Audi R8

[ollyh1988]

This was not planned and I am very lucky my wife loves cars as well!

|https://thumbsnap.com/G8TGGTQM[/url]

We had gone to look at a 4 seat convertible to replace my TVR Tuscan with (not practical now we have a baby). The car we went to see wasn’t for us, but as we were leaving this R8 was being parked in the showroom, fresh from service and pre-sale prep.

It’s a 2008 V8, but the main reason I bought it was because of this…


The fact these have Isofix in the passenger seat meant I could sort of convince myself it is a semi-practical family car… at least we will be able to go out in it with our daughter, just not the three of us at the same time!

So far I haven’t driven it much, but safe to say I love it. The engine has a great amount of power, the gearbox is fantastic and it handles fantastically. I keep going to look at it and can’t believe it’s mine.

[carinaman]

I like these a lot. Congratulations.

[Nigel_O]

Very nice OP. Many articles reckon the original R8 V8 manual is the sweet spot in the range - enough power to be very entertaining, but not enough to be scary.

It was down to an R8 or a V8 Vantage for my recent 60th birthday treat - I eventually opted for the Aston, but it was a close-run thing

[Dr G]

ollyh1988 said:

as we were leaving this R8 was being parked in the showroom, fresh from service and pre-sale prep.

Someone looking down on you; good examples are hard to find and sell quickly.

Pick of the range for me.

Service the AC regularly and leave it turned on all year round.
Misting on the dampers is normal, leaking is not.
Have a close look under the bonnet for corrosion (around seams and perforations in particular).
Don't buy the OE Pirellis.

[thatguy11]

The V8 R8 is a future classic without a doubt, congrats and enjoy!

[Resolutionary]

Crazy to think this design is pushing 20 years old now. Looks bloody lovely, and that gearbox is just a dream to row in an age of auto. Hope it serves you well!

[Jimmy No Hands]

The R8 is one of the cars that has that 'presence'. What an incredible design. These appeal more to me far more than new McLarens and Ferrari's et al.

[Trevor555]

Lovely looking car, thanks for sharing.

[ollyh1988]

Nigel_O said:

Very nice OP. Many articles reckon the original R8 V8 manual is the sweet spot in the range - enough power to be very entertaining, but not enough to be scary.

It was down to an R8 or a V8 Vantage for my recent 60th birthday treat - I eventually opted for the Aston, but it was a close-run thing

Funnily enough, I bought a V8 Vantage a few years ago and at the time was also considering the R8. Really enjoyed the Aston and wish I’d kept it longer. Enjoy yours.

[ollyh1988]

Jimmy No Hands said:

The R8 is one of the cars that has that 'presence'. What an incredible design. These appeal more to me far more than new McLarens and Ferrari's et al.

It does have more presence in the metal than in the pictures. But in a dark colour it can also be a bit more discreet, which I like. Although some of the later cars do look great in the bright colours.

[ollyh1988]

Another thing I am loving is the after market exhaust - no idea what it is, but it comes with a key fob with a number of buttons that change the volume. The cold start is even louder than the TVR but with a real ‘supercar’ noise. Not sure the neighbours will like it..,

[West17]

Cracking looking car OP!

I'm quite jealous as looking into one of these at the moment.

Don't want to detail your thread but have a couple of questions if that's ok.

Keep hearing about the aircon, what's the issue with this?

Also, are there some without the magride fitted and if so, how can you tell? Presume no button fitted?

Many thanks

[joropug]

That's awesome, great choice.

I was looking at these on Autotrader the other day out of interest, all of the cheap ones are very suspect looking - I bet it's hard to find a good one.

Autotrader have suddenly stopped capping their display to 5+ Owners, comically highlighting that one of them has had 12 previous owners yet only on 50,000 miles. Crazy.

[Trevor555]

joropug said:

I was looking at these on Autotrader the other day out of interest, all of the cheap ones are very suspect looking - I bet it's hard to find a good one.

Autotrader have suddenly stopped capping their display to 5+ Owners, comically highlighting that one of them has had 12 previous owners yet only on 50,000 miles. Crazy.

I tried to find one a few years back at the lower end of the going rates.

I saw three that were very suspect. One had a very worn passenger seat.

The other two had very dubious service histories, and loads of owners, eight previous.

I found a good one at Hexagon but warranty had £1,000 claim limit so passed on that one after seeing "new engine" in some of the service histories.

I ended up buying a new TTRS for the same budget.

But if I'd found a good R8 I'd probably still have it in the garage today. The TTRS was good, but didn't get under my skin, lasted a year.

Edited by Trevor555 on Thursday 3rd February 16:20

[ollyh1988]

West17 said:

Cracking looking car OP!

I'm quite jealous as looking into one of these at the moment.

Don't want to detail your thread but have a couple of questions if that's ok.

Keep hearing about the aircon, what's the issue with this?

Also, are there some without the magride fitted and if so, how can you tell? Presume no button fitted?

Many thanks

The compressor can fail (believe this is the fault) and I’ve heard it an engine out job to get to, so about £3.5k to do.

Most seem to have mag ride and I’d heard about £1250 per corner.

So they can be expensive cars to run, but if I worried about every issue on other cars I’d rule them out as well (911 engine bore scoring etc). Plus, having had TVRs (which have been costly to maintain properly), I’m sort of prepared for things if needed, but really hope this is a good example.

I’ve bought a car from this dealer before and it was excellent, as was their after-sales, so that took some of the concern away.

[Oneball]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen one in black with the silver bit (does that have a name?). Looks great.

[ollyh1988]

joropug said:

That's awesome, great choice.

I was looking at these on Autotrader the other day out of interest, all of the cheap ones are very suspect looking - I bet it's hard to find a good one.

Autotrader have suddenly stopped capping their display to 5+ Owners, comically highlighting that one of them has had 12 previous owners yet only on 50,000 miles. Crazy.

I think they can be cars where people want to own one to sort of tick it off their list. A bit like Ferraris with almost zero miles but a lot of owners.

[ollyh1988]

Oneball said:

Don’t think I’ve ever seen one in black with the silver bit (does that have a name?). Looks great.

I hadn’t seen any like this either with the side blade in that colour. Only thing I’m not sure about is the chrome strip around the top of the window, but could always get that made black.

[Oneball]

I think the chrome strip goes with the wheels and blade (thanks) really well.

[ollyh1988]

Oneball said:

I think the chrome strip goes with the wheels and blade (thanks) really well.

I’m in two minds - some moments love it and others just wonder if it is too chrome?

The silver splitter and diffuser do work well with the wheels.