I know its a bit OT but seeing as we're all in the demographoc for this car there is a link....
Has anyone seen the prices people are asking and getting bids on for these R8's???
Check on Ebay but make sure you're socks are on tight. People are asking up to $200K and getting bids in excess of $160K Has the world gone mad?????
I'd like one but it comes way behind a GT3, TT and a Gallardo.

 

I agree. The R8 seems to be a great car based on all magazines reviews, but no way ahead of GT3, Gallardo or RS

 

Some people just want to be the first one on the block with the latest hot car written about in the mags and are willing to pay a premium for the privelege. Seems like the R8s are currently selling for 30K over sticker which considering the limited number of cars available seems reasonable. Is it better than a 997tt, gallardo or GT3? Depends what you're looking for but I'd sure love one of each.

 

Saw one on the road yesterday. It was in black. At first, I thought it was new TT. It was so dull looking, my wife didn't even ask me what it was.

I totally agree that it's no way near GT3 or Gallardo.

 

My buddy should be taking delivery of his next month, so I'll get a chance to drive it. I'll give my feedback then.

 

Fifth Gear: 997 4S X51 vs Audi R8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LstUKfivXMM

my money was on the 4S but see for yourselves who won

 

I test drove the R8 and even made it into the order queue, but I opted for a 997 instead so I cancelled my order and got my deposit back.

No doubt, the R8 is a great car. I haven't heard anybody suggest otherwise and it deserves all the praise it's been getting -- especially considering this is Audi's first attempt at a sportscar. I'm sure Porsche is thinking very hard about the R8 while designing the next generation 911, and that's goodness for all Porschephiles.

Having said all that, I changed my mind becacuse for a number of reasons:

1) The R8 is too exotic looking and commands far too much attention. Hjluvjj, your wife may have not even noticed the car, but most people do. Sure the car is new and different so that adds to the problem, but it will always command more attention than a Porsche IMO (CGT excluded of course). For me, this was a real problem. Also I feel the R8's bark is bigger than it's bite. If you're going drive around in a car that looks like an exotic, then it better be able to knock the socks off just about any sedan that pulls up next to you, tuned or not, and that's just not the case. The V10 version will be a different story, but that's also another reason not to get the R8. When the R10 comes out (assuming that's what they call it) the R8s will instantly become must less desireable and resale values will adjust accordingly.

2) The car handles great and is very well balanced, but it's not as involving to drive as the 997. It feels more like a GT car and if that's what you're looking for, the 997TT may be a better choice. Also, the first thing the sales guy asked me to do was roll down the window so we could hear the engine. It's true what all the write-ups say about the car sounding much duller on the inside thatn out. It's too bad because my RS4 sounds great from inside the cabin.

3) I hate the cheesy and anemic steering wheel. I wouldn't not get car because of it, but it's the one gripe I had about the otherwise great interior. But c'mon Audi, it's the steeringwheel for Peet's sake. Why skimp here? You can at least put the same steering wheel in the car that you put in the Gallardo which also happens to be the same exact steering wheel in the RS4 (Euro). Also, I couldn't believe it when the sales guy handed me the keys and it was that same VW keyfob! Was he kidding me?? For the RS4 it fine because you never really forget that you're driving around in a supertuned A4, but for the R8 I expected something special. Even the new S5 (and presumably all new platform Audis) get newly designed key fobs with features like keyless entry, etc., but w/ the R8 you get the same key fob as a VW Golf. This wouldn't bother me btw if I didn't hate the oversized, ugly fob so much in the first place.

4) I question if the R8 is really as great of a deal as the reviewers suggest. The price is the same as a GT3, which puts it in the middle of a 997 C2S/C4s and 997TT, and yet all the reviews pin it against the C2S/C4s. Why is this?

5) Finally, for me, I could never get myself to fall in love with the looks of the R8. From some angles it looks great, but from others it looks just plain weird. On the other hand, the 997 is perfect. When I finally made it down to the Porsche dealer and saw a black 997GT3 on the lot (being delivered to another customer) I knew the R8 was over for me. It was a very emotional thing that I can't explain but the 997 was the car I knew I needed to have over the R8.

I started going down the path of buying 997C2S, but when the opportunity came up to get a 997GT3, I grabbed it. It's a basalt black GT3 just like the one I mentioned above and I'm very happy with the car and have no regrets about giving up my R8 slot.

-Roland.

 

They really tortured these poor cars !

"For sale : 997 4S and Audi R8, VIP cars with only a few miles on them...Even come with new tires and we won't tell you why....."

 

Of course, R8 is a great car. I would love to have one if I can afford to have one. However, there are so many other cars I would want to have before I get R8 with that much money. GT3 is definitely one of them.

Check out this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju5uSOM3bZc

As I said earlier, it's no where close to GT3

 

i'm going down to the audi dealership this afternoon to take a first hand look at the r8. only 2 are being allocated for oahu, 1 is already spoken (gray). the 2nd black/black is scheduled for spring 2008 delivery. salesguy said they were going for 50 k over sticker so (114 K plus another 50 K). good thing i'm aiming for a 997 c2s instead am testdriving an arctic silver 997 c2s 06 tomorrow, will keep you all posted.

 

The R8's looks are more cheesy than exotic. Especially with that hideous "blade". jmo...

 

I don't understand how anybody could possibly pay $50k over sticker for an R8. Yes, it's new and novel and it's not uncommon for cars as such to command these kinds of premiums. But in the case of the R8 which is watered down version of the Gallardo, it just doesn't make any sense. If you're going to pay $50k over MSRP, get the real thing! Also, if I was crazy enough to pay $50k over MSRP, I'd sure feel stupid next year when the R10s start showing up and seeing the new R10 owners in thier cars that they paid less for than I did for my R8, and that my $160k R8 is now worth about $90k. Money no object?? Well, then, get a Gallardo.

 

For the R8 prices being asked, I'd get a loaded 997TT and take Euro delivery...

 

Well, went down to the audi dealership to take my friend to test drive the s5 this afternoon. the space gray r8 was gone from the dealership 3 days ago so i didn't get to see it in person. i did get the pricepoint on the black/black r8 scheduled for january 21 2008 delivery. 124 k msrp with sticker of 179 k! i'm surprised that the base r8 (manual shift 114 k) doesn't come with bang and olufsen audio, nav, or rear view camera. if you want the r-tronic option slap on another 8 or 10 k! btw, the space gray r8 went for 185 k! that's just retarded imo. what's that ride gonna be worth when the r10 comes out?

on a positive note, i was the 3rd person at the dealership to see the 08 maserati gran turismo although it was raised 10 feet off the ground for servicing. the front and rear fascia look aggressive and the fender flare is impressive. looks like it has a long wheelbase, maybe 6 to 8 inches shorter than the quattroporte.

 

Absolutely my point. I'm not questioning the merits of the car itself, I've owned an NSX and that always punched way above its weight (a car I liken the R8 to). I was just gobsmacked at the price people are willing to pay over list for this car. Its new, so I can see $5-10k over, but $50k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come on, that price puts it in the territory of some vey tasty cars.
I've just realised that I'm no longer in the demo at that price so this thread was very OT!