First supercar. 2012 12c v 2015 R8 V10 Plus
Discussion
So I've never owned a supercar and a lovely time warp silver with red interior 2012 12c coupe came on the market for sale via Collecting Cars and I was only a whisker away from buying.
I baulked bidding over £65,000 because I've also been looking at 2015 R8 Plus recently as a first supercar ( I know I know lets say mid engine V10 if R8s not a true super car or exotic like the 12c). The last of the line first gen R8. I like the way the Audi R8s are built. Love the Mac 12c too just as much as R8 (if not more in many ways) and may rue not buying that 12c as its in the classifieds today for £85k. I think I maybe made a mistake not swallowing the brave pill on the 12c!
Would obviously love and prefer a 458 just think they're a bit too toppy at £140,000 minimum for a good one. The R8 V10 Plus on paper looks compelling at only £65,000 for a good one and they've been sitting in the classifieds forever so I could probably get an amazing condition R8 Plus for £60k?
Branding aside why are these last of the line Audi R8 Plus so relatively cheap and unloved? Are they not fun to drive? Not worried about image etc.
Happy to listen to other suggestions from supercar owners as I'm a virgin. Love 355, 360 and 550m too then look at the build quality and just a bit shocked coming from German cars
I'm not price sensitive but love a genuine bargain. I'd told myself I'd wait till March and then buy a 458 but these R8 V10 Plus looks such value by comparison.
I baulked bidding over £65,000 because I've also been looking at 2015 R8 Plus recently as a first supercar ( I know I know lets say mid engine V10 if R8s not a true super car or exotic like the 12c). The last of the line first gen R8. I like the way the Audi R8s are built. Love the Mac 12c too just as much as R8 (if not more in many ways) and may rue not buying that 12c as its in the classifieds today for £85k. I think I maybe made a mistake not swallowing the brave pill on the 12c!
Would obviously love and prefer a 458 just think they're a bit too toppy at £140,000 minimum for a good one. The R8 V10 Plus on paper looks compelling at only £65,000 for a good one and they've been sitting in the classifieds forever so I could probably get an amazing condition R8 Plus for £60k?
Branding aside why are these last of the line Audi R8 Plus so relatively cheap and unloved? Are they not fun to drive? Not worried about image etc.
Happy to listen to other suggestions from supercar owners as I'm a virgin. Love 355, 360 and 550m too then look at the build quality and just a bit shocked coming from German cars
I'm not price sensitive but love a genuine bargain. I'd told myself I'd wait till March and then buy a 458 but these R8 V10 Plus looks such value by comparison.
Edited by Desert Dragon on Monday 24th October 12:52
Had a S Tronic facelift Gen 1 R8 plus a while back....great cars, v quick, super reliable and the engine is a masterpiece. At the money hard to argue against one although my subsequent V12VS and 570s felt/feel more special. Think the 12c running costs might be hard to stomach unless you have a good indy within a reasonable distance.
Desert Dragon said:
So it was your purple 12c spyder that got me thinking about supercars! A 2015 R8 plus manual as rare as hens teeth by the way. I'd love one. Any thoughts on S tronic?
Yeah I really shouldn’t have sold that !Indeed manual Plus is a rare beast
I won’t be making the same mistake and selling this one !
I had a Samoa Orange S-Tronic, with Capristo and I loved it
The gearbox combo with that engine is sublime.
Yes it’s not exotic, but definitely still turns heads like a supercar. It sounds better than the McLaren, but obviously feels a lot heavier.
For £60k, I’d say a real nice condition, spec Plus is an absolute bargain.
The gearbox combo with that engine is sublime.
Yes it’s not exotic, but definitely still turns heads like a supercar. It sounds better than the McLaren, but obviously feels a lot heavier.
For £60k, I’d say a real nice condition, spec Plus is an absolute bargain.
Very different cars and both great in their own way. Have you driven either? That might decide it for you. It's a very personal choice and they drive quite differently.
12C running costs I'd imagine will be quite a bit higher.
Hard to say no to that V10 noise, but would you always be thinking 'what if?' if you buy the R8?
12C running costs I'd imagine will be quite a bit higher.
Hard to say no to that V10 noise, but would you always be thinking 'what if?' if you buy the R8?
The R8 is a good stepping stone to a Mclaren/Ferrari/Lambo.
The service cost is low but parts are expensive. It is relatively reliable if you keep the mileage low.
I had 2 (2011 V10 Manual and 2014 V10+ Stronic). The car is dominated by the engine and although Americans rave about the manual, it is not a great gearbox. The Stronic is far superior with rev matching on downshift. You keep changing gears just to hear the engine reving!
Price wise, a gen2 went for £53k +fee on collecting cars. I think a 2015 V10 plus is in the low 50s. Definitely not the 60s unless it has stupidly low mileage and you plan not to drive it...
The service cost is low but parts are expensive. It is relatively reliable if you keep the mileage low.
I had 2 (2011 V10 Manual and 2014 V10+ Stronic). The car is dominated by the engine and although Americans rave about the manual, it is not a great gearbox. The Stronic is far superior with rev matching on downshift. You keep changing gears just to hear the engine reving!
Price wise, a gen2 went for £53k +fee on collecting cars. I think a 2015 V10 plus is in the low 50s. Definitely not the 60s unless it has stupidly low mileage and you plan not to drive it...
paddy1970 said:
The R8 is a good stepping stone to a Mclaren/Ferrari/Lambo.
