My first post here, questions on ordering R8

[R8Dude]

I have the next spot in line to get an R8 and the dealer wants my order this week. I am remote at the moment and haven't had a chance to look through any options other than those listed on the audi.com website. I did not see options like ceramic brake listed there, does that mean they are or are not available?

I was thinking of ordering the following:

R-Tronic
Exterior paint to sample: Lambo metallic orange
Interior full leather package with orange stitching - I was quoted $1200 extra for the colored stitching on top of the $5500 for the full leather.
I'd like to get carbon fiber side blades, is it better to go aftermarket? Speaking of carbon fiber there were 2 options on the Audi site for carbon fiber one having something to do with the engine compartment, the other I couldn't tell what it was, can anyone enlighten me there?
I was also thinking of ordering the premium package, the bang and olufsen audio package and the navigation package. "possibly" the alcantara headliner but was wondering if aftermarket is a better way to go there?

How does this configuration sound? Are there any "must have" options? Anything I should leave out?

How long does it take from order until delivery? Do you think the R8's will hold their value, and possibly still command a premium by the time mine would arrive? Anyone have any finance or lease recommendations?

Whew that's a lot for a first post, I'll sit back and try to digest the answers before deciding whether to order or not.

[randombloke]

you can have carbon fiber inlays in the cabin in addition to carbon fibre in the engine bay.

magnetic ride might be something to consider depending on where you plan on driving the car.

I'm not sure what the waiting time is these days, last I saw some places were still quoting 18 months+ - but I wouldn't bank on the r8 still commanding a premium that far down the line given it really has been an "it" car for a little while now but there are other cars coming along getting the limelight eg the nissan gt-r.

[Beautiful freak]

Yeah, I agree. Seems like prices on 'nearly new' cars available today are pretty close to MRP with an allowance (maybe 50% of MRP) for options.

See you're in South Wales randombloke - did you go through Cardiff Audi by any chance?

[randombloke]

No, swansea audi for me. I was there the other day and they had a brilliant red with carbon blades having its pdi done - that combo looked absolutely stunning in the flesh.

[Beautiful freak]

Hmmmm... I'm in Swansea but never got in the door of the dealership (I went one evening after work and they'd closed early so I happened to be passing Cardiff and went there instead). They seem quite happy (strangely!) to bring the demo cars over to Swansea ;-)

Guess I'll be going to Swansea for servicing etc though...

[randombloke]

No surprise at Cardiff audi wanting to muscle in on some swansea business I bought mine through Leigh at swansea and he was genuinely great to deal with.

Swansea had a few r8's around them last week - they had a mugello blue/oxygen silver manual in the showroom, a used silver/carbon r-tronic out front (circa £88k I think) and round the back were 2 customers cars - the red/carbon (which I believe is the dealership owners new car) and they had an ibis white that still had the shipping cover on it.

[R8Dude]

you can have carbon fiber inlays in the cabin in addition to carbon fibre in the engine bay.

magnetic ride might be something to consider depending on where you plan on driving the car.

I'm not sure what the waiting time is these days, last I saw some places were still quoting 18 months+ - but I wouldn't bank on the r8 still commanding a premium that far down the line given it really has been an "it" car for a little while now but there are other cars coming along getting the limelight eg the nissan gt-r.

I should have listed magnetic ride, but on the audi site it was shown as included with the R-tronic, is that not the case?

As far as waiting time I was not asking "list" waiting time, I've already done that, the dealer has called and it is now my time to put in my order and they will build the car, I was asking what the build/delivery wait time is from the time you put in your specs? Hopefully not 18 months. I agree the GTR will affect pricing some, but even though it is less expensive and has more power, the GTR is kinda ugly in my opinion, don't really want one.

BTW I am in the U.S. dealer is in California.

[randombloke]

I think the US has different "packages" whereas in the UK everything is specced individually which could explain it.

all I can say re build time, was from the spec change cutoff point to actual delivery for me was 3 months.

[mfsc]

magnetic ride, hill hold assist and parking system.

[randombloke]

ditto hill hold for r-tronic unless you are happy to left foot brake on an incline and the parking advanced with camera has been very useful for me.