Looking for some info on Audi R8's - 2008 V8's specifically.
Posted by NappyFlickz@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 39 comments
Hello folks.
After many years of hustling, I've finally landed a 6 figure job which I will be starting quite soon. And with some budgeting and planning that I've been doing, I realized that within the next 12 months, I will be able to comfortably afford one of my dream cars - that being the R8.
That being said, I've no intentions of going the route most people do when they get serious money and blow it on uber-high end vehicles and such. Which is why I was interested in the 2008 model, as it was the first year to come to the US, and seems to be the oldest year on the market.
I've noticed that they're going for as low as sub-50k for the V8 models, and almost all of the ones in that price range are the 6 speed autos, not the manuals.
Anyone with any experience driving them, what do you think of them? Are they fun to drive, or should I hunker down and focus on saving some more for a manual and/or V10 option?
Thanks in advance for any info
SPLICER21@reddit
Take my advice: go build a Golf to be about as fast as a V8 R8. You'll much more enjoy the R8 once you're affording the V10, 4.2 V8's were always kind of nightmares.
GWAGPC@reddit
your advice is shit
SPLICER21@reddit
That's what I thought. Go back to making fake photo's in Forza, I'll be at CnC driving other people's shit lol
GWAGPC@reddit
cool tantrum manchild lol
SPLICER21@reddit
And if you think I'm bullshitting, I bet I'm a better mechanic than you will ever be.
GWAGPC@reddit
weirdo leave me alone wtf, trying to pm me
SPLICER21@reddit
🫡😭 not like this isn't the internet, kid. Feel violated, learn to cover your stupid thoughts or keep em to yourself. Always someone smarter out there.
GWAGPC@reddit
you dont sound tough, you dont sound smart, you dont sound intelligent, you actually sound like a very mentally unstable person, i just want you to know that
SPLICER21@reddit
Reflexive responder, short jab comments cause you like kissing people off. It's ALL over your stupid wall. You do it for fun. This my fun, hope you hate it
SPLICER21@reddit
Took you an entire two days to write that. And no substance, or apology. Esad
SPLICER21@reddit
No information-posting generalizer lmao. Be butthurt that I know way, way, way more and love the R8 more than you ever will lol. If you don't RESPECT an enthusiast take, you're not an entusiast. You're in it cause it looks cool and it could get you women. Keep dreaming, Mr. HAD TO KEEP PUSHING BUTTONS, BUT LOVES SHARING PHOTOS FOR LIKES ON REDDIT
Smitty_Oom@reddit
Knock it off.
SPLICER21@reddit
Additionally, I literally sent "go comment so I can prove you wrong faster." The dude is a victimized clown, don't perp it.
SPLICER21@reddit
Will do, but you know EXACTLY what I mean.
SPLICER21@reddit
Long story short though, don't buy a project-level R8 (not bad) and expect it to run for Golf-type costs. Cresting 6 figures is not enough for that car, if you care about other parts of your life. If you're fine apartment living, sure. But it COULD be at the dealership a lot. If you try to work on it, you're gonna find that you wish you'd owned a GTI first. Before getting into old Audi/VW/Lamborghini territory. But again, my advice is shit
TLDR; go build a car related to the R8, then buy a project R8
SPLICER21@reddit
Additionally, OP wants a first-year bottom-tier example. It is definitely not BAD, but 2008 Audi is ROUGH PEOPLE. Nostalgia continues to drive the price of these, and started for me with NFS Carbon and the Le MANS Prototype (they based the R8 off of, name came from most winning LMP car they ever fielded at timediting I believe). But yeah. My advice is dogshit. Eat a dick, r/auto
SPLICER21@reddit
K. Not like I've worked on em, immersed myself in the world, and did enough time in service to know a good investment from a shit investment. If you want to spent #$#!-level money on making the V8 what you want? Do it. But it only has 400hp, don't forget, and is a bit heavy for that. But again, my advice is shit. Not like I grew up reading DeMuro and Tavarish on Jalopnik before money was involved? Sorry lol, eat shit.
Novogobo@reddit
"six figures" isn't what it used to be. and if you're using the term, it's a decent bet that you're only making like 110grand a year not 150 or 250 or 350 which are all also six figures. and if you're only making 110 or even 125 grand a year, well you really can't afford an exotic car, at least not one that is exotic because it was expensive when new.
any used, 17 year old audi is going to have a laundry list of problems. and the cheaper it is, the longer that list is going to be.
then there is the fact that it was the top tier product for the company. this was well into the modern era where a car's main purpose is to make money for the dealership in maintenance charges, especially so of something like and audi R8. so all the problems it's going to have, each one is going to cost a small fortune. it's not like a honda civic where if you need a pair of front brake pads it'll cost 48 dollars at your local NAPA, it'll cost 378 dollars at the dealer because there's only one manufacturer and they only sell through audi's dealership network.
if you want something mid engined, you should be looking at something like an SW20
Trollygag@reddit
If by "6 figures", you mean around or a little over 100k, then you aren't making a lot of money in 2024 in most of the country - not enough for a 17 year old supercar to be a smart move, and nowhere near "blow on Uber high end vehicle" money.
