Audi R8 V10 Plus or McLaren 570S - Opinions

[Terminator X]

The Surveyor said:

Terminator X said:

Aren't you a QS? Do you drive the Mac to site meetings

TX.

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

Ha ha fair played!

TX.

[Trev450]

BlackR8 said:

My intention was not for this to turn into a McLaren bashing thread. Any purchase will be made with my eyes wide open, and any Mac will only be bought if it comes with a main dealer warranty. So I appreciate there are loads of horror stories on the net about McLaren's, but I am hoping a warranty will help me navigate through any reliability issues that may come as part and parcel of the ownership experience.

On the V12V, it is a good shout but for me it doesn't give the visual drama of a supercar in my eyes. Not to say it isn't a lovely car its just that I am looking for something less GT and more supercar.

I don't think I would go back to a Gen 1 R8 simply because its a case of been there and done that, and have nothing but praise for the Gen 1 it is a fantastic car in many respects. Whats left is for me to test drive a Gen 2 Audi R8 and see if it can match the experience that the McLaren gave when I test drove that. So far in the game of comparing the two from what I have read on this thread I have the following: -

Exterior - McLaren
Interior/Cabin - R8
Noise/Engine - R8
Drive and Drama - McLaren
Ease of Use/Good in traffic - Draw (perhaps slight edge for R8)
Reliability - R8
Depreciation - No one really knows, but both likely to be similar

Thanks for all the input so far, would welcome any more thoughts as its all very insightful indeed

Edited by BlackR8 on Tuesday 9th June 10:09

Add to your list, cost of ownership and that would be a plus for the R8. You may wish to also consider if you have a preference for NA or FI.

[RSbandit]

One thing to be aware of is lets say you go for the R8 but after a while you still want to scratch the McLaren itch, you're gonna incur the dealer spread to change cars at that later date which could easily be £8-10k if these are retailing around the £80k mark. When I was looking to change from my V12VS to the McLaren quite a few 'dealers' weren't too keen on taking the Aston as they thought they tended to sit around for too long. Didn't seem to be the case at Redline who I traded it in with they had it moved on in less than 10 days! And if you are keen on the mid-engined supercar layout then I wouldn't go for the Vantage as its quite a diff car to the other two and it doesn't sound like that's what you're after (even tho they are terrific).

[Crazy4557]

BlackR8 said:

My intention was not for this to turn into a McLaren bashing thread. Any purchase will be made with my eyes wide open, and any Mac will only be bought if it comes with a main dealer warranty. So I appreciate there are loads of horror stories on the net about McLaren's, but I am hoping a warranty will help me navigate through any reliability issues that may come as part and parcel of the ownership experience.

On the V12V, it is a good shout but for me it doesn't give the visual drama of a supercar in my eyes. Not to say it isn't a lovely car its just that I am looking for something less GT and more supercar.

I don't think I would go back to a Gen 1 R8 simply because its a case of been there and done that, and have nothing but praise for the Gen 1 it is a fantastic car in many respects. Whats left is for me to test drive a Gen 2 Audi R8 and see if it can match the experience that the McLaren gave when I test drove that. So far in the game of comparing the two from what I have read on this thread I have the following: -

Exterior - McLaren
Interior/Cabin - R8
Noise/Engine - R8
Drive and Drama - McLaren
Ease of Use/Good in traffic - Draw (perhaps slight edge for R8)
Reliability - R8
Depreciation - No one really knows, but both likely to be similar

Thanks for all the input so far, would welcome any more thoughts as its all very insightful indeed

Edited by BlackR8 on Tuesday 9th June 10:09

You forgot the wow factor when you open the garage door, McLaren every time and that’s half the reason for buying one.
R8 is a great car but I never look twice at them but a McLaren on the other hand, I’ll stare all day at it.

[Quickmoose]

Cost of ownership is dealt with by "Reliability" really...
and Wow factor is dealt with by "Exterior"

I'd have the interior as a close win for the Macca, as whether you buy into badge snobbery or not, having say a Prancing Horse in front of you or a Toyota logo will get under your skin....but aside from that, the design/architecture of the McLaren is home to a very small number, whereas the feel/design/architecture of the Audi cabin, whilst undeniably cool, can trace it's thought pattern back to the allllll the others in the same stable.

But/Also...having already had an R8 (of any kind) it must have been bloody good to consider another rather than try a new brand.... I'm always caught up in wanting to experience/own as many of the cars I love vs the fact I love what I have and wont get rid..

[jakesmith]

RSbandit said:

One thing to be aware of is lets say you go for the R8 but after a while you still want to scratch the McLaren itch, you're gonna incur the dealer spread to change cars at that later date which could easily be £8-10k if these are retailing around the £80k mark. When I was looking to change from my V12VS to the McLaren quite a few 'dealers' weren't too keen on taking the Aston as they thought they tended to sit around for too long. Didn't seem to be the case at Redline who I traded it in with they had it moved on in less than 10 days! And if you are keen on the mid-engined supercar layout then I wouldn't go for the Vantage as its quite a diff car to the other two and it doesn't sound like that's what you're after (even tho they are terrific).

It's just as well McLaren are renowned for their cast-iron residuals then, those 720's for £130k were a sound investment for the original owner

[RSbandit]

Jake unless you have something positive to contribute to the thread prob best to just move on...R8's are nice cars no need to start McLaren bashing just because another poster doesn't share your view, I think most reasonable people would agree that a McLaren has more cachet than an Audi (even the R8).

[jakesmith]

RSbandit said:

Jake unless you have something positive to contribute to the thread prob best to just move on...R8's are nice cars no need to start McLaren bashing just because another poster doesn't share your view, I think most reasonable people would agree that a McLaren has more cachet than an Audi (even the R8).

