4-bangers with VTEC are so boring. Flat-6’s that rev to the moon? Nice try. A good old American V8? Well, they’re big, but not huge. Italian V10’s? Okay, now we’re talking, but still not massive! Today, we’re talking about massive 12-cylinder engines. And you’re not going to need to buy a supercar that costs ridiculous dough to get one of those engines.
Now, you may think that V12’s are only in super expensive Ferraris and Lambos. But, what if I told you that you could be driving around a V12 for only $6,000? That’s like $500 dollars per cylinder! What a deal! I’m about to show you 6 of the greatest 12 cylinder cars that you can buy cheap!
Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG – Murderous Merc
So, you want supercar-slaying performance, luxury that rivals the best of the best, and the budget of a new Corolla. Man, do I have an answer for you, the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG! Back when the S65 AMG was new, it cost about 8 or 9 of those new Corollas. I’m talking an MSRP of $169,000! And that’s before any added options!
This dagger from Deutschland is powered by a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12! You heard me right! Bonkers! Untuned, it’ll run 0 to 60 in just 4.3 seconds. And that stock trim’s got a lot of power, 604 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque!
Get your S65 tuned, and it’ll tack on 65 to that horsepower and 100 to that torque. So, if I were to do the math, that’s almost 700 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque! Imagine that! And while the top speed is limited electronically to 155 miles per hour, derestricted they can be knocking on the door of 200 miles per hour.
Unlike newer models with 7-speed transmissions, some of the cheaper older models have 5-speed transmissions. But even with 5 gears, 200 miles per hour is in your wheelhouse. And because it’s an S-Class, you know it’s going to be luxurious.
Lined in leather and optioned with massaging seats, you could go through a tank of gas just idling in your driveway. While the outside might not have supercar style, it could likely beat any super car that lines up next to you. And they won’t know what hit them when a Ned Flanders-looking dude in an unsuspecting S-Class blows their freaking doors off.
For less than $20,000, you could not only buy an S65 AMG, but also have it tuned to rival a Hellcat. For example, we found a beautiful black S65 with a few miles on it for just $16,000. Don’t believe us? Check it out on AutoTempest for yourself!
But, be weary, these things aren’t known to be super reliable. So, while the cost to entry on one of these things isn’t all that high, make sure to set aside plenty of money for repairs, because something’s going to fail.
That’s funny, it sounds kind of similar to the next car on our list, the BMW 850.
Find a cheap Mercedes-Benz S65 on AutoTempest!
BMW 850 – The Pinnacle of BMW
Whether it’s the 850i or 850Ci, you’re looking at an iconic car with 12 whole cylinders for the low. These vehicles led the charge for BMW back in the 90’s, and were basically used as blank canvases for BMW to show its latest and greatest.
The ideal 8 Series V12 is the 850CSi, but considering that they’re trading hands around $100,000, it’s definitely out of the cheap realm. So, if you want a cheaper one, you’ll have to do with an 850i or an 850Ci. Both are powered by the same engine, which is essentially two reliable BMW inline-6 motors sandwiched together to create a masterpiece of engineering.
And not only was the 8 Series offered with a standard autotragic, they also made it a manual, baby. So if you want to save the manuals, go get yourself one of these Ultimate Driving Machines!
So, the 8 Series is essentially a luxury limo like the 7 Series, but stuffed into a grand touring coupe, made for the super rich that just wanted something different from their neighbors. While the 8 Series is not the fastest or the most luxurious, it’s a good mix of the two. It’s loaded with crazy features like a built-in car phone just in case you’re a secret agent, and super stylish pop-up headlights.
The 8 Series to this day still looks timeless. And with a timeless design, you’d expect big money, right?Well, what if I told you that you could pick up a V12 850i with less than 90,000 miles for under $13,000? Unfortunately, the one we found was an automatic. Sorry if you got overexcited. But a similar spec manual goes for almost $20,000, and I think that might just be worth the extra money.
Next up is another cheap V12 where the manual’s going to cost a pretty penny more than the auto, the Aston Martin DB7.
Find a cheap BMW 850i on AutoTempest!
