You really should find something locally to drive, just to see the difference between a V6S and V8S. The V8S is easier to get squirrelly (which some folks like), is louder/deeper, and obviously quicker. Some think the V6S is a bit more nimble (being a bit ligher), but you'd have to decide if that matters to you. Personally, I prefer the exhaust note of the V6S - higher pitched, and not as brutish. Some folks say if you drive a V8, you won't want a V6, but that wasn't the case for me.

V6S can be tuned to ~420HP, or tune+SC pulley for ~450HP. 2014s would be out of warranty, so that doesn't matter so much, if tuning is of interest to you.

 

Well said DJS. For once.

P.S. I also prefer a V10. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Although I should know better).

 

Thanks!

As I gather, both V6’s can be tuned to similar HP, but non S cars generally don’t have adaptable suspension and LSD.

I can’t locate a V8 locally, but I will be in the Bay Area next week and will get a chance to take one for a spin.

My my wife will be driving it a lot, is it safe to assume that it does not set super squirrelly unless the nannies are turned off?

 

In house kitty mode (not dynamic or sport) it is quite docile as long as you don't hammer it. Putting into dynamic and sport changes it into a raging pissed off cat. The most noticeable difference in the two modes is throttle response. HP and torque are the same. It's just that in dynamic, the throttle mapping is more aggressive. In neither case are you likely to put it in a ditch unless you overcook a corner (although in a straight line it's pretty easy to get the back end loose). Turn the nannies off and hammer it and all bets are off.

For your spouse, just tell her that you don't know what the dynamic / normal / snow switch does so don't mess with it.

 

Have the wife drive it in snow/rain mode. It will help tame that cat. It still has 495 hp though.

 

LOL- house kitty mode!

she has not learned what any of the buttons in her X5 do, but she figured out sport pretty quick, so....

she would never turn off stability though- so that’s good!