RE: Audi R8: PH Buying Guide
Discussion
DP33 said:
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.
Mine had a miltek, sounded great. 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.
VonSenger said:
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. 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
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?
911" (and not quite managing it).
The 997 turbo compared to the 996 turbo is so little difference (i have driven and actually owned both) as to hardly justofy the extra expense save for the headlights and a few nobbish comments from the 997 gang. In fact i preferred the 996 (and the extra 30k in my wallet).
Anyway, i appreciate we are getting into an r8 v 911 debate. My point is, they are expensive for a car that is a poor immitation of the 911 (whichever generation you prefer) and that's just a fact much as the audi fans will hate me saying so.
And since we are talking "practical" supercar I dont think you can mention GT3 in this topic much as I am a fan, - most people would end up dead im a hedge myself included (and yes, I speak from limited, terrifying, experience!)
9mm said:
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?
An R8 was on the potential purchase list a couple of years ago, simply because of its everyday usability wrapped up in an eye catching shape. It drove well, was comfortable and had reasonable servicing/maintenance costs.
However, because I wanted a practical silly car, it's biggest let down was the lack of boot/storage area.
I bought a Vantage instead and one of its plus points was the easily accessible hatchback. Unfortunately that sort of mundane functionality is important on a 12k miles pa car and outweighs what the stopwatch says. (I leave that to the pub bores.)
Oh and a 911 was never even on the list. I don't know why their owners always pop up on R8 threads.
However, because I wanted a practical silly car, it's biggest let down was the lack of boot/storage area.
I bought a Vantage instead and one of its plus points was the easily accessible hatchback. Unfortunately that sort of mundane functionality is important on a 12k miles pa car and outweighs what the stopwatch says. (I leave that to the pub bores.)
Oh and a 911 was never even on the list. I don't know why their owners always pop up on R8 threads.
DP33 said:
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.
It's a terrific engine, it just lacks the theater of the V10 in terms of both noise and power delivery (V10 is loud and very peaky).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.
mechagran said:
9mm said:
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?
Now that I've touched a nerve, how about answering the question?
Apart from in your dreams, how often are you going to race an R8?
Halo car extraordinaire in my experience. From the clack of the gated shift to the urgency of the high rev shove I loved driving the V8 R8. It is easy to underestimate how rear driven that 4wd really feels which in real world driving situations is definitely the best of both worlds. A bit like the Vantage V8 many complain that there is not enough power. 414hp is plenty for the road. Perhaps we are just spoiled these days with the abundance of 500hp+ cars. The balance, poise and power of the V8 was plenty for me.
Ive owned a V8 R8 for around 6 months now and absolutely love it. I owned a GTR previously with the best part of 600bhp and as others here have already said it isnt all about speed. The GTR would leave ANY R8 for dead but the R8 just feels so much more special. The other thing with the GTR is that you couldn't really use 'all' of it on the public roads which sometimes left me feeling a bit short changed.
420 bhp is just about right and you can wring its neck in the first 3 gears and feel like your getting the best out of it. Do that in the GTR and your constantly worrying about going to jail!
Its just such a great all rounder and its really difficult to find fault with it. I paid just under £50k for a mint well specced car with 16k miles on the clock and feel like I got a bit of a bargain.
420 bhp is just about right and you can wring its neck in the first 3 gears and feel like your getting the best out of it. Do that in the GTR and your constantly worrying about going to jail!
Its just such a great all rounder and its really difficult to find fault with it. I paid just under £50k for a mint well specced car with 16k miles on the clock and feel like I got a bit of a bargain.
According to Evo mag the V8 was better handling on the road than the v10.
Considering the handling is one of the main strong points of these cars that should make for a pretty big plus point if you were lucky enough to be considering a v8 or v10 R8.
I'm pretty anti Audi and its brand image, and the supposed dump truck handling of the cars, but I'm very envious of everyone replying to this thread saying the own an R8!
A modern classic without a doubt.
Considering the handling is one of the main strong points of these cars that should make for a pretty big plus point if you were lucky enough to be considering a v8 or v10 R8.
