Mister

[Joloke]

Muscle

[bub2006]

Lexus ls400. Lots of muscle for little outlay

[gordonbennet]

I suspect new muscle cars made today will depreciate to sod all quite quickly, one 600 Merc on the High Liability thread lost some £150,000 in depreciation in 10 years.

 

Muscle cars of older times didn't really drop to scrap money cos even if the body rusts to nothing the drive train could easily be transferred into another car, cos simple electrics and plumbing, unstressed big fuck off engines and lazy torque converter gearboxes bloody near bomb proof.

 

Merc S, SL and CL Class are the obvious now, but you run the risk of air suspension, a worn out irreplaceable bottom ball joint means a new suspension leg @ roughly £1100 a side, and there's just so much to go wrong, E and even C class available with V8's, one E class will rust if you look at it, the later one has SBC powered brakes which will cost around £2k when it fails (it has a limited number of operations which the ecu counts down) and has a good chance of removing your fingers if you DiY pad replacement if you don't follow the specific instruction to shut it down, later ones still went back to proper brakes and they increased the power to 350ish HP in unblown 5 litre form and are great cars but you get £500 ved for your trouble.

 

 

As said Japanese is as good a bet as any for bombproof reliability.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

The Jaguar XJR is also a proper old-school muscle car, particularly if you can find one with a manual transmission. It really changes the feel of the car. It is no longer a cruiser.

 

I also agree with Goddonbennet - the Merc CL is an obvious choice. They're lovely looking cars and very impressive providing they are running right. I had a friend at one time (we have rather lost touch) who had a couple of CLs. His second one was a CL55, bought new, which was a very muscular car. Unfortunately it also spent much of its time being fixed. At about 4/5 years old it had been retired to second car duties. The CL proceeded to die on his drive and he gave it to his brother in frustration. Last time I saw him, the Merc was still sat after a couple of years dead on his brother's drive. So there is a reason they are cheap. They fulfil the criteria of Muscle car though, so a good choice!

[eddyramrod]

I would have also said Jag and Lexus as starting points.  Also maybe 6-pot versions of Omega and Volvo 7/9 series?  In FWD (spit) Volvo has to be top of the heap with the various T5 etc types.  Audi, much as I hate to say it, are probably just behind on that list, because they do make some pretty powerful shopping trolleys.

But look how cheap you can buy an X300/308 for.  Those have to be the winners, surely.

[Guest Hooli]

The Jaguar XJR is also a proper old-school muscle car, particularly if you can find one with a manual transmission. It really changes the feel of the car. It is no longer a cruiser.

 

These, they are the best English muscle car you can buy for the money. Save up a bit* more & get a Turbo R if feeling posh.

 

Mind you, they go round corners so are they still muscle cars?

[John F]

^ This... I'm not sure if 'muscle' cars exist outside of North America & Australia - massive engines with primitive underpinnings for straight-line power and little else. Large-engined European and Japanese cars are too refined, I'd define them as GT cars.

[Cleon-Fonte]

These are now slowly wending their way towards the bottom of their depreciation curve. Diesels are already hitting shite-friendly prices (but why would you buy one of those?) and I bet the V8s won't be too far behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

[alcyonecorporation]

The majority of Mustangs weren't muscle cars. 

[eddyramrod]

Strictly speaking, no Mustang ever was,  The "Muscle" cars that gave rise to the term were a size bigger than the Mustang, which made its own niche (the "Pony" car), but fitted with the biggest engines that each manufacturer offered and usually a pretty basic level of trim.  They were intended as drag-racers and the customers would endure a minimalist interior for the weight-saving it offered.  Going round corners wasn't that important as drag racing only requires a bit of straight road, or track.

Their longevity has allowed Mustangs to be considered honorary Muscle cars, not least because little else offers the combination of manageable size and powerful V8 (and yes, I know not all Mustangs were V8, I've even driven a 6).  Kudos to Ford for keeping the Mustang alive against all the odds.

[Bren]

Audi s4. But a sub £5k one will be a heap of grief.

[Bren]

Definintion of a muscle car is a follows - small/ intermediate platform fitted with the engine from a full size platform.

 

Think V6 capri, sierra, TR8 MGB V8 and you get my drift.....

[Slartibartfast]

5.7L Hemi v8 Estate car anyone?

 

[Slartibartfast]

In my mind a muscle car is a big heavy car with a big heavy engine and minimal electronics involved.

