R8 - Reliability as a daily driver?

R8 - Reliability as a daily driver?

Author
Discussion

Tyson1980

Original Poster:

712 posts

169 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
Hopefully should be working from home next year (Provided my business takes off!). Thinking about selling the derv and the weekend car and opting for one of these.

Are they pretty reliable? I was going to go for the AMV8, but i just cant get pass the R8 itch.

Plus points for me seem to be the servicing and running costs.

viper paul

2,485 posts

287 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
I am on my second one having first owned a V8 I now have a Spyder (Boris) and have been really happy.

In about 13,000 miles they have both been relaible, I can recommend both as a Euro cruiser, they are easy to live with and very comfortable on long drives, both have been manual early software on the auto,s has been improved but is still not my cup of tea.

Feels very much like a big TT, but with so much grip.

Go for it !!

Tyson1980

Original Poster:

712 posts

169 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
viper paul said:
I am on my second one having first owned a V8 I now have a Spyder (Boris) and have been really happy.

In about 13,000 miles they have both been relaible, I can recommend both as a Euro cruiser, they are easy to live with and very comfortable on long drives, both have been manual early software on the auto,s has been improved but is still not my cup of tea.

Feels very much like a big TT, but with so much grip.

Go for it !!
Might be a stupid question. But whats the ground clearance like over speedhumps?

As it will be a daily driver, i'll be worried about grounding the car!

G7HAM

38 posts

192 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
I've just changed from V8V to an R8 and have used both everyday as daily driver.

I loved my V8V but for me the R8 is sublime, would recommend you get one now!!

Just had service and it was a bit cheaper than the V8V but these all these type of cars are not cheap and cannot be looked after on the cheap as they suffer.


viper paul

2,485 posts

287 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
No more problem than a lot of other cars in fact the low nose and slight overhang are more of a problem on drieways and slopes.

Dr G

15,537 posts

255 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
Couple of minor recalls and as above, nose is easy to duff. Drivers seat tends to pick up scuffs on the bolster, gear knob quite easy to scratch.

Pretty clean copy book, go get one!

GetCarter

30,030 posts

292 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
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G7HAM said:
I've just changed from V8V to an R8 and have used both everyday as daily driver.

I loved my V8V but for me the R8 is sublime, would recommend you get one now!!

Just had service and it was a bit cheaper than the V8V but these all these type of cars are not cheap and cannot be looked after on the cheap as they suffer.

I too have had a V8V and now have an R8. The R8 is definitely lower (I've grounded twice up here, and never did in the V8V) I wouldn't fancy speed bumps!

The ride in the R8 is fantastic - almost faultless in fact. Grip is astonishing. The Aston feels more like a GT, but is a lovely place to sit.

Ex Boy Racer

1,156 posts

205 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
I've had my Spyder for 5 months now and covered 3000 miles without the slightest issue in terms of reliability. Speedbumps aren't a problem but, as said earlier, you have to be careful withthe nose if you're approaching a steep drive.
As a daily driver, I would say it depends on the miles you will have to do. I wouldn't want to be hammering up and down motorways in the rain with mine; too noisy (nice noise, but loud for the motorway)and very low to cope with spray etc.
Fabulous car though!!!

Ex Boy Racer

1,156 posts

205 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
I've had my Spyder for 5 months now and covered 3000 miles without the slightest issue in terms of reliability. Speedbumps aren't a problem but, as said earlier, you have to be careful withthe nose if you're approaching a steep drive.
As a daily driver, I would say it depends on the miles you will have to do. I wouldn't want to be hammering up and down motorways in the rain with mine; too noisy (nice noise, but loud for the motorway)and very low to cope with spray etc.
Fabulous car though!!!

quantum30

260 posts

199 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
Go for it. I am on my second R8 now. I keep considering other cars but nothing beats the R8. very reliable.

If you want to hear the down sides:

the seat leather is very thin.
Rear visibility is poor (but what else you expect from a sports car)
you cant drive windows closed (the engine sound is addictive)



SalesManager

2,248 posts

253 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
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Guys,

I might be putting a deposit on a used R8 Spyder tomorrow. I need to watch the running costs as I'm perhaps not as well healed as the average owner, but you only live once ;-). I'm doing 8k miles p/a.

What MPG do you realistically get from a V8 Spyder?
Whats the average cost of a service?

GetCarter

30,030 posts

292 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
SalesManager said:
Guys,

I might be putting a deposit on a used R8 Spyder tomorrow. I need to watch the running costs as I'm perhaps not as well healed as the average owner, but you only live once ;-). I'm doing 8k miles p/a.

What MPG do you realistically get from a V8 Spyder?
Whats the average cost of a service?
Not a Spyder but in my V8 between 12 and 20 mpg. Average so far 16 mpg. Best I've seen is 21.8 mpg

Mako V12V

3,139 posts

227 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
So 8k miles would cost circa £3000 in fuel (v power)!

GetCarter

30,030 posts

292 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
Mako V12V said:
So 8k miles would cost circa £3000 in fuel (v power)!
My previous car (R500) was getting between 8 and 20mpg. R8 is a breeze! What's the V Big like?

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 29th November 21:31

SalesManager

2,248 posts

253 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
Mako V12V said:
So 8k miles would cost circa £3000 in fuel (v power)!
I can live with that!

Anyone know about servicing?

viper paul

2,485 posts

287 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
quotequote all
My V10 Spyder gets more than that I managed 23.8 on a run and average 16-18 round town.

I wonder if thats because it has a larger engine???

flow99

1,284 posts

221 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
quotequote all
Mines used as a daily car, and have done 26k miles in just under two years. No problems at all, not sure on servicing costs as I had two free from the dealer. Have not reset one of the trip computers and has an average of 16mpg over 26k miles, which is disappointing in comparison to my previous 997GT3 which was about 22mpg.

Dr G

15,537 posts

255 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
quotequote all
Manual or R-Tronic? I've no problem getting R8s into the low 20s when driven normally.

GetCarter

30,030 posts

292 months

Wednesday 30th November 2011
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Manual or R-Tronic? I've no problem getting R8s into the low 20s when driven normally.
I have trouble with *normally*

fatboy21

204 posts

162 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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viper paul said:
My V10 Spyder gets more than that I managed 23.8 on a run and average 16-18 round town.

I wonder if thats because it has a larger engine???
I've heard this before. I'm choosing between v8 and v10. Worried about fuel costs as want to use as daily drive. Could a v10 be cheaper to run?

Is this the last of these types of cars? For me I can't be pragmatic and think £3k for 8k miles. It's stopping for £100 of fuel every two days that's gonna take all the fun away... And isn't the point to drive these things?