What's the cheapest to run manual V8 fun you can have?

[-Pete-]

Chim? Range Rover? Something American?

[wombat172a]

BMW E34 540? I love the sound of the rover V8, and although it's a good engine they tend to be planted into cars with crap build quality (thus a PITA to run). I say this as a former land rover owner, and current TVR owner (I love them, but they are a ballache!!)

[mattman]

easy - Rover P6 3500 S - comedy handling comes as standard!

mucho smiles per mile

[The Lukas]

It's all relative, instead of crap build quality, you get a boring barge compared to the kit car-ish appeal which housed the Rover unit. I'd go Chimarea every time

[IROC-Z]

3rd or 4th generation Camaro/Firebird would get my vote. The former are pretty cheap to buy, parts are easy to get hold of and reliability is good. Just don't expect something hugely sophisticated or refined. The only issue is that despite most models being equipped with a manual gearbox as standard, most seem to be automatics.

[-Pete-]

It's got to be manual. And not too ugly. I don't want to go fast, but I want the right soundtrack!

[TOENHEEL]

Gran Turismo or Forza

[-Pete-]

I have a SoundRacer V8, but it's not expensive enough...

[mattman]

whats your budget? any pre-requisties would help

few classics fit the bill like a TR8, or more modern you could go down the monaro or MGZT route or luxo barge like a XJ - fit a straight through exhaust and get all the audio thrills you want

[marcosgt]

mattman said:

easy - Rover P6 3500 S - comedy handling comes as standard!

mucho smiles per mile

But slow...

Edit : Not a problem if it's just the sound you want though

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 13th January 08:47

[LuS1fer]

An American car with a pushrod V8. Best candidate would be a 1998-2002 4th gen LS1 Camaro as most panels are plastic bar the hood and rear panels and the all-alloy engine is strong and trouble-free and happily chugs out more than it's "rated" 305hp.

You can service the car yourself - nothing is difficult and it's all very easy to deal with.

[kambites]

MGB V8? If you get a good one and look after the bodywork, it should cost absolute peanuts to run.

More modern American things might be better, if you can find a manual, though. You're trading reliability for parts costs and availability, I suppose.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 13th January 09:03

[busta]

Discovery V8. The fun comes from getting it muddy. You can pick one up for a bag of sand.

[HellDiver]

MG ZT 260.

Vauxhall Monaro (rebage back to Holden if you hate Vx).

[judas]

wombat172a said:

BMW E34 540?

Er, no - not if fuel consumption is part of the equation. I got 15 mpg in mine

[anonymous-user]

-Pete- said:

Chim? Range Rover? Something American?

Defo something American. Should run to 100,000 miles with nothing but oil changes.

Camaros and Corvettes are brilliant. Fuel economy mid-20s average, 30 on a run. Mustang also worth a look.

[curlie467]

marcosgt said:

mattman said:

easy - Rover P6 3500 S - comedy handling comes as standard!

mucho smiles per mile

But slow...

Edit : Not a problem if it's just the sound you want though

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 13th January 08:47

This, tax free also!

[jbi]

Toyota Soarer with a manual conversion

1uz is a bombproof motor and get's excellent fuel economy for what it is

[jbi]

busta said:

Discovery V8. The fun comes from getting it muddy. You can pick one up for a bag of sand.

Crap motor and even worse fuel economy.

[neil_bmw]

E34 530 V8, cheaper than the 540 as its just as thirsty but slower. Plenty around.