R8 V10 Advice/Thoughts Please....
Discussion
Hello All,
Some advice/experience from owners or those in the know would be gratefully received please.
Considering an R8 V10 Spyder, have done some research and reading (only lightly at the moment) and I'm pretty certain that if all comes together over the next few months I will be looking to purchase one.
Does anyone have any advice/thoughts on must-have options, things to look out for, who to use for a PPI, and any general thoughts on your ownership experience please?
Also, what is the R-Tronic like to live with? Is it that bad (say compared to SMG in E63 M6, which I found fine)? Or must it be a manual? What are they both like to live with in traffic, I do a 30mile round trip commute for work with a little stop start traffic each way but mostly motorway.
And, lastly, has anyone owned one of these and at some point a 4.7 V8 Vantage Volante - care to share your thoughts on how they compare please (this is a consideration as an alternate but think my heart is set on the R8)?
Thanks in advance.
Michael
Some advice/experience from owners or those in the know would be gratefully received please.
Considering an R8 V10 Spyder, have done some research and reading (only lightly at the moment) and I'm pretty certain that if all comes together over the next few months I will be looking to purchase one.
Does anyone have any advice/thoughts on must-have options, things to look out for, who to use for a PPI, and any general thoughts on your ownership experience please?
Also, what is the R-Tronic like to live with? Is it that bad (say compared to SMG in E63 M6, which I found fine)? Or must it be a manual? What are they both like to live with in traffic, I do a 30mile round trip commute for work with a little stop start traffic each way but mostly motorway.
And, lastly, has anyone owned one of these and at some point a 4.7 V8 Vantage Volante - care to share your thoughts on how they compare please (this is a consideration as an alternate but think my heart is set on the R8)?
Thanks in advance.
Michael
Generally they're very well behaved and incredibly nicely screwed together. Even the standard specification of the V10 is pretty good. Spyder gets some nice extra leather inside which is well needed. With the standard black plastic around console, cowl, arm-rests etc. it looks like something is missing.
Ensure that air conditioning works properly, check for oil leaks, check for leaking mag-ride dampers. Clutch lasts plenty well but abuse or idiotic driving will break it. They're a bit crap for manoeuvring and it's easy to overheat the clutch if you let it slip trying to creep into a tight spot. I actually quite like R-Tronic on the move, it's a lot more like a manual than it is like a conventional auto and you need your brain in the same place to work it well. A well timed lift for upshifts and a little patience in pulling away. Quite rewarding and satisfying to use once your head is around it and the system feels pleasingly mechanical.
The engine is damn impressive. Over 5,000 revs it's on a mission to headbutt its rev limiter and the noise will make the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up like a row of soldiers on parade.
I've only driven a V8 Vantage with the original 4.3 and whilst it sounded quite fun it never felt like it really picked up its heels and chucked you down the road. Once you've wound out the V10 in an R8 it feels like it's on a mission to add the full complement of 12 points to your driving licence as soon as is possible.
Residual values are rock solid too; if anything they've crept up a little way this year.
Ensure that air conditioning works properly, check for oil leaks, check for leaking mag-ride dampers. Clutch lasts plenty well but abuse or idiotic driving will break it. They're a bit crap for manoeuvring and it's easy to overheat the clutch if you let it slip trying to creep into a tight spot. I actually quite like R-Tronic on the move, it's a lot more like a manual than it is like a conventional auto and you need your brain in the same place to work it well. A well timed lift for upshifts and a little patience in pulling away. Quite rewarding and satisfying to use once your head is around it and the system feels pleasingly mechanical.
The engine is damn impressive. Over 5,000 revs it's on a mission to headbutt its rev limiter and the noise will make the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up like a row of soldiers on parade.
I've only driven a V8 Vantage with the original 4.3 and whilst it sounded quite fun it never felt like it really picked up its heels and chucked you down the road. Once you've wound out the V10 in an R8 it feels like it's on a mission to add the full complement of 12 points to your driving licence as soon as is possible.
Residual values are rock solid too; if anything they've crept up a little way this year.
t is better than cow sNo, it isn't.
