RE: Audi R8: PH Buying Guide

[M@1975]

If the dropped to sub £30k then I may have a look, really did not like them at all when they first came out but I'm really warming to them now.
Certainly worth considering in the secondhand sports car daily driver convo. If my 911 were to go then a V8 would be a good potential alternative.

[chelme]

The R8 sadly falls between two stools.

Not as great as the 911 as an everyday sports car, but not as special as the true supercars either....that's why there aren't that many around AND they are starting from only £40k.

[Wadeski]

If the residuals stay as good as they look now, they could be a bit of a long term bargain.

A bit like the NSX, good examples of which never seemed to get cheap. Infuriating if you looking for a cheap used one as a "bargain supercar", but brilliant if you own one and don't set fire to 50 quid notes as a hobby.

A heavier investment upfront vs lower investment and huge depreciation...

[J4CKO]

mechagran said:

Yet my 996 Turbo S with similar miles and at half the price (and appreciating) will still embarrass the v8 or v10 in a straight line or around a corner. Much as i like the look of them, they will become good value for money when they pass the sub £35k mark. Until then if you desperately need a fast audi; you may aswell buy one with a boot (rs4) for £25k and save the depreciation and enjoy the "practicality" - putting aside the attrocious mpg- I agree they are going to be classics one day, but they are still on a downward curve cost wise.

Embarrass the V10, as in completely and utterly decimate it ?

I drove a 996 turbo on a track experience and an R8, only the V8 and I preferred the R8, the 996 just felt like the electronics reigned it in the minute anything felt remotely like fun, the R8 was, I thought, by comparison, a lot more fun. Granted it isnt the same as owning them and you don't slide about like that on the road but the 911 felt a bit inert, if impressive and the R8 felt comparatively gutless low down in comparison but was fast enough and I just enjoyed it more, plus you see 10 911's to every R8, the 911's subtlety is also slightly its downfall, depends what you are after.

I cant see them getting much cheaper, any time soon, the minute they drop people are on them like a tramp on hot chips, same with GTR's, that is too much performance for people to overlook at 35 grand, will take a while to go much cheaper, there aren't actually that many 20 grand 996 turbos around these days either like people seem to think there are, nearer 30 for anything well looked after.

[wab172uk]

Well, I've owned a R8 V8 manual for 3 years now. Use it as a weekend toy, and still love driving it every time.

Yes, the V10 is faster. Its got more power........ so what. The V8 powered R8 is quick enough for weekend driving. Sounds amazing when it gets near 8000rpm, and still attracts favourable looks wherever it goes.

Outright speed isn't everything. If it was, we'd all own a GT-R.

[Maldini35]

daytona365 said:

They are without a doubt gorgeous competent cars. But against more celebrated machinery they seem more like an extremely competent 'white goods' domestic appliance. They do what they say on the tin.

So speaks a man who has never driven one in anger around the Silverstone GP circuit...or on the long way home via some tasty A roads.

[VonSenger]

mechagran said:

will still embarrass the v8 or v10 in a straight line or around a corner.

er, no. Ive owned and tracked both extensively. On track the 996 turbo is a fat wallowing mess.

[Maldini35]

chelme said:

The R8 sadly falls between two stools.

Not as great as the 911 as an everyday sports car, but not as special as the true supercars either....that's why there aren't that many around AND they are starting from only £40k.

There's probably some truth to that.
Another reason they're not on every street corner in Chelsea is the R8 is hand built in relatively small numbers.
And it doesn't have a Porsche badge on the front.

[mechagran]

weebz said:

mechagran said:

Yet my 996 Turbo S with similar miles and at half the price (and appreciating)

A Turbo S for £20k....... they have never been that low (unless you're talking about the tiptronic 'S')

You can pick up a 996 Turbo S for 33000 (manual) is you look hard enough, although granted you may find one for 35 most commonly. As far as I can see you are looking at £48-53k plus for a half decent v8 and £64k plus for v10- so between 35-50% more for similar performance and more plastic bits inside.

