Tuesday 21st April 2015

Audi R8 V10: Spotted

There isn't a manual gearbox available on the new R8 - is now the time to grab an original?

---

This Spotted has been entirely motivated by last weekend's Sunday Service. Lurking away in the back of the field at Morgan was an Audi R8. Nothing exceptional by the standards of a PH meet actually, we tend to see quite a few. Oh but look, it has those fancy wheels. Must be a V10. Just have a peer inside and... oh yes, the marvellous open-gate gearbox. Cool car. There won't be another manual R8 and there is no longer another manual V10 supercar available brand new in the UK.

A very rare sight in R8s

Given that, and given every R8 has a superb reputation, this V10 manual must surely be a very desirable car. Or rather it will be very soon. Perhaps it will take the first verdicts on the new R8 to be returned with whingey journos bemoaning the DSG-only range, maybe when the 911 goes all-turbo and buyers miss big capacity naturally aspirated supercars. Because right now, £60K for an R8 V10 manual looks an astonishing bargain.

Let's put that into some context. That's a Porsche Cayman GTS with a few options. A Mercedes SLK55 AMG has a list price of £55,345. Even a new TT could surely be specced up to a price worryingly close to this R8 very easily. These are not intended as rivals of course, more to highlight the value proposition this R8 represents.

That Porsche we all know was of course the R8's main rival new and remains so used. £60K buys some very nice 997 Turbos and GTS Carreras, with manual transmissions if you wish. Don't hold out much hope for buying a manual Gallardo at less than £60,000...

And the inspiration from the weekend!

We have discussed the R8 V10 previously, when Harris described it as 'the most underrated car of its type', with a gearshift much sweeter than the Lamborghini's. Oh, and it's willingness to wheelspin in third gear. Nearly three years ago to the day a barely used car for £90K looked a great deal. This car has only 25,000 miles recorded, making that asking price all the more alluring.

So yes, it appears quite the supercar for £60K. Surely they can't get an awful lot cheaper? Famous last words and all that but the market has to wake up to a car of such quality and rarity soon. Finally, if a plain old V10 doesn't cut the mustard the same dealer has a V10 Plus manual available too!

---

AUDI R8 V10
Engine: 5,204cc 10-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 525@8,000 rpm 
Torque (lb ft): 391@6,500 rpm 
MPG: 20.3 [NEDC combined] 
CO2: 346g/km
First registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 26,550
Price new: £114,835
Yours for: £59,950

See the original advert here.

[Red R8 pic: Ben Lowden]

[mrclav]

Agree with the article. As a everyday ownership proposition, a manual V10 engined supercar like this at this price point can only be something to savour...