Used V-12-Powered Cars Under $25,000 in 2023
Depreciation is a wonderful thing.
In their day, most of these cars cost well into the six figure range. They were top-of-the-line models with awesome V-12s stuffed under their hoods. However, V-12s—being the exotic engines they are—are usually very difficult and expensive to maintain. As a result, most of their owners opted to sell their cars rather than hold on to them. Here are some of the best.
2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
There are several V-12 Mercedes cars you can get on the cheap, but the S65 is arguably the fastest. Featuring a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 with over 600 horsepower, it can rocket from 0-60 mph in under five seconds.
2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG
The CL65 AMG is basically a two-door version of the S65, with the same drivetrain in a cleaner, more sporting body. CL65s are much rarer than their four-door siblings, so finding one for $25,000 or under is tough, but not impossible.
1987-2001 BMW 750iL
But there's no beating the outright luxury and class of a V-12-powered 7-Series. The diplomatically squared-off looks and subtle styling of the E38-generation car shown here mean endless enjoyment on your daily commute.
1989-2011 Mercedes-Benz SL600
The Mercedes-Benz SL600 is one of the only convertibles on this list, allowing you to hear that V-12 sing better than any closed-top sedan or coupe. Whether you go for the earlier R129 or the later R230 model shown here, you're in for a good time.
2004-2006 Volkswagen Phaeton
Alright, the Volkswagen Phaeton doesn't exactly have a V-12, using the innovative and compact W-12 instead. But it still deserves to be on this list. If you can find one for sale, the big-engine Phaeton makes for one hell of a luxury sleeper, with Bentley underpinnings and effortless thrust.
1990-1999 BMW 850i and 850Ci
Beneath the beautiful sloping hood of the BMW 8-Series sits a naturally aspirated V-12. The 850s drive smoothly and offer endless class, even if you pulled up at the drive-thru. They're beautiful, they're rare, and Jason Statham arrives in one in the Italian Job. And it's kind of like getting an M1 without paying way too much money. Of all the cars on this list, it's the one that has aged the most gracefully. True, it was more of a GT car than a sports car, but it was still able to balance the two philosophies pretty seamlessly.
1975-1996 Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS convertible comes with a 5.3-liter V-12 engine. It replaced the E-Type as more of a cushy and affordable convertible rather than a traditional grand touring sports car. During the recession of the early Nineties, Jaguar was afraid that a sportier car wouldn't sell, so this is what the automaker built. You'll find them for around $10,000-$15,000 today, but be warned: Reliability was not something these old Jags were praised for.
2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz CL600
If you ever wanted to cruise on the highway in a smoother-than-glass big luxury coupe, the Mercedes CL600 is your most affordable bet. It cost $122,390 new, but because repairs were so expensive, prices have fallen steeply. And cruising was precisely what it was good at, because the heavy body wasn't good for much sharp cornering.
1972-1979 Jaguar XJ12
If you want a V-12 car on the cheap, chances are you'll have to settle for a luxury-minded option. The Jaguar XJ12 is the first of many big four-doors you'll see on this list. The 5.3-liter engine could be optioned throughout most of the Seventies, meaning over 16,000 were built, keeping prices down and parts plentiful.
2002-2008 BMW 760Li
Prefer your V-12-powered BMW limousine to have a few more modern amenities? The 760Li, the 750's replacement, has also depreciated to affordable levels. Ironically the 12-cylinder is the most reliable out of all engines available with this generation of 7-Series, but we'd still budget a few thousand for maintenance each year.
2002-2009 Audi A8 L W12
Like the Phaeton, the 12-cylinder engine under the A8 L's hood isn't V-shaped. But it still deserves to be on this list. Like its competitors, deprecation has taken a heavy toll on values, meaning you can own one for the price of a lightly used Mitsubishi Mirage.
2005-2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Continuing the Volkswagen Group W-12 theme is the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Believe it or not, high-mileage examples can be found for under the $25,000-mark. Just be prepared to drop a whole lot of cash to keep it on the road, should you buy one.
2000-2013 Mercedes-Benz S600
If you have enough to buy a new Nissan Sentra, you can buy a Mercedes-Benz S600 that packs a V-12 engine. When the car was new, it was over $120,000. You could drive from your house to the grocery store or from New York to Los Angeles and you'd feel equally refreshed. Expect to be set back by tremendous fuel and maintenance costs, though.
1997-1998 Toyota Century
The last-generation Toyota Century was sold new in Japan from 1997 onwards, being the only Japanese production car to get a V-12 engine. Now over 25 years old, it's legal to import into America, and prices have stayed relatively low.
Brian Silvestro is Hearst Autos' Lead Deputy Editor for rankings content. He spent over seven years as a staff writer for Road & Track Magazine, and still contributes regularly with car reviews, industry interviews, and more.
He also has a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
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