Good spot

Lots of reasons why I needed a function machine over outright pleasure on this occasion, but oddly the M3 was the drivers car out of my short list. Had the need been different, I'd have been in something more exotic. It's all the S / racings fault

 

Having had one for 5 days (thank you Audi), yes I would have one but money would have to be plentiful to get me to spend that much on one car.

 

I was underwhelmed by a new model at a circuit.
Technically excellent and effortless speed.
But pointless for that reason alone.

 

I'd have an R8 V8 as a daily driver.

Looks nice, nippy, makes a nice noise, engineering and build miles better than a 911 (IMHO).

I'd have to be a multi millionaire before i'd squander that type of money on it - i'd rather get a Helicopter.

 

Audi know their market, like BMW

There was a Fifth Gear feature on the R8 that was fairly insightful

iirc they were saying the R8 wasn't designed for petrolheads

the typical buyer isn't interested in trackdays but wants something they can open up on the road every now and gain whilst having plenty of perceived status - the R8 ticks all thos boxes and will get the right nods at a beancounters' convention or the golf club

if you look at the car like that, you can see why many people choose them - BMW don't offer any competition at that level, the black Mercs are a bit gangsta and anything else a bit flash or fragile or both (911, Maser, etc)

hardly anyone on here would choose one for their daily car if they had £100K to splash because most here want something different from their car

in addition, a £100K daily driver does suggest a different lifestyle to most on here

 

Which raises an excellent point - why HAVEN'T BMW currently got a halo sports coupe?

The paradox being:

They have the M6. Audi think that competes with the RS5 - which it does
BMW think it's to compete with the SL55 - which it does
Mercedes think the SL55 is to compete with the R8 - which it does

I'm very confused.

I'm sure they ought to be pushing out some sort of strictly 2-seat 100k VerygoodCar? The obvious being a new take on the 8##

 

The 8 was a GT car, like the bigger Mercs. for wafting not racing.

i'm not sure BM have ever been in that market. indeed Audi surprised everyone with the R8. whether the acvountants deem it a success i don't know. most audis are A3s or A4s, same as BM where most are cooking 3 series.

is it less fragile than a 911?

I don't know what the typical driver would be. i could buy an R8 for that money but i don't want to. i'd be pretty skint after the deal though . I imagine a fair few are financed by people who are less than conservative with their cash.

they don't hold their value do they!

 

As a low mileage 'used' 5 year old model, it will be worth 20k max no doubt - bargains coming as long as they don't start going wrong.

 

Nail on the head that description.

Wouldn't take it near a track, but would happily blast across Europe in it with the Mistress

 

BMW IS working on their equivalent of the NSX. I can only lay blame on these Sad CAFE requirements..