The British have a long love affair with sports sedans. This may have waned in recent years, due to the popularity of SUVs, but history shows that their passion for four-door miles was strong. From the Lotus Carlton to the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth, iconic performance sedans are a British staple.
Home-grown heroes also tend to be the weapons of choice. Beefy bruisers are the order of the day. Both the Jaguar XF-R and Bentley Flying Spur VW12 head up the list of desirable British luxury sports sedans. But while these cars deliver unique thrills, they are both expensive to buy and run, leaving most gearheads unable to afford them.
This financial burden need not be an issue as there is plenty of options out there for gearheads, especially ones looking to get their hands on a British sports sedan. There are examples out there that won't break the bank. And to prove it, here are 10 British sports sedans that are surprisingly cheap to own and maintain.
9 Vauxhall VXR8 (From $15,000)
The British don't often get the chance to buy pure muscle cars, so the emergence of the Vauxhall VXR8 came with rapturous applause. The opportunity to jump into a non-German V8-powered monster sedan was a rarity. It was also an experience well worth waiting for.
It may have been a Holden under the skin, but that was no bad thing. Reworked suspension helped adapt it to harsher UK roads, while the 424 hp 6.2-liter V8 engine gave it massive levels of grunt. It could hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds from a standstill.
8 MG ZS 180 (From $4,000)
Classed as one of the best front-wheel drive cars ever made, the MG ZS 180 can reward in ways most gearheads couldn't have imagined. Balanced, responsive, and blessed with plenty of grip, the MG ZS 180 feels more like a budget race car than a sports sedan.
Under the hood lies a 2.5-liter V6 with 174 hp. Able to hit 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, the MG ZS 180 posts average performance times. On the move, though, it feels incredible, able to hunt down bigger prey and show it up in the corners. It's cheap to buy, run, and maintain.
7 Jaguar S-Type R (From $5,000)
The dated styling has seen used Jaguar S-Type prices plummet. Even the red-hot 'R' version won't dent a wallet. This means a 4.2-liter supercharged sedan with 400 hp could be on the driveway for less than many expect. It's a limousine that thinks it's a raucous race car.
The V8 sees 60 mph dispatched in 5.3 seconds. Through the gears, it will pile on the speed with effortless grace. A well-sorted chassis ensures corners get dispatched without drama. The S-Type R may not be much of a looker, but it will still put modern metal in its place.
6 Vauxhall Vectra VXR (From $6,500)
Vauxhall took one of the most boring cars to ever exist and gave it attitude. First, they stuffed a 2.8-liter V6 under the hood. Then they strapped on a turbo. A subtle body kit was also added, as did up-rated suspension and brakes. The VXR Vectra was born.
Bestowed with 251 hp, it could hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. On the move, it would annihilate more exotic cars in a straight line. Often remapped to over 300 hp, the Vauxhall Vectra VXR is a working-class hero. It gets the job of being a fast sedan done without any fuss.
5 Jaguar XE Supercharged (From $26,000)
An XE is often viewed as a starter Jaguar. Smaller, less expensive, and not carrying as much street cred as the bigger cats. It can be bought with a set of very sharp teeth provided via a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 335 hp.
All that power allows for a sub-5-second 0-60 mph time. At wide-open throttle, the supercharger whine is intoxicating. The XE S charges forward with relentless gusto. Knit together some fast corners, and it all slots into place. This is a full-fat Jaguar and a fast one at that.
4 MG ZT V8 SE (From $9,000)
The MG ZT V8 is a curious car. It blends the best of British with American-bred muscle. This luxury sports sedan boasts a 4.6-liter V8 lifted from a Mustang. Churning out 256 hp, it will smoke its rear tires on the way to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds.
More than happy to power slide, the MG ZT V8 SE will raise a few eyebrows. From the rumbling V8 to the impressive turn of speed, they have become something of a cult car. Being reliable and great fun to drive, values have started to jump upwards, so best buy them now.
3 Jaguar XF 5.0 (From $7,500)
Ignore the supercharged Jaguar XF-R and drop a level as it is here that sits a hidden treasure of a car: the XF V8. It's a car that looks as plain as many of its lower-powered siblings but boasts a lovely big V8 – a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter engine that generates 380 hp.
It sounds awesome, pulls like a train, and rides like a limousine. Typical performance Jaguar traits. But the XF V8 can get picked up for next to nothing, is considered to be mechanically bulletproof, and will leave competitors standing as it hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.
2
1 Jaguar XJR 100 (From $4,000)
The original Jaguar XJR was for executives that needed to get around in a hurry – heads of the state that simply needed a supercharged 370 hp V8 at their beck and call to ensure that charging from A to B could get done not only in luxury but also in the shortest time possible.
Think of it as a race car that thinks it is a luxury sedan – a full-on headcase in an expensive designer suit. Old Jaguars shed their values at an alarming rate, so examples can get sourced at low prices. Built to last, they are the fastest way to travel for not a lot of upfront cash.
Sources: Parkers