Today, the automotive industry is in a whole new direction than what people thought in the early 2000s. And a majority of it is thanks to the arrival and high popularity and success of Tesla EVs. As Bob Dylan said, 'The Times They Are a-Changin,’ and so is the automobile industry. Long gone are the days of open roads, low fuel prices, old-school cars that haven’t seen a wind tunnel, and the sound of a rumbling V8 under the hood. We will have to make do with either silence or artificial engine and transmission sounds when we boot up our EVs in the future.

But that future is not here yet. There are still a few years left before we see the last V8 car roll out of the factory, and give it a teary-eyed, nostalgia-filled parting farewell. And today, there still is quite a good amount of cheap V8-powered vehicles in the used market to satisfy your emotional requirements while driving. The Tesla is a brisk vehicle, and it offers big amounts of torque and power to play with. But the power delivery of a V8, coupled with some (usually) pleasing vibrations and that orchestral symphony for an engine noise can never be matched. Here are 10 awesome V8-powered sedans and muscle cars that you can get for under $20,000.

10 Dodge Challenger R/T (2011-Present)

Dodge-Challenger-RT---Front-Quarter-1
Via Mecum Auctions

Dodge has continued to provide a genuine muscle car experience with their Challenger and Charger series of cars. More on the charger later, the Challenger is one of the muscle cars that we can afford new, but the old ones are just as good, and cheaper. The R/T trim offers a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that makes 376 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.

2022 Dodge Challenger - headlights
via Dodge

If you fancy a stick-shift, a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission is available. There’s also a 5-speed automatic and an 8-speed automatic (for models from 2014 onwards) for a smooth driving experience. And you can easily get one below $20,000.

Related: 2022 Dodge Challenger: Costs, Facts, And Figures

9 1994 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
Via-Mecum-Auctions

Ford’s ‘Special Vehicle Team’ aka SVT is responsible for making the company’s high-performance machines. And this Mustang SVT Cobra is one of such badass vehicles. The SVT team took the regular Mustang GT engine and gave it larger valves, more efficient intakes, and exhaust manifolds.

1994 Mustang SVT Cobra Pace Car quarter rear
Via Mecum Auctions

The result is a 4.9-liter V8 making 240 hp, which is 25 more than the regular mustang. The SVT also made the Mustang have better handling and altogether better racing-oriented traits. This special edition is relatively cheap (below $10,000) and a lot more fun to drive than a regular V8 car.

8 2008-9 Pontiac G8 GXP

2009-pontiac-g8-gxp
via hagerty

In 2008, GM imported an RWD sedan from Australian company Holden and sold it under the Pontiac brand as the G8 GXP. It was sold with a corvette-esque 6.2-liter LS3 motor that made 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Pair that power with a modest styling and this sedan became one of the best sleeper cars out of the factory.

Pontiac_G8_V6_--_02-04-2012_2
via Wikipedia

Add a manual transmission, and it gets an almost legendary status among car enthusiasts for its performance. They were only sold for 2 years, so finding a cheap one isn’t easy, but the near-perfect sport-sedan experience makes it all worth it.

Related: 10 Classic Sleeper Cars That Can Still Annihilate Sports Cars

7 2004 Audi A6 Quattro

via Youtube

Do you remember Audi’s revolutionary ‘Quattro’ AWD technology? Great, now imagine an Audi with that drivetrain, a decent sedan design, and a 4.2-liter V8 engine all in one car. That’s exactly what the A6 Quattro is. The A6 is reliable, comfortable, fast (300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm), and clean.

2004 Audi A6 Interior
via Wikimedia Commons

You can have one for around $11,000 that hasn’t done 100,000 miles yet. A rear-wheel-drive V8 is the ideal car enthusiast’s dream, but Audi’s Quattro is tons of fun too, especially with such a powerful engine.

