RE: Spotted: Audi R8 V10 manual

[Fire99]

It's just a bit too 'polished' for me.. No doubt a capable car but needs a bit more lunacy for my kind of supercar.

[Little Lofty]

Beefmeister said:

Totally agree. Had a weekend a while ago driving a manual V8 and a GT3 - 800 miles and no motorways, it was bliss.

http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...

I've got pretty much the exact same R8 as you drove, Daytona Grey, silver blades and Mustang brown seats,love it, great car.

[HighwayStar]

The facelift R8 will debut the 7 speed DSG box this autumn which is something Audi should've sorted long before now. If I had the smash, I'd take the V10 Gallardo. It's that bit more raw, that bit more special.

[G4HKS]

HighwayStar said:

£400 service!!! That's outstanding... I know from personal experience that performance Audi's are relatively cheap to service but that is amazing. What does that cover, does it include the 4WD system? Main dealer or Indie specialist?

My first service (at 2 years!) was £880inc VAT, that's £440 average per year at an Audi main dealer. I think that's pretty reasonable considering the performance and cost of a 518BHP V10 mid-engined powered car.

[HighwayStar]

G4HKS said:

My first service (at 2 years!) was £880inc VAT, that's £440 average per year at an Audi main dealer. I think that's pretty reasonable considering the performance and cost of a 518BHP V10 mid-engined powered car.

I am genuinely amazed... I agree, for the performance, V10 etc that is exceptional value. Obviously tyres are going to weigh in heavily but not the insane price I was expecting. Mind you by the time they filter down to the masses with 50k on the clock big bills will be on the horizon. Damn just talked myself out of 5-6 yr old one.

[thewheelman]

Only ever driven the manual R8 V8, having owned various cars of a similar type, i can't say i was too impressed with the Audi. A couple of friends have driven the V10 manual & rate it highly.

[thewheelman]

HighwayStar said:

G4HKS said:

My first service (at 2 years!) was £880inc VAT, that's £440 average per year at an Audi main dealer. I think that's pretty reasonable considering the performance and cost of a 518BHP V10 mid-engined powered car.

I am genuinely amazed... I agree, for the performance, V10 etc that is exceptional value. Obviously tyres are going to weigh in heavily but not the insane price I was expecting. Mind you by the time they filter down to the masses with 50k on the clock big bills will be on the horizon. Damn just talked myself out of 5-6 yr old one.

Yeah, big bills could be possible. I wouldn't rule one out on that basis alone, a decent specialist should save money over Audi workshop prices.

[veevee]

George H said:

El Shafto said:

Bit of a mute point for me as i can't afford one (yet!), but i've always thought that if i'm going to pay 100k for a car, then i should be able to chose what gear i want and when i want it. I hate the way that automatics are taking over these. In luxury exec saloons that are designed for doing hundreds of mile journeys up and down the motorway then fair enough but in a supercar designed for the ultimate driving pleasure? Manual all day long.

Technically the R-Tronic gearbox is a manual, albeit an automated one.

I'd take DSG/R-Tronic etc style gearbox over a manual any day. Paddles are way more fun imo.

You ever tried a clutch?

[G4HKS]

The clutch (on the V10 at any rate) is light, lighter than my wifes Porsche. Paddles are fun as you say but the change on the current R-Tronic R8 is pretty poor thats why I bought the manual. The DSG maybe the way to go but to be honest unless it was a Mclaren MP4-12C or a 458 I would rather stick with a manual anyday.

Besides, who could resist that gated gear selector even if it is a tad Ferrari??

[George H]

veevee said:

You ever tried a clutch?

Yes, and would take the paddleshift option every time.

[MiltonRX]

Coincidentally a chap text in to listeners breaking news on radio 2 this morning to say he had taken his white V8 R8 in for a MOT and came out with a red V10! I wonder if he was influenced by this thread.

[Captain Muppet]

IAJO said:

Captain Muppet said:

Not all cars are bought to be seen in, some of them are for driving.

To some people not having everyone stare at you all the time is a good thing.

maybe not all cars but surely all supercars? I'd still stare at an r8 they arent subtle, more so than a gallardo i grant you but not by much. Last r8 i saw was chasing a ferrari down the a470 at triple digits and it was a great sight (both red) and sounded amazing (very loud) though i still would take the ferrari.

Subtle and brand irrelevant i'd save a wedge and take a gtr.

