Buying an Audi R8 R Tronic V8 circa 2008
Discussion
Can anyone give their opinion on living with an Audi R8 R Tronic, the downsides and upsides. Possible common issues to look for etc. They seem to be the most affordable 'supercar' on the road, but are they hiding problems only found out after a while ? Also, they are too wide to get into an average single garage (at least if you want to get out of the car!), so mine will have to live outside. Car covers - good or bad idea ?
Quite a jerky - lazy auto box in comparison to anything recently found in a sports car. Apparently takes a bit getting used to before you get the bet from it.
Seems the motoring journalists slated it yet all the owners seem to love it.
Ive not drove one myself but have the manual and Stronic.
Get on R8 talk. There’s a multi page topic on r-tronic faults plus no end of r8 knowledge.
As for single garage.....it will fit in but won’t be roomy. I wouldn’t want to keep one outside in the winter myself.
Seems the motoring journalists slated it yet all the owners seem to love it.
Ive not drove one myself but have the manual and Stronic.
Get on R8 talk. There’s a multi page topic on r-tronic faults plus no end of r8 knowledge.
As for single garage.....it will fit in but won’t be roomy. I wouldn’t want to keep one outside in the winter myself.
Gen1 R8 V8's have only a few common issues - otherwise they are very solid cars.
Mag-ride suspension will start to leak at some point. Buying OEM replacement is an expensive option, thus only offering a few more years of usage before they will likely start leaking again. Some owners replace for manual adjustable coilovers - and then use a "delete kit" to stop the warning light appearing on the dashboard as the computer can't find the original mag-ride suspension. However as many owners don't own their cars for a long enough time they decide to go the expensive route and replace with more mag-rides in hope that the resale value will stay high.
The other expensive issue is the air-con compressor unit - which used to be an engine out job to replace. I think now they (Audi and other specialist garages) have formed a work around to keep the engine in. However, its still a costly job.
Finally the last reported common issue is 'coke' build up on the valves which reduces power and affect MPG. Fairly easy issue to sort out.
Mag-ride suspension will start to leak at some point. Buying OEM replacement is an expensive option, thus only offering a few more years of usage before they will likely start leaking again. Some owners replace for manual adjustable coilovers - and then use a "delete kit" to stop the warning light appearing on the dashboard as the computer can't find the original mag-ride suspension. However as many owners don't own their cars for a long enough time they decide to go the expensive route and replace with more mag-rides in hope that the resale value will stay high.
The other expensive issue is the air-con compressor unit - which used to be an engine out job to replace. I think now they (Audi and other specialist garages) have formed a work around to keep the engine in. However, its still a costly job.
Finally the last reported common issue is 'coke' build up on the valves which reduces power and affect MPG. Fairly easy issue to sort out.
V10leptoquark said:
Mag-ride suspension will start to leak at some point. Buying OEM replacement is an expensive option, thus only offering a few more years of usage before they will likely start leaking again. Some owners replace for manual adjustable coilovers - and then use a "delete kit" to stop the warning light appearing on the dashboard as the computer can't find the original mag-ride suspension.
Finally the last reported common issue is 'coke' build up on the valves which reduces power and affect MPG. Fairly easy issue to sort out.
the leaking mag suspension is an audi problem not just R8, RS6's are notorious for it and my friends just PX/d a 3 year old RS3 with 3 of the struts leaking quite badlyFinally the last reported common issue is 'coke' build up on the valves which reduces power and affect MPG. Fairly easy issue to sort out.
the RS4 V8 also gets coked up, can rob as much as 100bhp but as said its reasonable straight forward to resolve
electron16 said:
Thanks for the replies guys, I actually looked at a 2008 model today and the salesman mentioned the Aircon had stopped working. I already knew about the problem of replacement, so decided against it. To be fair, the salesman mentioned the fault without me prompting.
So, with the air con not working on the r8 it will likely either be a 20 pound pressure switch that is a diy job - headlight out, deep set socket and it’s on a Schrader valve. Or a condenser - one behind each front side grill, thousand pounds for Audi to do, less at a Indy, a quick N2 test will soon tell you if it’s this. Or if your really unlucky it’s the compressor which is a massive pain in the titties on the V8. Pretty much engine out or at least disassembled to a fair degree to get to it - ££thousands. Was the salesman prepared to knock anything off for the fault? To be honest if the rest of the car was good and you can get a discount it’s not the end of the world if it’s any of the bits asides the compressor. It’s a 10yr old car now, bits will break especially 10yr old condenser which picks up all crap the road has to fling at it.
Mag ride and ac compressor aside - not everything’s horrendous cost to repair on these! I wouldn’t be too put off if the dealers open to reflect it in the price.
Edible Roadkill said:
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Mag ride and ac compressor aside - not everything’s horrendous cost to repair on these! I wouldn’t be too put off if the dealers open to reflect it in the price.
This is true.Mag ride and ac compressor aside - not everything’s horrendous cost to repair on these! I wouldn’t be too put off if the dealers open to reflect it in the price.
If the dealer is open to reducing the price to reflect the cost of having the car working as you want it, then I wouldn't strike it off the list.
The 2nd hand performance car market is said by many to be very much over-priced at the moment, stock that is valued at over £30k isn't really shifting all that much, so its a buyer's market.
The dealer said the price would have been higher had the aircon been working. I thought it was near top price for the condition as it was, certainly higher than many others advertised. Knowing that the car already had an issue, I decided not to buy, or even haggle. There seem to be a fair number available, so one day I'll find the right car !
blueg33 said:
Save a bit more and buy a V10? I'm not being facetious, but that's what I would do. I believe it reduces the cost of air con compressor fix.
This is where I’m at now in my search but Its looking at over 50k to get a nice spec manual low miles (I think these cars are pretty mileage sensitive) low owner car that everything works on. I thought I’d found the right one twice and it wasn’t on a closer look. Away soon to look at another that’s just had a couple grand chucked at it to get it up to scratch.
Beware buying cheap as a few unexpected bills will soon take you in line with a top condition example.
Mr Moley said:
I'd try the R-tronic before completely discounting. It's a robotised manual as found on many early 2000's supercars so just drive it in manual mode and lift very slightly on upshifts and it's perfect. Drive as an auto and they are horrid as many have noticed.
I had a e46 m3 smg around 12yrs ago and I reckon the RT will be pretty similar to that. I quite liked that gearbox....But, for a sunny Sunday afternoon car I’d take the manual every time. Plus they are rarer. I’m away next week to look at a ‘12 manual V10, apparently there were only 3 manuals registered that year.
I plan to keep it for a long long time, second car so patiently waiting on the right one coming up is critical.
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