Audi A8

But if you don’t want to spend the £40,000 asking price for a used RS4 and still fancy a V8-powered Audi, you can bag a fully-specced Audi A8 for less than £8,000.

We found this 2002 Audi A8 4.2-litre Quattro – which means the luxury saloon is equipped with four-wheel-drive – for £7,895.

BMW 540i Sport

The previous generation BMW 5 Series – the ‘E39’ model – was widely regarded as one of the world’s best ever cars.

Excellent driving dynamics coupled to solid build quality and the all-important BMW badge on the bonnet made the 5 Series the default executive motor choice.

And if you fancy a BMW with a bit of beef, try the fabulous BMW 540i Sport – with a massive 290bhp 4.4-litre V8 sitting in a conservatively-styled body, the 540i Sport comes with a limited slip differential, allowing for better skid control and traction.

We found a BMW 540i Sport with just 51,000 miles on the clock and a full main dealer service history for £7,995.

BMW 740i

For the ultimate in power and luxury, you can also opt for a previous generation BMW 7 Series.

Powered by the same 4.4-litre V8 engine packing a very healthy 290bhp, the BMW 740i is a bona-fide V8 powerhouse.

We found a 1997 BMW 740i which has covered just 39,000 miles – for £7,393.

Mercedes CL

A V8-powered Mercedes-Benz for under £8,000?

The Mercedes CL was launched in the mid-nineties and offered up powerful performance and an effortless drive – this was no sports coupe, but a luxury grand tourer which could swallow four adults and luggage in absolute comfort.

The ultimate luxury coupe falls into the sub-£8,000 price range, and you can bag yourself a giant, four-seater Mercedes CL420 – powered by a 4.2-litre 275bhp V8 engine – for £5,995, with just 63,000 miles on the clock.

Mercedes S420 SEL

Looking for something more luxurious with a three-pointed star on the front? Mercedes motoring? Check out this fully restored 1988 Mercedes-Benz 420 SEL for £6,749 – equipped with the fabulous 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine.

Porsche 928

Think of Porsche and all thoughts immediately turn to the hardcore 911 – but as great as it is, it falls short of two cylinders – all 911s use flat-six cylinder engines.

Thankfully, Porsche wanted a luxury tourer to complement the range, and unveiled the 928 coupe in the late half of the 1970s – each one fitted with a V8.

Look hard and you’ll be able to pick up a decent model – we found a 1984 Porsche 928 fitted with a 300bhp 4.7-litre V8 engine for £6,500.

TVR Cerbera

Taking its name from a three-headed beast of Greek legend who guarded the gates to the underworld, the TVR Cerbera is a full-blooded sportscar – which provides a thrill like no other sportscar in the world.

And sitting underneath the beautiful body is a monster 4.2-litre V8 engine pushing out 350 Blackpool horses.

We found a 1998 TVR Cerbera coupe with 47,000 miles on the clock for £6,995.

View our V8-powered cars slide show