These V-10 icons are temptingly cheap for now

The appeal 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 has long been the standard choice for anything larger than a four-cylinder or six-cylinder. Even the V12 has been much more common than the ten-cylinder when it comes to cars throughout history.

Its association with Formula 1 and models such as the Lexus LFA, Porsche Carrera GT, Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo makes it especially interesting when squeezed into a regular 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 attractive to the enthusiast, thanks to their affordable average values.

Models are listed in ascending order based on average auction price, from low to high.

Audi S8 (D3)

Average auction value: $10,450

The first affordable V10 car on this list isn’t a supercar, and the focus was on comfort and effortless cruising, as it was part of the flagship executive class based on the Audi A8. Sold from 2007-2009 in the US, the D3Audi S8 When the second generation of the performance model swapped the previous generation’s 4.2-litre V8 for an exotic V10, although a W12 was also offered in the A8 range for the first three generations.

The V10 engine is shared with the C6 Audi S6 (below) and is related to Audi’s own 4.2-liter V8, but shares many features with Lamborghini’s V10, a brand also owned by the VW Group at the time. Although related and fundamentally similar, Audi and Lamborghini’s ten-cylinder engines were different and designed for unique use cases. For the S8, this meant refined and effortless cruising, an impressive 0-62mph time of five seconds and unique bragging rights. Along with its array of luxury features, the Audi S8’s air-ride suspension was tuned for better handling, and carbon-ceramic brakes were offered to slow this 4,500-pound monster down.

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Audi S6 (C6)

Average auction value: $13,250

Another sedan equipped with the 5.2-liter FSI V10 engine, fundamentally the same as the engine of the S8 above, with a different tuning for marketing reasons. It was sold from 2007-2011 and the US did not 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, creating a sedan that was seriously fast for its size. Contemporary road tests have also shown a 0-62mph time of five seconds, which is about a second slower than a Lamborghini Gallardo of the period.

Unlike the Lamborghini V10, this engine is used in the C6Audi S6 and the D3 S8 feature a wet-sump lubrication system and are designed for long-distance capability, refinement and linear power delivery. The result is an all-weather luxury sedan with supercar-like acceleration. Average auction values ​​are still very modest for this car, which we appreciate for its understated aesthetics, with no big spoilers or aggressive body kits to give the game away, just four quad exhaust tips and some other tasteful features that suggest there’s something special inside. Maintenance, repair and operating costs are disadvantages to consider.

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BMW M6 Coupe (E63)

Average auction value: $18,350

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 1980s American market M6 coupe, which used an inline six-cylinder engine. Sold from 2006-2010, the second generation M6 has a divisive style and is based on a modified version of the contemporary 5 Series platform. As with the E60 M5, the decision was made to implement a Formula 1-inspired powertrain and powertrain to power this supercar-competing coupe and convertible.

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 from the ground up to be aggressive and inspired by motorsport, with an 8,250 rpm redline, dry-sump lubrication and tight tolerances. An SMG automated manual gearbox was also spiritually linked to the F1, but a manual gearbox was also offered for the US market, although values ​​are higher for these models. Expect 0-60 mph in the four-second range, which is lightning fast for a luxury coupe that weighs about 4,000 pounds.

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BMW M5 (E60)

Average auction value: $22,300

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

Component failure and catastrophic engine failure are risks to consider for anyone looking to take the plunge on an M5 from this era, thanks to the powerful nature of the S85 V10 and issues with connecting rod bearing wear, throttle actuator failure, problems with the VANOS high-pressure oil system and, if equipped, problems with the SMG automatic transmission (which these cheaper car examples have). Spending more money on a manual M5 would relieve the buyer of at least some problems. The positive thing is that most of the problems with the M5 are now known and that preventive maintenance will have been carried out on well-sorted examples.

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Audi RS6 (C6)

Average auction value: $25,330

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

Yes, the US market didn’t receive the 2008-2010 RS 6, but it’s worth mentioning here because it’s an incredible machine, still reasonably priced 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 wasn’t the same as the one in the C6 S6 and S8 or even the Gallardo, but it was still related, and the heat was significantly increased thanks to the forced induction system, allowing it to outsmart even the M5/M6. A dry sump system was used and hundreds of components were unique to this ‘BUH’ engine. An aggressive, exotic, all-weather sedan that can reach 60 mph in just four seconds. Later, RS 6s became wagon-only, and the US would have to wait until the C8 generation to see another RS ​​6 on Audi forecourts. A unique monster worth saving once it becomes legal to import.

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Sources: Kelley Blue Book, Classic.com