8 Italian V8s Cheaper Than A New Honda Civic Type R Today
The Honda Civic Type R is one of the g reatest hot hatches in history and among the last proper manual transmission performance cars on the market in 2026. This is all well and good for buyers in the market for a brand-new car. However, anyone who’s also considering buying used will be making a lot of tradeoffs paying the Type R’s steep $47,395 starting price. For one, just a few years ago, paying nearly 50 grand for a boosted 2.0-liter hot hatch from an economy brand would seem preposterous. Not to mention, the Type R only comes with front-wheel drive, leaving a lot to be desired for buyers who enjoy AWD traction or RWD drifts. And of course, there’s the sound. When it comes to four-cylinder engines that sound even remotely good, the Type R simply can’t match that boxer rumble you can get in a WRX, BRZ, or a base 718 Cayman. But what if we told you that for that same price, you can check all of those boxes, and then some, by buying a purebred Italian V8 performance car?
That’s because, while Italian V8s are legendary, many of the cars that feature them often face unfairly steep depreciation or are simply overlooked, making them surprisingly affordable options for gearheads in the market for a budget exotic. In fact, most of the cars on this list will cost significantly less than a Type R, which should more than cover any potential additional long-term maintenance or repair costs that may come with buying used. Meanwhile, those that are only slightly cheaper are, well, more than worth the money. Here are the top 8 Italian V8 choices for Civic Type R money in 2026.
8
5th-Gen Maserati Quattroporte
Average Used Price: $12,586
Yes, it is that cheap. In fact, as far as we can tell, the 5th-gen Quattroporte V is officially the cheapest way to get inside an Italian V8 car, period. With production starting in 2002, the fifth-gen Quattroporte was clearly Maserati’s attempt at out-sporting its turbocharged German rivals. These were luxurious four-door grand tourers packing naturally aspirated F136 V8s developed alongside Ferrari, the same ones that were later immortalized in the F430 and 458. However, Maserati’s V8s always had a uniquely sonorous rumble. That’s because, instead of using a flat-plane crank like you’d find in a Ferrari, Maserati went with a cross-plane crank for more low-end torque. Early Quattroporte V’s received 4.2-liter mills pushing 400 hp and 333 lb-ft before the 424-hp S and 434-hp Sport GT S trims joined the lineups with their 4.7-liter mills in 2008. As a result, 0-60 mph times dropped from 5.2 seconds to around 4.7 for the later 4.7-liter V8-equipped models.
As a result, the average price for a fifth-gen Quattroporte floats around $12,500, and even the cleanest models with the 4.7-liter V8 usually won’t set you back more than $20,000. This ridiculously low price today is a result of a combination of factors. One of them is the Quattroporte V’s sheer popularity (by year 5, Maserati had already sold 15,000 examples), and the other is the fact that they kept breaking. Owners quote Skyhook air suspension that wears out quickly, expensive parts and repairs, and electric and battery drain issues. One owner on Reddit summed it up: “These cars are probably the most unreliable on the market, and parts can only be purchased through the dealer for 10x what they should cost.”
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7
Maserati Coupe & Spyder
Average Used Price: $16,467-$25,000
When the Maserati Coupe hit the streets in 2002, it became the brand’s first sports car powered by a Ferrari V8 and carried an $87,665 MSRP. Fast-forward 25 years, and brutal depreciation has turned these exotics into arguably the biggest bargain Italian sports cars a gearhead can buy. Classic.com puts the average price paid for a Maserati Coupe at just over $16k, with little to no variance between model years. Meanwhile, the convertible Spyder variants seem to command a few grand more, with the most important considerations for every owner still being mileage, condition, and service history.
These cars officially debuted the Ferrari F136 V8, and regardless of whether you opt for a Coupe or a Spyder, they both push 390 hp and 333 lb-ft to the rear wheels using either a 6-speed manual or an F1-style Cambiocorsa automatic. This is enough for a 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds and top speed of roughly 177 mph.
In 2004, Maserati introduced the GranSport trim, which came with a complete interior and exterior revamp, new Skyhook semi-active adaptive suspension that reduced ride height by 10mm for composure, and a power bump to 400 hp. Whereas the Coupe is a sports car, the GranSport crosses into bona fide supercar territory, yet excellent examples barely crest $25,000 on average.