I'm pretty anti Audi and its brand image, and the supposed dump truck handling of the cars, but I'm very envious of everyone replying to this thread saying the own an R8!
A modern classic without a doubt.
mechagran said:
The r8 was, and remains in my opinion a poser car for people who dont appreciate kerb weight or know how to handle oversteer
A poser car? Really? One could also say that many of those who bought a Turbo wanted to do so because they too could pose but we all know that 996s don't turn heads like R8s do...
Why would somebody with £40k to spend pick a 996 Turbo S over an R8 as an everyday proposition? It's older, has less safety features, is less exclusive, is aurally less exciting (N/A vs FI - no contest), is a less nice place to spend time in and doesn't have the cachet of being actually crafted by humans. Admittedly it probably has better economy and better storage space but I'm not buying a car this type for its practicality! Furthermore, I prefer the mid-engined format as that to me is part of what defines a true "supercar".
Not everyone wants an oversteer prone, rear-engined car even if it is faster and corners better because not everyone is a racer. Kerbweight? Whatever. Does anyone who own an R8 even care?
Enjoy your Porsche. I'm sure those who have R8s are enjoying their choice too.
Hear this guys opinion,he knows a thing or two about cars....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gS0vR8A3vAM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gS0vR8A3vAM
mrclav said:
Not everyone wants an oversteer prone, rear-engined car.
The R8 is a better chassis, no question (but there is hardly anything "wrong" with a Turbo S). Personally, I'd have just about any modern Porsche over an R8. I think it is one of Audi's true styling disasters, and the mid-engined handling experience can be had in a Boxster/Cayman for thousands less.
mrclav said:
A poser car? Really? One could also say that many of those who bought a Turbo wanted to do so because they too could pose but we all know that 996s don't turn heads like R8s do...
Why would somebody with £40k to spend pick a 996 Turbo S over an R8 as an everyday proposition? It's older, has less safety features, is less exclusive, is aurally less exciting (N/A vs FI - no contest), is a less nice place to spend time in and doesn't have the cachet of being actually crafted by humans. Admittedly it probably has better economy and better storage space but I'm not buying a car this type for its practicality! Furthermore, I prefer the mid-engined format as that to me is part of what defines a true "supercar".
Not everyone wants an oversteer prone, rear-engined car even if it is faster and corners better because not everyone is a racer. Kerbweight? Whatever. Does anyone who own an R8 even care?
Enjoy your Porsche. I'm sure those who have R8s are enjoying their choice too.
Why do people who own a 911 TT think that everyone aspires to one? It wouldn't (and currently isn't, nor will be) be on my potential weekend car list far to common and frankly aged terribly, 996 of course.Why would somebody with £40k to spend pick a 996 Turbo S over an R8 as an everyday proposition? It's older, has less safety features, is less exclusive, is aurally less exciting (N/A vs FI - no contest), is a less nice place to spend time in and doesn't have the cachet of being actually crafted by humans. Admittedly it probably has better economy and better storage space but I'm not buying a car this type for its practicality! Furthermore, I prefer the mid-engined format as that to me is part of what defines a true "supercar".
Not everyone wants an oversteer prone, rear-engined car even if it is faster and corners better because not everyone is a racer. Kerbweight? Whatever. Does anyone who own an R8 even care?
Enjoy your Porsche. I'm sure those who have R8s are enjoying their choice too.
As above why anyone with 40k (as i am currently looking at) would buy a 996 TT is beyond me and to state that its a posers car ... please ... how many 911's are driven by people who's car knowledge extends to the badge.
Edit: Fat fingers.
can i just ask,
if the early R8's use the 4.2 from the b7 RS4, would they not too suffer from the 'coking' problems that the RS4 is riddled with? i.e when most used rs4's are chucking out 100bhp or so less due to carbon build up and require 'decoking' for the full 420bhp?
or is it not so the case with the 4.2 R8's....?
Irfan
if the early R8's use the 4.2 from the b7 RS4, would they not too suffer from the 'coking' problems that the RS4 is riddled with? i.e when most used rs4's are chucking out 100bhp or so less due to carbon build up and require 'decoking' for the full 420bhp?
or is it not so the case with the 4.2 R8's....?
Irfan
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff