Beautiful sunny day yesterday, I'm sitting in traffic and a red V10 R8 is in the lane next to me. I have plenty of time to study it, and even have a brief glance at the businessman who's paid very close to £100,000 for it, and that got me thinking; if you had the same amount of money, would one, buy one?

I think it's definitely one of Audi's more interesting pieces (not saying much mind!) and I don't doubt the build and drive is going to be epic, and that's before we get to the V10 next to your head, but what else would £100,000 get you that might evoke a bit more passion?

We could always talk about what that amount of money would get you on the 2nd hand market......

 

No , they have nothing about them as do most modern "super" cars and will just attract animosity from most quarters , I'd rather sit there in a jag xk140 or similar safe in the knowledge few would know its worth and many would smile at the nice old car.

 

I'm going to be a spoilsport this time and say - ultimately - it's totally irrelevant what I think of someone else having spent 100k on an R8. The fact is - this guy had 100k to spend on a car and won't have taken that decision lightly.

Either-
He knew exactly what was available, assessed the options and for his own reasons decided the R8 was the correct choice

Or-
He has no idea about cars, and bought the R8 because it was his favourite wheeled fashion accessory.

Win-win if you ask me.

Ach I'm going to answer anyway - if I was in the market for a 100k 2-seater, it would be a Gallardo Sypder, in green.

Essentially, an R8 in a dress that shows I can't afford the Aventador I really wanted...

 

I was fortunate to be in that position earlier in the year - did consider the V10 R8 but eventually bought a AM Vantage V12 - lots of passion

 

or, it wasn't his car - he was just borrowing it

or, he changes his cars like underpants and will keep this one for all of three months

or, he's a dealer

or, he hired it for a couple of days

etc, etc

NOTHING can be deduced about buying motives (most cars aren't even bought, they are leased!) from looking at a driver unless you know them, and then your deductions aren't based on looking at them

as for the original question, why not 'spend' (lease) a £100K R8 - maybe you've had a Gallardo, F430, GTR, Maser GT, Top Trump 911 and fancy a change?

I'd definitely like one for a while but I have no idea how long a while might be - moderns are pretty boring and similar in feel

 

I had this conversation with a friend just last week, I was under the impression they were much cheaper than they actually are. I figured they would be about the 70k mark to compete with an entry level 911 say. I can't stand Audi so I wouldn't have one myself, plus i think the R8 isn't a very nice car to look at. I'd take a GTR over it anyday!

 

Yeh, I would take the GTR as well and spend the change on a E-Type.

 

No.

It was on my second hand 60k list (V8) when I bought the GT3, but when you get to £100k new, it's a bit of an odd territory. You are way past super saloons but not near the new breed of super cars, so I can see why someone would. The R8 is also useable unlike a Fezza or Lamborghini.

100k I'd be buying used and looking at F430 / V12 Vantage / Gallardo type things over an R8.

 

Not for me.

As crazy as this sounds, but it's not special enough for me. Audi make grey saloon cars, not expensive exotica, and it will take a long time to shake that stigma. For that kind of money I'd have to opt for the more traditional supercar manufacturers like Aston, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

 

You're better off keeping the change for tyres / gearboxes / bonnet resets