6
6th-generation Maserati Quattroporte GTS (2020 Or Older)
Average Used Price: $20,000-$40,000
While Maserati had already addressed most of the issues that plagued its predecessor, the damage had already been done. The Quattroporte’s reputation continues to make it one of the most affordable luxury sedans on the market. And while a 3.0-liter twin-turbo is the base engine, depreciation also caught up with the flagship twin-turbo V8 GTS versions. This is incredible news for gearheads in the know, since the V8 in question is none other than the legendary F154, arguably the greatest V8 engine of modern times, which featured in some of Ferrari’s greatest models, such as the California, 488 GTB, F8 Tributo, and many more. But while Ferrari used a flat-plane crank to minimize rotational inertia and raise the redline, the cross-plane crank in the Maserati puts the Quattroporte closer to an American muscle car in both sound and character.
Performance doesn’t disappoint either. With 523 hp and 524 lb-ft on tap routed to the rear wheels exclusively through an 8-speed ZF automatic, the 4,200-lb luxobarge will rocket to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds, roughly on par with a brand-new BMW M3. With a $47,000 budget, gearheads are looking at anything from pristine early M156 models to excellent-condition 2018 and 2019 examples, such as this 26,000-mile one that’s currently listed for $42,900, and maybe even newer. And despite its poor reputation for reliability, CarEdge estimates that maintaining a Quattroporte costs roughly $3,257 over 5 years (less than $700 per year), which is surprisingly affordable and on par with sports cars like the Corvette and Mustang.
5
Ferrari Mondial (8 / QV / 3.2)
Average Used Price: $28,084-$45,000
That’s right – the Mondial is officially the cheapest mid-engined Ferrari with a proper V8 engine on the used market. Why are they so cheap? Well, ask an average gearhead, “What’s the worst Ferrari?” and you’ll have your answer. And while it is true that early Mondials are quite underpowered, their bad reputation is mostly unwarranted, and these are fantastic value for the money in 2026. Powered by surprisingly crisp flat-plane, 214-hp, 2.9-liter V8s, 1981 and 1982 Mondial 8s will be your cheapest entry into Ferrari ownership, with an average price of well under $30,000. All of them were coupes, but it’s a great investment, especially considering only 703 were made.
Moving up the Mondial totem pole, the QV bumps the power up to 240 hp but commands closer to $40k today, with convertibles commanding a roughly 10% premium. Totally worth it, since you’d be buying the only 2+2 mid-engined convertible Ferrari ever made. Finally, the most powerful Mondial that still comfortably fits within our budget is the 3.2. Produced between 1985 and 1989, the 3.2 offers exactly that many liters of displacement and a power output of 270 hp (260 if you get the American versions). Apart from more power, these also have slightly more modern designs with a more modern dash, which you can easily find in leather trim. These range between low $30k to over $50k, depending on condition, with convertibles being slightly more expensive. That said, clean examples are easy to find at reasonable prices, such as this 1986 model that was listed for just $39,900.
4
Maserati GranTurismo Sport
Average Used Price: $41,116
The Maserati GranTurismo may not be the cheapest V8 sports car you can buy used, but it’s easily one of the best when it comes to looks and sound. Early GranTurismos and the more powerful S models all pack a Ferrari-derived F136 V8, and they can be had for less than $30,000. Power ranges from 400 hp in the early standard GranTurismos to 433 hp in S trims. However, in 2012, Maserati introduced the upgraded Sport trim, the nameplate’s fastest and most competent version that still easily fits within our budget. These upgraded Sport models bump the 4.7-liter V8’s power to 460 hp and 384 lb-ft, routed to the rear wheels through a standard 6-speed ZF automatic. But unlike their predecessors, they also get standard Brembos on all four corners, Maserati’s Skyhook adaptive suspension, and a more aggressive fascia. These sports cars also suffer from Maserati’s overblown negative reliability reputation, making them incredible value for anyone looking for an affordable Ferrari alternative with strong performance. They clock 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and top out at 187 mph.
