Why I sold the R8...

[R84ME]

Some of you want to know, many don't care, but here it is anyway - for those considering purchasing Audi's flagship.

Without a doubt, R8 ownership was the pinnacle of my automotive adventures. So why did I sell?

1. IMO, the R8, while technically brilliant, simply lacks the feel and presence a sports car (as do so many other cars these days). I felt more in-touch with with the road and driving in my 95 E36 M3 or 70 914/6. Perhaps it's too refined for it's own good? For me?

2. Stunning to look at, not so practical as a daily driver. Some will say it's only a car - drive it to Costco. But have you tried to get out of those wide-body doors parked next to another car? It's almost impossible! An can you imagine your R8 peppered with door ding? I thought not. At best, the R8 is really an occasional, leisure driver. Certainly not a daily commuter unless you have extreme control over your storage environment & parking. I need something I can drive a little more.

3. Audi has NEVER supported owners in the way Porsche, BMW and Mercedes does (the Italian marques are in league of their own). This is evident from support provided by Audi (the average dealer doesn't know @hit about the R8) to car club presence, which is practically nil. ACNA does a great job on track events but is severely lacking on local & social events.

4. Lastly, exclusive is not so exclusive anymore. Audi has a sense of inflated value for the R8. As production caught up with demand, excess supply became an issue and remains a problem today. Audi has not modulated production to keep the R8 exclusive and as a result, there are great deals on late model cars and they're getting better as more and more pre-owned cars hit the market. The residual values of 2008-2009 we couldn't believe to be true are proving to be accurate 2-3 years later. Personally, I really needed to sell before taking a bigger bath in depreciation.

So, there you have it. I'm not dis-ing the R8, just trying to explain what motivated me to move on. There was no way to know how this adventure would turn out back in 2007 when I placed my order. Would I do it again knowing what I know today? Probably not. But I had a blast, made some great friends and will always have a fondness for the R8.

See you in Monterey!

[willyjp]

Too bad you didn't do the R8 Market Research Interview....your comments would have been valuable to Audi, I believe. (see my recent post)

I was certainly impressed with the scope, depth and intensity with which Audi pursued R8 owners opinions in that survey (they flew me round trip from Portland to Orange Co. to do a 2 hr. interview!!). So, I think they truly DO want to address some of the concerns/negatives that you have about your R8 experience.

FWIW, in my comments in the Audi interview, I did share a variety of issues/concerns centering around your topics 2 & 3 (I personally don't agree with your #1...I don't denigrate it, I just don't happen to share it...."different strokes" and all).

Judging by some of the questions I was asked, Audi is not unaware of some of the practicality issues the R8 has, but is searching for the best compromise point between all out "performance" and daily-driver practicality. The whole thrust of the questioning in this segment was: "How would you like your next R8 to be different?"

Also, again fwiw, there were a LOT of questions around how did I perceive the Audi organization as far as it's outreach to ME, the R8 owner (ans.: I don't perceive much if any!) and what would I like to see in the way of changes there.

So, maybe Audi is trying to address some of your concerns for the future. As far as 4, I think we all know the "exclusive" shine was going to go off....actually I don't think they've sold as many R8s as they originally intended to...and that, of course, is the reason some folks keep moving on from car to car (except the Bugatti Veyron owners perhaps )

PS: Maybe I will see you in Monterey! I'm going to be "dismounted" (sans R8) 'cause I'm flying down, but I'm looking forward to putting some faces to some of the R8 talk handles!!

PPS: when you say the Italians are in "another league" as far as owner support, I hope you don't mean better?!? If you do, you must never have owned an Alfa Romeo or a Maserati.....because if you had, you would NOT say that!! Just personal opinion, btw, but the WORST ownership experience I EVER had with an automobile was with a (purchased new) 1977 BMW!! It was SO bad, and the attitude clearly expressed by the maker's representatives so heinous, that I have NEVER owned another example of that marque (I know, I know, they're different now!) Once screwed, forever reclacitrant!

[Bodhii]

Hey man, sorry to see you off. But '95 E36 M3 or '70 914/6 are certainly far different from an Audi R8. So if that's your preferred cup of tea, you should find car happiness pretty easy to attain.

I am a long time Porsche person, and the only thing that gives the Porsche a better community experience would be the shear numbers of enthusiasts. Audi is completely new to the sports car game, right?. So inevitably the community is much smaller and much less focused. But overall, Audi's personal care to each R8 owner is vastly superior to Porsche's show.

Really, R84ME, I wish you the very best. It was great having you here... And maybe go check out the Nobles and Rossions, if you want the best pure mid-engine sports cars without all of the hi tech bells and whistles.

