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Seen the new BMW M5 concept? Nice, isn't it? Since last week's pics were revealed ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show, the collective root-fizz at Top Gear HQ has had us clicking away at the usual suspects online all lunchtime, checking out old M5 prices and planning potential new additions to our over-burdened driveways.
But frankly, while £5K for an E39 M5 might sound tempting, our wasted hour has thrown up some rather more interesting alternatives...
FORD SCORPIO 2.9-LITRE COSWORTH
Underneath this questionable
example's light accident damage and gently corroded rear wheel arch there's a
2.9-litre quad-cam Cosworth V6, which rattles out an incongruous 195bhp and 203ft lb of
torque.
Pre-facelift MkIIs weren't given a single Cossie badge outside, presumably to ward off thieves and cozzers. Beware the shanty-looking Scorpio revving at the lights.
It's going for £600 on eBay. More here
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8
Most people's Passat experience involves rocking slowly in the back seat and trying not to vomit. But there's more to the humble saloon's range than cab-spec sick-catchers.
In 2001, VW gave us its dumb-fast four-wheel-drive, 4.0-litre, 275bhp W8. It was the first ever production car with a W8 engine, which got it to 60mph in 6.8 seconds - sounds like a far more exciting way to fetch up a kebab. And this one only costs three grand. Bargain.
Price on Pistonheads: £2,995. More here
MERCEDES-BENZ 500E
A rather brilliant piece of Teutonic co-operation, this. In 1990,
Mercedes gave Porsche a yawnsome E-Class saloon with a solitary instruction:
make it a bit mental. Porsche lobbed in one of MB's 326bhp 5.0-litre V8s,
flared the arches, lowered and stiffened the suspension, banged some big brakes
on and gave it back.
It'll do 60mph in less than six seconds, looks like a Stuttgart taxi and this one costs less than a Chevy Cruz. Want.
Price on Car and Classic: £10,995. More here
Any more ideas in our quest for a ‘sleeper shed sort of like an M5', TopGear.commers?
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
TexasTifosi commented on this article
at 01:55 pm on 12 April 2011
What about a 2000-2006 BMW E46 M3? You can pick up a good one with 70k miles on it for $16k-$19k here in the states.
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JaguarXJboy commented on this article
at 02:10 pm on 12 April 2011
The XJ40 V12 cars are quite fast and good handling cars too! Over 300bhp!
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granturismo1106 commented on this article
at 02:20 pm on 12 April 2011
Audi S8 with Lambo V10 for less than £20k. Or what about the Passat W8, but as an estate. The dog can come along for the ride. VW Phaeton with either Bentley's W12 or VW's own V10TDI. Thanks to heavy depreciation, a 2004 W12 can be found for around £10k-£15k. Or, how about a bombproof Mercedes-Benz E430 T 4MATIC with a 4.3-litre V8 petrol and 4WD; a high mileage one won't show its age, and they can be found for about £3k.
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granturismo1106 commented on this article
at 02:37 pm on 12 April 2011
£10k for a 2004 Chrysler 300C 5.7 HEMI V8.
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Yimbo commented on this article
at 02:48 pm on 12 April 2011
1989 through 1995 Ford Taurus SHO. 220HP 3.0L Yamaha DOHC V6 with a 5 speed manual made it good from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, topping out at 140MPH. Most probably can't do that now, and the engine will outlive the rest of the car, but they can be had for less than $2k. Throw it away when your done and go again. The SVT Contour was pretty good, albeit smaller than the Taurus, but still had plenty of scoot. Probably could score that for a song and a dance, as they weren't top sellers.
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