[R8-Stuff]

Hi guys,

Just curious - besides the accident and service history what features, installed items, or brands cause red flags for you as a used buyer?

We ask this as we are increasingly finding customers that are removing poor quality modifications - and upgrading or going back to stock.
Interested to hear stories about anything that puts you off or gives you a bad vibe.

 

[Higgs Boson]

I won't buy a modded car. Normally I don't like other people's choices for cosmetics, don't care if the wing cost $5k, it looks stupid. Don't want someone's catless car, someones loud exhaust, don't care if it's Titanium and cost you $10k. Definitely don't want your twin turbo flex fuel car.

With that said, I mod my cars but I don't expect to get something from it. It's pure loss and usually better, like you say, to put it back to stock.

 

[R8-Stuff]

I won't buy a modded car. Normally I don't like other people's choices for cosmetics, don't care if the wing cost $5k, it looks stupid. Don't want someone's catless car, someones loud exhaust, don't care if it's Titanium and cost you $10k. Definitely don't want your twin turbo flex fuel car.

With that said, I mod my cars but I don't expect to get something from it. It's pure loss and usually better, like you say, to put it back to stock.

Our advice is generally to buy OEM upgrades or Audi Sport upgrades - otherwise leave it stock.

Having said this, there are some incredible brands that offer better-than-OEM quality products. Suspensions and exhausts are items where it is often worth looking outside of OEM options.

Most owners are now catching on to this. A lot of poor quality upgrades are being thrown away or have met their own end.

Interested in hearing stories from those who have been recently looking to buy a used R8.

Most commonly removed items that we have noticed recently:

• cheap rotor pad combos
• replica GT wings
• cheap suspensions
• some modded steering wheels

 

[Cu_Cuzz]

modded steering wheels are okay to me if there done classy i dont want your airplane fighter jet looking wheel thing XD generally mods are fine with me if there quality parts such as r8 stuff said OEM performance mods are a huge up tick in my book. im fine with the gt wings personally as long as again there from a nice name brand exhausts and intakes are fine as well for me if there done again right and with known brands. my only turn off of moddified cars is suspention work as i would wanna see what was done myself. imagine buying a used car with coilovers and not reciving coil over keys to adjust them. real PITA stuff

 

[tomg]

I'm generally a stock car buyer and avoid nearly all mods, but the ones that turn me off the most are: pretty much every after market steering wheel, body kits / aftermarket lips, and any wing that doesn't look like the stock GT. I would consider one that resembles the GT wing, but would remove anything else.

 

[stug360]

Heavily tuned/modified cars, body kits, mods that have involved cutting/alteration to the original item where it can't be simply put back to stock and wrapped cars. The last one is the probably my biggest turn off.

 

[bavarianstance]

air suspension

 

[SprtsCrDad]

When I bought my car, I was able to negotiate a deal that required the dealer to remove the wrap to prove that the paint underneath was in good condition before I closed the deal. I wouldn’t buy a wrapped car. I’d also stay away from any modifications to the engine or suspension. An exhaust wouldn’t necessarily scare me off, but it wouldn’t add any value either (and might detract). I’d also avoid cars in which the seats and carpets have been changed, as well as cars with added non-OEM carbon fiber. The wings and lips are a matter of personal taste. I’m not into them, but they seem relatively inexpensive to return to stock.

 

[Trev450]

The R8 has to have an aftermaken exhaust imo, so when other criteria was met and I found one with a Capristo, that sealed the deal.

 

[ExpertRanch]

I might be a unicorn... I would have loved to have found a TT R8 V8 and would have done a thourogh PPI with my friend and R* race mechanic. He would know the exact condition of the car. As for wings... all depends, I typically only like them on a widebody and if I would have found a wide body I would have definitely considered it. As for the rest. It's all so personal. I agree with @Higgs Boson and @SprtsCrDad , I might take it, but wouldn't pay extra for it.

 

[G8D_6S]

When buying a car, I try to stay away from mods so I can do them myself. That logic doesn’t always make the most sense in practice, but that’s my OCD 😅

I have found I’ve become more open to mods in certain circumstances. I’d buy a car with a tune, reversible body modifications, radio upgrades, etc if it had the documentation, the parts to put it back to stock, etc.

An R8 with an aftermarket wing where the seller doesn’t know the brand or anything about it feels so much worse to me than one where the seller has the receipts from purchase and install (if applicable). And they provide the OEM wing with the sale of the car. Maybe I’m crazy 😅

Any major drivetrain mods beyond an exhaust is a no go for me.

 

[skar829]

• cheap rotor pad combos
• replica GT wings
• cheap suspensions
• some modded steering wheels

I'm amazed people install cheap parts that hit the ground. I'm a huge proponent of paying for high quality parts that hit the ground since your life depends on them working well.

If I were in the market again, I wouldn't mind car mods with upgraded OEM parts. Now I think once these cars get older and they don't qualify for any aftermarket warranties anymore, I think drivetrain modifications can be considered. I would like to see proper documentation to what was done. I think the general theme I'm seeing is that the owner has properly documented everything and are installing quality parts for a buyer to consider buying the car.

Otherwise, it's generally best anyway to put the car back to stock to sell it.

 

[G8D_6S]

Oh yeah - and any aftermarket electronic upgrades like aftermarket speakers, subwoofers, hard wired laser jammers, etc is an absolute deal breaker for me. I wouldn’t touch it. I personally have just seen too many electrical gremlins on other R8s that have done it.

 

[Tim S]

Pretty easy, low miles, bone stock, all service records, adult owned.

 

[R8 LEX]

Guess I am on the opposite side, I would rather buy a tastefully modded car than a bone stock one. I see it as less work and money I need to spend to get the exact same thing I would do to it anyways.

 

[gillss90]

So, would you pay more for a car with a Full Audi dealer Service History, or for a cars history to be from well known non franchise Audi specialists ?

 

[skar829]

So, would you pay more for a car with a Full Audi dealer Service History, or for a cars history to be from well known non franchise Audi specialists ?

From what I've seen, the best techs move onto independent shops. Dealerships now are not the premiere places that do the best work.

I could care less if the car was exclusively serviced at Audi dealerships.

 

[R8-Stuff]

More interested to know what mods turn people off as opposed to service history.

Another common request nowadays is for replacement spoiler mesh from those who butchered the OEM mesh.

 

[skar829]

More interested to know what mods turn people off as opposed to service history.

Another common request nowadays is for replacement spoiler mesh from those who butchered the OEM mesh.

Everytime I see an R8 car with BC coilovers, hard NO for me.

 

[G8D_6S]

Everytime I see an R8 car with BC coilovers, hard NO for me.

That’s interesting! Is that because BC isn’t the greatest quality?