Happy Trails!

[NR8]

Sorry to read that but your adressing important issues and overall I can understand your argumentation. Just my 5 cent:

ad 1: compared to my 12 year old 911 Turbo the R8 is too refined due to electronics etc but compared to all new 911 (997) the R8 is much more of a sports car imho.

ad 2: I think it is a perfect daily driver, especially with the R-Tronic. The only drawbacks are the luggage compartment (knew about that before) and the wide-body doors. Anyway it works out here in Germany and our streets and parking lots are usually not that spacy as the ones in the US.

ad 3: Very true and I have adressed this on top management level in Ingolstadt already. Truth is, that they just don't have these structures and way of thinking cause they have not needed it before. Well, they are working hard on it, let's hope for improvement.

ad 4: I guess, any manufacturer is short-term oriented in his thinking and will just cash out the demand as soon as possible. And looking at those really limited editions (Alfa Romeo 8C, Porsche 997 Sport Classics etc): None of them keeps their original retail price. In total there are just too many sports car manufacturers fishing for the wealthy customers.......

But what I am interested in: What's your next car gonna be, R84ME?

[gazza1]

Sad to see another member depart..

My opinion on your comments about Audi are different.

I have found my dealer to be very knowledgeable and very customer focused with my ownership.

On numerous occasions I have had things repaired or replaced that were outside of warranty at no charge and they have bent over backwards to minimize any inconvenience.I never have never experienced this level of service from all the other brands I have owned.

Bohdii i thought sums up very nicely some of your concerns or comments.

If you are after a real driver experience that can still be used as a daily driver maybe a GT-3 would be worth a look.

Stay happy and live long

[hmp10]

Stunning to look at, not so practical as a daily driver. Some will say it's only a car - drive it to Costco.

I had to smile when I saw this, as I drove my 2008 R8 regularly to Costco in Chicago . . . and in the city, not out in the suburbs.

As a matter of fact, I drove the car year-round through all Chicago's weather nastiness and mammoth potholes, including commuting daily to work in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go freeway traffic with the manual transmission. Granted, I had enclosed parking at both ends, but never once did I get a door ding when out shopping, although my Lexus and Mercedes picked up a few. I always assumed that something about the car tended to make people more careful around it.

Over the two years I drove the car, I found myself looking forward to getting into it every single day. In fact, it even made me anxious to leave for work in the morning.

I traded it in January when I ordered a V10 (due this week), and I have missed it every day. It's been a very long seven months.

Different strokes, eh?

[kthacher]

Different strokes for sure. In case Audi is reading, I do want to support one aspect of what OP is saying. I find that Audi's treatment of R8 owners to be inconsistent. I have heard of various "thank you's" that some owners have received in the form of books, pictures, and various forms of bling. In my case nothing. This gives me the impression that the local dealer or Audi Canada is cheaping out, even though I know that these items don't represent much in terms of real monetary value. At the very high end like this, someone should be making sure of consistent messaging, even on seemingly trivial items.

On the other hand, on the service front my dealer and their R8 tech have been outstanding. Even though my issues have been quite minor, they have been handled with urgency and effectiveness.

And after 2 years of daily driving (not in winter though) including countless trips to grocery stores, malls, and even Costco not a single door ding.

Also, in my case I had convinced myself pre-purchase that the exclusivity would wear off and that the depreciation was inevitable. My plan is for a very long term ownership, so I don't find myself fussed over this one

Let us know what the next purchase is. Sorry to see you go.

[Garyhun]

I had to smile when I saw this, as I drove my 2008 R8 regularly to Costco in Chicago . . . and in the city, not out in the suburbs.

As a matter of fact, I drove the car year-round through all Chicago's weather nastiness and mammoth potholes, including commuting daily to work in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go freeway traffic with the manual transmission. Granted, I had enclosed parking at both ends, but never once did I get a door ding when out shopping, although my Lexus and Mercedes picked up a few. I always assumed that something about the car tended to make people more careful around it.

Over the two years I drove the car, I found myself looking forward to getting into it every single day. In fact, it even made me anxious to leave for work in the morning.

I traded it in January when I ordered a V10 (due this week), and I have missed it every day. It's been a very long seven months.

Different strokes, eh?

Mine was with me as my only car until I sold mine a few weeks ago (still debating what to replace it with). It went to supermarkets, stayed in car parks, did the shopping etc etc etc. Like you, I miss it terribly and am sure I'll be back for more!

[RXBG]

Some of you want to know, many don't care, but here it is anyway - for those considering purchasing Audi's flagship.

