Audi R8 V10 Plus or McLaren 570S - Opinions

Audi R8 V10 Plus or McLaren 570S - Opinions

Author
Discussion

barriejames

895 posts

178 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Spooky same two cars are on my list. I have a gen1 v10 Spyder manual right now but am leaning towards the 570s as I cannot afford a plus Spyder and for me the r8 Coupe looks almost mundane next to a 570s. A lot depends on the amount of attention you want on the road I guess,R8 coupe in a dull colour will hardly get a glance from non car people. A 570s in Orange or Green will be a different thing, but not to everyones liking

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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If all you care about is fault free reliability - the R8 will almost certainly have less issues.

I've been entirely open on this forum about the issues I have had with my 650 since I bought it - and there were times when I found it extremely frustrating. But - 9 months later I still own it. All the niggles have been sorted by the dealer at no cost to me - plus, when I decided that the paint didn't look quite right to me - 6 months after buying a 5 year old used car - McLaren agreed to pay for the entire thing to be repainted at no cost to me. Unlikely most other manufacturers would have done that I think.
The Ferrari 360 - which I never thought it would replace - went up for sale last week.

It is a pain when the car has faults - but the warranty is more comprehensive than most, so although it's inconvenient it's very unlikely to cost you anything other than time without your car.

When I was considering McLaren vs Ferrari (458) one of the things that helped me decide was : if I bought car <A> how would I feel if I saw car <B> coming the other way on the road? I concluded that if I bought a 458, I'd wish I'd bought the 650 - but if I bought the 650 I wouldn't wish I'd bought a 458 - and fortunately, I was right.

From a noise perspective, the scream from the 360 is probably one of the best sounding cars about - and although I did think I'd miss it (and the 650 is much quieter, even though I have sports exhaust) - I don't actually miss it at all, and didn't after about a week of owning the car.

I had reservations when I bought my McLaren - the same as the OP does I expect. I decided to take the chance - supercars like that are not long for this world I think (with the change to electric and everything being eco friendly), and I wanted to do it while I could. The world is going down the toilet financially, the shares I kept back so I had some financial security are now worth about -£1.50, and will probably only get worse. But I don't regret it - I own a supercar, and it's bloody fabulous.

Edited by davek_964 on Monday 8th June 15:46

200Plus Club

10,668 posts

277 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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A nice quandary to have!

Zippee

13,440 posts

233 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Not quite the same as the Macca wasn’t something I was really looking at (heresay on running costs and reliability put me off plus I was after more of a GT/sports car than a supercar).
When I purchased my Merc in Feb the R8 was on my list to look at. I tested a V10 mk1 spider (2014 non-plus) and I loved the engine. Interior however, felt really dated and I just didn’t ‘feel’ it. It handled incredibly well and was very easy to also just drive if you wanted a normal run. I also felt it was a little too common on the roads and I like things a little left field. The Gen 2 R8 was another level up in terms of cabin tech and I also loved the looks (hard top this time) but I couldn’t get comfy in it. Can’t say why but it felt the driving position/seating had been altered and I just couldn’t get to feel a part of the car.
When I picked up my GTS (John Holland in Sheffield) in Feb they had a cherry red Macca in there, either a 560 or 570 – no idea which, and it did look amazing. That was a 2016 model and was up for I think 80k – certainly where my money would have gone if I had your choice of car.


Edited by Zippee on Monday 8th June 16:28

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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For specialness it would have to be the McLaren.

If specialness is not the major consideration, go for the R8.

This from a past V8 R8 owner.

paddy1970

691 posts

108 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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If your order of importance is:
- Sense of occasion when driving (exhaust note helps with that!) - 570s
- Can cope comfortably with slow moving start/stop traffic (I live in a city so it can't be helped) - R8
- Ideally won't lose a ton load of money over the coming couple of years - Same
- Reliable and no 'major' weak points (i.e. engine/gearbox) - R8

Then get the 570s.

Otherwise, get the R8.

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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The Surveyor said:
At £75k you have a greater choice of V10 R8's than you will of 570s. There are no 570's listed on AutoTrader under £80k and only 18 under £100k for example. Even allowing for the current market, your choice is very much limited to the bottom of the market if you go down the McLaren route.

Only you will know which you prefer once you've driven them both. They are very different in concept, one taking all the mass-production know-how from a global group and producing a staggering sports car which is the top of their range, the other being the 'bottom of the range' offering from an over-stretched low-volume manufacturer. Forget the statistics, they feel very different behind the 'wheel and that's where personal preference comes in. I went the McLaren route and over 3 years down the line, I've not regretted that for a second.

Then, factor in the running costs especially if you are pushing your budget. I'd be more happy to run an R8 outside the manufactures warranty than a 570s. The warranty on my car has just cost £2,980 to renew for 12 months and the last service was £657 (2017 car), expensive but it is total piece of mind and is a much more extensive warranty than most. I've seen different prices quoted for the R8 warranty including £3k per year on another R8 thread so if you want the same protection, check that price too.

Overall, both great cars if you buy a good example.
Aren't you a QS? Do you drive the Mac to site meetings wink

TX.

BlackR8

Original Poster:

459 posts

76 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Very interesting swing on the debate, it started with R8 all the way and recent posts suggests a McLaren is the way to go (there is the curve ball that the McLaren may not actually fit in my garage but thats one to solve separately!)

