I love my car!

[KfabR8]

Four months of ownership today on R8 #3.

First one ('08 MT6 V8) was a beauty. Purchased on 6/3/08. Drove it daily, loved it, very sorry that tree got in the way and killed it on 6/24/10. I'd still be driving her if that little sudden stop incident hadn't happend. 43.6K miles in 25 months - yea, it was a great ride. It went from coast to coast a couple of times and proved to be a great travel/touring ride.

I had a couple small problems with her, but they were all covered by Audi. The rear toe links coming apart was probably the biggest issue, but overall the experience with her was amazing. I miss that one still.

Second one ('09 MT6 V8 TT - purchase 8/19/2010) was a NIGHTMARE - I still want it to go over an extremely high cliff while on fire. Putting a very unproven turbo system on a P.O.S. problem riddled car just made owning it miserable. The list of issues is amazing. I want it to die a horrid death. DIE DIE DIE!!! - yes, I despise this car.

Just over 4 months of having it in my possession drove me to order a new one on Dec 28th, 2010. Still, I drove it daily and put just under 19K miles in 11 months of ownership. The fact that my buddy purchased it from me and I have to see the da**ed thing every day is a thorn in my side. Oddly enough, since he's taken it from me, it's only thrown a code twice and they've gone away on their own. He's been very aware of the issues, but decided that he'd take it anyhow. What counts is that he's very happy with it and that it's not in my garage anymore.

The new 2011 (R-tronic V8) - ah, yes!

Four months of ownership this fine day (picked it up 7/7/11) and I've put 9,374 miles on it. Did an East Coast tour a couple months back - 14 states in 10 days, 2500(ish) miles and, like the first one, it's proven to be a beautiful, wonderful ride. This new one is better and more fun than either of the previous cars too - love the R-tronic!

On the track I was able to run lap times that were within a second of a car that has around 200 more hp and almost 20 mph more on the straights. Not sure what it is about this one, but it seems to handle better than the previous two, seems tighter, quieter and overall, I'm just tickled that I decided to give a third R8 a try.

I can't imagine having a more fun machine.

Thus far, the only issue I have had is that my spoiler will take on a mind of it's own on occasion (just the past two weeks) and decide to deploy. Up it goes, dash light goes on. Turn the car off and it seems to reset. Nothing other than that.

No garage queens in this stable.

Long live the R8!

[ptaylor_9849]

I'm really glad to see you're thoroughly enjoying your cars. I'm envious that you put so many miles on them. I'm always worried about re-sale value so I hardly ever drive my Aston Martin. Couple that with six months of New England winters and my garage queen gets very little use. On that note, can I advertise my Aston Martin for sale in the classified section of this web site or is that strictly reserved for R8's? Reason I ask is many R8 shoppers I've met have also considered Aston Martin.

[the_buch]

Hey Kfab ... thanks for sharing 'The Good, The Bad and The Great' story. I remain thrilled with my '08 car and, like you, really appreciate the subtleties of driving the R-Tronic. My STaSIS S/C setup is probably a bit more worked out than your TT was, but not without a few idiosyncracies in the R-Tronic configuration that STaSIS (to their credit) is working with me on. I expect many happy miles ahead in this daily driver :-)

[CPBRI]

You've certainly experienced a wide range of ownership. Happy motoring!

[SebringSilver]

I love this story! In fact, I always enjoy hearing about people treating this car the way it was meant to be treated....as an everyday supercar.

Well done!

[Europrice]

Glad this one is working out for you! Time for a supercharger?

[gazza1]

Good post Kfab and so true of the experience a great(or bad)car can provide.

Same as you..i am on my third R8 and this one is the best one ever.

Fortunately I have never had a dud in the R8's I have owned apart from a engine mishap on the first V8.

The crisper handling,bigger power and the overall presence and mojo of my current R8 V10..is so rewarding that it provides the best overall experience of them all.

My first R8 V8 still holds the special place though..as this was my first experience of learning and enjoying such a great car.

Still sometimes miss that V8 roar through the Stasis exhaust..but driving the V10 with the AWE Exhaust through a tunnel at high Rpm is something every car nut should try once in a lifetime.(with open exhaust on)

[SteveR]

I'm glad to hear you are happy with your new one. She is a beauty. Carpe diem.

[randombloke]

Glad you're enjoying your third r8 - and that you're enjoying the r-tronic, imagine it makes it feel a lot different.

Thus far, the only issue I have had is that my spoiler will take on a mind of it's own on occasion (just the past two weeks) and decide to deploy. Up it goes, dash light goes on.

I've had it where I've put the key in the car from cold and the spoiler is up - also had it where I've turned the key and the mag ride is in sport mode. Is it that kind of thing you're seeing?

Seems to happen if the car hasn't been run for a little while.

[KfabR8]

I don't think it's because I haven't run the car in a bit - heck it probably doesn't go 12 hours without me behind the wheel doing something.

4 months, 9 days, 10K miles. I really hope this one outlives the last two. I think I like it even better than my first one - and that one was magic.

Discovered yesterday on the way to lunch, in 50ish degree weather and slight rain, with the ESP turned FULLY OFF, I can scare the living crap out of myself (twice, as a matter of fact in the same long fun clover leaf), sliding the car. The SottoZeros just don't stick well at all in this drizzle stuff we've been having. I'm actually sort of surprised at how loose the back end is. They have good tread on them, but man they're easy to break free.

Came into the corner a tad hot, 3rd gear around 60 (usually it's a 75 mph entrance w/summer sneakers and dry conditions). Car sets up really nicely but the back end seems a touch sketchy. Since it was slick and I don't mind a loose car (desert style), I decided to try to get the front wheels to push a tad and balance the chassis. I just barely rolled into the throttle - no front end action, so I carefully backed off (no, I did NOT snap off) and the back end just starts swinging out.

I got the car nice and sideways, but felt fully under control, and then had the realization that I was headed off the side of the road. Nope, it set up in the slide, I kept the throttle nice and steady and the back end hung out nicely as the car followed the corner. The front end came back into place nicely and of course I had to see if I could do it again (it's a long cloverleaf). Sure enough - same exact results - nice long, smooth tail happy slide. I'd love to get this one on video, but I don't really want to tempt my luck! Needless to say that when I got to lunch I had the adrenaline shakes pretty bad.

These cars are FUN!!!