Audi R8 Ownership
Discussion
I just wanted to ask a few Audi R8 owners a couple of questions if that's ok? Currently I am in a position where I can afford a second hand V8 Audi R8 (A car I have lusted over for a very long time). At the moment we live in an extended Semi Detached, so unfortunately all of the neighbours are pretty much on our doorstep. This is the only thing putting me off, does anyone have any experience of owning something like an R8 whilst living in a Semi in a fairly built up area? Like many of you here I'm a huge petrol head so this isn't about buying something flashy, it's purely about the V8, the amazing looks of the R8 and the fact it is a Supercar for a pretty reasonable price (40 - 50k).
I guess I am mainly concerned about the neighbours, the fact the car could be a target to steal, and also if any negative repercussions that might come around towards me personally?
I guess I am mainly concerned about the neighbours, the fact the car could be a target to steal, and also if any negative repercussions that might come around towards me personally?
Are they a big target for theft? I've a couple of ideas for trying to make sure no one breaks in, one being to fit a detachable steering wheel, and the other being a metal post at the end of the drive behind the car. Insurance wise our area is pretty nice so I wouldn't expect it to be too bad based on the post code.
HypeM135i said:
Are they a big target for theft? I've a couple of ideas for trying to make sure no one breaks in, one being to fit a detachable steering wheel, and the other being a metal post at the end of the drive behind the car. Insurance wise our area is pretty nice so I wouldn't expect it to be too bad based on the post code.
Do detachable steering wheels have airbags? If not, won't it fail it's MOT?do they get stolen that much? there not really very good for carrying around your bezzy mates in or for doing crim activity etc unless they all like sitting on each others laps 
RS4/RS6 would be much more desirable for this
still you should not let such things affect your purchase, just make sure you get in looked at properly as there is at least one badly repaired R8 about at that price point
and if your going to steal one to order surly it would be the much better driving much more valuable later cars they would target, especially if its got keyless entry which they can reprogram
RS4/RS6 would be much more desirable for thisstill you should not let such things affect your purchase, just make sure you get in looked at properly as there is at least one badly repaired R8 about at that price point
and if your going to steal one to order surly it would be the much better driving much more valuable later cars they would target, especially if its got keyless entry which they can reprogram
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 9th June 11:46
Dave Hedgehog said:
do they get stolen that much? there not really very good for carrying around your bezzy mates in or for doing crim activity etc unless they all like sitting on each others laps RS4/RS6 would be much more desirable for this
An R8 makes a pretty nice item to throw into a container and ship to whichever relatively lawless country's citizen has ordered it from. RS4/RS6 would be much more desirable for thisI purchased my V8 Vantage whilst living in a very closely spaced set of houses, whilst everyone knew when I left for work - no one had anything bad to say.
As long as it's street legal and you don't sit outside revving it, get it purchased! If someone really wants to steal your car, it will be irrelevant if it's outside a semi detached house or in your country retreat. Purchase, drive, enjoy.
As long as it's street legal and you don't sit outside revving it, get it purchased! If someone really wants to steal your car, it will be irrelevant if it's outside a semi detached house or in your country retreat. Purchase, drive, enjoy.
zzzz - Insurance is very reasonable, £200 more than my current policy.
Kris - thanks!
Monty - that was my idea
t400ble - I don't have sleepless nights over it, but obviously I want to feel comfortable, but the problem is our garage is behind the house (too thin) so I can't get a car in which is a shame, as I would of loved to have garaged something - and unfortunately we live in a place where not everyone is as nice about expensive cars as the people on pistonheads! I've already had my m135i keyed within 12 months of ownership
Kris - thanks!
Monty - that was my idea
t400ble - I don't have sleepless nights over it, but obviously I want to feel comfortable, but the problem is our garage is behind the house (too thin) so I can't get a car in which is a shame, as I would of loved to have garaged something - and unfortunately we live in a place where not everyone is as nice about expensive cars as the people on pistonheads! I've already had my m135i keyed within 12 months of ownership
Tracker and a post..there is a guy here who lives in a terraced house with a really nice porsche who has a post.
How about something like a couple of ground-anchors, and some good thick motorcycle chains (almax serives IV) than you can loop round some of the suspension components? Its diccifult to get to, will stop it being lifted up aswell?
Might be impractical!
Keep it under a cover, something that is ideally quite weathered-looking. Passers by will probably assume its some s
t-heap and never bother to look.
Just to give you food for thought...you can afford to purchase it, can you afford the running costs (i imagine servicing is frequent and expensive)?
How about something like a couple of ground-anchors, and some good thick motorcycle chains (almax serives IV) than you can loop round some of the suspension components? Its diccifult to get to, will stop it being lifted up aswell?
Might be impractical!
Keep it under a cover, something that is ideally quite weathered-looking. Passers by will probably assume its some s
t-heap and never bother to look.Just to give you food for thought...you can afford to purchase it, can you afford the running costs (i imagine servicing is frequent and expensive)?
Its funny, if you bought a year old RRS or something for 50 grand, or a couple of run of the mill VAG products nobody would really bat an eyelid, a guy on our road has probably 100 plus grands worth of cars, next door has a £1000 (being generous) Astra.
I don't think people really notice much after the initial purchase, and I doubt any of them would be bothered enough to do anything untoward, personally i like seeing stuff like that so I suspect a lot f the neighbours will, it kind of raises the tone a little.
Just do it, drive it carefully as they tend to make a racket and non car people take that as speeding sometimes.
I don't think people really notice much after the initial purchase, and I doubt any of them would be bothered enough to do anything untoward, personally i like seeing stuff like that so I suspect a lot f the neighbours will, it kind of raises the tone a little.
Just do it, drive it carefully as they tend to make a racket and non car people take that as speeding sometimes.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz said:
Have you had insurance quotes? I would have thought leaving something like that on a suburban drive rather than a well securitised garage is going to give your insurer palpitations.
Most insurance companies are cheaper if you park on the drive rather than in the garage. Strange but true, found out with the Aston. Can only assume there is a higher risk of damaging a car getting it in / out of a garage vs sat on the drive. Stick a female named driver on it as well and the quote goes down- Move to a better area 
If you can afford the £40-50k for an R8 then surely you can move somewhere which has a garage?
- Rent a garage nearby
- Get a B7 RS4 if you really want that engine but something less flashy.
If your area is ripe for keying then I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable leaving an R8 outside, you might end up paying a lot of insurance excesses.
If you can afford the £40-50k for an R8 then surely you can move somewhere which has a garage?- Rent a garage nearby
- Get a B7 RS4 if you really want that engine but something less flashy.
If your area is ripe for keying then I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable leaving an R8 outside, you might end up paying a lot of insurance excesses.
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