My R8 V10 Spyder Experience
Discussion
6 days ago I picked up a Sepang Blue R8 V10 Spyder; 7,000 miles on the clock and a full spec including carbon inlays, extended leather, reversing camera and just about everything else. Exactly the car I had been looking for since selling my V8 Vantage Roadster a few months prior.
I've already added 900 miles to the odometer with a trip to Yorkshire to visit family, and my goodness how unbelievable this car is on the country roads, yet it's so comfortable on the motorway journey to get there. It immediately feels like so much more of a supercar even though the interior is significantly less luxurious. I put that down to the lighting, the lower seating position, and the massive amounts of power on tap and the position with the engine behind you.
The gearbox is massively better than I anticipated, being the same semi-auto in theory as the V8V I was expecting that Auto mode would be rubbish and it could be a pain to drive sometimes. So far I'm being shown otherwise as my very brief testing of Auto puts it well above expectations and the changes can be perfectly decent; pop it into Sport and they are absolutely savage though!
There are so many good points about the car; the level of technology is great; the nav system letting you know which fuel stations are coming up so I can plan my Shell V-Power trips, reversing camera for backing up to the line when you can't really judge the length of the rear, driver computer with all the info you could need and options to scroll though, and let's not forget quite how blisteringly quick it is. I knew it would be fast, but genuinely I think the first time I put my foot down I actually scared myself with the rate it accelerated. One of my favourite features is the ability to lower the rear window, driving in rain or shine it really lets you hear those downshifts if you'd rather keep the roof up; on which note, WOW the downshifts! It's such an immense noise followed by some light popping and crackling - I don't think anybody in their right mind could get bored of the sound.
With any car there are always some bad things and by far the weakest point of the R8 Spyder is the severely limited boot space. 100 litres in an awkward shape does not allow for heavy packing. I'm heading on a 5 night Eurotrip in a few days - that will be an interesting experiment. A minor issue is how the rear window is too much vertical glass that in your rear view mirror at night, all you see is reflections of the oncoming cars as if they were behind you, it can be very disorientating but is easily solved by dropping the window.
My car came with a few minor problems; there is some sort of weird squealing noise from the rear-left wheel/brake, there's a rattle when you have the rear window up that goes when it's down, and the bonnet doesn't properly unlatch on one side every time; but all of these should be warranty jobs I think. I had it booked in but sadly when I arrived the centre decided to let me know that they weren't authorised to work on R8s, so a trip elsewhere being made. I never expected a used car to come without problems though so it's just a case of getting these resolved.
One bad point, I seem to be here quite regularly:
All in all, I'm incredibly happy and looking forward to putting on at least 12,000 miles over the next 12 months.
2012/11/18 - Photoshoot with NWVT
I've already added 900 miles to the odometer with a trip to Yorkshire to visit family, and my goodness how unbelievable this car is on the country roads, yet it's so comfortable on the motorway journey to get there. It immediately feels like so much more of a supercar even though the interior is significantly less luxurious. I put that down to the lighting, the lower seating position, and the massive amounts of power on tap and the position with the engine behind you.
The gearbox is massively better than I anticipated, being the same semi-auto in theory as the V8V I was expecting that Auto mode would be rubbish and it could be a pain to drive sometimes. So far I'm being shown otherwise as my very brief testing of Auto puts it well above expectations and the changes can be perfectly decent; pop it into Sport and they are absolutely savage though!
There are so many good points about the car; the level of technology is great; the nav system letting you know which fuel stations are coming up so I can plan my Shell V-Power trips, reversing camera for backing up to the line when you can't really judge the length of the rear, driver computer with all the info you could need and options to scroll though, and let's not forget quite how blisteringly quick it is. I knew it would be fast, but genuinely I think the first time I put my foot down I actually scared myself with the rate it accelerated. One of my favourite features is the ability to lower the rear window, driving in rain or shine it really lets you hear those downshifts if you'd rather keep the roof up; on which note, WOW the downshifts! It's such an immense noise followed by some light popping and crackling - I don't think anybody in their right mind could get bored of the sound.
With any car there are always some bad things and by far the weakest point of the R8 Spyder is the severely limited boot space. 100 litres in an awkward shape does not allow for heavy packing. I'm heading on a 5 night Eurotrip in a few days - that will be an interesting experiment. A minor issue is how the rear window is too much vertical glass that in your rear view mirror at night, all you see is reflections of the oncoming cars as if they were behind you, it can be very disorientating but is easily solved by dropping the window.
