Is the R8 an old car now! (all models)

[doctorr8]

Hello Guys,

To start with, this thread is written by a guy who is waiting his special order V10 to be delivered by December 2010. I have been reading a lot in this forum since the minute I started thinking to buy an R8. I made my decision after comparing many cars to the R8 and found that the R8 has a little of everything and one of the top 5 good looking cars in the world!

As usual I have been reading posts and comments from many different drivers about their problems, experience and enjoyment driving their cars. Recently, I can feel a sence that many members agree on the R8 being kinda of an old car now!? Which make me wonder, do you guys agree? Say what you think freely, as an R8 car look in general then as a model (V8, V10, spyder and GT). Finally do you guys think buying a 2011 R8 V10 is like buying a 997 turbo when the 998 carrera S is out (talking about looks), "simply" is it too late??!

[AnOutsider]

I guess that comes down to you, but my car still feels pretty new and special. I suppose they'll be doing a refresh at some point, but it doesn't matter, in the technical sense, it is getting old -- as in, it's no longer brand new. Doesn't make it any less cool IMO

[gazza1]

It still get lots of stares,photos and compliments.

In saying that its half of what it was 2 years..but then it was a bit of madness everywhere you went

Last week I had pulled in for fuel and a group of 5, 20 year olds pulled up and shouted out the window that they lovvveed the R8.

Once stopped a stunner female hopped out and begged me to take her for a drive(totally true). The R8 still has a strong presence.

I do believe however that it needs a tidy up on the taillights,Grille and the the cooling vents config to make it a bit more fresh.

[kthacher]

I think that there is a subset of buyers at this category who have a strong desire for their car to be the "it" car. Sexy, fashionable, exclusive, etc. For those motivations, it is an "old" car. No matter what the attributes of the vehicle, three years after launch, it can no longer be "it". Even the reviewers feel compelled to nit pick cars that have near universal acclaim after this length of time.

So for those class of buyers, the car is now "old". Then there are other classes of buyers who first and foremost are driven by the driving experience. For this type of individual, the R8 is still near the top of the pile in my opinion. I cannot it express it any better that this quote from a prior thread:

Several cars, including at least two much cheaper ones, can beat the V10 in a straight line. Some can beat it on a course that puts a premium on constant heavy braking. Many can provide more teenager-thrilling antics near the edge, mainly by virtue of being less controllable. (The most infamous example of this was that absurd Jeremy Clarkson review where he found the V10 R8 to be better in almost every dimension but then recommended buying the Corvette ZR-1 instead because it was "something worse", i. e., harder for most drivers to control and providing the thrill of random parts falling off during hard driving.)

Frankly, these kinds of reviews are now getting tiresome. There is no car on the market that more adroitly makes the right trade-offs to produce a car that is as blindingly fast and as beautifully sculpted and as tightly built and as adept on a track and as comfortable for daily driving and as sure-footed in bad weather and as attention-grabbing on the streets and highways . . . and that makes as much of its performance envelope safely accessible to the average drivers that most of us are.

For those of us that are focused on how this machine delivers an overall experience, it is far from old. After two years, it is still a thrill every time I get in and drive. I still look for flimsy excuses to get out and go for a drive, and that is not going to change for a long time.

[R8SAUDI]

R8 is a future car as simple as that.

[Monkey boy UK]

I am on my 3rd R8 now, I did have a Maserati GTS for 9 Months after selling my 2nd R8 V8 & prior to the Spyder, during the Maser ownership ( which I enjoyed ) I did wonder what had I done in selling the R8, you don’t appreciate what you have until its gone, I think the R8 in all forms is still pound for pound the best looking car out there, if however I had £180k to spend ( and a lot more dosh to run it ) I would consider the Ferrari Italia as my first choice but after recent posts on this forum that car is even hotter than I thought it was!

So, until the GT comes next year right now the R8 Spyder is the car of my dreams within my budget, I think the R8 will be a timeless masterpiece, I think a re model of the car is due in 2012 but don’t quote me on that, I also think the R4 is due in 2012 which may tempt me along with the new A7 as a daily but we will have to see what else comes out.

Go with your head & heart when you buy an R8, it’s a sensible supercar, safe, reliable & drop dead gorgeous

[KfabR8]

I agree w/kthacer and Monkey. Absolutely go with what your heart says. Don't worry about anyone else's opinion.

There are two threads (this one and the one on why Scott sold his) going right now that seem to touch on the car's abilities to do "X" and I find it very interesting. - interesting just how much what is important to some is not to others.

I could care less if the car's the latest and greatest thing to come out of a factory at the moment or riding on a platform that got it's start back in the early 60's. I could care less about the bling factor (actually sort of happy that I'm not mobbed by everyone all the time anymore). I'm not concerned about being exclusive or popular or having a large factory presence behind me.

What the car represents to me, which, when you purchase a vehicle should be the ONLY factor, is that it brings me more pleasure than any other vehicle I've driven. Plain and simple.

I will be the first to admit that I've never driven any of the other exotics. Been in a couple Ferraris and a few Porsches, looked at a Lambos and Mazers, but that's about it. Still, what the R8 brings (to me) is the whole enchilada.

It's a killer sports car by anybody's standard. Is it the best? Nah. But that's all right.
It's exceptionally comfortable - especially considering it's sports car ability. Audi seems to have bucked the traditional thinking of you can't have comfort and sport ability in one package.

It offers me a machine that I can drive daily, travel across the country in, rip up the roads with, scare myself on occasion and just enjoy to the fullest.

Go get the R8 YOU want and you will be happy w/it.

[NR8]

Finally do you guys think buying a 2011 R8 V10 is like buying a 997 turbo when the 998 carrera S is out (talking about looks), "simply" is it too late??!

Well, you place an akward question. When the Porsche 996 came out in 1998, thus replacing the 993, many people chose the 996. At that time I bought the 993 Turbo (98 model) cause it looked much nicer. 12 years later my Turbo has lost some 25% of its retail price, the 1998 996 lost 80%

So why worry about future desings (which won't come before 2012) - maybe you're purchasing a keeper

[harrison]

I agree that an R8 is the whole enchilada. Great with any color sauce on it. And with a Michilada...heavenly.

[ignomini]

After waiting a year, and hoping I'll get my car in the next two weeks, I have to admit a little bloom has come off the rose. Since placing my order, Porsche has taken the 911 Turbo to yet another level, and the V12 Vantage has been announced for the US. Starting over today, I'm less certain to have ordered the Audi.

Having said that, I'm the twisted personality type which will always smile at an engine with more than eight cylinders, even if it isn't the latest darling of the ADD set.