Looking to buy an R8 some advise please

[mccltd]

Hi,

Just signed up as I am looking to change my 4yr old E46 M3 Convertible.

Now the R8 has drawn my attention aswell as a V8 Vantage ( think the R8 will win me over) and I have a couple of questions please.

1) Can you recomend a good review somewhere of the R8?
2) Does anyone have the dimensions as I need to know if I will be able to still fit two cars in my garage. Is it longer, wider than my M3?
3) What should I look for in a 2nd hand one, ie any known problems, what accesories etc.

Many thanks for your time,

Dave.

[Conker]

http://www.wheels.ca/Sports/article/31484

Try this article for for starters

Certainly wider than the M3 and in respect of specific problems I've had the lower front offside fin and 2 parking sensors fall off - but don't suppose that's a particularly common fault - or is it ?

Otherwise it is a fantastic car and far better than the V8 Vantage I had on order which I cancelled after test driving the R8

[mdc]

Hi,

Just signed up as I am looking to change my 4yr old E46 M3 Convertible.

Now the R8 has drawn my attention aswell as a V8 Vantage ( think the R8 will win me over) and I have a couple of questions please.

1) Can you recomend a good review somewhere of the R8?
2) Does anyone have the dimensions as I need to know if I will be able to still fit two cars in my garage. Is it longer, wider than my M3?
3) What should I look for in a 2nd hand one, ie any known problems, what accesories etc.

Many thanks for your time,

Dave.

I been following the in and out of vantage for 2 years, almost put an order in for 09, but there are just way too many issues with that car. While I understand it is British, and hand build. The quality is very inconsistence, I will be able put up with the problems for the money spent. They are offering $10k under invoice for 08, and there are a ton of them on the lot. That said, it is a beautiful car, and the engine sounds is worth half the price of the car. Now that just need to figure how to improve on the quality.

[randombloke]

some video reviews:

UK Top Gear:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oaENG1vt6-Y

Australian Top Gear:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=75y8yXztbqY

Fifth Gear:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IajIQRTR2FY

Autocar magazine (winner best handling car 2007):
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gS0vR8A3vAM

[desperado]

(1) Reviews - A few of my favorites:

There is a lot of information available from this link; I suggest the Long Term Test review to start.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...=Audi/model=R8

Many excellent articles here:
http://www.motortrend.com/search/art...Text=audi%20r8
I suggest "America's Best Handling Car" from the August 2008 issue as a good place to start:
http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...ion/index.html

TopGear's video review (already mentioned:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaENG1vt6-Y

Audi USA websites:
http://www.audiusa.com/r8
http://www.truthinengineering.com/r8 (note that not all color options are shown; ie ibis white)

(2) Click on Features and Specs, then Dimensions:
http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/n...s/Audi_R8.html

(3) Most here that didn't order the rear-view camera (including Nav system) and the front/rear curb sensors say that they wish they had. Ditto for the B&O sound system. Magnetic Ride is also highly recommended if you care anything about performance driving. Most other options are personal preference.

[postdady]

I assume when you say "Curb Sensors" you are referring to the "Audi parking system with rearview camera” included in the premium Package?

[mccltd]

Thank you all for your responses.

So much more friendly than the M3 forums out there.

As its going to put me in a bit of debt I am trying to do my homework rather than the usual rush in and buy.

As I have smg currently I'm hoping with an R8 similar but notice there are two types automatic and tiptronic. Is that right or do the people describing the cars mean the same thing?

Also servicing, how often and roughly what sort of price?

Do they all come with reversing cameras or is that an option?

And the hill start is this optional or standard?

Thanks again for all your help.

Dave.

[randombloke]

There is only 2 choices: manual (stick) and r-tronic - but sometimes dealers refer to that as automatic/tiptronic but it is an automated manual like the smg.

reversing cameras is part of the "parking advanced" £1,250 option

hillstart is an option too (£80) - and useful for r-tronic given there is no creep although nothing you can't do with the handbrake

there are 2 service choices:

inspection service regime which is:
every 10k/1year for oil service
every 20k/2 years for interval service
every 40k/4 years for interval inspeciton

or longlife service which is flexible based on driving style to a max of 20k/2 years with interval inspection every 40k/4 years

Just checked, and when I bought it I was quoted prices of £425 minor and £600 major for services

[desperado]

Here's yet another couple of favorite reviews:

2008 Audi R8 - Short Take Road Test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...take_road_test

2007 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage vs. 2008 Audi R8 vs. 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

[bromers]

The R tronic put me off - it would kick down a gear or two when you booted it even when you had it in manual mode on R-Tronic. Apart from this I would say it's the same as SMG II. My comparison is coming from a CSL which incidentially was quicker round a track.