Posted on 12/03/2008 12:52:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Not so many years ago, cars that produced 300 horsepower or more were considered rather rare and desirable things. Generally only the top tier of sports car or the very most posh boulevardiers had engines that could muster such prodigious output, and the price tags of the vehicles reflected it.
These days though, thanks to depreciation, a decade-long power race, and newly changing customer tastes, 300 horsepower cars can be had for much more reasonable rates—often less than $10,000. Those power and dollar figures are exciting starting places for those second-hand shoppers who may be looking for a deal on a performance machine, which is why we picked them as our two markers for making this list.
We’ve gotten our pricing estimates from the good folks at Kelley Blue Book, though we understand that in some cases much better deals can be had. Unless otherwise noted, the prices we’ve listed represent the private party value of a car in “excellent” condition with about 80,000 miles on the clock. We’ve also strived to get the best combination of power and newness when selecting between discrete model years, all while keeping a close eye on the budget. Click through our gallery above to read about our 300 horsepower/$10,000 picks, and then be sure to let us know which gems we may have missed, in comments.
The current generation XJ8 is an amazing vehicle.
Mrs. MWT has a XJ8R. I am a Porsche driver, and it keeps up pretty good for a big sedan.
Gag heresy. Water-cooled AND SUV.
If you want a race-car SUV, get a Range Rover Supercharged.
(I do own a water pumper Porsche, but it’s a 997.)
Wave as you go under!
unfortunately that’s just the 2wd regular cab ones.
make it a 4wd quad cab and they about triple in price.
But then at WOT that's what I want (hehe).
Incredible bargains on Lightning if you don't mind buying the gas.
VROOOOMMM VROOOOOOMMMMM
BTW, I’ve Eagle F1’s on my 2004 si. Awesome tires....
Still Lucas electrics ? Whitworth wrenches?
I have test driven several here in the past few months. They are all good. I hope Tata doesn’t ruin the badge............
Oh I wouldn’t buy it, never! I just think it’s interesting that some one would put a Chevy engine in a Jag....
Bump for later....C
Whitworth fasteners were gone on the sedans by 1968. Lucas electrics were on the way out in the 80s (most of my older car’s electrics are actually GM or Bosch components with Lucas stickers as TRW took over Lucas in the 80s; my XJR is almost totally Nippondenso and Siemens gear).
Unfortunately, after 2003, Ford stuck their noses into the sedans and quality went to hell because the Ford components were *worse* than the ND or Siemens they replaced.
It fits, some of the V12s do have ancilliary problems, and the V12s *did* use a TH400 transmission anyway.
I have 416 horsepower. But it’s shared between 2 cars and a lawn tractor. :)
Some years ago my nephew put an SS396 Chevy engine in an XK140. It screamed.
Your nephew should be shot. XK140s are *rare*.
It’d be like taking a pristine 1953 Corvette - and sticking a Toyota Supra motor in it.
Looking good RSmith. I drive a 69 Mach 1 with the same engine.
Most awesome Mustang. Thanks for the photos.
‘Some years ago” was closer to circa 1973.
Glad to hear about Lucas and Whitworth. :)
Lucas, Prince of Darkness.
(although when I was a teenie bopper Lucas Flamethrower headlights were the best)
OK, my immediate response is that those guys are idiots.
First, anyone who would consider putting an 850 in that list is either clueless or insane. These cars are known far and wide for being horrendously expensive on maintenance, and needing a lot of it.
Second, they don’t include my car, the previous generation Audi A8 (97-03). It’s the quintessential all-weather driving machine. And we have a great knowledge base for DIY repairs and maintenance. A much better sedan choice than the Jag. And for a little more (but still under $20k), you can get its hopped up higher-performance twin, the S8.
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