BMW 8 Series: The BMW 8 Series may have aged well but there are a number of things about the car that date it considerably.
The 4.0 litre engine that will give you a return of about 32 kms to the gallon, the limited headroom and rear seating space are just some of them. However, this is not a car for everyone and is certainly not for anyone who cares a jot for the environment. You need to have a rather special affection for coupés, and for BMWs in particular, to find a way to justify buying it.
Originally launched in 1990 with a massive 5.0 litre V12 engine, the 8 Series was one of those in-your-face creations the motor industry thought helped build an image for the brand across the range. It is, obviously, no longer in production. The 8 Series is a very striking looking car in its own right but there is nothing demure about it. It is one of the biggest coupés ever built, is massively heavy, has low profile tyres and a short rear end. It does not have a feminine side. The bigger engine mentioned above was supplemented about three years after launch by the vaguely more acceptable four-litre engine but still with a 286 horse power output. It is really a two-seater with a little added accommodation in the rear and, because of that, it smacks of indulgence. It is a car designed for a powerful image because in its day that was what a lot of people wanted. In those pre-Celtic Tiger days, however, Ireland was not its natural home. If it were launched today one wonders how people would react? Not very keenly, one suspects.
It was an advanced car in its day though. Traction control and electronically controlled suspension were standard but I am reasonably certain it only had one airbag when it was launched.
Compared to modern competitors from Porsche, Jaguar and others the 8 series now looks brash and outdated. But the 8 still does not come cheap on the second-hand market. A 1999 model with 59,000 miles on the clock is on offer at €45,995 at one Dublin dealer while a 1995 version with 100,000 on the clock is on offer at another Dublin outlet for €20,000. - Donal Byrne
FOR: Ideal for macho men without a green conscience.
AGAINST: Huge running costs and very heavy on fuel. Dated by almost every competitor.