Where I am at the moment from reading the feedback here is that heart says McLaren and head says R8. I feel the R8 is the 'safe' choice of the two but perhaps making the safe choice means sacrificing that sense of occasion that in my opinion every supercar needs to give you. I have had a 911 Turbo in the past and while is was incredibly capable it didn't give me the 'fizz' that I would expect from a supercar, and whilst I don't think this will be the case here it is a lesson I learnt previously around making sure a car does tick the right boxes.

PompeyReece

1,484 posts

88 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Surely the Mac wins hands down on the fizz factor!

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Not sure why the R8 keeps getting the vote for slow town driving. I'm sure it's great at it but it's not like the McLaren isn't - your gran could drive it to the shops if she wanted to. Very easy to trundle around in

Lee Jones Jnr

1,724 posts

169 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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At £75k you aren’t buying a 570S from a McLaren dealer for a while so the warranty will be either at extra cost immediately or after the remainder of any transferable warranty. I’ve only seen one 570S on the market at £75k and it was a private sale that sold within 24 hours.
I personally wouldn’t buy an R8 but if these are the cars in the frame and it’s a hard £75k then I’d have to say go for the R8.
I think I’d be looking at California’s in your shoes.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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PompeyReece said:
Surely the Mac wins hands down on the fizz factor!
yes Assuming fizz has a what I think it is wink

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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BlackR8 said:
Where I am at the moment from reading the feedback here is that heart says McLaren and head says R8. I feel the R8 is the 'safe' choice of the two but perhaps making the safe choice means sacrificing that sense of occasion that in my opinion every supercar needs to give you.
People have been comparing other cars to r8s for many years, and saying exactly the same.

Exactly the same, pretty much word for word!!

You can replace r8 with Ferrari, Lambo or anything else. Thats what R8 is. The accountants choice. Its a very fine car many would love to own, but depends on if you will be content, or long for more.

Edited by hyphen on Monday 8th June 18:14

RSbandit

2,590 posts

131 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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The McLaren has real fizz when you get on it and over 5k rpm its an absolute weapon, I doubt anyone would ever get out of a 570S and say it isn't fast enough. My R8 was a pleasure to own and was a car I had hankered after for a while however I ended up yearning for something with an extra dash of special sauce hence the switch to an Aston (special) and then a McLaren (even more special!)....if you can stretch the budget a bit more I'd defo recommend the Mc.

DMC2

1,827 posts

210 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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You also have to consider running costs, warranty etc. Plus how easy it would be to get out of it. I know somebody who recently couldn’t give away his 570s, no dealer wanted it. Where as the R8 is easy to sell on.


650spider

1,476 posts

170 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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Quickmoose said:
davek_964 said:
cayman-black said:
as a completely different view and from reading on here from owners and non-owners i would choose the Audi , the Mclaren has way to many negative feedbacks for me anyway, whereas the Audis seem all positive. Also they seem to sell well.
Yep, McLaren gets lots of negative feedback. Especially on here, and almost exclusively from people who've never owned one.
I'll never own one for sure, but a good friend of mine has recently bought a 720S, and its spent more time at the dealership or in a car transporter than it has with him... frown
doors, rust, multiple sensors.... when there is so much buzz on the internet its hard not to feel they're bad...and then a friend experiences the same..
Yup... a large portion of the negative posts on here are regards to a 'friends' McLaren.

Yes, they depreciate heavily from new, yes, there are issues and yes, the warranty is expensive.

However, probably going to throw a grenade in the room here, but when i am in the nursing home, i doubt i would be looking back in regret that i never bought an Audi.

Lee Jones Jnr

1,724 posts

169 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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650spider said:
Yup... a large portion of the negative posts on here are regards to a 'friends' McLaren.

Yes, they depreciate heavily from new, yes, there are issues and yes, the warranty is expensive.

However, probably going to throw a grenade in the room here, but when i am in the nursing home, i doubt i would be looking back in regret that i never bought an Audi.
Meh, I don't think pissing him off by belittling one of his options is a winning formula.
At this moment in time a 570 isn't really an option (perhaps that will soon change?) and an R8 is a car he likes and can afford.

jakesmith

9,461 posts

170 months

Monday 8th June 2020
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650spider said:
Yup... a large portion of the negative posts on here are regards to a 'friends' McLaren.

Yes, they depreciate heavily from new, yes, there are issues and yes, the warranty is expensive.

However, probably going to throw a grenade in the room here, but when i am in the nursing home, i doubt i would be looking back in regret that i never bought an Audi.
If you’re just buying a car because of the brand then you’re possibly going to regret quite a bit at nursing home age

Lee Jones Jnr

1,724 posts

169 months

Tuesday 9th June 2020
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jakesmith said:
If you’re just buying a car because of the brand then you’re possibly going to regret quite a bit at nursing home age
Not buying an Audi and saving a few quid so he didn't have to go into a nursing home?

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Tuesday 9th June 2020
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Terminator X said:
Aren't you a QS? Do you drive the Mac to site meetings wink

TX.
Building Surveyor not a QS and I have an Audi for the boring work stuff... keep the 570s for the weekends wink