Say the same to 650spider then here's his initial comment that was hardly 'positive'

650spider said:

when i am in the nursing home, i doubt i would be looking back in regret that i never bought an Audi.

[Zippee]

Christ! Would you behave like this in person? Grow up people!

[BlackR8]

On the question of NA vs FI/Turbo engine, I have always been an N/A man but I understand that the McLaren revs upto 8000+ rpm which I think closes the gap between the two.

[RSbandit]

yes it revs to 8200 I believe which certainly makes it feel more like a N/A engine rather than a turbo plant...the Vantage has a much lower redline of 7k even tho its N/A too but much bigger displacement of course. Tbh I preferred the characteristics of the R8 and 570s engines above 5k when compared to the V12.

[AndyC_123]

Every thread that is an R8 vs something else always ends up with the same few people getting nasty and personal if you contemplate buying anything but the Audi. It’s embarrassing.

Supercars are an emotional purchase and part of that is the make and history of the manufacturer. An R8 probably wins in the “head” department most times, but ultimately it doesn’t give many people the fizz that is required from a 6 figure (or near enough) purchase. It’s how it makes you feel at the end of the day, and that’s simply a subjective question.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

AndyC_123 said:

Every thread that is an R8 vs something else always ends up with the same few people getting nasty and personal if you contemplate buying anything but the Audi. It’s embarrassing.

Supercars are an emotional purchase and part of that is the make and history of the manufacturer. An R8 probably wins in the “head” department most times, but ultimately it doesn’t give many people the fizz that is required from a 6 figure (or near enough) purchase. It’s how it makes you feel at the end of the day, and that’s simply a subjective question.

On the bright side, that other thing that used to always be said about R8s and then was debated endlessly seems to have died.

[jakesmith]

AndyC_123 said:

Every thread that is an R8 vs something else always ends up with the same few people getting nasty and personal if you contemplate buying anything but the Audi. It’s embarrassing.

It's not the contemplation of buying something else that is a problem, and that is a misrepresentation to make out that it is. The issue is childish and facile reasons given that no serious person would actually make part of their consideration set. Such 'wouldn't you rather say you own / put keys to an X down on the bar than an Audi' or 'you won't regret not buying an Audi' or 'no-one has a poster of an Audi on their wall when they're a kid'. These comments are as facile and stupid as Clarkson's rubbish about the Boxster being a 'poor man's Porsche' and should be called out as such.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

jakesmith said:

It's not the contemplation of buying something else that is a problem, and that is a misrepresentation to make out that it is. The issue is childish and facile reasons given that no serious person would actually make part of their consideration set. Such 'wouldn't you rather say you own / put keys to an X down on the bar than an Audi' or 'you won't regret not buying an Audi' or 'no-one has a poster of an Audi on their wall when they're a kid'. These comments are as facile and stupid as Clarkson's rubbish about the Boxster being a 'poor man's Porsche' and should be called out as such.

Whilst often expressed poorly, being 'just an Audi' definitely diminishes the desirability for a significant number of people. Plenty don't care too, they sell a lot of them.

[jakesmith]

Lee Jones Jnr said:

Whilst often expressed poorly, being 'just an Audi' definitely diminishes the desirability for a significant number of people. Plenty don't care too, they sell a lot of them.

Is that relevant on a thread where the OP is already considering one? I think it's sad that he is being advised against one due to badge snobbery. It's a pretty good drive, engine, interior, build quality car. What did you think of Clarkson saying Boxster is a poor mans Porsche? That was quite annoying at the time.

I take the broader point about these cars being heart-lead purchases.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

jakesmith said:

What did you think of Clarkson saying Boxster is a poor mans Porsche?

I couldn't give a fq

[Algarve]

Lee Jones Jnr said:

Whilst often expressed poorly, being 'just an Audi' definitely diminishes the desirability for a significant number of people. Plenty don't care too, they sell a lot of them.

Depending on where you live, or what you do for a living and so on, "only" an Audi is a plus point not a negative.

The OP mentioned wanting a 'supercar'.... ask 99% of the general public and they'll all agree that the mclaren is one. They'll also not be able to tell you that its a relatively low end one. They all look the same to people who don't have a Pistonheads account, have an active interest in these things etc.

The R8, especially in a bland colour, will just blend in when parked up somewhere. Nobody cares about them.

Likewise with a cheap Boxster or a £150k 911.... they're the same thing to a lot of people. If that's good for you, go with the r8. If its not go with the McLaren.

As the owner of a really cheap Lambo, at times it can get a bit tiring with the attention it gets. I could trade it in for a 911 in silver or black that was worth 3x the money and get no attention at all.

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Algarve said:

Depending on where you live, or what you do for a living and so on, "only" an Audi is a plus point not a negative.

The OP mentioned wanting a 'supercar'.... ask 99% of the general public and they'll all agree that the mclaren is one. They'll also not be able to tell you that its a relatively low end one. They all look the same to people who don't have a Pistonheads account, have an active interest in these things etc.

The R8, especially in a bland colour, will just blend in when parked up somewhere. Nobody cares about them.

Likewise with a cheap Boxster or a £150k 911.... they're the same thing to a lot of people. If that's good for you, go with the r8. If its not go with the McLaren.

As the owner of a really cheap Lambo, at times it can get a bit tiring with the attention it gets. I could trade it in for a 911 in silver or black that was worth 3x the money and get no attention at all.

(I don't care one way or another about R8s)

[jakesmith]

Lee Jones Jnr said:

jakesmith said:

What did you think of Clarkson saying Boxster is a poor mans Porsche?

I couldn't give a fq

No opinion at all on it? What a true petrolhead