As well as aluminium base, the
R8
has aluminium body panels to keep weight down. They are resistant to minor knocks, but watch for parking dents on cars that may have spent their lives parked on the road. Also look for paint chips to the rear edge of the long doors where owners have parked in tight spaces. Again with the doors, look for paint bubbling along the panel's edges. This isn't a common fault, but it has occurred often enough for it to be worth looking for.
GT was 100kg lighter than V10 at 1,525kg
The front end is not as prone to stone chips as some similar cars, such as the Porsche 911, but cast a close eye over the windscreen for chips and cracks. There should be no condensation inside the light lenses. If there is, the lense is damaged and a replacement will set you back around £250 per unit plus fitting. Under the bonnet is a 100-litre boot compartment big enough for a couple of soft bags.
One of the R8's most distinctive features is the 'blade' that sweeps up behind the doors on the coupe models. Spyders do not have this, but coupe owners can choose from a variety of different finishes. A carbon fibre finish is popular for the blade as it contrasts with the body colour and appeals to used buyers. Some owners also opt for a matt paint finish, though this can make an R8 more difficult to sell on.
PHer's view:
"The exterior styling of the car is spot on, except the doors are bloody long and you have to be mindful of where you park. If someone parks close to you then you're stuffed and have to wait until they leave so that you can get in."
Simon Jenkins