Please forgive me if this wasn't your intention but that post reads like the majority of 'internet' comments on R-Tronic.
Let's get this out of the way - R-Tronic is horrible for 0.5 MPH manoeuvring.
If you drive it like a conventional (read: torque converter) auto it's horrible.
If you get a handle on what it is and how to drive to its strengths it's actually a decent box. The 'problem' is that it is neither a manual nor a regular auto and I fear a lot of people went into it expecting one of these two (therefore ending up disappointed it isn't). A lot of forum nonsense is from people who have either never driven one or never driven one for any decent amount of time. A lot of journalist/media nonsense is probably a mix of these things with a little bit of Clarkson added on top. In any/all of these cases, lazily not adapting your driving to suit will mean you come out not liking it.
I'm not saying R-Tronic is without fault and I'm not saying all of the criticism is without merit but my god is it boring hearing the ill-informed drivel some people spout about it.
Please forgive me if this wasn't your intention but that post reads like the majority of 'internet' comments on R-Tronic.
Let's get this out of the way - R-Tronic is horrible for 0.5 MPH manoeuvring.
If you drive it like a conventional (read: torque converter) auto it's horrible.
If you get a handle on what it is and how to drive to its strengths it's actually a decent box. The 'problem' is that it is neither a manual nor a regular auto and I fear a lot of people went into it expecting one of these two (therefore ending up disappointed it isn't). A lot of forum nonsense is from people who have either never driven one or never driven one for any decent amount of time. A lot of journalist/media nonsense is probably a mix of these things with a little bit of Clarkson added on top. In any/all of these cases, lazily not adapting your driving to suit will mean you come out not liking it.
I'm not saying R-Tronic is without fault and I'm not saying all of the criticism is without merit but my god is it boring hearing the ill-informed drivel some people spout about it.
Had one for 2 years - 60 plate.
Been almost faultless - as is known aircon went a bit wonky but Audi regassed it and touch wood works fine.
Discs are expensiveish but not outrageous .
Servicing reasonable
All in all no more expensive than the B7 RS4s I had
I went for manual and never tried the auto - less choices !
Open gate is great fun even if you lose a bit of speed
As Dr G said comes pretty well specced - I've additional leather and carbon pack and the cabin is a pretty good place to sit
The V10 is an angry beast particularly when it gets over around 5k perhaps not as enjoyable as the V8 overall but when pushing on just great.
The soft top loses the clear engine cover but gains the rear window going down . Thought was a bit of a gimmick but it's always always down!
Choice was usual suspects - Gallardo and 430 but Audi won as its a bit more understated which I wanted . Don't listen to those who say it's a TT - from almost all angles it is great to look at ..
I like mine !!
Been almost faultless - as is known aircon went a bit wonky but Audi regassed it and touch wood works fine.
Discs are expensiveish but not outrageous .
Servicing reasonable
All in all no more expensive than the B7 RS4s I had
I went for manual and never tried the auto - less choices !
Open gate is great fun even if you lose a bit of speed
As Dr G said comes pretty well specced - I've additional leather and carbon pack and the cabin is a pretty good place to sit
The V10 is an angry beast particularly when it gets over around 5k perhaps not as enjoyable as the V8 overall but when pushing on just great.
The soft top loses the clear engine cover but gains the rear window going down . Thought was a bit of a gimmick but it's always always down!
Choice was usual suspects - Gallardo and 430 but Audi won as its a bit more understated which I wanted . Don't listen to those who say it's a TT - from almost all angles it is great to look at ..
I like mine !!
Kingswood said:
Had one for 2 years - 60 plate.
Been almost faultless - as is known aircon went a bit wonky but Audi regassed it and touch wood works fine.
Discs are expensiveish but not outrageous .
Servicing reasonable
All in all no more expensive than the B7 RS4s I had
I went for manual and never tried the auto - less choices !
Open gate is great fun even if you lose a bit of speed
As Dr G said comes pretty well specced - I've additional leather and carbon pack and the cabin is a pretty good place to sit
The V10 is an angry beast particularly when it gets over around 5k perhaps not as enjoyable as the V8 overall but when pushing on just great.
