Audi R8 V10 Plus or McLaren 570S - Opinions

[BlackR8]

Hi All,

I am shortly going to be back in the market for another supercar. Budget of approx £75k and so far I have narrowed it down to these two cars.

Important factors for me are: -

- Sense of occasion when driving (exhaust note helps with that!)
- Can cope comfortably with slow moving start/stop traffic (I live in a city so it can't be helped)
- Ideally won't lose a ton load of money over the coming couple of years
- Reliable and no 'major' weak points (i.e. engine/gearbox)

Would welcome opinions from people who have owned both, either or have spent time around them.

[BlackR8]

mikiec said:

Have a gen 1 r8 but mate owned a gen2 +. In sports mode it just sounds sensational.

I’d say on all four factors the r8 is ahead. But I’m guessing from your username you have had an r8 so maybe something different?

Gen 2 cabin and tech is miles better then the gen 1 r8.

Yes mate, I have had a Gen 1 R8 a few years back, it was the V8 though. The car was excellent - I had a Larini exhaust too which helped with the noise

Is the Gen 2 different enough to make it feel like something new? I do think the McLaren looks more 'supercar' but I fear it will be lacking in the engine drama department.

[BlackR8]

Thanks for the responses so far, very insightful.

A question for those who have owned both, does the Gen2 Audi R8 still produce that true sense of occasion when getting into it and driving?

I have been fortunate to own other italian brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini and they have in all honestly given me a much greater sense of occasion just looking at them let alone getting into it and firing up the engine.

However at £75k what the Audi R8 now has compared to the italian equivalents (2014 onwards) is the N/A engine at the budget I have, the equivalent mid-engined N/A Ferrari or Lamborghini with a dual clutch box (essential) are easily north of £100k, hence my choice has been whittled down to the Mac or Audi.

[BlackR8]

Really good insights.

Perhaps I have overstated the noise factor...having had screaming N/A V8's, V10's in the past perhaps I am just referencing what I know I used to like Vs. opening my mind to the enjoyment from the other senses such as looking for that specialness in cabin feel, the want to turn around and give the car a second look, and driving engagement.

I have driven a McLaren and it blew my mind how good it was. However that was at fairly high speeds on empty dual carriageways and country roads, but have no idea whether it would give the same drama when moving slower (this is where a nice sounding engine at low RPM comes into play I guess). I haven't driven a Gen 2 R8 yet so perhaps that is the next step.

[BlackR8]

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.

[BlackR8]

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

[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.

[BlackR8]

Thanks for the view guys, and I agree there has been some really valuable input. This is a heart decision but of course one has to use the head to an extent otherwise if I just followed my heart blindly I would have no place to live but a really nice Bugatti Veyron to drive

I am not one for badge snobbery but get that whether we like it or not there is a car marque hierarchy and ultimately that also is factored in to what makes its way to the heart rather than the head which is where the McLaren no doubt has the edge. I have had all the marques in my time and do agree that there is something special about an exotic only brand that does give you a sense of excitement without even starting the engine. I need to get out and drive a Gen 2 Audi R8, I am coming to a conclusion that it is currently second choice based on what I have read here but experiencing it for myself will either confirm or quash my feeling on this.

[BlackR8]

The G Kid said:

Do you live with in reasonable distance of a McLaren dealer? Reason I ask is that dealing with the niggles that seem to be expected would be much easier if a dealer is near to you. I would be keen on a McLaren given the current pricing, but it's impossible for me to consider as I have no practical way of getting to a McLaren servicing centre.

Yes I have a dealer around 40 miles away from me so not too bad. I am hoping a car in my budget will have been on the road for a few years and have done a fair few miles so I would hope the niggles and gremlins would have been ironed out before