I suggest you do a 6 month nest egg, max out retirement, put 1k/mo into savings, and then put the leftovers of your expenses vs income into an R8 fund, buy it in cash outright when you have enough. Then you will already be adjusted to putting away a bunch of money to keep that car running without ruining the rest of your finances.
NappyFlickz@reddit (OP)
I have a decent savings account as is. The only reason why I'm not factoring that in right now is because I've specifically dedicated that to emergency housing and transportation costs and nothing else. I don't even touch it for repairs on my current car, which is why after losing my current car in an accident, I've been walking and using public transportation.
Trollygag@reddit
Do you have 100k in savings, enough to meet the guidelines I set out above?
NappyFlickz@reddit (OP)
Not quite
trapped_outta_town2@reddit
Fuck the haters, just go for it. Just keep in mind that being an Audi from 2008 you will need a very generous slush fund to keep it running well.
Blaizefed@reddit
I am an exotic car mechanic. Everyone her is going to advise against this and we all know why. I’ll offer a counterpoint, while I personally would go 911, I do appreciate they do not have the road presence an R8 does.
I will say that when compared to all the other options in the “15 year old exotic car for $50k” world, you could do a lot worse than an R8. While there is the possibility of some expensive repairs, they are for the most part very reliable cars. Find one that has not been modified (aside from the suspension change other have mentioned) and they are as reliable as any other Audi from that era. That is to say, as long as it’s maintained, it should be fine.
trapped_outta_town2@reddit
So "maintenance" being opening up the engine to replace broken plastic chain guides, stretched timing chains, preemptively replacing any rubber seal that can easily be reached, swapping out various plastic parts that are brittle and possibly the entire cooling system including the radiators and hoses, then hoping like hell the transmission doesn't start acting up?
MDTashley@reddit
My mate had a V8 one with a gated manual shifter and a titanium exhaust. It sounded and drove very well... He also had some MR2s with built motors and turbos..... And they were way more fun to drive. The Audi also financially ruined him, 100K for the car and 25K chasing an electrical problem at multiple specialists and no-one could resolve it. The built MR2 he had (230ish rwks) with a mint paint job.. was 30K.
Loud_Dumps@reddit
Just keep in mind these cars are approaching 20yrs old. So you have to budget for that and what comes with age, not necessarily mileage. Find a good independent shop and know where to get parts.
AngryScottish@reddit
R8s are still a $150k car to maintain, even if they can be had for $50k.
Other than that, the V8s are mounted off-center, so if you're neurotic, that will bother you to no end.
LeadfootYT@reddit
R8s at least have bespoke equipment to justify the high cost of consumables (as opposed to being expensive for “luxury’s” sake), and you get what you pay for. It’s just something to be conscious of, not a reason to avoid the car.
lique_madique@reddit
I’m not here to talk you out of it. I’ll answer your question directly. They have magnetorheological shocks that can leak at high mileage. The shocks are no longer cheap as supply dwindles so the cheap option is to replace with coilovers and EDC deletes. They can be sent out for rebuild to specific shops as well. The ac compressor is shaft driven and can go easily. Most people say to always keep the ac running when you are driving to prolong the life. If/when it goes out, you need to find a mechanic who knows what they are doing to save money. Audi calls for an engine out replacement for the compressor but it’s fairly simple to do it without taking everything out hence why you need to find a mechanic who knows what they are doing. The r-tronic needs to be driven a certain type of way, different from a typical torque converter auto, and tuning it helps with the drivability. The car needs to be run hard as it tends to get Carbon buildup that requires walnut blasting.
Sidekicknicholas@reddit
Many had air suspension that was terrible and prone to failure, I would look for one that had the OEM bags replaced with springs.
Outside of that fairly robust cars, but I would also get the v10.
lique_madique@reddit
They never had air suspension. They had magnetorheological which is prone to leaking in the high mileage cars.
NappyFlickz@reddit (OP)
Noted.
Yaj_Yaj@reddit
I hope your job is stable and it works out for you bud. A lot of naysayers here but it’s your money and your life. Enjoy it.
kingtuft@reddit
Wait 3 years, save $$.
Then buy a used Cayman to hold you over.
Wait another 2-3 years, keep saving.
Then, go test drive some R8s against higher spec Porsches.
seopants@reddit
I’ve heard that the V8s are very difficult to replace if there are any issues, and that the v10 is more reliable. Not an expert, just saw Hoovie and Tavarish’s struggles with a V8.
Bot_Fly_Bot@reddit
My financial advice: “about to start a six-figure job” isn’t the kind of situation where you buy a car which while fairly bulletproof still comes with eye-watering maintenance costs.
NappyFlickz@reddit (OP)
Correct, and way ahead of you
Tje199@reddit
Following this thread because I'm also somewhat interested in these. I've heard lots of good things about the reliability of these.
At the end of the day they're not really that crazy for a supercar, 4.0s 0-60, "only" 414 horsepower from a 4.2L V8. And that's probably a good thing from a reliability perspective.