Best V8 performance cars for £15,000

Craving eight cylinders but shopping on a budget? Here are some of the very best V8-powered performance cars £15,000 can buy

Words: Chris Randall

You probably won’t need us to remind you that the motoring world is changing. Internal combustion is heading out and electrification is taking its place, but we’re here to celebrate the former and in particular the delights of the V8. Call it a last hurrah for these characterful engines if you will. There’s still time to enjoy them, so we’ve decided to go shopping with a budget of £15,000 and see what cars are out there to tempt the enthusiast, and we think you’ll like what we’ve found. Which one would get your cash?

BMW M3 Convertible (E90)

Slotting a V8 beneath the M3’s bonnet was a major departure for BMW M but thanks to 414bhp and 295lb ft of torque performance was huge, with the coupe hitting 60mph in just 4.7 seconds.

You could have this E90 generation in saloon and convertible forms, too, and it’s the latter that you’ll find for £15k. There isn’t a massive choice at that price and the mileage will likely be the other side of 100k, but as long as it’s been maintained properly you shouldn’t need to worry. A sound service history is a must, though, and engine issues can include failure of the two throttle bodies which is an expensive fix.

Although the drop-top weighs an additional 150kg it does little to dent the performance or handling, and any slight loss of dynamic precision is balanced by being able to enjoy more of the V8’s noise when the roof is down. You’ll also get the ‘M Dynamic Mode’ that allows tweaks to the steering weight, throttle response and damper stiffness.
There’s a great cabin as well, with impressive build and material quality and spot-on ergonomics. Enthusiasts will likely be drawn to the coupe, but don’t dismiss the fresh air variant; it’s a cracking choice and a proper M car that won’t disappoint if you take the time to find a good one.

Vauxhall VXR8

A thundering V8 saloon wasn’t what you’d expect from the usually conservative car maker, but this rebadged Holden certainly grabbed attention. Our budget should bag a 2007 car with around 80k miles, that money buying you something that blends a practical four-seater body with old-school rear-wheel drive thrills. In fact, there’s a proper muscle car vibe in the way it goes about its business, and that’s something that holds plenty of appeal.

There’s certainly ample punch from the 6.0-litre motor (upgraded to a 6.2 with 425bhp from 2008) while the plentiful torque also gives the traction control electronics a work-out. Yes, the thirst for fuel is pretty epic if you make full use of the performance but it’s very hard to resist. It makes for a decent long-distance cruiser, too, but when you’re in the mood for fun you’ll also discover that it’s defter in the corners than you might expect of something this big and heavy. And with room for four, a comfortable and well-equipped cabin and a usefully-sized boot this might just be the perfect way to blend family duties with classic
V8 entertainment.

That the VXR8 is strong and well-built means there’s not much to worry about when it comes to parting with your cash. A solid service history is the important thing, and you’ll want to ensure that tyres and brakes haven’t taken a pounding, but as long as you avoid anything that looks to have been run on a shoestring we thing you’ll like this.

Audi RS4

If you’re looking for V8-powered excitement and a premium badge then the Audi is pretty much guaranteed to fit the bill. You can have one in saloon or Avant estate flavours, too, and £15k will be enough to secure an example of either that dates from 2006/07 and that’s covered around 100k miles.

Given that it cost the best part of fifty grand when it arrived in 2005, that makes it something of a bargain today. Especially when you consider the enticing recipe. Externally, the RS4 was distinguished by flared wheel-arches and aluminium front wings and bonnet, the latter hiding a 4.2-litre V8 making 414bhp. It was as quick as you’d hope from something packing this much firepower with the 0-62mph benchmark ticked off in 4.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 155mph.

Power was sent to all four wheels via a default 40/60 torque split so there was no shortage of grip; if it’s all-weather thrills you want the Audi is the natural choice. Dynamic Ride Control suspension kept everything tied down, and if you pressed the Sport button you got a louder exhaust note, sharper response from the throttle and the novelty of seat bolsters that motored into a position where they squeezed a bit tighter.

