Is an R8 a Supercar?

[twoblacklines]

Moving house to Cheshire in next few months, after that I have about 5-6 months of SOLID work and then I am looking to treat myself to a Supercar.

Having looked around an R8 seems best for the reliability/fun swing. £45k seems to buy a good, 6 speed manual R8 V8, and £65k seems to buy a good, 6 speed manual R8 V10. I would prefer automatic but R-Tronic doesn't have the best rep and S-Tronics are £100k min.

But my question is, are they a supercar? They seem compared to M3's a lot especially the v8 one... I don't see why.

Until v10 was introduced (because of owners wanting faster one?) the R8 V8 was the only model in the R8 range, unlike an E9* M3 where you can buy a 320d version of the same car. Therefore does this make an R8 a supercar?

Also some people seem to think the V8 is just a performance coupe and the V10 is a supercar.... do these people just categorise cars buy HP and not by other things such as where the engine sits in the car, its price, etc?

I can't help but think it an ideal way to ease you into the Supercar experience, drive it a few years, upgrade to a Hurucan etc?

[911Thrasher]

not in my books...it's an Audi, nothing more

there is a section in "other marques"

Edited by 911Thrasher on Friday 5th September 15:58

[twoblacklines]

911Thrasher said:

not in my books...it's an Audi nothing more

So the most sports-inspired Audi is "an Audi nothing more"? :P

[Ferruccio]

No.
It's a very good sports car.

[TISPKJ]

With that budget your in 360-430 money, and even a gallardo so unless a daily driver why go the Audi route ?

[Olivera]

Yes, same platform as the Gallardo and generally regarded in the motoring press as a better drive.

[aka_kerrly]

How is it anything other than a supercar?

Or is this just Ph at it's best where this thread will turn into an argument that a Audi that shares a lot with a Lamborghini is just an Audi and no different to a white A4 tdi....

[EpsomJames]

Does it matter? Pub bragging rights?

It's a great car in it's own right. A lot of people say the V8 is the sweeter handling of the two, but the V10 has got some serious poke.

[ZeusF]

From a point of view of someone who drives most "super cars" on a daily/weekly basis I would say the R8 is a supercar.
If you can call a Gallardo or a 360/430 a supercar then you can call the R8 a supercar.

The supercar bracket is about to be opened right up with the advent of the BMW M4 which although many here won't want it to be, will in fact be a supercar in every sense.
When tuned very mildly its a mid/late 3 second to 60 car and will whoop many a ferrari, lamborghini, bentley, porsche, etc etc etc.

Go for the auto though as I'm not sure who would want to buy a manual R8 when it comes time to sell on.

Good luck with your purchase and get some pics up when you go for it.

[Yoram Shazbat]

Slower than a 25 year old Porsche 964 so no, unlikely to be a supercar.

A great mainstream performance car though that your dad's grannie's great grandmother can even drive.

If you like it, buy one and don't worry about whether anyone considers it a supercar or not.

In fact, don't worry too much what anyone thinks about you. Fair advice for life.

[RevHappy]

Look at what's around in the same year of production and the what defines a Supercar.
R8 was pitched against the 911, not the 430 when conceived

[g7jhp]

Age old question of what is now a supercar.

In the 80's it was a Countach, Testarossa and 911 turbo.

These days some would argue a 911 turbo isn't a supercar.

The Audi R8 is a good looking car, it's mid-engined and many would class it as a supercar (which can be used).
And I'd buy a manual to the auto as I prefer maunuals and I believe manual cars will be sort after in future.

[KFC]

This topic has been done to death.

In my opinion, no its not. There is more to being a super car than 0-60 times. A regular production Audi just doesn't cut it for me.

[Dolittle]

If you need to ask if its a supercar then it probably isnt.

[El Guapo]

KFC said:

A regular production Audi just doesn't cut it for me.

Yes, but what about the R8?

[Scousefella]

I don't have £50k to spend on a car but if I did I would be looking at a dancing donkey with a flop top and not a car with the same grill badge as the purple wrapped A1 for the local letting/estate agent.

[SlartiF430]

911Thrasher said:

not in my books...it's an Audi, nothing more

there is a section in "other marques"

Edited by 911Thrasher on Friday 5th September 15:58

I put R8s and standard 911s in the same camp, neither are supercars.

[SlartiF430]

911Thrasher said:

not in my books...it's an Audi, nothing more

there is a section in "other marques"

Edited by 911Thrasher on Friday 5th September 15:58

I put R8s and standard 911s in the same camp, neither are supercars.

[lamboman100]

Audi R8 is a sportscar.

Badge, styling and noise lack cred, excitement or drama.

Save up a bit more and get a Lambo or Fezza.

[mwstewart]

It's a Sports car in my book, both V8 and V10.