My car came with a few minor problems; there is some sort of weird squealing noise from the rear-left wheel/brake, there's a rattle when you have the rear window up that goes when it's down, and the bonnet doesn't properly unlatch on one side every time; but all of these should be warranty jobs I think. I had it booked in but sadly when I arrived the centre decided to let me know that they weren't authorised to work on R8s, so a trip elsewhere being made. I never expected a used car to come without problems though so it's just a case of getting these resolved.
One bad point, I seem to be here quite regularly:
All in all, I'm incredibly happy and looking forward to putting on at least 12,000 miles over the next 12 months.
2012/11/18 - Photoshoot with NWVT
Edited by Shmee on Tuesday 27th November 19:33
Rosscow said:
Very very nice - enjoy!
Although personally I'd have to change those wheels.
Many V10s in the UK seem to be on the market with either V8 style wheels or the chrome polished V10 ones, it was actually a struggle to find a car with the normal V10 ones! I suspect they will be changed in the future, but that's something I'll get to in due course.Although personally I'd have to change those wheels.
Well done!! Welcome to the wonderful world of the V10 spyder! Where fuel disappears and howling V10 engines is the main event!
I took mine abroad recently, to Cyprus for some summer fun and it is an amazing car, you only can see 5% of it living in central London! I have some great videos that im looking to post sometime. Well done on the milege! Ive had mine sinxe 2010 and only been able to put about 3k miles on it!
Great little write up. Im surprised to hear about the issues you have had. The boot space is annoying, but i suppose you just learn to pack lean! and buy stuff on the way! Best get things all checked out asap. I found Audi service good.
Where are you going in Europe? That should be a great experience. The R tronic is not as bad as everyone makes out and works both well in auto and when you are using the paddles.
Nice colour, always like the blue.
I took mine abroad recently, to Cyprus for some summer fun and it is an amazing car, you only can see 5% of it living in central London! I have some great videos that im looking to post sometime. Well done on the milege! Ive had mine sinxe 2010 and only been able to put about 3k miles on it!
Great little write up. Im surprised to hear about the issues you have had. The boot space is annoying, but i suppose you just learn to pack lean! and buy stuff on the way! Best get things all checked out asap. I found Audi service good.
Where are you going in Europe? That should be a great experience. The R tronic is not as bad as everyone makes out and works both well in auto and when you are using the paddles.
Nice colour, always like the blue.
Shmee said:
Rosscow said:
Very very nice - enjoy!
Although personally I'd have to change those wheels.
Many V10s in the UK seem to be on the market with either V8 style wheels or the chrome polished V10 ones, it was actually a struggle to find a car with the normal V10 ones! I suspect they will be changed in the future, but that's something I'll get to in due course.Although personally I'd have to change those wheels.
in my favourite colour for the R8. Would be interesting in some real world running costs for this car, especially if you are planning on 12,000 miles/year?Congratulations Tim, geat car! R-tronic is indeed much better than Sportshift, and I hope you have time to take this beauty to Germany one day (I test drove it one weekend and had > 300 km/h on the clock several times, unbelievable how easy this is!).
And yes, your friends in the AM forum spotted you!
And yes, your friends in the AM forum spotted you!
Well Tim, you knew that lot would find you sooner or later lol. I heard a rumour you were getting the sls a while back. Great car and I like the wheels too. If you're going to drive it as much as you say you are, give me a shout and we can get it waxed up and roof protected etc.
Francis
Francis
Truly fantastic car im undecided myself what to move on to a spyder or a V12V i like roadsters though and as Aston took too long to make the V12R it's a difficult choice.
The blue is a excellent colour and the wheels would be the ones i would want, looks like you have good options too.
Very jealous and well done to you.
Paul
The blue is a excellent colour and the wheels would be the ones i would want, looks like you have good options too.
Very jealous and well done to you.
Paul
Anubis said:
How does it compare to the Vantage? More of an occassion / special? Easier or more hassle to drive around town? Better or worse public response?
More of an occasion for sure; that's down to the impracticalities and opening up the bonnet to put luggage in, sitting lower and generally barely touching the pedals to go anywhere.Around town I'd say it's quite equal, the R8 Spyder has better vision all around than the V8 Vantage but then it sits a bit lower so you lose something on that front.
Public response so far is worse than the Aston; haven't had enough time to really tell but I've had one or two insults so far, and the Aston only had a couple in 2 years. This was completely what I expected but it also gets massively more looks and positives too (or at least it feels that way).
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