009 and had a 4.6-liter Ford Modular V-8 engine. We think the S197 Mustang GT is one of the best cheap V-8 cars on the market right now because it has strong mechanical parts, a proven powertrain that dates back to the Ford Crown Victoria, and a lot of spare parts.
The Ford Mustang GT is easy to fix, but it does have a few problems. The structure of convertible models is especially weak, which causes the chassis to bend in cars with a lot of miles on them. Since many of these S197 models have a lot of miles on them, engine sensors are known to go bad. The manual Tremec TR3560 is usually a strong transmission, but the vibrating transmission separator can be a problem. Models made in 2011 or later have fewer issues, but they cost more.
Lexus SC430
TopGear isn’t always right, and the Lexus SC430 is a great example. The Japanese luxury roadster, which has been called the worst car in the world, is actually one of the best V-8 cars you can buy for cheap. The second-generation Lexus SC was first planned in 1997, but it wasn’t made until 2001. People often call this Lexus the Japanese Mercedes, and the SC430 was made to compete with the Mercedes SL500. The 3UZ-FE V-8 engine is the best thing about this model.
Every part of the car shows how well it was made, but because of that, it weighs 3,840 pounds (1,742 kg) at the curb. Even though it had a powerful and reliable DOHC V-8 engine, the SC430 was more of a luxury grand tourer than a real sports car. However, its electrically operated, retractable top made it possible to drive under the open sky.
The 1JZ, 2JZ, and 2UZ engines from the SC430’s predecessor are still available because the SC430 hasn’t been as well-liked as its predecessor. Most of the time, these cars are strong, but they may have problems with their starter motors, head gaskets, sway bar bushings, or brakes. Most owners get brake sets that are better.
Chevrolet Corvette
It’s hard to believe that you can buy a Chevrolet Corvette, but you can. There are a few things you need to do to get one of the best V-8 sports cars. You will have to choose between a C4 or a C5 model if you don’t want to spend more than $15,000. The C4 Corvette may not be thought of as the best American model, but it still has a reliable V-8 engine and decent performance. A. I . x.
On the other hand, you get the much better LS1 V-8 engine than the LT1 engine in the C4. But even base C5 Corvettes are hard to find at this price, so a C4 would be your best bet. In both cases, you won’t be able to buy the high-performance C4 ZR-1, Grand Sport, or C5 Z06 models because they cost more.
Infiniti M56
Compared to American and German cars, there aren’t that many Japanese luxury cars, and there are even fewer with a V-8 engine. The fourth-generation Infiniti M56 is bigger than the Infiniti G35, which is also known as the Nissan Skyline in Japan. Both cars are built on the FM platform. “56” refers to the size of the VK56VD DOHC V-8 engine, which was also the largest engine in the range. The M56 comes with a lot of standard features, which is typical for Japanese automakers.
This is one of the most sporty mid-size luxury sedans because of how agile the chassis is. The M56 was 66 mm longer than the Mercedes E-Class of the same size. Early models had problems with their fuel pumps and fuel leaks, as well as with their wiring. Also, keep an eye out for transmission leaks or shifts that aren’t smooth.
Mercedes SL500
Mercedes-Benz has a lot of great models from the 1990s and 2000s, but if we are to choose the best bang for the buck, we have to go with the R230-generation SL500. The stylish German roadster replaced the R129 model, which was made in 1988. It came out in 2001. The R230 was the first SL to have the new, much rounder design, but many of the great engine options stayed, though they were updated.
Most people agree that the M113 V-8 is one of the best V-8 engines Mercedes has ever made. Even though it’s not an AMG, the engine gives the luxury grand tourer more than enough power. It’s also one of the last truly reliable V-8 engines from the brand.
Hyundai Genesis
Korean luxury may sound like a contradiction, but when Hyundai released the Genesis sedan in 2009, it became a real thing. Hyundai did a lot of extra work to make the Genesis sedan a real rival to Mercedes and BMW. The Genesis came with powerful V-8 engines as well as a lot of standard features and a nice interior. Multi-point fuel injection and, later, direct fuel injection were both available for the V-8s in the Tau series. If you want to keep the price low, choose an early BH model made between 2009 and 2013.
The Genesis sedan is a reliable car, but there are some known issues. RepairPal says that people have complained about a rough idle or a hard engine start. This can be fixed with a software update to the powertrain control module (PCM), which costs between $88 and $111.
Read More – 7 Used Sports Cars Worth Buying
