Audi V10 plus - values, running costs, opinions!

[PompeyReece]

dank said:

So did your inspection look for any bad repairs / damage - suspension, discs, engine issues etc?

did you end up buying the car, was it an R8?

Yes, it did, they did a paint depth check. They drove the car yes, can't recall exact details but any engine issues would've been found in the report. The car was up north at a Sytner dealer.

It was an R8, I didn't buy the car as the dealer lied through their front teeth on various things that the RAC report picked up. The car ended up being passed around dealers and was on sale for about 18 months before it disappeared from being advertised.. If you go on R8talk.com there's a thread on it under my username.

IMHO, I would consider an RAC report, along with my own inspection of the car, good enough to make a purchase decision.

[PompeyReece]

Here is what you get checked on the different RAC packages. Hopefully you'll see the comprehensive one is pretty...erm comprehensive

https://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/vehicle-inspect...

[dank]

OK Thanks, my own visual inspection showed it to be pretty immaculate, few tiny stone chips but no damage or scratches at all, no kerbing, it had a very few minor scuffs on interior but al in all it looks pretty good. Estriol blue has a few washing swirls, but it’s the same colour as my 911 turbo and that has same issue, just love those dark blue cars! It drove very well, went up the gears with no issue or jolts and steering felt direct and accurate, felt very taught and well built, hugely impressed with feel of interior compared to my 911 and my S4, very lovely place to be. The view from the carbon mirrors is also very cool!

So it’s really the major stuff that I need piece of mind with and the RAC should do this ?

[PompeyReece]

dank said:

OK Thanks, my own visual inspection showed it to be pretty immaculate, few tiny stone chips but no damage or scratches at all, no kerbing, it had a very few minor scuffs on interior but al in all it looks pretty good. Estriol blue has a few washing swirls, but it’s the same colour as my 911 turbo and that has same issue, just love those dark blue cars! It drove very well, went up the gears with no issue or jolts and steering felt direct and accurate, felt very taught and well built, hugely impressed with feel of interior compared to my 911 and my S4, very lovely place to be. The view from the carbon mirrors is also very cool!

So it’s really the major stuff that I need piece of mind with and the RAC should do this ?

Look at the link above - it'll tell you everything the RAC do.

From what you say, it feels like a sound car and any dealer willing to OK an inspection can only be a good thing.

Just do it!!!

[dank]

That does look quite thorough, and covers repair damage, suspension and discs so looks like it will be a very detailed report !? So do they not have to be Audi R8 specialists to understand the cars and what they are looking at? That’s the concern voice earlier on, RAC not being R8 specialists

[Trevor555]

PompeyReece said:

Here is what you get checked on the different RAC packages. Hopefully you'll see the comprehensive one is pretty...erm comprehensive

https://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/vehicle-inspect...

Good to see the "past repair evident" bit.

But what does the asterix next to it mean?

[Trevor555]

dank said:

So do they not have to be Audi R8 specialists to understand the cars and what they are looking at?

Essential in my view.

[Trevor555]

I have another quick question for any R8 anoracks that might be lurking on here.

Can you check the condition of the inner side of the ceramic discs without removing a wheel?

Personally I'd just buy that car and take it straight to the specialist just down the road.

I'm sure they'd charge you a couple of hours labour, remove the wheels, have more experience of an R8 than any RAC/AA inspector.

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 21st January 22:09

[PompeyReece]

dank said:

That does look quite thorough, and covers repair damage, suspension and discs so looks like it will be a very detailed report !? So do they not have to be Audi R8 specialists to understand the cars and what they are looking at? That’s the concern voice earlier on, RAC not being R8 specialists

Ask the RAC if you're unsure. However IMHO, they wouldn't offer the service if they weren't confident of doing it properly.

[Ballistic]

I think that there is a bit of paranoia going on here about who to use for the inspection.

If you have driven plenty of cars, you should be able to quickly tell from the test-drive whether it drives well or feels a bit ropey.

Anyone that buys or maintains cars for a living should be able to quickly spot any accident damage; you don't have to be an R8 specialist for that.

If I was in the OP shoes I would get the car inspected by a third party that is familiar with the R8

[Ballistic]

I think that there is a bit of paranoia going on here about who to use for the inspection.

If you have driven plenty of cars, you should be able to quickly tell from the test-drive whether it drives well or feels a bit ropey.

Anyone that buys or maintains cars for a living should be able to quickly spot any accident damage; you don't have to be an R8 specialist for that.

If I was in the OP shoes I would get the car inspected by a third party that is familiar with the R8

[dank]

yes i agree, i am getting slightly paranoid now

so.......... i think i'll get an RAC inspection and combined with original Audi inspection, warranty and my own observations, surely that's going to be enough to assure me it's a good car!

[PompeyReece]

dank said:

yes i agree, i am getting slightly paranoid now

so.......... i think i'll get an RAC inspection and combined with original Audi inspection, warranty and my own observations, surely that's going to be enough to assure me it's a good car!

I agree all of those should be enough, especially if you look at the detail in a sample RAC report below.

https://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/vehicle-inspections/adv...

[SFTWend]

Did you buy one?

I've started to focus on a V10 manual (R tronic not for me) but didn't realise a V10 Plus S tronic is "only" another £10k. For that extra £10k you get a 3/4 year newer car, less consumable expenditure (carbon discs and fixed rate dampers), standard carbon trim and more power.

So what's the catch? Does a traditional manual box attract a premium over S tronic? Do S tronic clutches wear out quickly and/or expensive to replace? Is the fixed rate suspension too firm for a car to be used almost solely for road use?

All opinions welcome!

[Trev450]

SFTWend said:

I've started to focus on a V10 manual (R tronic not for me) but didn't realise a V10 Plus S tronic is "only" another £10k. For that extra £10k you get a 3/4 year newer car, less consumable expenditure (carbon discs and fixed rate dampers), standard carbon trim and more power.

So what's the catch? Does a traditional manual box attract a premium over S tronic? Do S tronic clutches wear out quickly and/or expensive to replace? Is the fixed rate suspension too firm for a car to be used almost solely for road use?

All opinions welcome!

Although there are less manuals than semi autos, they generally only fetch a little more. That, however, may change as time goes on and manual supercars become rarer.

Running costs of S-tronic clutches are on a par with manuals so not really an issue.

I swopped my mag ride dampers for Plus passives and although firmer, they are perfectly fine for road use and not at all crashy or too harsh.

[scoobyc]

SFTWend said:

Did you buy one?

I've started to focus on a V10 manual (R tronic not for me) but didn't realise a V10 Plus S tronic is "only" another £10k. For that extra £10k you get a 3/4 year newer car, less consumable expenditure (carbon discs and fixed rate dampers), standard carbon trim and more power.

So what's the catch? Does a traditional manual box attract a premium over S tronic? Do S tronic clutches wear out quickly and/or expensive to replace? Is the fixed rate suspension too firm for a car to be used almost solely for road use?

All opinions welcome!

Are you looking for a coupe or spyder?...

[SFTWend]

scoobyc said:

Are you looking for a coupe or spyder?...

Coupe, with carbon sideblades and interior trim.

[Denno B]

I really like the v10 Spyder especially at current prices but the more I look at them the more I think I’d have to go for the gen2. The gen1 although a great design is looking a little dated IMO. Hoping in 2-3 years the gen2 might be attainable at sub £70k.

[Zippee]

Op - blue car you were looking at, is it the one at the trade place in Ongar? https://www.tradedirectcarsessex.co.uk/used-cars/a...
Keep coming back to this one myself but not been to see it yet.