The only thing I didn't love about the hundreds of miles I've done in a F360 was being stared at all the time. Amazing thing to drive, but I enjoyed it less because people were always watching (and sometimes being randomly abusive). I enjoyed it much more late at night when it was only the police who were watching.

If I was buying a supercar then I'd be tempted to buy one that I could occasionally drive without ending up on YouTube, and that won't turn every petrol station visit in to a five minute chat with morons. I love driving, I love cars, I hate being stared at. I doubt I'm the only one.

[GTiFrank]

MiltonRX said:

Coincidentally a chap text in to listeners breaking news on radio 2 this morning to say he had taken his white V8 R8 in for a MOT and came out with a red V10! I wonder if he was influenced by this thread.

Did he own up?

[Daniel1]

Captain Muppet said:

IAJO said:

Captain Muppet said:

Not all cars are bought to be seen in, some of them are for driving.

To some people not having everyone stare at you all the time is a good thing.

maybe not all cars but surely all supercars? I'd still stare at an r8 they arent subtle, more so than a gallardo i grant you but not by much. Last r8 i saw was chasing a ferrari down the a470 at triple digits and it was a great sight (both red) and sounded amazing (very loud) though i still would take the ferrari.

Subtle and brand irrelevant i'd save a wedge and take a gtr.

The only thing I didn't love about the hundreds of miles I've done in a F360 was being stared at all the time. Amazing thing to drive, but I enjoyed it less because people were always watching (and sometimes being randomly abusive). I enjoyed it much more late at night when it was only the police who were watching.

If I was buying a supercar then I'd be tempted to buy one that I could occasionally drive without ending up on YouTube, and that won't turn every petrol station visit in to a five minute chat with morons. I love driving, I love cars, I hate being stared at. I doubt I'm the only one.

TBH you will get looked at in an R8 if there arent many in the your area. I did. About the only supercar/high end sports car that doesnt really get looked at (IMO ofcause) is a 911.

[ZesPak]

Daniel1 said:

TBH you will get looked at in an R8 if there arent many in the your area. I did. About the only supercar/high end sports car that doesnt really get looked at (IMO ofcause) is a 911.

I hardly notice a 911, but I do notice a GT2/GT3 or any remotely special 911.

[Dr Imran T]

ZesPak said:

Daniel1 said:

TBH you will get looked at in an R8 if there arent many in the your area. I did. About the only supercar/high end sports car that doesnt really get looked at (IMO ofcause) is a 911.

I hardly notice a 911, but I do notice a GT2/GT3 or any remotely special 911.

I see what you are saying. I think some of the 911's are really understated and almost 'blend' in with many other cars. The R8 does stand out, there are a few where I live and they always get lots of attention.

The V10 variant just sounds epic

[tommy vercetti]

One of the best cars Audi has ever created, not a massive fan but it is a great car no doubt, would have a 911 instead if I had that type of money, but theres something about an R8 though...

[kazino]

My cousin has the v8, and the engine really doesn't do it for me, it's the same as in the rs4, it barely outran my boxster and my 996 turbo makes it look like it's going backwards (that's a 10 year old porsche), the v10 on the other hand sounds amazing and goes like stink, would be the easy choice if I had the option

[Dave Hedgehog]

so much want

[G4HKS]

kazino said:

My cousin has the v8, and the engine really doesn't do it for me, it's the same as in the rs4, it barely outran my boxster and my 996 turbo makes it look like it's going backwards (that's a 10 year old porsche), the v10 on the other hand sounds amazing and goes like stink, would be the easy choice if I had the option

Believe me, the V8 & V10 are in a different league from each other. I drove the V8 before buying the V10. The V8 was good but just not enough power to keep me interested. It was hardly slow but just wasn't exciting enough in comparison to the cars I am used to owning and driving. It's a bit like riding a 1000cc bike and jumping on a 600. You quickly miss that exta grunt and effortless performance, even if the 600 is lighter and easier to chuck around.

The V10 on the other hand has so much extra and is easily accessible that the difference in cost, (especially when you take into consideration you get a lot of expensive options included in the V10 package), over a V8 purchase is worth every penny.

And when you sit a 911 next to an R8 there really isn't much of a contest beauty wise. The R8 has some heavy handed styling in some places, (and unless the roof is down on the Spyder, the side profile looks a tad bland due the loss of the blades), but it looks so much more modern in comparison to the tall bulky 911.
The last new 997 I had lasted a year. The R8 two. Still, that's out the window this week too!

Edited by G4HKS on Tuesday 24th April 21:52