Without a doubt, R8 ownership was the pinnacle of my automotive adventures. So why did I sell?

1. IMO, the R8, while technically brilliant, simply lacks the feel and presence a sports car (as do so many other cars these days). I felt more in-touch with with the road and driving in my 95 E36 M3 or 70 914/6. Perhaps it's too refined for it's own good? For me?

2. Stunning to look at, not so practical as a daily driver. Some will say it's only a car - drive it to Costco. But have you tried to get out of those wide-body doors parked next to another car? It's almost impossible! An can you imagine your R8 peppered with door ding? I thought not. At best, the R8 is really an occasional, leisure driver. Certainly not a daily commuter unless you have extreme control over your storage environment & parking. I need something I can drive a little more.

3. Audi has NEVER supported owners in the way Porsche, BMW and Mercedes does (the Italian marques are in league of their own). This is evident from support provided by Audi (the average dealer doesn't know @hit about the R8) to car club presence, which is practically nil. ACNA does a great job on track events but is severely lacking on local & social events.

4. Lastly, exclusive is not so exclusive anymore. Audi has a sense of inflated value for the R8. As production caught up with demand, excess supply became an issue and remains a problem today. Audi has not modulated production to keep the R8 exclusive and as a result, there are great deals on late model cars and they're getting better as more and more pre-owned cars hit the market. The residual values of 2008-2009 we couldn't believe to be true are proving to be accurate 2-3 years later. Personally, I really needed to sell before taking a bigger bath in depreciation.

So, there you have it. I'm not dis-ing the R8, just trying to explain what motivated me to move on. There was no way to know how this adventure would turn out back in 2007 when I placed my order. Would I do it again knowing what I know today? Probably not. But I had a blast, made some great friends and will always have a fondness for the R8.

See you in Monterey!

1. the R8 doesn't feel like a sportscar? i think the problem is it doesn't feel like the kind of sportscar you want. there is only one guy on the planet who doesn't think it is a sportscar- and he lives in a thatched hut off of the Kerguelen islands.

2. no car like the R8 can be as practical as a 4 year old civic when being driven to costco. by its pure essence you worry about it being dinged and etc... but that is because it is so special. you cannot begrudge the car's essence itself. if you didn't worry about it it wouldnt be an R8, would it? strictly speaking the R8 is an astounding daily driver. 4 bags of mulch fit in the front, heavy rain no problem, cruise down to pary city for 4 hours--- no problem- and in fact maybe even more comfortably than in my A4.

3. you cannot demand from the manufacturer that they create a club scene with a bunch of friends and regular accessibility like it is an option on the car. those things take time. i am sure that the 911 in its first 3 years of production didn't have clubs, and track events scheduled regularly across the country. things like these take time and volume of production. i have had plenty of events to go to and the R8 is always welcome. the dealer has always been very supportive of my car (and same goes for other owners i know in the US). never had an issue there.

4. if you buy a car as an investment you have to store it and 60 years later sell it at Mecum as an unrestored original example and then make money. if you actually drive it it is not meant to be an investment unless it happens by pure accident. cars depreciate. look at the F430 prices. i mean come on.

it sounds like you love the car but are frustrated by the things directly unrelated to the car itself. like a sexy girlfriend you have to deal with the pros and cons. people stare at it her, attracts too many drunks, and you don't want to damage her... just the way it is.

sounds like what you need is a used sportscar that has had its day and you don't mind getting dinged and has been made for long enough and with enough volume that you can join a big established club. look for a 2005 elise.

i am happy building up the club that will one day be bnig and broad- buy hopefully not too big and broad. i like exclusivity.

[harrison]

Scott , this is one of those times when I have to completely agree with these other posts. Your R8 was too exclusive in your location. Imagine how I feel when I cruise in a town even smaller than yours. (NOGALES AZ.) You definitely were'nt blending in to the exotic scene the way exotics do in the L.A. area. I agree you have memories to keep now, that you will probably never match or exeed ,unless... for me it would be an F430 or a Gallardo Spyder. I can dream right? The R8 still turns me on. And I can't imagine owning a smarter car at this time. Cheer up Matey !! I'll be by to give you a thrill ride real soon. And maybe a run over to Costco. I'll just borrow my Mums' Handicap placard and keep my fingers crossed to not get damaged. Plus we can hire security to watch the car. The money saved on this car certainly allows that. And in terms of depreciation...It has been worth it. The amount of fun I have had is PRICELESS. And the fun is undoubtedly going to continue. Tracking once a month is also a high point in my super busy life. I actually don't have time to be prepping,and tracking, and everything related to the track scene , but it keeps me sane.