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jeep grand cherokee
nissan patrol b0m2
Mark Higgins19 Mar 2021
NEWS

Affordable V8s disappearing fast

Just seven sub-$100K new V8 models remain; that will soon shrink to just five – and only one sports car

In most new car showrooms not long ago, asking for a V8 engine with your new set of wheels was a bit like asking for fries with your burger at Macca’s, but these days affordable V8s are vanishing faster than a politician’s promise.

So much so that currently in Australia there are only seven new models available with a bent eight in their snout for less than $100,000 – and that’s if you can get hold of one of the few remaining Chrysler 300 SRTs and Toyota 200 Series LandCruisers before they’re gone for good.

Of course, the latter is a twin-turbo 200kW/650Nm 4.5-litre diesel V8, which will be replaced by a downsized 3.3-litre turbo-diesel in the new 300 Series, which arrives by year’s end and has Buckley’s chance of resurrecting the petrol V8.

Currently less than 100 new 200 Series vehicles remain for sale on carsales and prices start from $103,000 for the mid-range GXL – well above the $92,696 list price plus on-road costs (there are no listings for the base GX, which opens the range at $80,996 plus ORCs).

Such is the demand for the final V8 LandCruiser that some speculative sellers of used 200 Series models are asking up to $195K!

Meantime, the 300 SRT has disappeared from price lists but still appears on Chrysler’s public website and 18 new MY20 examples are listed at carsales priced from $72K – once again well above the last list price of $65,950 plus ORCs.

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The rear-drive Chrysler 300 SRT sedan, further shipments of which are unlikely for Australia, is powered by a 350kW/637Nm 6.4-litre petrol V8.

That means that of the five sub-$100K V8 models that will soon remain available, just one of them is an actual passenger car and indeed a sports car, the rest being utes or SUVs.

Indeed, the humble V8 is such a dying breed that even the next-generation Mercedes-AMG C 63 – the last mid-size luxury sports sedan to be powered by a V8 – will downsize to an electrified four-cylinder powertrain like the rest of the new C-Class line-up.

Dating back to 1914 and the Cadillac brand, the illustrious bent eight was responsible for the birth of American and Australian muscle cars from the late 1960s.

A V8 engine powered both Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones to Formula 1 world titles, the former with the Australian-developed Repco engine and the latter with a Ford Cosworth – arguably the most successful V8 in Grand Prix racing, notching up 176 wins between 1967 and 2003.

Closer to home, the annual Bathurst enduro was first won with a V8 under the bonnet of an XR Ford Falcon GT in 1967 and the following year a V8-engined Holden Monaro GTS 327 took the honours. Since then just four Bathurst 1000 victories have been notched up in non-V8-powered cars.

Prestige and practicality are further reasons why the V8 box was ticked by many Aussies – including half of all home-grown Commodore buyers in the final year of production – especially those who tow a boat or van, or who love a long-distance drive.

So, with a tear in the eye and a budget of $100,000, let’s take a look at what that will get you with a V8 burbling under the bonnet in 2021.

Ford Mustang GT

Taking pole position and rightly so is the only passenger car in the mix, and it's guaranteed to continue into a new generation. The Ford Mustang is a global icon and the car that basically saved Ford’s bacon after the disaster that was the Edsel.

Since its arrival five years ago it has sold like hotcakes and remains the biggest-selling sports car in the land. Its passionate following is embraced by both genders and all ages.

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And why wouldn’t it? It’s a performance car bargain. Its glorious naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 puts out a handy 339kW and 556Nm. Zero to 100km/h is over and out in 4.5 seconds and the baritone rumble of the engine is guaranteed to slap a permanent ear-to-ear grin on you… and others.

You can have the V8 Mustang GT with a coupe or convertible body and a 10-speed auto or six-speed manual, and all this V8 greatness can be yours from just $64,190 for the coupe and $75,025 for the convertible.

Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series

Toyota has been dropping its diesel V8 into the utilitarian 70 Series LandCruiser ute, wagon and ‘troopie’ since the mid-2000s.

toyota landcruiser 70 s1o9

The single-turbo 4.5-litre V8 produces 151kW/430Nm and is nailed to a five-speed manual transmission. Parking one in your driveway will set you back at least $67,400 for the five-door wagon, $68,950 for the ute and $71,350 for the two-door Troop Carrier.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

‘You better get a bigger boat’ was the catchcry from the Jeep Grand Cherokee telly ad, and the cheapest V8 version – the $72,950 (plus ORCs) S-Limited – is a well-kitted-out model sitting in the upper stratum of the range.

jeep grand cherokee

In its snout is a 5.7-litre V8 pushing out 259kW and 520Nm without any supercharging or turbocharging boosting its performance. But if you want some real welly under your right hoof slide over to the $92,450 (plus ORCs) Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, which packs a 344kW/624Nm 6.4-litre V8 providing lots of poke.

A new Jeep Grand Cherokee is on the way and should continue with petrol V8 power.

Nissan Patrol

The Nissan Patrol is the arch-rival of Toyota’s LandCruiser but that diminished in 2013 with Nissan announcing the end of the diesel engine.

nissan patrol b0m2

While some buyers mourned the loss, others welcomed the new 298kW/560Nm 5.6-litre petrol V8 in the latest model, offering similar torque but car-like quietness and smoothness. A version of this engine powered the carsales-backed Nissan Altima Supercar.

Sharpened pricing – $78,910 plus ORCs for the Ti and $93,365 for the Ti-L flagship – has seen Patrol demand increase to record levels, but the LandCruiser continues to outgun the big Nissan SUV in the sales race.

RAM 1500

Unlike our home-grown and now-defunct Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon-based utes – and to a much lesser extent the array of popular mid-size ladder-frame utes available – the full-size, all-American RAM pick-up isn’t at all sporty.

ram 1500 express

There’s a newer DT-series model on the way, but the DS-series RAM 1500 Express is luxurious inside, a workhorse outside and under its bonnet lies pretty much the same 5.7-litre V8 as found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

To enjoy the RAM 1500 Express Quad Cab and its 291kW and 556Nm, you’ll have to fork over $79,950 plus ORCs (the bigger Crew Cab costs $89,950 plus ORCs), but you’ll have the biggest toy on the block.

Buying used

If none of these float your boat and that lazy hundred large is burning a hole in your pocket, take a squiz at this eclectic lot of V8-powered offerings.

2016 F86 BMW X6 M
Admittedly this one is right on the $100K limit, and while the BMW X6 looks like it was parked too close to a building skip that landed on its bum, this burly Beemer started the ‘sport utility coupe’ craze. To back up the looks, this flagship M version will do zero to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds thanks to its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 smashing out 423kW/730Nm.

2016 VFII Holden Commodore SS-V Redline
There is no denying the last Commodore was a world-class jigger that is sorely missed. But if you want the fastest standard one to roll off Holden’s Elizabeth production line, shell out $61,000 and you can drive away in this top-shelf SS-V Redline and its 304kW/570Nm 6.2-litre V8.

2016 vfii holden commodore ss v redline

2010 Jaguar XF Portfolio
Looking to add a little prestige motoring in your life? How about this Jag? At $30K it’s not a budget buster and with a shade under 60,000km on the clock it is probably just run-in. Making this feline fast is its 283kW/515Nm 5.0-litre V8.

2017 Lexus RC F Coupe
Two doors, alluring looks, plenty of show and a decent amount of go, coupled with impeccable build quality and refinement, make this V8-powered Lexus coupe worth a good look. This one hasn’t even travelled 15,000km so it would feel like new. For your $83,990 you get a 351kW/530Nm 5.0-litre V8, making it capable of hitting 100km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds.

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Written byMark Higgins
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