[Schaefft]

Are we talking about American/Australian muscle cars? If it needs to be a V8, there's probably not too much obscure stuff from the 90s. F-bodies and the Foxbody Mustangs, then you've got the Impala SS (HOT) as what most like to see as mild 4-door Muscle car. Then there are Fords MN12/FN10 cars, the Thunderbird, Cougar and what I own (and is overseen by most), the Mark VIII.   Go with something slightly newer and you've got the Mercury Marauder and then from '05 on Chrysler's LX cars (Charger, Challenger, Magnum, 300C) which are now becoming pretty cheap. There also the GTO that was sold as Monaro here, plus the Commodores and Falcons from Australia.

 

80's had largely the same selection of cars, plus quite a few 4-doors that were based on Ford's Fox-platform. Early 80s Chryslers (before the K-car) were mostly RWD, so were the Chevys and Fords. If fwd is not a problem, you also have the Turbo Chryslers, but I wouldn't really count them as muscle cars.

[eddyramrod]

Definintion of a muscle car is a follows - small/ intermediate platform fitted with the engine from a full size platform.

 

Think V6 capri, sierra, TR8 MGB V8 and you get my drift.....

V6 Sierra maybe, but the others named are just big-engined sports cars really.  Yer Muscle car, while it likely only has two doors, is bigger than that and has plenty of space around 4 occupants.

[hairnet]

e38 beemer with 4.0 or 5.0 engine

 

jag anything above 3.2

[fred]

Monza's ?

[mk2_craig]

Are Holden Monaros down to semi-shite prices?

[320touring]

All the German/Jap and UK stuff is far too clean sounding.

 

American v8 Is ftw re sound.

 

And you can find them in the oddest of places..

[New POD]

 Also maybe 6-pot versions of Omega   Those have to be the winners, surely.

 

I've got an MV6 - It's fast (ish), but it's not a muscle car because in the dry it's NEVER going to leave big black rubber marks as you pull away.

 

Having "only" 218 BHP and an Auto box and Traction Control see to that.

[Felly Magic]

South African Cortina XR6 or Sierra XR8?

[xkjagnz]

Would the W8 Passat count? I know its got a shit tin of electronics but also a fair bit of power

Also available for shite money - tho they seem more expensive in UK than NZ (I got mine for $3.5k 2 years ago (2004 model) so about 1800 quid)

[xkjagnz]

Just seen this on "the bay" I wish I still lived in UK sometimes!!

Jaguar XJR 4.0 Supercharged 2000/W (2000 MY)Automatic. 114000 miles with stamped service book to 114000 (10 stamps). Last Mot and Tax expired 2010 and stored since.Starts ,runs, drives and stops.Will require recommissioning before returning to the road and some welding to the underside for the MOT.Paintwork in metallic blue is bright with the exception of a rust spot to the rear lower arch as pictured.Interior very good.Starts up first time with no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard.All handbooks complete with service book.V5 present and HPI clear.It is SOLD AS SEEN FOR SPARES OR REPAIRS WITH NO WARRANTY.It will need to be removed on an adequately large transporter due to no MOT and time off the road.Asking price is £2500.. NO OFFERS........TRADE

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJR-4-0-V8-Supercharged-2000-W-/142440877761?hash=item212a234ec1:g:ebYAAOSwnK9ZPP-C

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

A ShiteMuscle ( sphincter?) car would have to be a Laguna V6 or ZT/75 V6.

A manual ,preferably ex-Police Omega would overcome NewPod's misgivings ,although I fear those along with any powerful,cheap manual BMWs have all had the diff welded and been driftmonged.

A manual 3.0 S-Type is pretty quick and worthless as would be a 3.0 X-Type manual if you could find one .

 

The common denominator here is manual, Supercharged Jags, V8 Lexi,Mercs and BMWs are just to refined to be a muscle car. Even with stupid exhausts, they're still just fast posh cruisers.

[twosmoke300]

Aren't all the 3.0 x types ?

a) rotten and

B ) awd

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Yes , but a few were manual as well. I like to think of them as Imprezas for those that don't own a baseball cap.

[twosmoke300]

I had to swap an engine on a 3.0 manual awd estate - yuk

[twosmoke300]

Yes , but a few were manual as well. I like to think of them as Imprezas for those that don't own a baseball cap.

But do own a mig welder ?

[Junkman]

Well, dah, like?