These sports cars have so much more than sharp handling and punchy performance to offer – they’re also impressively reliable and durable.
It’s a crying shame that most famously reliable cars are also impossibly bland. Think about it, be it a diesel family car or a small 4-cylinder runabout, well-built used cars that last a lifetime are almost always focused towards an average commuter, rather than an avid driver.
Fortunately, though, a small number of manufacturers have built exquisitely engineered, driver-focussed sports cars, with reliability and durability baked right in – what’s more, they crammed beloved V8 engines under the hood of everyone featured here. These cars then appeal to those of us who not only want a fun car with an enjoyable V8 soundtrack but also a car that can stand the test of time, providing years of happy motoring.
10 The Wedge-Shaped BMW 840i Has Fast Become A Modern Classic
For many years the unique 8 Series BMW languished at the bargain end of ’90s sports and luxury cars, relatively unloved and unappreciated. This certainly is not the case now, especially so with the higher spec 840i, with its front-mounted 286-hp V8 engine.
These super-coupes are typically German, and therefore built to impeccably high standards. Whilst complex for their day, most of the systems in the original E31 8 Series now are seen as relatively simple, and there are enough specialists that certainly know their way around them.
Grab yourself a nice, well-maintained 840i, and it’ll be sure to last for many more years to come if given the correct care and maintenance along the way.
9 The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Is A British Brute
Aston Martin has a long line of heroic V8 Vantage sports cars, that harks way back to the 1970s – although it’s this generation, introduced in the early 2000s, that we are focussing on today.
That’s simply because this generation embodies the nature of a ‘sports car’ so much better than the previous generations, and paved the way for the super-successful current model. Initially offered with a 4.3-liter V8, which was soon increased to a 4.7-liter capacity, this fun-size Aston came at a time of great success for the company, and as such the build quality and general durability of this model are so much better than previous models.
Available now for very reasonable money, an early ’00s V8 Vantage would make a superb V8 sports car that will easily last decades with the right care, just like the previous models before it.
8 Lexus Nailed The Brief With The RC-F
Whereas the aforementioned BMW and Aston Martin are brands synonymous with sports cars, the same can’t exactly be said about Lexus, which makes the RC-F so much more surprising.
At the heart of this striking beast is a 5.0-liter V8, which packs a mighty 467 hp punch – more than enough then, to make this the most powerful V8 Lexus ever produced at the time. Thanks to the world-renowned engineering that Lexus build their entire reputation upon, the RC-F received rave reviews from some of the most trusted motoring organizations the world ever when launched, praised for its impeccable standards of build quality.
It’s clear then, that this aggressive Lexus is one that’s been built to last.
7 The Mercedes SL55 AMG Is German Excellence
Another brand that also has a superb reputation for reliability, is of course Mercedes-Benz – they’re also no strangers to a sports car either, having produced some of the most revered and recognizable models in existence.
Not only is the SL55 AMG a well-engineered and luxurious cruiser, which is surely what you’d expect from a top-flight Mercedes, but it’s also a truly formidable sports car. The 5.4-liter V8 engine pushes out a mighty 493 hp, which is enough to propel the SL to a heady 200 mph (granted, with a few light modifications like removing the factory limiter).
You’re unlikely to go faster for cheaper, and you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more reliable car with figures to match for less either.
6 An Audi RS4 Offers Everything You Need And More
Perhaps you need a touch more practicality from your German V8 sports car – something the SL55 (and other two-seaters) just cannot offer. Enter, the 4.2-liter V8 Audi RS4.
Available in sedan, Avant, and convertible body styles, the RS4 is perhaps the most versatile car in our list, and also one of the most enjoyable too. Praised by many for the incredible grip and handling when new, it really is the greatest hit of Audi.
Besides a few common issues (what car doesn’t have them!), the RS4 is a fairly bullet-proof option, so long as you wait for the oil to properly come to temperature before hooning too hard. A great option then, if you need a dose of practicality from a V8 sports car that will last for years and years.
5 The Luxury Bentley Continental Has A Sporty Side
On the more expensive side of things, is the extremely handsome Bentley Continental GT – a British luxury sports GT, which houses a shouty V8, neatly wrapped in a svelte aluminum body.
While Bentley did also offer a more powerful W12 version with 500 hp and 487 Ib-ft of torque, we think the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 is more than enough. Most gearheads would also be better off taking the cheaper 8-cylinder variant home and putting the rest of the cash to one side for maintenance and repairs to ensure the grand coupe is kept in top shape for years to come.
4 No American Sports Car Is As Iconic As The Chevrolet Corvette
For considerably over half a century now, Chevrolet has been consistently churning out Corvettes with the same basic recipe, and why mess with it? Sharp styling, a great-big V8 motor, and the sharpest handling this side of the Atlantic make this the traditional American sports car.
Regardless of which model you go for, one huge appeal to the Corvette is the fact you can get any parts you need with ease in America, with no expensive import duties or long wait times. This helps owners to keep their Corvettes on the road and running in rude health. No wonder then, that the Corvette has such a huge following.
Bag yourself one of these, join an owners group, and find a trusted mechanic who knows them (better still, learn to work on it yourself). This is a surefire way to guarantee yourself a long and happy ownership with a truly iconic American V8 sports car.
3 The Jaguar F-Type Is As Shouty As It Is Classy
More often than not, Jaguar cars are subtle, elegant cars that do not shout and scream about their powerplants. Fortunately for us gearheads, Jaguar decided to have a bit more fun with the F-Type. It’s the V8 S model we’ll be focusing on (although, even the V6 model sounds mental and performs great!), and with 495 hp and a 0 to 60 mph time of just 4.3 seconds, there’s no denying its serious sports car material.
Jaguar has been putting V8 engines in their flagship models for many decades now, and usually, they’re incredibly robust engines. This too is the case here, plus the F-Type is largely constructed of aluminum, so there’s no dreaded rust to keep at bay either. Surely then, this British brute represents an excellent candidate when shopping around for a durable V8-engined sports car.
2 Brutish Simplicity Is The Key With The TVR Tuscan
No one’s going to deny that the TVR Tuscan is a superb V8 sports car, but you may gawp slightly at the thought of one ‘lasting for years.’ After all, the plucky British manufacturer doesn’t exactly have the best reputation for reliability.
TVR cars have more than their share of common problems, chief among which is their culpability to rust in the chassis, which of course can be terminal for a sports car like this. Fans and followers of TVR cars are so dedicated, they will always give these mighty cars the time and dedication needed to either keep them in pristine shape or bring derelict ones back to life.
Such is the thought then, that once bitten by the TVR bug (I’m sure one quick ride would be more than enough persuasion), you’d do any and everything necessary to keep the sports car in perfect shape. It’s never going to make a great daily, but if you’ve got the dedication to keep one tucked away for special occasions, it might just make the perfect V8 sports car to keep for many years into the future.
1 The AC Cobra Is A Legendary V8 Sports Car
Sure, this is a money-no-object option, but why put financial restraints upon yourself when choosing the perfect V8 sports car to enjoy for years to come?
The AC Cobra needs no introduction, the name itself resonates with everyone who even has an ounce of interest in cars, and it’s really no wonder. The simplistic structure leaves you open to the elements and seated down low, barely above the road itself. A thumping great V8 (various sizes and specific types used across the Cobra production) sits up front, and spits flames just beneath your elbow from the thunderous side-exit pipes.
Thanks to the sheer simplicity, and worldwide admiration of the model, it’s nigh-on impossible for an AC Cobra to fall into disrepair, which surely makes it the perfect choice when selecting your dream V8 sports car to last for years and years into the future.