And all of this was allied to Audi’s usual cabin quality and top-notch ergonomics. The result is a tempting proposition but you’ll want to avoid buying one without an unimpeachable service history, and make sure there’s no accident-related murkiness in the car’s past.

Chevrolet Corvette (C5)

We could hardly suggest affordable V8s without including something from across the pond, and our choice is the legendary Corvette. It’s in the form of the C5 generation which arrived in 1997 and represented a notable redesign over the C4 predecessor, and it’s also one that was officially imported to the UK a couple of years after launch. It was still left-hand drive, of course, but at less than £37,000 it was a tempting way to get a slice of Americana on your drive.

It’s even more tempting today, we’d wager, although we have to be honest and say you’ll probably need to stretch our notional budget a little if the idea of a Corvette appeals. Still, it’s worth finding that extra cash as it means you’ll get to enjoy the aural delights of a 345bhp 5.7-litre ‘small block’ motor that packs more than enough punch to put a smile on your face. The C5 was a tough and reliable thing, too, although any performance car that’s more than 20 years old is going to need a little care when it comes to buying.

Finding one that’s been cherished by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable owner is going to be best, then, but with a number of good specialists in the UK – and a terrific owner’s club – looking after it properly needn’t be a problem. If you want to stand out from the crowd it’s hard to think of a more enjoyable way of doing it.

Maserati 4200GT

If you prefer you’re V8 to come in the form of an Italian exotic then the cachet of the Maserati badge might just prove hard to ignore. Launched at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 4200 was available as the drop-top Spyder first with the coupe arriving the following year, and was the replacement for the similar-looking 3200. Under the bonnet was a Ferrari-developed 4.2 V8 making 390bhp and with drive going to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted 6-speed manual or paddle-shift Cambiocorsa transmission.

The performance was as beguiling as the looks with 0-60mph despatched in just 4.9 seconds on the way to a 178mph maximum. Our budget will get you a very good example that’s covered around 60k miles, although be prepared to search as these cars aren’t exactly common in the classifieds. It will be worth the effort, though. You’ll be enjoying the punch of the wailing V8 from an opulent cabin, and if you want every journey to feel special this Maserati is guaranteed to fit the bill.

The fly in the ointment is the potential for wallet-wilting repair and maintenance costs, so buying one without enlisting the help of a specialist would be unwise. A record of meticulous servicing is a must, and bear in mind that renewing the clutch for the Cambiocorsa ‘box will cost in the region of £3000. You can’t get new Skyhook dampers, either, so suspension issues need approaching with caution. But find a cherished one and you’ll love what’s on offer here.

Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (W211)

Want an executive saloon with sledgehammer performance? Then the E55 AMG could be just what you’re looking for, the understated appearance belying the sort of pace that will trouble the most exotic of supercars. The V8 was a supercharged 5.4-litre unit producing 469bhp, enough to see 0-60mph flash past in just 4.6 seconds, and it sounds terrific when extended.

This W211 generation was certainly an improvement over the preceding W210, Mercedes having ironed out most of the quality problems that included a propensity for corrosion. We’d still take a look for any signs of rust, but it shouldn’t really be a worry. And as long as it’s maintained properly the engine will cover big miles without problem. Slightly less impressive was the brake-by-wire Sensotronic Brake Control system although this was dropped after 2006. Better news was the air suspension set up that provided an impressive blend of body control and ride comfort, and it contributed to the E55’s ability to make covering long distances a relaxing affair.

The spacious and well-equipped cabin was a further boon and there should be no complaints about the quality of the materials or the way it’s assembled. This generation of E-Class arrived back in 2002 and it’s those early cars in saloon form that just about squeeze within our budget – the estate remains a bit too expensive for now. We’d avoid anything modified, and make sure that maintenance hasn’t slipped over the past twenty years, but those things aside this remains a very comfortable way to go fast.