The GranTurismo depreciates faster than any other sports car on the market. Produced between 2012 and 2019, an average early GranTurismo Sport will cost you just over $40k, but the $47k budget offers enough room to comfortably buy a decent 2019 model, too, such as this white convertible with 19k miles that was posted for $46,990 earlier this year.
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3
Ferrari Dino 208 GT4 & 308 GT4
Average Used Price: $35,000-$45,000
The Mondial may be the most affordable Ferrari, but the V8-powered Dino 208 and 308 siblings are probably the most overlooked, considering the value they offer. The Dino 308 GT4 – short for “Gran Turismo 4-seater” and not to be confused with Magnum’s 308 GTB – debuted in 1973 amid the oil crisis, boasting a Bertone design on the outside, Ferrari’s first true production V8 under the hood, and the brand’s first 2+2 seat setup in the cabin. Pioneering Ferrari’s famous transversely mounted V8 formula, the 3.0-liter V8 unit in the 308 GT4 produces 255 hp (240 hp in American market versions) with a standard five-speed manual and limited-slip diff, but it revs all the way up to a screaming 7,700 rpm and reaches 60 in under 7 seconds.
Its smaller sibling was born two years later in 1975. To dodge the massive taxes on engines over 2 liters, it featured a 2.0-liter V8 – the smallest V8 ever installed in a production car – good for just 170 hp. It looks nearly identical to the 308 GT4, but with the smaller engine, 0-60 takes about 8 seconds. What’s surprising is that both of these cars are worth roughly the same today, averaging in the mid-$60,000 range. However, depending on mileage and condition, it’s quite easy to find examples under $47k in both cases, such as this 1975 308 GT4 that sold for just $36,300 on Mecum.
2
Maserati Indy 4900
Average Used Price: $40,000-$45,000
The Indy is a four-seat GT that only the most die-hard Italian sports car fans will remember, and yet its importance cannot be overstated. It was Maserati’s first unibody sports car, named in honor of the brand’s back-to-back Indy 500 wins in 1939 and 1940. Only 1,104 have ever been built, and just 300 of those were the top-spec 4900 with the flagship 320-hp/355 lb-ft 4.9-liter Tipo V8 mounted in front. This may not sound like a lot of power today, but the Indy 4900 debuted squarely in the middle of the malaise era of the ’70s, boasting more power than virtually every American muscle car for a full three years until its discontinuation in 1975.
That Italian V8 was mated to a five-speed ZF manual transmission and pushed power to the rear wheels, for a 0-60 in the high 6 seconds. Indeed, not only is one of the most powerful muscle cars of the ’70s Italian, but it is also surprisingly affordable today. Classic.com puts the average price for the nameplate at just over $58,000, but clean examples have sold for under $40k, such as this 1973 model that fetched $39,999 earlier this year.
1
Maserati Levante (Trofeo / GTS)
Average Used Price: $40,000-$45,000
Just over $40,000, on average, will get you behind the wheel of Maserati’s first-ever super SUV, with a V8 to boot. Built on the same platform as the Quattroporte and Ghibli, the Levante comes standard with air suspension, electronic dampers, Q4 all-wheel drive, and a 345-hp twin-turbo V6. Opt for the GTS or Trofeo trims, however, and Maserati bumps that up to a hand-assembled 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 – a re-engineered version of the Quattroporte GTS’s unit – pumping out 542 hp in the GTS and 580 hp and 538 lb-ft in the Trofeo through the trusty ZF 8-speed.
The main difference between the Levante’s two V8 trims is that the Trofeo comes track-ready from the factory, with more power, dual hood vents, weight savings, larger alloy wheels, and a sportier cabin with a dedicated “Corsa” (track) mode. Because power goes to all four wheels – with a rear diff helping traction – both models are fiendishly fast. But while the GTS clocks 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, the Trofeo shaves that down to a scarcely believable 2.9 seconds in independent testing. You read that right – Maserati’s midsize SUV keeps up with the Corvette C8 Stingray to 60 mph. It has a 6 mph higher top speed too, at 187 mph. When the Trofeo debuted in 2019, it carried an astronomical $169,980 sticker price. As a result of some of the biggest depreciation rates the car world has ever seen, these can now be found for under $45k, and the GTS versions for even less.
Sources: Classic.com, Hemmings, Bring a Trailer, Maserati, Ferrari.
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