In today's world, V8 engines are starting to disappear in favor of smaller turbocharged units. That leaves bigger engines like V12s and V10s on the verge of extinction. Luckily there are still a few awesome cars with a V10 engine for sale, like the Audi R8, Lamborghini Hurracan, and Dodge Viper. Unfortunately these cars are too expensive for most people. So if you really wanted a V10 engine, could you buy one without spending a fortune? We have compiled a list of the five cheapest V10-powered cars that you can buy.
Our first car is actually a truck. Before there was the Hellcat, there was the Ram SRT-10. You may not be able to afford a new Dodge Viper for almost $90,000, but you can have the engine from one for almost one fourth of the cost. We found an SRT-10 Ram for sale with only 65,000 miles on it. This truck comes with a 500-hp 8.4-liter V10 straight from the Viper. The truck we found is listed for $21,500 and is the most expensive car on our list. Still, you can buy the SRT-10 Ram with either a four-speed auto or a six-speed manual in either two or four door trims. The two-door could hit 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and pass through the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds. But all this speed comes at a price: 12 mpg at the pump.
The next car on our list also has 500 horsepower, but this one is a lot faster than the Ram. The BMW M6 has been featured on some of our lists before, and buying one has never been cheaper. Unfortunately, the S85 V10 engine that BMW used in the M6 and the M5 was notoriously complex. The car also used a seven-speed SMG single-clutch transmission that liked to eat up clutches to the tune of around $2,000 to $5,000, depending on where you get it serviced. No wonder why these cars have become so inexpensive. We found a 2006 model with 102,000 miles on it for just $16,000. Considering that a new one will cost you more than $100,000, a used BMW M6 might be the value of the century.
If you love the idea of having a German V10-powered car but need AWD, we have you covered. For around the same price as the M6 you can buy an Audi with Quattro AWD. If you thought that the Ram with the Viper engine was cool, how about an Audi A6 with a Lamborghini Gallardo engine? The 2008 Audi S6 was powered by a detuned version of the Gallardo's 5.2-liter V10 engine. In the S6, this engine sent 436 horsepower to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic. With the help of an aftermarket exhaust, you can have the same sound as a Lamborghini while only spending around $16,000. Why spend your money on a two-year-old Honda Fit when for the same cash you can have a car with a Lamborghini engine?
Maybe the cars that we have shown so far have been a bit impractical with very thirsty V10 engines, and in one case barely any back seats. If you want a V10, but still want to be frugal, we suggest the Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. This V10 is the first and only diesel on our list and it gets 23 mpg on the highway, which isn't terrible for a V10. The twin-turbocharged engine produces 310 horsepower and a massive 553 lb-ft of torque. The 2004 model that we looked up has 164,000 miles on it, but it only costs $9,600. With the Touareg V10 you will be able to tow anything you want while enjoying one of the best German interiors that was offered at the time. Just watch out for those maintenance costs.
Our final car is the least expensive on the list and is the epitome of how cheap V10s can be. The Ford Excursion was the biggest SUV that Ford ever sold, and it's still bigger than almost any SUV in history. Smaller SUVs may have third row seating, but the Excursion's third row is bigger than most second rows, all while maintaining a ton of trunk space. There were three engines available on the Excursion, including a base V8, and a top-of-the-line V8 turbo diesel. In the middle of the lineup was a 6.8-liter V10 making 310 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. With this engine you could tow 11,000 pounds and two whole families. You can buy one for as low as around $7,500. Who said a V10 can't be practical?