These V-10 Icons Are Enticingly Cheap — For Now

The allure of the ten-cylinder engine is undeniable, thanks to its exotic reputation. Associated with supercars and racing, the V10 is rare in mainstream history, and the V8 was for a long time the standard choice for anything larger than a four-cylinder or six-cylinder. Even the V12 has been far more common across history than the ten-cylinder when it comes to cars.

Its association with Formula 1 and models like the Lexus LFA, Porsche Carrera GT, Audi R8, and Lamborghini Gallardo makes it especially interesting when squeezed into a mainstream sedan or coupe, and even more so when the price is right. When the Gallardo is the cheapest at auction at around $95,000, the following models start to look very enticing to the enthusiast, thanks to their affordable average values.

Audi S8 (D3)

Average Auction Value: $10,450

Audi

The first affordable V10 car on this list isn’t a supercar, and its focus was on comfort and effortless cruising, being part of the flagship executive class based on the Audi A8. Sold from 2007-2009 in the US, the D3 Audi S8 was the second generation of the performance-focused model swapped the previous generation’s 4.2-liter V8 for an exotic V10, although a W12 was also offered in the A8 range for the first three generations.

Audi

Its V10 engine is shared with the C6 Audi S6 (below) and is related to Audi’s own 4.2-liter V8, but shares many characteristics with Lamborghini’s V10, a brand that was also under VW Group ownership at this time. Although related and fundamentally similar, the Audi and Lamborghini ten-cylinder engines were different and designed for unique usage cases. For the S8, it meant refined and effortless cruising, an impressive five-second 0-60 mph time, and unique bragging rights. Along with its suite of luxury features, the Audi S8‘s air-sprung suspension was tuned for improved handling, and carbon-ceramic brakes were offered to slow down this 4,500-pound monster.

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Audi S6 (C6)

Average Auction Value: $13,250

Audi

Another sedan fitted with the 5.2-liter FSI V10 engine, fundamentally the same as the S8’s engine above, with a different state of tune for marketing reasons. It was sold from 2007-2011, and the US didn’t get an Avant (wagon) variant. A performance variant of the regular A6, the S6 swapped the previous generation’s 4.2-liter V8 for the V10, producing a sedan that was seriously fast for its size. Contemporary road tests also proved a five-second 0-60 mph time, which is about a second slower than a period Lamborghini Gallardo.

Audi

Unlike the Lamborghini V10, this engine, used in the C6 Audi S6 and D3 S8, features a wet-sump lubrication system and is engineered for long-distance capability, refinement, and linear power delivery. It results in an all-weather luxury sedan with supercar-like acceleration. Average auction values are still very modest for this car, which we like for its understated aesthetic where there are no large spoilers or aggressive body kits to give the game away, just four quad exhaust tips and some other tasteful features to suggest something special lies within. Maintenance, repairs, and running costs are downsides worth taking into account.

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BMW M6 Coupe (E63)

Average Auction Value: $18,350

BMW

BMW also brought V10 power to the masses for the M6 and M5 (below), with the former sold as a coupe and convertible. The BMW M6 followed the US-market M6 coupe from the 80s, which used a straight-six engine. Sold from 2006-2010, the second-gen M6 features divisive styling and is based on an altered version of the contemporary 5 Series platform. Much like the E60 M5, the decision was made to implement a Formula 1-inspired powertrain and drivetrain to power this supercar-rivalling coupe and convertible.

BMW

The S85 engine was inspired by the brand’s previous F1 efforts and marked the first and only time a ten-cylinder engine was used by the brand for a road car, along with the E60 M5. It was built to be aggressive and inspired by motorsport from the outset, with an 8,250-rpm redline, dry-sump lubrication, and tight tolerances. An SMG automated manual transmission was also spiritually linked to F1, but a manual was also offered for the US market, although values for these models are higher. Expect 0-60 mph in the four-second range, which is blisteringly quick for a luxury coupe weighing about 4,000 pounds.

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BMW M5 (E60)

Average Auction Value: $22,300

BMW

BMW’s M5, the performance flagship of the fifth-generation 5 Series, also went to town with the F1-inspired makeover and created the first V10 sedan for the roads in the process. BMW fans will remember that the previous M5 (the E39) was praised for its V8 engine, poised handling, and iconic looks. The E60 M5 sedan (an E61 M5 wagon was sold in other markets) would prove to be controversial for its styling, and also for its more complicated engineering and less analog philosophy. Then there are the widely-reported mechanical issues.

BMW

Component failure and catastrophic engine failure are risks to take into consideration for anyone wanting to take the plunge on an M5 from this era, thanks to the high-strung nature of the S85 V10 and issues with rod bearing wear, throttle actuator failures, VANOS high-pressure oil system issues, and if equipped, issues with the automatic SMG transmission (which these cheaper auto examples have). More cash spent on a manual M5 would relieve the buyer of at least some issues. On the bright side, most of the M5’s issues are well known by now, and preventative maintenance will have been carried out on well-sorted examples.

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Audi RS6 (C6)

Average Auction Value: $25,330

Audi

At the top of the pile when it comes to performance from Audi was the RS 6, sitting above even the V10-powered S6. The same C6 generation as the S6 featured earlier in this article resulted in this, the second-gen RS 6. It swapped the first generation’s twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 for an insane twin-turbo ten-cylinder, and the idea was to create a sedan/wagon that truly could rival supercars, which it arguably did.

Audi

Yes, the US market didn’t receive the 2008-2010 RS 6, but it is worth a mention here since it’s an incredible machine, reasonably priced still at auction, that one day those with the means will be able to import into the US under the 25-Year Rule (around 2033 at the earliest). The V10 engine was not the same unit as the one found in the C6 S6 and S8 or even the Gallardo, but was related nevertheless, and the heat was turned up considerably thanks to the forced induction system that meant it outgunned even the M5/M6. A dry sump system was used, and hundreds of components were unique to this ‘BUH’ engine. An all-weather, aggressive, exotic sedan that can hit 60 mph in the four-second range. Later RS 6s became wagon-only affairs, and the US would have to wait until the C8 generation to see another RS 6 on Audi forecourts. A unique monster that is worthy of saving once it becomes legal to import.

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Sources: Kelley Blue Book, Classic.com