The world is always looking for a new way to go fast. Think of all the options out there today. Mercedes has an amazing newer twin-turbo V8. Dodge has its incredible Demon and Hellcat offerings that are supercharged to the moon. Chevrolet is reportedly working on a 1000 horsepower hybrid powertrain for the next Corvette. What do they all have in common? The humble V8. The V8 is an outstanding powerplant that offers a huge advantage over others like the V10 or V6.

Today we're going to take a look at 15 awesome ways to get into the high-horsepower v8 world. Most of them require no power adders at all, so they'll rip all the way to their redline without any sort of turbo lag or parasitic loss from a supercharger. Regardless, they're all outstanding cars that deserve every bit of attention they get.

15 Audi S4(B6)

Via pinterest.com

Audi made the flat-plane crank V8 a decade before Ford got on the bandwagon and then got all sorts of attention for it. This car can have a fatal flaw where the timing chain tensioners need to replaced randomly which requires the engine to come out. If it's been fixed though, these are perhaps the cheapest way to get into an exceptionally enjoyable car.

14 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

via Jeep Garage

The Jeep SRT8 is the daddy of the current Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. This thing could do everything. While its weakest point might have been handling, it still held its own against things like the Porsche Cayenne. In a straight line, they're monsters, and they're practical too.

13 Kia K900

via caranddriver.com

I didn't believe it when I saw it either but there's one of these in Naugatuck Connecticut right now for less than $15,000. They're perhaps the most luxury car on this list, and they're wildly comfortable. The V8 is more than adequately powerful too. There's a lot to love.

12 Jaguar XK

via Top Speed

Jaguar knows how to make a great sounding V8. You could go with an older version of this car called the XK8 and either one is going to be a blast. I personally like this slightly newer version because it seems a bit more rare and unique.

11 Pontiac GTO

2004 Pontiac GTO
via mecum.com

Pontiac didn't actually build this car. Holden did in Australia. Then GM had them sent over, swapped to LHD, and sold as a GTO. That's why the styling looked nothing like anything else Pontiac was selling. It drives better than any Pontiac ever made too. Consider it to be a Corvette rival.

Related: Check Out These Low-Maintenance Sports Cars Even We Can Afford

10 BMW M5

Via: Bing

Look at that dapper BMW. It's long been known to be one of the prettiest four-door cars ever made and you can totally find a well-maintained version of the M5 for $15,000. It's a landmark among sports sedans and makes 400 horsepower. A total winner.

9 Maserati GT Coupe

cool black Maserati
via Mecum

I know a lot of people are under the impression that these are wildly expensive to maintain but that's simply untrue. They're fast, they're pretty (depending on the beholder), and they're pretty reliable when you maintain them. This car will always be a show stopper.

8 Chrysler 300C SRT8

via RNR Automotive Blog

This is the 300C you want. The V8 under the hood is the same monster from the Charger SRT8 and the Jeep SRT8. Outside though it's old-school subtle. Look at those slightly larger fenders and the SRT specific wheels. That's a stunning package.

7 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

via superstreetonline.com

The E55 AMG sparked off the horsepower wars when they looked at what BMW had done with the E39 M5 and dumped 79 horsepower on top of it. That was a giant middle finger to every other company out there that thought their sports sedan was powerful. These things are pretty bullet-proof too.

6 Chevrolet Corvette

via getwallpapers.com

There are very few cars in the world as cheap, fast, and reliable as the Corvette. No matter what car you pick it just needs to be from 1991 or newer. Whatever options you pick after that can be pretty fast and fun. If you want to spend around 15k, the Z06 shown above is the best option.

Related: Swapped! C3 Corvette Gets Supercharged 408 Stroker

5 BMW M3(E90)

via ukcar.reviews

Want something a bit rarer? The V8 under the hood of the E90 M3 is a lovely bit of tech. It's perhaps the last small M3 and it feels incredible to have that kind of power in such a small package. It's the last two-door M3 as well.

4 Cadillac CTS-V

via bestcarmag.com

The CTS-V is one of the most versatile and powerful foundations available. Just look at this variant. You can throw a cam in these and put some fat tires on the back and go hurt feelings if you really want to. It offers so much for owners to enjoy.

3 Pontiac Trans Am WS6

Via: General Motors

I can't say enough good things about the Trans Am. The WS6 can be tough to find for $15,000, but they're out there. If you ever see a manual car for that price, jump on it because it'll only go up in value over time. They're hard to find and usually go for a premium.

2 Porsche Cayenne

Porsche Cayenne
Via pinterest.com

The Cayenne is another car I'd love to own. Some items can be expensive to replace like the sunroof but if you have a well-maintained car you'll love it. These things regularly push over 200,000 miles without major issues. They're pretty darn quick too. There's not much to hate on.

1 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

via caranddriver.com

Some of the early versions of this car can eat some oil. Keep that in mind if you look at one. If you find a good one though, they're powerful, comfortable, and cheap to maintain. They look pretty regal as well. In addition, they may become special one day as the real beginning of the Genesis brand.

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