[mechagran]

VonSenger said:

mechagran said:

will still embarrass the v8 or v10 in a straight line or around a corner.

er, no. Ive owned and tracked both extensively. On track the 996 turbo is a fat wallowing mess.

Well, er yes. I too have experience of tracks and fast cars (puff puff) Fat wallowing mess? Really? Are you sure it was a real turbo s (?) - that is a serious question. With a proper stage 1 tune the turbo s i drove (which subsequently persuaded me to buy one) was pushing out 600bhp and 620lb torque. The v10 i tried was in comparison a lumbering oaf. I appreciate that cars on tracks very greatly but I still can't believe you are serious.

And my point about the cost is the same. You can buy an r8 v10 and lose 20k over the next 5 years if you like, or not and still get the performance. And fyi my normal turbo absolutely decimated a v8 about two weeks ago on a normal road. Truth up

[Mermaid]

Maldini35 said:

chelme said:

The R8 sadly falls between two stools.

Not as great as the 911 as an everyday sports car, but not as special as the true supercars either....that's why there aren't that many around AND they are starting from only £40k.

There's probably some truth to that.
Another reason they're not on every street corner in Chelsea is the R8 is hand built in relatively small numbers.
And it doesn't have a Porsche badge on the front.

A good thing, and really it is different to the 911, not better or worse.

[daytona365]

What about those grinding noises as the crank wears away the crankcase at high revs ?

[Daniel1]

I was lucky enough to be a position to own a V8 R8 r-tronic for two years and, although I won't say I didn't love it, i will say I wasn't as sad as I'd thought I'd be once it left.

The good points are well documented and I agree with the reviews, past and present, so I'll just stick to the bad points -

The car was extremely boring around town. Dull even. Sure it looked great and people admired it (in both good and bad ways) but it was really boring to drive around town. Ignore the crap, lurchy auto mode, stick in manual and is was a pleasure to drive YET provided no more pleasure than a run of the mill A3. Not helped by the engine that had both an inherently boring engine note but also extremely quiet due to the dual stage exhaust.

As for those thinking that the cooking V8 model with just 400bhp isn't enough for a car like this and will therefore only consider the V10 - let me throw this into the mix - my car did a 12.5 1/4 mile at Santa pod (with launch control) - so was definitely no slouch. Coupled to the fantastic fool proof chassis, ever so competent 4wd AND the safety net of dual stage traction control, all added up to a car that i could drive on a Sunday morning very very fast.

And therefore I come to my second downside to this car - for anyone with a degree of driving skill and ability to drive a machine fast will find this car far, far too capable to be driven quickly at any sensible speed.

This, coupled with my final complaint about the car, made it far from perfect. Not only was it extremely easy to drive fast on the public road but the combination of the low torque high revving NA engine, great exhaust note at high revs and the R-tronic box working at its best when being used flat out - all added up to a car that just begged to be thrashed.

In fact, it felt uncomfortable and awkward when you weren't thrashing it.

Therefore, in my opinion the V8 R8 is no where near as good as the V10 version. Not because of the 100bhp deficit or ultimate speed differential between the two, but rather simply because the V10 sounds so much better when simply pootling around.

But, in contrast, if anyone wants an R8 but can't quite strectch to the V10, don't worry. The V8 is still a very special car.... Just change the exhaust to something more fruity straight away and you'll immediately eliminate half of my critiscm for the car.

Edit to add: along with 2 years in my V8 I've had not only an extended test drive in the V10 but also 2 separate Audi sponsored track days in both the v8 and v10

Edited by Daniel1 on Monday 6th October 20:58

[VonSenger]

mechagran said:

Well, er yes. I too have experience of tracks and fast cars (puff puff) Fat wallowing mess? Really? Are you sure it was a real turbo s (?) - that is a serious question. With a proper stage 1 tune the turbo s i drove (which subsequently persuaded me to buy one) was pushing out 600bhp and 620lb torque. The v10 i tried was in comparison a lumbering oaf. I appreciate that cars on tracks very greatly but I still can't believe you are serious.

