Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Mid Week Match-Up: Best 8 Cylinder Car

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for another edition of Daily Turismo's better than sleeping with a porcupine game also known as Mid Week Match-Up! Today's search is for the best 8-cylinder car for $5k-$10k.  Go forth and search!!


I'm going to go out on a limb and pick this 1997 Nissan 240SX...and you would be correct in pointing out that it did not have a V8 from  the Nissan factory, but some nutter shoved a Toyota 1UZFE (300 horsepower 300 ft-lbs of torque in a 2000 era Lexus GS400) under the hood and kept the 5-speed gearbox. Talk about win-win.


What can you find with 8 cylinders that is a better car for the cash?  Comments below.
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39 comments:

  1. GianniMarch 4, 2015 at 11:16 AM

    Third time is a charm (preview is my friend)...

    Fox body Mustang.

    Here's an '88 GT with 40K miles on the clock, needing paint for $6.5K. Seems like you could talk them down into the 5's and drive it as is.

    [img]http://images.craigslist.org/00000_6GEzbnVDKIY_600x450.jpg[/img]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 11:32 AM

      Yeah, these things are starting to become collectibles. That one's still got four-lug wheels, needs a junkyard run for some SN95 parts.

      Delete
    2. gatorbaitMarch 4, 2015 at 12:39 PM

      Think they'll throw in the cougar parking sign?

      Delete
    3. GianniMarch 4, 2015 at 1:13 PM

      Or maybe the cougar.

      Delete
    4. MattMarch 4, 2015 at 3:01 PM

      I need to pick one up before they start climbing... been wanting a 93 Cobra, but too rich for my wallet.

      Delete
    5. GianniMarch 5, 2015 at 8:47 AM

      You mean the Cougar or the Cobra? Ba dum bum. Thanks, I be here all week. Try the veal.

      Delete
  2. Fleetwood T. BroughamMarch 4, 2015 at 11:38 AM

    Perhaps you could convince me that there is a more original V8 family car for this price, but you'd have trouble convincing me there's a better one. God's own wagon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 11:43 AM

      Nice cars, that one appears to be a base-model with E60 wheels on it, it's got the base seats. I'd hold out for a sport-package car with the sport seats.

      Delete
    2. Fleetwood T. BroughamMarch 4, 2015 at 11:47 AM

      No doubt, and I agree with your choices....just putting this one out there as a sample. I'd love to find an 03 touring M-sport and do the Koala motorsports 6 speed swap into it. In the early 2000's, I had a 2000 528iT sport with the super-rare manual transmission. Bought it with 25k miles and it was just a phenomenal car----one of those that you wish you had back in hindsight, especially since I sold it to buy Satan's own P38 Range Rover.

      Delete
  3. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 11:41 AM

    There seem to be a few '04 GTOs going sub-$10K but no time to put together a list right now. Maybe even a G8 GT or two, though those all seem to be automatics.

    I will, however, pitch this one out there:

    Late E39 540i 6-speed

    At 176K you'd best budget for a cam chain and guides replacement as well as all the usual cooling system plumbing, front suspension bushings, and a bunch of the usual BMW plastic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FTBMarch 4, 2015 at 11:49 AM

      Yep, that's what I started down the path looking for up above, and just landed on that touring when I saw a $5k one with under 100k miles in nice shape.

      In the roundel classifieds this month, there's a 2000 M5 with 129k miles (and a description that sounds as if it's been babied) for $11k.....I would have linked it but they're password protected. If anything would be worth a $1k stretch from this price range, that car would.

      Delete
  4. GlennMarch 4, 2015 at 11:44 AM


    The 240sx is a nice swap.

    Hmm, look at the quality difference between searching for "v8 swap" and "lsx swap":

    http://www.carbyr.com/cars/?csrfmiddlewaretoken=Qa56BeWRs8YfAdBMqsU76cAYRyIRzeCZ&query_string=v8+swap

    http://www.carbyr.com/cars/?csrfmiddlewaretoken=Qa56BeWRs8YfAdBMqsU76cAYRyIRzeCZ&query_string=lsx+swap

    Always like a 500 RWHP volvo wagon, although no thanks on bright red race seats :).

    ReplyDelete
  5. GlennMarch 4, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    Or this wouldn't be turned away if it showed up in the driveway:

    [img]http://images.craigslist.org/00A0A_kYBDx6HyrZn_600x450.jpg">[/img]

    2000 Jaguar XKR"

    ReplyDelete
  6. kaibeezyMarch 4, 2015 at 12:02 PM

    97 E39 540i 6sp - 192k miles - $5300

    [img]http://images.craigslist.org/00707_2bD6Z6k9ehr_600x450.jpg[/img]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FTBMarch 4, 2015 at 12:08 PM

      Nice price, but the early ones miss out on the most comfortable seat my backside has ever graced, the sport seats. Don't believe they were an option until 98 or 99. (yes, I would base the car purchase on the seat).

      Delete
    2. kaibeezyMarch 4, 2015 at 1:12 PM

      you don't say - i might know of such a seat endowed 98 that could be coming available - should we discuss offline?

      Delete
    3. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 1:49 PM

      The '97 6-speed cars got sport seats but if memory serves they were manually operated, not power.

      The M5 seats are similar but have power lumbar adjustment in addition to different upholstery offerings.



      Delete
    4. FTBMarch 4, 2015 at 1:56 PM

      Nein, the sport seats didn't become available (in the US anyway) until the sport package became available, in 1998. Any 1997 6-speed was just a "base" 540i that happened to have a manual transmission. (Also in the sport package were shadowline window trim, 3 spoke steering wheel, and lower suspension).