Aston Martin DB7 – The Name’s Bond
Wait, did I just use “cheap” and “Aston Martin” in the same sentence? You’re damn right I did! But maybe this one should come with an asterisk. Why? Because this isn’t exactly one of the cheapest V12’s, but it is one of the cheapest supercars on the planet. So, yeah, it is the most expensive on this list, but the DB7 is a certified supercar that can stack up with the best of them. And it’s not one you see everyday either.
Powered by a 5.9-liter V12 with 420 horsepower, you bet this thing scoots. And all that power is wrapped in class and style that’ll make you look like Agent 007 himself! The name’s Bond, James Bond. People who see you rolling around in a DB7 and are going to assume that you got big numbers in the bank, and that you’re in possession of dangerous government secrets.
That being said, the DB7 isn’t all that cheap at $30,000. But let’s not forget, we’re talking about an Aston Martin supercar.
So, say that’s out of your price range, but you still want a 12-cylinder with as much luxury as the Aston. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this next car might just be for you. The Audi A8L W12!
Find a cheap Aston Martin DB7 on AutoTempest!
Audi A8L W12 – Mini Bugatti
Yes, I know, this isn’t your typical 12-cylinder. Oh no! It’s two V6’s sandwiched together like you and your siblings in the back seat. Unlike the 8 Series with its two inline-6’s, this Audi’s got two V6’s. And what do you get then? A W12!
So, it’s basically a Bugatti, right? Well, the concept is the same, but Audi went a little more reasonable than the Bugatti’s two twin-turbo V8’s molded together. But, like the Bugatti, the Audi A8L W12 was expensive new. At over $120,000 new, we can thank the depreciation gods for this one.
The Audi A8 comes loaded with features, and the A8L just takes it up a notch. The A8L W12 blasts through the moon, with luxury like an entry level Rolls-Royce. But with that massive W12, you won’t want to be chauffeured around in this thing. Instead you’ll want to tear up the road like Jason Statham in a Transporter movie.
You can get in a A8L W12 with less than 80,000 miles for less than $14,000. And I bet if you used the Ideal Car Strategies, you could be in this big body Audi for right around $10,000!
But if you’re not an Audi fan, and you’ve just got to have a big Bimmer, then the BMW 760Li might just be for you.
Find a cheap Audi A8L W12 on AutoTempest!
BMW 760Li – Big Body Bimmer
The BMW 760Li is the top-of-the-line spec on the top-of-the-line BMW. There’s no doubt that the BMW 760Li is posh, expensive, and loaded with tech. Not only that, but the long wheelbase 7 Series just oozes class.
Powered by a 6-liter V12, the 760Li has over 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. So, it’s quick, but still smooth. No chugging in the engine, and definitely no wobble in those wheels. And, surprisingly, the 760Li gets decent gas mileage. Well, if you consider 23 miles per gallon on the highway decent.
I hate to say it, but that where the cool ends and the cheap begins. With all the fancy gizmos and technology that the 760Li has, you’re going to have to kiss reliability goodbye. So, while you might be spending an arm and a leg to keep everything working, you won’t need that kind of money to get into the car in the first place. You could pick up a 760Li with 70,000 miles for less than $13,000!
What? That’s still too much? Let’s drop that price down to the floor with this next whip. The Jaguar XJS!
Find a cheap BMW 760Li on AutoTempest!
Jaguar XJS – A True Classic
Definitely the oldest pick, the XJS might still give you something to smile about. Why? Because not only is it a classic V12 that’s beautiful inside and out, it can be bought today for a fraction of what the other cars on this list are selling for.
But why is it so much cheaper? Well, it’s definitely not the most reliable, most efficient, or fastest car on this list. I mean, it’s only pushing 295 horsepower, which is kind of pathetic for 12 cylinders. And that’s only in the UK! Those sneaky Brits took back 32 horses and gave us only 263 here in the USA. 1776 was a long time ago! Get over it!
And since the XJS wears a Jag badge, you know it’s not going to be reliable. But for $6,000, would it be worth the risk? At that price was for a pretty low-mileage example, tipping the scales at just 51,000 miles. I think it might be worth rolling the dice on this badass British whip.
Find a cheap Jaguar XJS on AutoTempest!
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