Audi R8 Gen1 V8 Manual - PART 1

[@nigel.w]

It looks like a really nice example! Heated seats would have been nice, but really no big deal. The Mag Ride is a bit like the R-Tronic; seemed like a good idea back in the day, but the ownership proposition would be much better without it. Hopefully there will be an aftermarket solution to the rear suspension, so when the time comes you don't have to face the V10 conversion, which actually partially justifies the roughly 10-15 grand price difference between a decent V8 manual and a decent V10 manual. Still, the fact that you can get a really good V8 R8 for less than GBP40K makes them a compelling proposition, as long as you've got the money to maintain one as it should be maintained. No used performance car is cheap to run in the longer term, but as I think I said when you posted a video discussing sub-GBP40K options, I think a 911 997.2 or 991.1, or a Boxster/Cayman 981 S/GTS is a better proposition for long-term running costs...but obviously the trade off is that a 911, and certainly a Cayman/Boxster is not as special. FWLIW, I definitely think you have bought the exact right car for you, and I wish you many happy years with it. Even if you end up with a large bill every now and again, I think you just have to accept that is part and parcel of the supercar ownership experience and make your peace with it. At the end of the day, even the large bills you have noted you will likely face at some point are actually relatively small in comparison to the depreciation you would face on most significantly more ordinary cars in the GBP30-40K price range. IMO, the R8 represents a really good value long-term ownership proposition compared to any other supercar, and I agree that they are destined to rise in value. Lastly, I would like to suggest that the R8 is a full supercar, not a junior supercar. It cannot be that the V10 is a supercar and the V8 isn't. IMO, a junior supercar is something like a Lotus Evora and Emira, or back in the day, the original V6 Dino and the Maserati Merak. The only thing junior about the R8 when it was new was the price compared to a Lamborghini Gallardo or Ferrari F430. Yes, it was slightly down on power and performance, but hardly significant on the road, and had slightly more power and performance than the immediately previous Ferrari 360, which nobody would describe as a junior supercar. Even critics of the Ferrari Mondial forget that from the QV variant onward Mondials still had more power and performance than the equivalent 911. All were supercars in their day and forever remain so; otherwise the Lamborghini Miura and Countach are not supercars, and that would be ridculous to say. Entry-level, yes; junior, no.

[@FastandFun]

Thanks for the comment. I agree with all your points and currently have no regret with the choice. Only time will really tell but it’s feeling very special at the moment. You make a really good point regard (junior) supercar or not. It’s always been a controversial subject even though it’s not important. Comparison to the Ferrari 360 and 430 makes a strong case that it is although others will say the V8 was pitched directly against the 911 C4S which isn’t (assuming that only the 911 Turbo is). We could discuss this subject all night. 😂

[@pkbeast]

To me if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. It sure as hell has the looks and with a Capristo exhaust (which mine also has), it definitely quacks! The only time I don't call it a supercar is when I'm meeting new people as I feel like a Class A Douchebag if I say I have a supercar.

[@FastandFun]

@@pkbeast 😂 good point, I never refer to mine as a supercar either for the same reason as you mention!

[@jamescale3805]

Not sure if anyone else has commented on this but the rear suspension issue now does have options, with refurbed ball joints and fully refurbed complete arms so no need to replace whole rear with V10 option.

[@nigel.w]

@@jamescale3805 I haven't seen this stated before, so good to know!

[@michaelarwas8466]

Great vid. I have one with 46k miles purchased in lockdown. Fantastic car but has not been cheap to run. Had magrides go at the rear so got those refurbished by the Polish company - they were great to deal with and refurb is perfect. I also had to deal with some minor corrosion on the rear arches. Finally, the big ticket problem is the air con compressor has failed - as you say engine out job. Can’t stomach the 4k cost at the moment so will wait until a clutch is needed and get the economies of doing both at the same time. Epic car though and mine has the top gear f1 exhaust which is fairly mental. Enjoy yours!

[@pkbeast]

Got my Gen 1 V8 R8 back in Dec '22 on passives. My mate has a Gen 2 Spyder on Magrides. Heard a little about the Polish referb company in my research but my mate told me only yesterday that not only do they refurb it, but at the same time they also fix the design defect that causes the problem in the first place. From your experience, is that legit or possibly just a bunch of hear-say?

[@lukasuton2433]

best audi ever

[@pkbeast]

@Fast and Fun - Something that I want to mention about the Capristo exhaust is apparently the valve controller box can sometimes break. Got mine on an '09 V8 R8 and suddenly the valves wont open even though the LED on the remote is still blinking. Ricky Elder told me that whilst they are weather-proofed, they didn't do the best job so they can sometimes suffer from water ingress over time. Looking to get mine replaced in the next few weeks and at time of writing I've been quoted £775+VAT for the valve controller and £125+VAT for 1 hour labour at RE Performance. Just a heads up.

[@FastandFun]

Good intel - thank you. Hope I don’t need the info for a good few years yet ….. here’s hoping 🤞

[@EddieRicks-i8v]

It’s the best car I have owned yet my Audi tt mk2 is so much easier to maneuver because it’s not as wide as the r8 . 😊

[@STORM3SHADOW]

Mine's a Sepang Blue Gen 1. The only other color I was considering was Suzuka Grey. I wanted to car to pop when sitting in a sea of neutral colored R8s. Black is nice, but way too difficult to keep clean and maintain. When it is clean, there's no other shine than on a black car.

[@Birmingham_racing]

All high revving engines tend to burn oil and it's a shame about the carbon build up in a petrol

[@FIN4LBO55]

Lovely car, I had a mugello blue v8 manual a year or so ago and it was a fantastic car I am potentially looking at getting another potentially with the v10 this time instead!

[@villaman4818]

Great video. i love my v8 manual. Had toyed with the idea of selling it , but have decided to keep and get a number of minor maintenance jobs which were identified be R.E.P during its recent inspection, done in the Spring. May I please kindly ask you to incorporate a start up in your next video as id love to hear the Capristo exhaust. I had a top gear fitted last year but not heard many others. Cheers

[@FastandFun]

Thanks. Part 2 (released next week) is all the driving so lots of capristo exhaust sound plus you should find a KZbin short on my channel of a cold start of the Capristo exhaust (although it doesn’t do it justice tbf).

[@stevensumner3146]

Very interesting vid. Just wondering if it’s a common wiring loom then some of the options might be a simple plug n play?

[@FastandFun]

I think you’re right, many cars come prepared (eg electric looms in place) just need the options ticked to be enabled (eg heated seats).

[@tinniswood2577]

Nice review, looks a very tidy example and the interior, at least on camera, looks like new.

[@FastandFun]

Thanks. Camera’s always make cars look better, but it is in great condition for its age 👍🏻

[@MrDieselakias]

happy miles