We recently compiled a list of the five coolest V10 cars that you could buy on a budget. The cheapest car on this list was available for just $7,500. While the V10 list was pretty cool, we had a thought: What is cooler than a V10? A V12 of course. That is why we have complied a list of the coolest V12 cars that you can currently buy (in the US) that won't break the bank. The cheapest car on this list costs just $5,500 and the most expensive one tops out at just $32,000. Fact: Everyone who is someone should own a V12 at some point in their life.
At the turn of the century, Aston Martin and Jaguar were both owned by Ford. The base DB7 came with a Jaguar-derived 4.0-liter V8, but for $140,000 you could buy a V12-powered DB7 Vantage. The 6.0-liter V12 made 420 horsepower and is not vastly different from the V12 that Aston Martin still uses today. We found a 2000 DB7 Vantage with 25,000 miles on it. The asking price is $32,000, which is less than a brand new Mustang GT. The exterior is painted in a perfect British Racing Green, but we would probably hold out to find one with the six-speed manual instead of the optional five-speed automatic. Even with the slushbox, this V12 can hit 165 mph (185 mph with the manual).
Our next car is another V12 coupe from Europe. Unlike the DB7, this one has a manual transmission. The 1992 BMW 850i is powered by a 5.0-liter V12 with 296 horsepower. Compared to today's neck-snapping sports cars, this may not sound like much, but the point of the BMW 8 Series was absolute comfort and autobahn cruising. The example that we found has a six-speed manual transmission and Conforti tuning chips that increase the horsepower to 340 ponies. With just 59,000 miles, this $28,000 V12 car is a complete gem. We would love to see BMW bring back the 8 Series, but for now this 1992 example costs less than a brand new 3 Series.
If you want a V12 car that is a bit more modern and a bit more comfortable, you should consider this Mercedes S600. This 2005 model has 97,000 miles, but it only costs $13,499. The 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 produces 493 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The S600 may be more than a decade old, but the number of features in this car would put many brand-new vehicles to shame. The tacked-on AMG badge on the trunk may be a bit silly, but the smooth comfort that this Mercedes provides won't disappoint. It may cost a fortune to run, but it is amazing to think that you can buy a Mercedes that had a base price of $96,000 back in 2005 for less than a brand new Nissan Versa.
If the $13,000 Mercedes was a bit too pricey for you, then let us present our cheapest option. This 2001 BMW 750iL is currently for sale for just $5,500. For that price you get a 5.4-liter V12 engine with 326 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. This 2001 model doesn't have as many features as the newer Mercedes, but the E38 7 Series is one of the most stylish luxury cars of all time. Even back in 2001, the top-of-the-line 7 Series came with heated seats with massage functionality. The car has 116,000 miles on it, but for just over $5,000, you really aren't risking too much to buy this V12-powered German limousine.
Our final car is quite the looker. On any cheap V12 list it is difficult not to include the Jaguar XJS, and we simply couldn't resist doing so here. You could get the XJS with a six-cylinder engine, but we found a V12 version for just under $9,000. The car has 49,000 miles on it and looks to be in great condition. The V12 produces 260 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, but this Jag is more about style than performance. The XJS will go down in history as one of the best looking Jaguars ever made, and we would love to pick one up for less than $10,000.
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