Alternative to a Monaro?

[BroadsRS6]

A client always wanted a Monaro, preferably a 6.0 rather than the 5.7 but was too young/hard up when they came out to buy and insure and run it. 15 years later he's buying, but everything he's found is high miles or tatty.

NEEDS> Saloon. V8. Preferably 400 bhp. £15,000. Sensible miles on the clock. RHD. Not too old, say 12 years or so.

Not an Audi S4 as a cam chain replacement has just cost someone i know over £4,000! For a car worth £5,000. Ouch.
What cars spring to mind?

[Truckosaurus]

I was going so say Lexus GSF but they are out of budget still.

Not many cheap big engined cars left, they are already going up in value as there aren't many around.

I suspect it is Mercedes '63' in its various forms that will be the solution.

Edited by Truckosaurus on Friday 14th May 07:09

[Trackdayer]

V8 M3 is close to that budget. And a much better car than the Monaro.

[BroadsRS6]

I have not looked at prices but 2010-ish M3, maybe?

[BroadsRS6]

Trackdayer said:

V8 M3 is close to that budget. And a much better car than the Monaro.

Snap.

[Don1]

AMG C or E 63.

[Lincsls1]

VXR8.
A Merc, BMW or Jag? You've ruled out the Audi.
Trouble is there is always a potential bork factor with anything a little special and cars with a big V8 are often that.

[whp1983]

Would say E92 M3.... I had one, great car..... but if the Audi costs put you off the S4 you won’t like the M3s!! Coil packs and other known faults etc etc all costly to deal with.

All the cars that spring to mind in this category have known faults which are expensive.... Lexus aside if you can find one in budget

[rodericb]

VXR8 - it's the newer Monaro but with the added practicality of extra doors.

[V88Dicky]

Might be sounding pedantic, but if he wants a saloon, why was he considering a Monaro?

Just been out to check mine, it’s definitely only got two doors

[ninjacost]

Maserati 4200 , I know where there's one for sale ;-)

[Lincsls1]

£15k M3 is the obvious choice.
And for me, that would be the problem. Common sight. Nothing unique. Potential bork factor easily comparable to the S4 surely? And then there's the new M3 that succeeds it.
I'm sure its a brilliant car though.

[Zarco]

rodericb said:

VXR8 - it's the newer Monaro but with the added practicality of extra doors.

[Lincsls1]

ninjacost said:

Maserati 4200 , I know where there's one for sale ;-)

A great suggestion if he wanted a 2 door coupe. I nearly bought one, but opted for the Monaro as a safer option.

[MikeM6]

Jaguar XFR springs immediately to mind, £15k will get you a decent one I think.

[s m]

VXR8 without a doubt

Available in manual too unlike some of the above

[mfp4073]

There is no way around the fact that high performance 400HP cars cost money, especially old ones.
These cars will have been driven hard with multiple owners. When they do go wrong, ( and they will ) £15k might seen like small change.
The budget needs to be substantially increased, if not then my advice is don't do it.

[Wagonwheel555]

mfp4073 said:

There is no way around the fact that high performance 400HP cars cost money, especially old ones.
These cars will have been driven hard with multiple owners. When they do go wrong, ( and they will ) £15k might seen like small change.
The budget needs to be substantially increased, if not then my advice is don't do it.

This

I wouldn't be buying a 10 year old V8 without either upping the budget to get something newer or having a few grand in savings for when and if something goes wrong.

[Martyn76]

Bit like hens teeth at the moment but Lexus ISF? Early cars are about £15k?

[andburg]

A bit of haggle needed on this one but cheaper ones are available

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011136...

Maserati Quattroporte

Ferrari V8, enough said