Manual Gen 1 V10 R8
Discussion
Been a while since I posted about one of my cars here but this one seems to have grabbed more attention than most I've had so thought I'd document my journey with it here.
I've been searching for a toy for a little while after writing off my Dax Cobra and nothing really took my fancy until I sat behind a Gen 1 R8 in traffic a few months ago and the hunt began. I wanted a Gen 1 as I'm not a fan of the Gen 2 shape and after hearing lots of negative reports on the R-tronic auto the more I looked at the open gate on the manual the more I was set on getting one. The V10 / V8 discussion I had with myself lots of times, many say the V8 is the better drivers car but knowing I'd gone with a V8 when a V10 was an option was one I'd struggle to convince myself I'd made the right decision on in the future.
So now I wanted a manual V10 I quickly realised just how few are available. Most are spyders (which I didn't want) and the rest were white (which again I didn't want). I signed up to a few forums and FB pages to see what to look out for and to scan the classifieds and one popped up for sale just down the road from me which is a rarity. The guy had bought it as an approved used car 18 months prior and due to covid was selling it. It only had 20k on the clock and was as it left the factory with no modifications. It had a few choice extras including, piano black interior, full leather upgraded trim, engine bay lighting and the alcantara headlining. A quick drive, a bit of haggling and the deal was done.
Now I wasn't planning on changing the car, but........ I really was not a fan of the cream carpets and trim. I really like a contrasting interior but cream carpets and plastics always struggle to look fresh and imo date the car. I started scouring the breakers but it seems black carpet and trim sets are rarer than the car itself but a bit of luck and I managed to source a full carpet and plastic trim set. A bit of googling as to how to strip the interior and I was away
To break the doors up and to merge in I also changed the B&O speaker covers to black versions too
Whilst I had all of the trim out rather than replacing the rear shelves with the standard carpeted versions I know that having them covered in alcantara was an Audi Exclusive option to match the headlining so I took them over to Dave The Trimmer who's done some work for me in the past and had him trim the rear shelves in matching alcantara to the headlining
I also really wanted to have the carbon sideblades. I managed to come across a set (albeit not genuine but a great fit) and also got those fitted. Not a huge visual change due to the colour of the previous sideblades but a nice to have
So there we have it. I think I now have it exactly as I want it. Carbon engine bay covers would be nice but are horrendously expensive although I have seen great results by hydrodipping them. I am resisting an exhaust upgrade, I've watched plenty of videos and whilst they sound amazing the standard exhaust at the top of the rev range soungs great and I'm not sure I would ruin the drive experience with an exhaust that is droning all the time.
Overall though I am thrilled with the car
I've been searching for a toy for a little while after writing off my Dax Cobra and nothing really took my fancy until I sat behind a Gen 1 R8 in traffic a few months ago and the hunt began. I wanted a Gen 1 as I'm not a fan of the Gen 2 shape and after hearing lots of negative reports on the R-tronic auto the more I looked at the open gate on the manual the more I was set on getting one. The V10 / V8 discussion I had with myself lots of times, many say the V8 is the better drivers car but knowing I'd gone with a V8 when a V10 was an option was one I'd struggle to convince myself I'd made the right decision on in the future.
So now I wanted a manual V10 I quickly realised just how few are available. Most are spyders (which I didn't want) and the rest were white (which again I didn't want). I signed up to a few forums and FB pages to see what to look out for and to scan the classifieds and one popped up for sale just down the road from me which is a rarity. The guy had bought it as an approved used car 18 months prior and due to covid was selling it. It only had 20k on the clock and was as it left the factory with no modifications. It had a few choice extras including, piano black interior, full leather upgraded trim, engine bay lighting and the alcantara headlining. A quick drive, a bit of haggling and the deal was done.
Now I wasn't planning on changing the car, but........ I really was not a fan of the cream carpets and trim. I really like a contrasting interior but cream carpets and plastics always struggle to look fresh and imo date the car. I started scouring the breakers but it seems black carpet and trim sets are rarer than the car itself but a bit of luck and I managed to source a full carpet and plastic trim set. A bit of googling as to how to strip the interior and I was away
To break the doors up and to merge in I also changed the B&O speaker covers to black versions too
Whilst I had all of the trim out rather than replacing the rear shelves with the standard carpeted versions I know that having them covered in alcantara was an Audi Exclusive option to match the headlining so I took them over to Dave The Trimmer who's done some work for me in the past and had him trim the rear shelves in matching alcantara to the headlining
I also really wanted to have the carbon sideblades. I managed to come across a set (albeit not genuine but a great fit) and also got those fitted. Not a huge visual change due to the colour of the previous sideblades but a nice to have
So there we have it. I think I now have it exactly as I want it. Carbon engine bay covers would be nice but are horrendously expensive although I have seen great results by hydrodipping them. I am resisting an exhaust upgrade, I've watched plenty of videos and whilst they sound amazing the standard exhaust at the top of the rev range soungs great and I'm not sure I would ruin the drive experience with an exhaust that is droning all the time.
Overall though I am thrilled with the car
Edited by magpie21 on Thursday 26th November 14:24
Edited by magpie21 on Thursday 26th November 14:26
mwstewart said:
When seeing the first interior shot my immediate thought was: that car needs a black carpet and lower trim.
Perfect now
My first thoughts were the same.. If it was mine, I'd still want to change the cream door cards too.. But it is a lovely car, and I given the choice, it would be a V10 for me too, just for the wheels.. Perfect now
Thanks all
Superhoop said:
My first thoughts were the same.. If it was mine, I'd still want to change the cream door cards too.. But it is a lovely car, and I given the choice, it would be a V10 for me too, just for the wheels..
I do actually have a set of black leather doorcards but thought that cream seats on their own would look a bit out of place. The piano black trim is very easy to switch over
Lovely, a friend took me out in a manual one of these years ago, absolutely loved it.
I did look at your initial pictures and think 'ooh no carbon side blades, nevermind though', 'ahh that interior', then was really pleased to see your pictures afterwards, the result looks great and hats off for getting stuck in!
I did look at your initial pictures and think 'ooh no carbon side blades, nevermind though', 'ahh that interior', then was really pleased to see your pictures afterwards, the result looks great and hats off for getting stuck in!
That is pretty much spot on perfect spec for me - i do like a black and tan/cream colour scheme as it has a nice contrast. I know black on black seems to be the most preferred, but i find all black cabins too dull and you lose some of the details - yours is perfect now and black carpets are more practical than cream!
The cream door cards also need to stay to tie it all together - very nice car OP - can i have it when you are finished with it?
The cream door cards also need to stay to tie it all together - very nice car OP - can i have it when you are finished with it?
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