      Delete
    5. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 2:28 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    6. mrkwongMarch 4, 2015 at 2:33 PM

      Beg to differ - the '97-98 6-speed cars and the '98 sport-package automatics all got the same suspension and the 17x8 style 19 wheels. Shadowline trim wasn't available in the US market on any E39 in '97 and the 3-spoke M-sport steering wheel didn't show up until 1999 even on sport-package cars.

      There was nothing different from standard E39 spec in the powertrain, they all got a 2.82 open rearend. The '97 had ASR (traction control) and I think the '98 6-speed may have too, don't recall, the '98 automatic got DSC (yaw-sensing stability control.)

      The '99 6-speeds and sport-package automatics got the staggered 17x8/17x9 wheels and the 3-spoke M-sport steering wheel and I believe '99 was the first year for Servotronic variable-assist steering and HID lights in the US too; they certainly weren't available in '98. I can't recall whether the automatics started getting the 3.15 rear and looser torque converter in '99 or '00. The front bumper cap design changed in '00.

      A lot of the stuff that was bundled up in packages for the US market was available a la carte in Europe, the car had been on the market there since late '95 and I remember seeing a 523i with HIDs and the staggered 17in style 32 wheels in early 1998.

      Delete
  7. sean scottMarch 4, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    I am a "BMW Guy" so it will be hard for me to post something different.

    I probably couldn't pass as a Vette owner but they fast for the money. Also, the GTO. Not so much in the looks department but a great performer.

    C5

    ReplyDelete
  8. K2 Mystery CarMarch 4, 2015 at 1:09 PM

    So I've been eyeing these for a while now and they're getting to be rock bottom prices. After driving several, I'm surprisingly impressed. I also like that I don't look stuck up in it and it flies under the radar for most people who don't even have a clue what's under the hood. I need FWD and cheap maintenance. Current private party value is around $4K for a clean 2005. I'd quote performance numbers, but I'd be accused of "bracket racing". I guess that's a no-no here on DT. Anyway, it's my pick.

    [img]http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/pontiac/grand-prix/2008/oem/2008_pontiac_grand-prix_sedan_gxp_fq_oem_1_500.jpg[/img]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CFloMarch 4, 2015 at 1:39 PM

      That would be bench racing, and it's encouraged.

      We at DT are not the overly micromanaging bunch that your comments seem to make us out to be...

      Delete
    2. kaibeezyMarch 4, 2015 at 1:54 PM

      shouldn't "overly-micromanaging" be hyphenated? - get it together C

      Delete
    3. CFloMarch 4, 2015 at 1:56 PM

      That's it KBZ - the final straw - you didn't properly capitalize or punctuate your sentence. You're off the team

      ;-)

      Delete
    4. kaibeezyMarch 4, 2015 at 2:14 PM

      ahem... "artistic license"? - it's in my "contract"

      Delete
    5. K2 Mystery CarMarch 4, 2015 at 6:01 PM

      I'm just happy to be the catalyst to bring you two back together. It's great you're both on speaking terms again.

      Delete
    6. ArlowMarch 5, 2015 at 9:24 AM

      Now you've torn it, KBZ - you've put the question mark outside of the quotation mark. Unforgivable.

      Delete
    7. kaibeezyMarch 5, 2015 at 10:16 AM

      harvard and i disagree with you, arlow - "Exclamation points and question marks go inside the quotation marks when they are part of the quotation, and outside when they are part of your own sentence that contains the quotation." - now show us your car

      Delete
    8. ArlowMarch 5, 2015 at 12:20 PM

      I'm either suitably chastised or perhaps I meant to make a comment of the just how "artistic" your license is. Your choice. Now I will attempt to embed an image, as requested: [img]https://img.mecum.com/auctions/SC0510/SC0510-90131/images/SC0510-90131_6.jpg[\img]

      Delete
  9. AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 1:39 PM

    Olds Cutlass: http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/4869481561.html Jon.


    ReplyDelete
  10. w.neffMarch 4, 2015 at 3:31 PM

    A perfectly presentable Straight-8 for under $10K:

    http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/buick/eight/1718994.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobinottMarch 5, 2015 at 6:24 AM

      Interesting photos. How does that hood hinge work? It looks like it can open to either side.

      Delete
  11. OldsmobuickMarch 4, 2015 at 8:10 PM

    71 Firebird . Black with gold racing stripes. 400 ci V-8 bored 30 over. $7000

    ReplyDelete
  12. OldsmobuickMarch 5, 2015 at 12:25 AM

    72 Coupe de Ville . 472 V-8. Very original green on green with a white vinyl roof.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ArlowMarch 5, 2015 at 12:26 PM

    OK, failed. One more try: [ img ]https://img.mecum.com/auctions/SC0510/SC0510-90131/images/SC0510-90131_6.jpg[ /img ] If that didn't work, it's the V8 from a Chrysler 300G.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ArlowMarch 5, 2015 at 12:29 PM

    It's the cross flow 300G engine. Sorry for failed image imbed.
    It can be found here: https://img.mecum.com/auctions/SC0510/SC0510-90131/images/SC0510-90131_6.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  15. kaibeezyMarch 5, 2015 at 12:36 PM

    @arlow - you had spaces in your img tags

    [img]https://img.mecum.com/auctions/SC0510/SC0510-90131/images/SC0510-90131_6.jpg[/img]

    ReplyDelete
  16. ArlowMarch 6, 2015 at 12:09 PM

    Thanks. An finally, this: https://xkcd.com/386/

    ReplyDelete

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