Which car to rent for BF’s bday?

Posted by Fatlard15@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 39 comments

Hi! I’m looking to rent a car (in his name) for my BF’s birthday. I’d like to get a Lamborghini but the price for one day is a little more than I’d be willing to spend.

So I’m currently debating between an Audi R8 and a corvette. Any thoughts on either? I don’t want to ask because I want it to be a total surprise.

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u700MHz@reddit

R8 was initially designed by Lamborghini

So R8

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Hash-82@reddit

R8... for a day.
Please, God, don't buy one 🤣

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Outside-Rain-7410@reddit

R8 for sure. Mid-engined, much more exotic looking than a corvette and will be more memorable.

That’s a very thoughtful gift from you.

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Technically the Corvette is mid-engined too. I'd assume they are using one within the last half of the decade lol. But the R8 definitely is more exotic and rare, and anything under Z06 would be an immediate booking of the R8.

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Outside-Rain-7410@reddit

But only the latest version. I assumed it would be C7 or earlier, because it’s a daily rental experience. If it’s a C8, you are right that they would both be mid-engined. Front-engined still comes to mind when I think corvette 😅

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CaptainDolphin42@reddit

the post said c8 3lt

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TheWhogg@reddit

An R8 IS a Lamborghini. There’s no such thing as a Lambo. I watched them assemble the Anus at the Santagata factory. It was covered in stickers saying “Audi - made in Slovenia.”

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BackgroundGene7510@reddit

Well the same parts yes but they drive and feel very different

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TheWhogg@reddit

Doubt Mr OP is going to detect the extra 30hp tuning. Put the R8 into some Sport+ mode if you want to feel more uncomfortable.

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CapitalOk9022@reddit

If he doesn’t car about cars why waste the money

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tetsuo_and_soup@reddit

Is he a car guy or just a bit into cars? R8 would for sure have the wow factor, but honestly as an enthusiast id personally rather drive a corvette. Really depends on what he's into.

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nozzerella@reddit

Absolutely not. If she rents him a corvette he’s going to buy one. They’re amazingly priced for what they are, especially if you go used market

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Fatlard15@reddit (OP)

Just a bit. Not an avid car guy

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funcentric@reddit

I would recommend exploring other options for gifts.

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TacticalPidgeon@reddit

He's probably going to want to hit the gas hard multiple times. If the R8 is the Quattro (AWD), the small help from the front wheels will help him keep it tame. It still sends a vast majority of power to the rear wheels, but the bit to the front can help keep it straight. People who haven't driven RWD sports cars just randomly stomping the gas to the floor can get ugly quick. Plus, the R8 is definitely a more "exotic" car than the Corvette, and will likely just be more fun for that. If he can drive a manual, then look for manual Porches - exotic and super fun.

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tetsuo_and_soup@reddit

R8 for sure then

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CloudsTasteGeometric@reddit

Porsche Cayman should be relatively affordable to rent, tons of fun, and approachable from a driving perspective.

The R8 is good too if the Porsche doesn’t feel exotic enough.

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Few-Anywhere607@reddit

Consider: Are you renting for day/weekend? Long Drive? Sit in the parking lots as you tour vineyards?

Are you getting him the "Track Experience"? Don't have to worry about traffic tickets.

Does he drive a manual?

And as someone else mentioned: would he focus more on what you spent rather than the experience?

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Fatlard15@reddit (OP)

Just for the day. I think we’d just go out around the town but no long haul drive. I’m leaning more towards the R8 and see it’s an 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic so I don’t think manual will be needed?
I don’t think pricing would be a factor in his mind(I wouldn’t spend it if I wasn’t comfortable)

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RingOk664@reddit

I would love to drive the Vette on my birthday. Looks sporty and hauls ass. The Audi is a old farts business man's car.

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Desperate_Set_7708@reddit

You need to know if a manual transmission will work for him

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funcentric@reddit

If my gf did that, honestly I’d be more concerned about the financial decision than focused on the joy of the gift.

Perhaps something that’s more interactive between the two of you. Indoor skydiving, gokarting, assuming you like that stuff.

It’s not about the money as much as it about the money as it is the experience.

Also not sure you can really rent a car under someone else’s name. He also may not be okay with the insurance or risk portion of the rental.

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WillHuntingthe3rd@reddit

The Corvette for sure in my opinion. A friend of mine has the A8 as a daily driver. It’s nice but - wow, is not what I get.

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Hansdawgg@reddit

Given the A8 is roughly half the horsepower of the v10 R8 and that they are totally different classes of car I would say so lol. Having said that even the R8 has its problems.

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WillHuntingthe3rd@reddit

The Corvette for sure in my opinion. A friend of mine has the A8 as a daily driver. It’s nice but - wow, is not what I get.

Oh! R8. Sorry. My mistake.

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adamisapple@reddit

As a car person the R8 is way cooler

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RobertForTheWin@reddit

If you want to give him the closest thing to a Lamborghini experience without the Lamborghini price tag, pick the Audi R8 every single time.

The secret about the Audi R8 is that it actually has the exact same V10 engine as the Lamborghini Huracan. While the Corvette C8 is a fantastic car and very fast, it still feels like a Chevy inside. You see Corvettes every day on the road. The Audi R8 is a true exotic supercar. It sounds like a screaming race car when you step on it, and it has a presence that the Corvette just can't match.

For someone who has never been in a supercar, the sound of that V10 behind his head in the Audi will be a memory he never forgets. The Corvette is great, but the Audi R8 is a special occasion car. Go with the R8—he will feel like he’s driving a refined Lamborghini.

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Hansdawgg@reddit

I would say I d be shocked if they had the v10 but I guess she did say they had lambos too so who knows. I know this seems like a silly gripe especially for a single day driving it but there is a lot of compromises about the R8 that I personally am not a fan of. The weirdest of which is no park gear which would make me nervous as hell leaving it anywhere even for a couple of hours lol.

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VonteHD@reddit

Not the corvette for sure. R8

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TheWhogg@reddit

Bear in mind that if/when he destroys it, you will be on the hook for a substantial insurance excess.

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deconstruct110@reddit

I rented a C8 Corvette stingray hard top convertible through Turo for our anniversary weekend. If I were to do it again I would get it for a bit longer, like Friday night and do enough mileage for a mini road trip. If you arrange it upfront it's pretty reasonable. That said, it's got all kinds of rules and nanny features including no speeding, so you can't really floor it. But it was bright yellow and ridiculously loud so we had a lot of fun.

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oddchihuahua@reddit

Read the fine print before you sign or pay. A lot of them require deposits almost as much as the rental price for a day, have really low mileage limits like 40-60 miles, then every additional mile is $1 and that could add up quickly if he wants to get out onto the rural highways.

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