R8 as a £40k used buy?

[andy97]

Mrs 97 has a small legacy after her mother passed away. We have done some sensible things but she is tempted to be frivolous for once her life, and fancies an R8. The budget is £40k and she wants an auto (and I won't change her mind on that, I know the RTronic isn't highly thought but I've driven one and thought it was ok). I know there's only early v8s around that budget but what are the issues?

Mag dampers or not, how reliable are they?

Doesn't the v8 have a "coking problem?

Anything else to be aware of?

It really will be a weekend car only.

Any guesses on how much lower prices may go?

It may not happen, as she will probably wake up tomorrow with her sensible head back on, but we will see!

[andy97]

All interesting thoughts, folks, and I appreciate them, thanks.

I know I'd be shopping at the bottom end of the market and so that makes the need to be even more careful very apparent.

I also know that we have to be careful to plan for the future and there is a sensible balance to be had, but I think we have that covered.

I'm particularly interested in some of the views that prices may have bottomed out. I'm not sure I agree yet. Most of us would probably accept that depreciation is close to being the biggest cost of car ownership so if that view is correct it does make the maths slightly more appealing!

Maybe the R8 will be the new 996 Turbo? IE available a few years ago for £25-30k but now climbing? Of course no one can predict that.

[andy97]

Road tested an RTronic this afternoon. I have driven them on track before (I instruct occasionally for a Supercar experience company) but this was first time on the road. Ok at moderate speeds and revs but very clunky at slowish speeds around town and on a ring road punctuated by lots of roundabouts! Not that pleasant really.

It was also,wrapped, which I don't like as I'd rather see what the bodywork condition is actually like. But it was very local so a useful experience.

[andy97]

I have driven the Aston and quite like them, particularly as I am a fan of the transaxle layout (I race a 944 and have had several road cars) but is it dramatic enough?

A soft top is an absolute no. Can't stand convertibles, sorry, and don't envisage having the top down. Unless I bought a Caterham, which is a different kettle of fish and would be used differently.

Another option is a 996 Turbo, particularly as they are rising in value, but the R8 is just that more modern looking and rare. I know it's an Audi, but it just seems more special. Hoping to test a manual in the next few days.

[andy97]

GloriaGTI said:

Whilst I concur on the convertible thing and even more so re: Caterham's, I suggested it as you said that it was your Mrs buying the car.

911 Turbo is a great shout, especially with a MT but is that as dramatic as an R8? I don't think it is.

I can guarantee that Mrs 97 despises convertibles even more than I do! And it may be her money but I suspect that I will be the one driving it most! :-)

However, the R8 is the only Supercar/ SportsCar she really wants and so I doubt that a Merc or anything else is an option. I may be able to persuade on the 996T but somehow I doubt it. It's not at all a logical decision (let's face it, buying a super car isn't anyway) but the R8 is a combination of dramatic and proper sports car looks, impressive technology, German engineering, and an accessible driving experience. By the latter, I mean it can be driven by virtually anyone (a bit like a Honda NSX) and whilst some criticise this, the car has to work in the (relatively) real world and not be a chore to drive. Oh, and we have an emotional/ irrational attachment to the Audi marque as an Ur quattro owner

[andy97]

We never did buy the R8 (I changed jobs instead!) but I do still think about it from time to time.

And it does seem that there are now a reasonable number of manuals to choose from in the £35-40K budget arena, with 40-60K miles, whereas a year ago they were mostly R-Tronic at this price point.

I'd prefer the manual, and Mrs97 has decided that she probably wouldn't drive it anyway, so maybe getting more attainable.

I will probably wait a couple of years but you never know.

[andy97]

PompeyReece said:

Life is too short to wait - you never know what tomorrow holds so just do it. You won't regret it.

You are not helping!

I do think prices might fall a little more but most cars in the near future will be smaller capacity turbos and automatic or hybrids so n/a manuals might even be an investment!!! Lol

[andy97]

DocW said:

Good morning andy97, I’m an interloper here but enjoying/interested in your dilemma. I would be on the “go for it” side of things. I my line of work the saddest thing I ever hear is “we were going to...” when their life has changed in the blink of an eye. Even if you have a two or three year spell with the car it’s not a worthless asset and you could sell for say £32000. There’s a few years of fun for the cost of a decent holiday in the Maldives. PS I went for an Aston V8 Vantage as I needed more luggage space than the R8. Best wishes.

Im an advocate of the "you are a long time dead" argument and that why I have 2-3 toys already, and why I try to race 3-4 times a year. Not sure I can justify another toy, and something would have to go, but if someone wants to buy a Porsche 944 turbo race car then let me know........

Because I have a couple of toys I am also aware of how muc things can cost. Plus a mate of mine had a clutch go 300 miles into his ownership of a 20 k miles v8 R8 and another had to spend £2k on a new head lamp unit about 2 months into his ownership of an v10!

[andy97]

caymanbill said:

Just out of interest Andy why is a 911 not in the frame? Not special enough looks wise?

In some respects I am a Porsche fan, but 944/968 rather than 911! I just don't fancy the rear engine architecture and the well documented engine issues in the n/a 996. A 911 Turbo is a possibility but generally I think that 911s are just a bit too popular and the R8 just that bit more special. I also quite like 4WD if only for the sense of security in real world conditions.

I have recently driven a Nissan GTR and was very impressed, surprisingly so, as I expected to hate it but that's a possibility. However, I'm also an Audi Quattro fan/ owner, so I'd like to keep it in the family!

[andy97]

I have driven an R8 (albeit an R-Tronic only), a 996 Turbo (manual and tiptronic), AMV8 and a GTR, but several months or even years apart. What I need is to get the cash together and then find a local dealer who will spend all day letting me drive all the options!!!

[andy97]

robbom3 said:

I had an R-Tronic V8 for a couple of years, and grew to quite like (but perhaps not love) the R-Tronic box. I found that as an auto box, it was utterly rubbish, BUT, if you drive it like a manual, by which I mean using the shifter or paddles all the time, and lifting off slightly before changing gear, it'll reward you with very smooth changes. You might even argue that it is more involving from a drivers point of view than the later S-Tronic boxes.

Probably why the car-Tronic feels ok on track because that's the way it was driven. Manual change and lift off between changes.

[andy97]

V8 Animal said:

F type cheaper to run and in that price braket, just.

Hmm, but I don't want an F Type, I want a mid engined Supercar that i can use every day if necessary, and that will do high mileage.

Ok, plenty of people will argue that no Audi is a Supercar, but I would argue that a mid engined car with over 400 bhp and race pedigree (GT3), and proper modern Supercar styling fits the bill.

I have never even considered an F Type, I would consider a Porsche 996 Turbo and maybe a Nissan GTR (have driven both) but that's about it, and neither of those are mid engined!

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 7th March 20:47