Related: The Rivalry Between Audi And Lancia In 1983 Group B Rally

6 2009 - 2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged

via netcarshow.com

Depending on the year 2009 - 2012, you can get a 4.2-liter V8 pushing 420 hp V8 tor a 5.0-liter V8 good for 470 hp inside an XF Supercharged. That’s a lot of power for a normal-sized car. It looks quite nice (it’s a JAG after all), it’s comfortable to drive, and the interior is also better than what the competition offered back then.

Via: az.wikipedia.org

Moreover, it’s a luxury sedan, so if you want a V8-powered daily commuter with a softer suspension ideal for city travel, few can do better than this XF. And, it’s supercharged! Just make sure you get one with a warranty. $12,000 to $15,000 is what you would have to pay.

Related: Here's What Makes The 2021 Jaguar XF An Underrated Luxury Sedan

5 2011-2014 Dodge Charger

2012-Dodge-Charger-SRT8
via youtube

The 21st century Dodge Charger had the behemoth of a task to live up to the name and endure the comparison with the old-school Chargers. But Dodge knew it when they built this, and made sure it was fun to drive and relatively affordable to maintain.

2014 Dodge Charger Hemi V8
Photo: YouTube Screenshot

Dodge’s idea of a cheap, RWD, fun-to-drive muscle car was a 5.7-liter V8 engine and a strong chassis that you can have your way with. Finding a charger between $11,000 to $20,000 will be child’s play.

Related: This Might Be The Best Looking And Sounding 2014 Dodge Charger R/T

4 2005 Ford Mustang GT

2005 Ford Mustang GT at a parking
Via mecum.com

In the 21st century, automobile manufacturers have to adhere to strict rules regarding safety and emissions norms before they launch a new car. Despite that, Ford still wanted to make a driver’s car, and they managed to do it through the 2005 Mustang GT.

2005 Ford Mustang GT
Via: Huhu Uet, Wikimedia Commons - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

The performance is pretty neat from a 4.6-liter 3 valve V8 engine that makes 300 hp and 320 lb-ft torque. $15,000 is the sweet spot for finding 2005 Mustang GT Premium models all over the country.

3 2010-2015 Chevy Camaro

Chevrolet Camaro SS - Front quarter
Via Mecum Auctions

Completing the Detroit trio of muscle cars, the Camaro had to be on the cheap V8 cars list. A Chevy with a 6.2-liter V8 and manual transmission is all the car you need to have fun every time you drive it. While Teslas are cool, these ponies deliver an almost irreplaceable sense of fun and excitement when driving them.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe
Via Chevrolet Pressroom

The Camaro has been a proven car with a lot of success, so Chevy knew what they were doing at that time, and it looked good as well. Used ones start from $13,000, but if you can pay around $18,000 to $20,000, then you can even find ones below 100,000 mileage.

2 1996-2002 Pontiac Trans AM WS6

2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Yellow) - Front Quarter
Barrett-Jackson

Pontiac’s Trans-Am series is one of the best muscle car series that tried to offer something new to the public. And while it has seen mostly highs and some lows through its 33 year-long run, the latest, WS6 generation was one of the better ones.

2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM WS6
Via: Bring a Trailer

The 1996 Trans Am had a Gen II LT1 V8 engine with ram air induction, spitting out 305 hp at 5,400 rpm and 335 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. The looks are divisive: Some will like it, some will not. Regardless of whether the unique looks grow on you or not, you will love driving this sub-$20,000 car.

Related: Here's Why Jay Leno Thinks The 2002 Firebird WS6 Is Probably The Best Muscle Car Pontiac Ever Built

1 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

Mercedes SLK55 AMG
Via: Mercedes

Many people seem to sleep on this car, and that is a good thing if you want to find a cheap, reliable car that is a beast under the hood. For less than $20,000 you get the famous M113 engine, which makes 355 hp and a 7-speed automatic transmission. If you can manage a relatively slower 0-60 acceleration, the overall performance of the car is praise-worthy.

Silver Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Via Mecum Auctions

And not only the V8, but you also get a convertible Mercedes that has amazing handling and is a lot of fun to zip around without messing with your 401k. This one is a good deal if you live anywhere near Addison, IL.