The soft top loses the clear engine cover but gains the rear window going down . Thought was a bit of a gimmick but it's always always down!
Choice was usual suspects - Gallardo and 430 but Audi won as its a bit more understated which I wanted . Don't listen to those who say it's a TT - from almost all angles it is great to look at ..
I like mine !!
Thanks for the views! Been almost faultless - as is known aircon went a bit wonky but Audi regassed it and touch wood works fine.
Discs are expensiveish but not outrageous .
Servicing reasonable
All in all no more expensive than the B7 RS4s I had
I went for manual and never tried the auto - less choices !
Open gate is great fun even if you lose a bit of speed
As Dr G said comes pretty well specced - I've additional leather and carbon pack and the cabin is a pretty good place to sit
The V10 is an angry beast particularly when it gets over around 5k perhaps not as enjoyable as the V8 overall but when pushing on just great.
The soft top loses the clear engine cover but gains the rear window going down . Thought was a bit of a gimmick but it's always always down!
Choice was usual suspects - Gallardo and 430 but Audi won as its a bit more understated which I wanted . Don't listen to those who say it's a TT - from almost all angles it is great to look at ..
I like mine !!
Looked extensively at V10 R8s before buying my last car. Agree with the sentiments expressed above and would also say R Tronic is far from awful but also nowhere near as good as S Tronic
As single clutch paddle shifts go its on a par with e gear in a Gallardo and some way short of F1 in a 430 Ferrari.
The engine is a force of nature but far too mute IMHO. I quite understand why that will suit lots of people , as will the inexpensive and likely more local servicing compared to more exotic marques, but hearing the same engine in a Gallardo undeniably shows you whats missing.
Gallardo is faster too and gets way more attention. Not for everyone of course but very good fun regardless.
As single clutch paddle shifts go its on a par with e gear in a Gallardo and some way short of F1 in a 430 Ferrari.
The engine is a force of nature but far too mute IMHO. I quite understand why that will suit lots of people , as will the inexpensive and likely more local servicing compared to more exotic marques, but hearing the same engine in a Gallardo undeniably shows you whats missing.
Gallardo is faster too and gets way more attention. Not for everyone of course but very good fun regardless.
I looked at the R8 but ended up in the vantage (always wanted an Aston but to be honest, there are days when I wish I'd gone the other way). The R tronic is similar to the Aston ASM gearbox which is best driven as a clutchless manual. The v10 is more skin performance wise to the v12 aston but you won't find a v12 roadster below 100k
Around 2010 the media/Nav thing changed from what I remember and the ones with 'media' instead of cd/?? Are the newer version.
I found the convertible r8 is quite tight for space (I'm 6'3"), the Aston better and the r8 coupe the best. For luggage if you wanted to go touring the Aston probably wins, certainly in coupe form.
Around 2010 the media/Nav thing changed from what I remember and the ones with 'media' instead of cd/?? Are the newer version.
I found the convertible r8 is quite tight for space (I'm 6'3"), the Aston better and the r8 coupe the best. For luggage if you wanted to go touring the Aston probably wins, certainly in coupe form.
I love My r8 v10.... Get a nice specked one with bucket seats and pop an exhaust on and you've got one if the best all round road cars out there IMHO (and I say that having owned a fair few performance cars!)
R tronic is not bad at all when using paddles.......I've had dct in m3 and m5 and a gtr and whilst in not in that league it's perfectly adequate and does not merit the slaying it seems to get from reviews etc
Get one......fabulous cars!!
R tronic is not bad at all when using paddles.......I've had dct in m3 and m5 and a gtr and whilst in not in that league it's perfectly adequate and does not merit the slaying it seems to get from reviews etc
Get one......fabulous cars!!
Only had a V8 before (1 manual and 1 R-Tronic currently). May have to look at a V10 as the DB9 used to be my favourite DD but it just felt a little too aged for everyday things such as bluetooth, reliability and for me being 6ft3 the R8 is far more comfortable.
Just deciding whether the V10 is warranted for the extra money? Anyone upgraded and found it was worth it?
Just deciding whether the V10 is warranted for the extra money? Anyone upgraded and found it was worth it?
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