And my point about the cost is the same. You can buy an r8 v10 and lose 20k over the next 5 years if you like, or not and still get the performance. And fyi my normal turbo absolutely decimated a v8 about two weeks ago on a normal road. Truth up

You clearly don't otherwise you'd appreciate a great chassis and the impact of weight. The 996 turbo s or other is not a good track car, TRACK, that includes corners.

Mine was running 580bhp, straight line? Mind blowing and not much could live with it, show it a corner and it starts to wallow and sway. After 2 minutes at the ring the tyre walls begin to give way and brake fade was awful. Hence why the first mod was 6 pots and better tyres but even then it couldn't hang on to an r8 at Bedford.

An S has what over a standard 9966tt? PCCB's and X50 laggy turbos? It's a run out, parts bin special prior to the prettier turbo (997) Not a special lightweight track focused limited run.

If you want a great handling 996/7 you've bought the wrong model. GT3 anyone?

[gbbird]

I have owned an r8 v8 for nearly 4 years. No desire to 'upgrade' to a v10, I love my v8s.

Still brings a smile to my face either looking at it it driving it. They really are a wonderful car.

[VonSenger]

gbbird said:

I have owned an r8 v8 for nearly 4 years. No desire to 'upgrade' to a v10, I love my v8s.

Still brings a smile to my face either looking at it it driving it. They really are a wonderful car.

I do miss mine now, didn't when I first sold it. Took it for granted as it's so usable, but they are fantastic cars! Often overlooked which I think is why they are a relative bargain.

I'd definitely have another one, but I'd probably make it more track focused and use it just for track days only. But I'd probably go for another V8.

Edited by VonSenger on Monday 6th October 20:51

[Goofnik]

Daniel1 said:

...Not helped by the engine that had both an inherently boring engine note but also extremely quiet due to the dual stage exhaust.

That was probably my biggest complaint on the two test drives I did in the V8. Ultimately that engine originates with the Audi A8/S8, and its maintained a lot of its character. With a small-ish V8 behind my head that revs to 8K I wanted something more raucous than what it was. It's very nice and well-behaved around town but... it's a supercar. I'm not buying it for it to be well-behaved. I'd prefer a nice lopey, cammy idle with lots of purring and angry grumbling.

It's one of many examples of the effect of "market broadening". It's certainly nowhere near as bad as say, BMW, who has improved NVH to such an extent they now need to play a baseline engine soundtrack through the speakers, but it's weird when supercars are so... well, comfortable. Not something you'd ever expect to complain about ("This supercar is such a nice place to be!"), but there you have it.

[9mm]

mechagran said:

Yet my 996 Turbo S with similar miles and at half the price (and appreciating) will still embarrass the v8 or v10 in a straight line or around a corner. Much as i like the look of them, they will become good value for money when they pass the sub £35k mark. Until then if you desperately need a fast audi; you may aswell buy one with a boot (rs4) for £25k and save the depreciation and enjoy the "practicality" - putting aside the attrocious mpg- I agree they are going to be classics one day, but they are still on a downward curve cost wise.

Are you some sort of fantasist? How often is an R8 going to race a 996 turbo apart from in your dreams?

And how are you getting on with one of the worst interiors ever to grace a high performance car?

[DP33]

Ever since I first saw sat in one at the 06' Paris Motorshow press day, the R8 has been the one Audi I've really wanted to own. Particularly love the open gate on the manual 'box.

Interesting to hear how inferior the V8 is to the V10. Is that really the case? The mags appear to be all over the 4.2 like a randy shower curtain when it comes to actually buying one.

[LHRFlightman]

iloveboost said:

I've always liked the look of the R8 and I think it's ageing well. I guess the V8 is like a mid engined RS4, with better steering and a more neutral chassis. I love the sound of the V10 as well and even in videos it sounds good. Not a surprise that it sound similar to an M5 V10 with more intake noise. Anybody see the R8 V10 advert at the cinema? It was just an R8 V10 on a Dyno being run through the gears with just the manifolds on. I don't know who did the audio recording but they need to hire those people for the next Forza Motorsport or something. It made me smile a bit and it sounded epic.

http://youtu.be/K0_GCuim9kY