This. Maybe test the water with a R8 and then in a year or so you'll be in a much better position to move into a supercar. Jumping straight in to something with it's downfalls (usually associated with build quality rather than anything that leaves you stranded at the roadside) and associated high costs can take the edge off ownership. Especially if you're financing as well, becomes a very expensive toy compared to your normal fast Germans. paddy1970 said:
Price wise, a gen2 went for £53k +fee on collecting cars.
To be fair, this car had had a hard life as a track experience car, and although the mileage wasn't high, the car had been knocked around.I own a 2010 R8 V10 manual and as has already been said, they are not too expensive to serivice but the price of some parts can be eye-watering.
WRT a MacLaren, the general advice on the forum is don't even consider owning one without a warranty. A buddy of mine can testify to this!
Trev450 said:
To be fair, this car had had a hard life as a track experience car, and although the mileage wasn't high, the car had been knocked around.
I own a 2010 R8 V10 manual and as has already been said, they are not too expensive to serivice but the price of some parts can be eye-watering.
WRT a MacLaren, the general advice on the forum is don't even consider owning one without a warranty. A buddy of mine can testify to this!
Another buddy with mcproblems! Where do they come from.I own a 2010 R8 V10 manual and as has already been said, they are not too expensive to serivice but the price of some parts can be eye-watering.
WRT a MacLaren, the general advice on the forum is don't even consider owning one without a warranty. A buddy of mine can testify to this!
Actual owner here with 12C, has been fantastically reliable in 4 years, no warranty.
R8 V10 is a great starting point though. 650S after would be my advice.
I'm not price sensitive at all guys. If Ferrari would sell me a 296 GTS I think I'd probably have one in a heart beat (without too many options mind). Try buying one. I have even enquired re their new 4x4 SUV for wife with a dealer group I've known for ages and not even a response. On the two to three year old F8 and 488 Pista etc I really don't see value at the mo buying used. Even 458 which is probably my fave holding their residuals amazingly well.
When I saw the purple 12c spyder I thought wow thats aged well, a relative bargain, and looks classy. Then by coincidence a time warp silver 12c coupe came up and with only a few mins to go on CC auction and was about to sell for only £60k. Bid up to £65k but the dealer who eventually ended up with the beautiful silver 12c coupe has recently put her in the classifieds at £85k. I think the dealer was always going out bid me with up to a potential £20k margin in the 12c. Maybe I should have bid beyond this for the 12c as it was a proper time warp example in a fave met colour and yes also noticed the 2015 Blue R8 Plus sell for early 50s and was thinking wow thats so reasonable for a v10. I've also been to see a few 550m on CC which have sold for between £70k-80k. Their condition nothing wrong or anything but they don't seem to wear their miles that well at say 50k miles + and I think I could have easily spent a small fortune getting these 550m from say a 5/10 to an 8/10.
Interesting and helpful posts many thanks. I think I may be having a mid life crisis
When I saw the purple 12c spyder I thought wow thats aged well, a relative bargain, and looks classy. Then by coincidence a time warp silver 12c coupe came up and with only a few mins to go on CC auction and was about to sell for only £60k. Bid up to £65k but the dealer who eventually ended up with the beautiful silver 12c coupe has recently put her in the classifieds at £85k. I think the dealer was always going out bid me with up to a potential £20k margin in the 12c. Maybe I should have bid beyond this for the 12c as it was a proper time warp example in a fave met colour and yes also noticed the 2015 Blue R8 Plus sell for early 50s and was thinking wow thats so reasonable for a v10. I've also been to see a few 550m on CC which have sold for between £70k-80k. Their condition nothing wrong or anything but they don't seem to wear their miles that well at say 50k miles + and I think I could have easily spent a small fortune getting these 550m from say a 5/10 to an 8/10.
Interesting and helpful posts many thanks. I think I may be having a mid life crisis
123RY said:
Another buddy with mcproblems! Where do they come from.
Exactly...and it is not like the R8 is bullet proof...leaky adaptive dampers (although the plus use passive ones), expensive aircon failure...However the worst is the audi dealership...to avoid at all costs...a bunch of muppets. This is by far the most negative experience with the R8.
Best advice is to go and see one of each; get a drive if you can. A Supercar is something you purchase with your heart, not your head, and you might find that after 5 minutes your question is answered.
Last year I was trying to decide between a Gallardo, a California and a 430, so I went to see all three of them. Literally 2 minutes in each car would have been enough to answer my question, only one of them gave me the feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was after. I had barely started the 430 when my mind was made up and I knew neither of the other cars would do. I've had the same experience before when choosing between two cars, sometimes when you know, you just know.
Last year I was trying to decide between a Gallardo, a California and a 430, so I went to see all three of them. Literally 2 minutes in each car would have been enough to answer my question, only one of them gave me the feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was after. I had barely started the 430 when my mind was made up and I knew neither of the other cars would do. I've had the same experience before when choosing between two cars, sometimes when you know, you just know.
^^^^ This, the 12c wipes the floor with 458 as far as performance goes (2.9 secs quicker at TG track, 2.8 quicker than Enzo, even quicker than Veyron ss from memory) Interior on 458 is not too special either with steel seat runners visible when door opened for instance. No offence to R8 owners but that interior is woeful by comparison, the TT is better. The only thing that the McLarens fall short on is sound.
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