Top 5 V8-Powered Lexus Vehicles You Can Buy for Under $30K
No matter if you are looking for a cruiser, a rock crawler, or a luxury sedan there is a V8-powered Lexus for less than 30 grand waiting for you.
Intro
When people think of V8 engines they tend to think of American muscle cars. But the truth is that Lexus has made quite a few darn good V8 engines over the years. And even if you have only $30,000 to spend you can put one in your garage. We searched for Lexus V8 vehicles that would appeal to various types of drivers and picked the five best. All the vehicles we presented here are clean title cars. You don’t need to buy a salvage title example of any vehicle on our list. You can buy one of these and enjoy it and its V8 engine for many years.
1. LS 460 (2013 – 2016)
For 2013 Lexus gave the LS a refresh that reportedly included roughly 3,000 new parts. The 4.6L V8 under the hood also got a bit of a tweak. It now produced 386 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. It is not the most advanced V8 engine in the world, but it is reasonably smooth and will waft you to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. The majority of cars you find under $30K will have between 70,000 and 120,000 miles on them. But this is a Lexus LS and it is just getting broken in at that point.
2. IS F (2008)
It will take a bit of digging but you can get a first year Lexus IS F for under $30,000. This M3 fighter sedan sports a 5.0L V8 making 416 horsepower. It was enough grunt to get the car to 60 mph in just over 4 seconds. And it sounds damn good while doing it. Some criticized the ride for being too harsh, but this is a lot of car for less than 30 grand. Muscular looks, funky quad exhaust setup and Lexus reliability makes for a compelling combination.
3. SC 430 (2005 – 2010)
Unlike the IS F, the SC 430 is not all about performance. It is all about cruising in comfort and style. The 4.3L V8 under the hood makes 300 horsepower and is whisper quiet while doing it. If you want the guttural roar of a V8 this is not the car for you. But if you want smooth power, and a unique looking convertible for cruising, it is hard to pass up a well-cared for SC 430 in this price range.
4. LX 570 (2013 – 2015)
If you have $30K to spend, you can step right up into one of the most legendary SUVs of all time. Yes, the 2013 to 2015 models in this price range will have 150K+ miles but they still have plenty of life left. The LX 570 comes with a 5.7L V8 making 383 horsepower and 403 pound-feet of torque. And while you can use this vehicle to commute to work every day, that is not what it was made for. The LX is a beast off road and will get you and your crew anyplace you want to go. And it will tow along 7,000 pounds of your stuff for good measure.
5. GX 460 (2010 – 2018)
If you want a rugged body-on-frame SUV but don’t have the need for the LX, then the GX might be the perfect match for you. In 2010 the GX 460 was revised and as part of that revision it got a 4.6L V8 making 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. It may not have quite the same cachet as the LX, but the GX you can get for less than $30K will be newer and have fewer miles on it than the LX. And the GX still has plenty of room and the capability to serve you as a daily driver or off road adventure vehicle.