R8 Audi, as a daily

I don't....but....I have driven it enough to offer an opinion. It is the most docile, calm, comfortable, normal feeling almost-supercar that I have ever driven. I can be going down the highway at 80 and forget that I'm in an R8 completely....thinking I'm in an A8 or a Mercedes S-class.

And then it comes alive when you want it to......

 

I do. 6500 miles since May. No complaints. Handles rain or shine with ease. Totally comfortable. Did 300 miles from Detroit to downtown Chicago with as much comfort as any other car. Has enough room behind the seats and in the front for short trips and maybe even more if you pack efficiently. Lacks a little straight line speed, but the V10 will quickly remedy that.

On a track is incredible and just as nice on the streets.

 

tritone; care to jump in on this one???

 

5'9" with shoes on. Although I feel small in the car.

 

I can echo Doug's comments - I don't one own, but have spent enough time behind the wheel of several R8s that I can confidently say the car makes a fantastic DD. I know several owners that use the car rain (or snow) or shine.

There's lots of room and the general layout is very comfortable.

BTW - I'm about 6', 210lbs with a fairly braod back... the R8 has the most comfortable seats for me, where I find most sports cars and exotics are too tight in the "shoulders"... although in North America, we don't get the cool sport seats like the RoW...

 

I'm 6'7", 230lbs and fit comfortably in the car.

then again... I'm used to being cramped in cars... so I may not the best judge. But I found driving the R8 to be comfortable. I could even stretch out my left leg fully straight with the seat all the way back.

i can echo these comments are well. Very understated car when driving on the street. Very... dare I say... Audi? Until you start honking on it, then it comes alive. Actually i didnt like it at first... I kept thinking... "whats the big deal about this car"... until I got it on the track, then it made sense. But for all its performance on the track is was EXTREMELY docile on the street.

 

If you found a place where you can pay sticker please pass it along. Every Audi dealership I know is tacking 20k onto the sticker. I'd like to pick up a lightly used one in a year or so but I'm very adamant about never paying above sticker especially on a new car that your going to lose the value on aways

 

6'1" and between 200-220lbs depending on travel schedule; I fit fine in the R8 for short and long distances.

 

I'm in South Fl so everything down here is way skewed but the car stickers at 112k and Fleabay doesn't have one under 140k and those that are that low have about 3k miles on them. Now my family lives in Cleveland and Fred Baker Porsche Audi has a red stick for 124k supposedly a new 2009, and btw damn you!!! I've got a ton of work to do today and you just made me spend 45 minutes shopping for a R8

 

Expect the V10 in March 09 with later delivery to the US. Expect $20-25K more and higher premiums than you see now. Current wait times to order new are at least a year and if you aren't on the list for one at MSRP at your dealer, expect to pay at least $180K for a V10 when they start hitting the flip resale.

$112K isn't a realistic price. When fully loaded but without carbon fiber (wasn't available,) my MSRP price was $126K and my base price was $3500 lower when I got it. If you wanted to spec a fully loaded black one with all the carbon, I'd say you're looking at a stick of $140k+. And like I said, add $20-25K more for the V10 and more for premiums if you aren't on the list.

 

I work at an Audi Dealership and we have sold all of our new R8s at MSRP, and we just sold a used one with 1500 miles for $140,000 (original MSRP of just under $127k). We are supposedly going to receive our first V10 allocation in January. When those start being delivered you will probably be able to pick up a used V8 version for a much better price than you currently can. They have also ramped up production this year. We've already had 5 2009 allocations, and we only had 8 for all of 2008. I personally had a customer who we projected that his car would be a 2010 model, but we ordered his car last week and he will receive it in the 1st quarter of 2009.

Just figured I would give you what little knowledge I can from the inside.

 

Did AoA tell you January for the V10 R8? A fellow owner in Switzerland had his second order screwed up and complained. He had a sit down with Audi/Quattro GmbH and they said he'd receive his V10 when the press cars are sent out. This is scheduled for March 2009. I'm doubting January 09 for US V10. Being mid-Sept and no official release about a Spyder or V10, I'd say it's a ways off still.

 

January 09 is when we will supposedly get our first allocation to order a car, not actually have the car. The cars will actually probably arrive closer to late spring or summer as 2010 models.

However if production issues arise, which they have before on the R8, it might be as late as fall.

 

I am 6'5" tall and fit very comfortably in the R8. The most comfortable car I've had, in the sports car class. Lots of head and leg room.
I think you can find a lightly used R8 for around $140-145 depending on color/options.
I would recomend a 6 speed, rather than R-tronic. Drives better in mosts opinion, and typically less expensive