Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Models: V10 plus, GT, GT Spyder, V8 Limited Edition, Exclusive Selection Edition, China Edition and LMX
4.2 V8 32v Naturally Aspirated - 414 bhp (2007-2011) - 424 bhp (2012-2014)
5.2 V10 40v Naturally Aspirated - 518 bhp (2012-2014) - 542 bhp (Plus 2012-2014) - 562 bhp (LMX 2012-2014)
5.2 V10 40v Naturally Aspirated - 533 bhp (2015-)
5.2 V10 40v Naturally Aspirated - 602 bhp (Plus 2015-)
SteveG
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by SteveG » Wed May 04, 2016 11:20 pm

OK -Thanks again.

Do these 4.2 's need de-coking ? Is there any trick to get a main dealer to do it without me having to pay at this stage of purchase if it is an issue ?

Cheers

SteveG

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vestax32
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by vestax32 » Thu May 05, 2016 7:37 pm

SteveG wrote:OK -Thanks again.

Do these 4.2 's need de-coking ? Is there any trick to get a main dealer to do it without me having to pay at this stage of purchase if it is an issue ?

Cheers

SteveG
You'll be very lucky getting a dealer to do a carbon clean. More chance of pigs flying I would have thought!
Current;
18 Daytona Grey RS4
16 Green R8

Past;
17 Misano RS6 PE
66 Sapphire BMW F80 M3.
16 Floret Silver RS6 Performance
18 Mythos Black RS4
14 Daytona Grey RS6
13 Daytona Gey RS6 (Don't ask!)
08 Monza Silver RS6 Avant
07 Phantom Black RS4 Avant
Loads of BM's inc. 4 x M's

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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by doodlebug » Thu May 05, 2016 7:51 pm

Agreed, and I wouldn't trust them to do it right if they did.

SteveG
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by SteveG » Fri May 06, 2016 8:54 am

Yep. OK.

Is there any one that can map the TCU for the R-Tronic.? I called MRC who didn't fill me with confidence on their ability to help with this TBH.

SteveG
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by SteveG » Mon May 30, 2016 9:23 pm

Finally got her this weekend...The dealer threw in a detail within the price :) I love this colour and the rear view.


Image

Stelongy
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by Stelongy » Tue May 31, 2016 4:41 pm

Congrats! I'll just leave this here for you.......http://hawknpoke.com/2012/10/mugello-bl ... orsteiner/

SteveG
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by SteveG » Tue May 31, 2016 10:09 pm

LoL

Thanks very much fella :)

It was actually that article that convinced me to go for my Mugello instead of the typical Grey/ White/ Black choices. I must admit to also loving Red R8.

CheeRS
SteveG

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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by HYFR » Tue May 31, 2016 10:14 pm

RT does have a launch control function

And it is possible to read clutch wear % via the OBD

But RT....seriously, why??!

Manual FTW

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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by HYFR » Tue May 31, 2016 10:15 pm

Here is one of my old RT cars doing a launch control

https://youtu.be/7oeCWAX4cV8

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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by Rs4-Tom » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:36 am

How's your first few days of ownership been
Looks a fantastic car and certainly in my list of cars to try
Congratulations hope you and the misuses get much pleasure out of it

Stelongy
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by Stelongy » Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:56 am

SteveG wrote:LoL

Thanks very much fella :)

It was actually that article that convinced me to go for my Mugello instead of the typical Grey/ White/ Black choices. I must admit to also loving Red R8.

CheeRS
SteveG
I wouldn't say grey was a typical colour to be honest, I searched long and hard to find a good one in grey as it was one of the more desirable colours and commanded a premium. I thought about a white one but they all seemed cheaper and more common, not as bad as black though!

I'm not a fan of them in red, just doesn't look right in my eyes!
HYFR wrote:RT does have a launch control function

And it is possible to read clutch wear % via the OBD

But RT....seriously, why??!

Manual FTW
I'm with you there, I actively stayed away from the R-Tronc after test driving one. I had just come from a dct equipped M3 though and that double clutch system running the gts upgrade was utterly brilliant!

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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by SteveG » Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:58 am

The first few days has been great. Touch wood.
The thing you 1st notice is how solid and stable the car feels all the time. The next thing is the celebrity status from all the admiring looks and "thumbs up" you get from people in cars or just walking by. I think we have had about 5 or 6 separate strangers asking about the car from just 2 trips out so far. If you don't like that kind of attention then don't buy one. The wife loves the car, so much so that she didn't seem to care how much it cost. We are pleased so far. The V8 sounds great, and it does get down the road at speed when asked to, then there are those looks :)

The R-Tronic I find is fine, driving a manual all the time would get a bit annoying to me, especially in traffic situations, but I do understand the joy of going through the ratio's. I used to have an E60 M5 a few years back so got used to the SMG feel. I think of the R-Tronic as having the benefits of an automatic, and yet having some additional character akin to driving a manual. There is a satisfaction that comes from timing a perfect gear change. At WOT and in sport mode, there are no issues at all from the R-tronic as far as I can tell.

Stelongy
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by Stelongy » Wed Jun 01, 2016 7:34 pm

SteveG wrote:The first few days has been great. Touch wood.
The thing you 1st notice is how solid and stable the car feels all the time. The next thing is the celebrity status from all the admiring looks and "thumbs up" you get from people in cars or just walking by. I think we have had about 5 or 6 separate strangers asking about the car from just 2 trips out so far. If you don't like that kind of attention then don't buy one. The wife loves the car, so much so that she didn't seem to care how much it cost. We are pleased so far. The V8 sounds great, and it does get down the road at speed when asked to, then there are those looks :)

The R-Tronic I find is fine, driving a manual all the time would get a bit annoying to me, especially in traffic situations, but I do understand the joy of going through the ratio's. I used to have an E60 M5 a few years back so got used to the SMG feel. I think of the R-Tronic as having the benefits of an automatic, and yet having some additional character akin to driving a manual. There is a satisfaction that comes from timing a perfect gear change. At WOT and in sport mode, there are no issues at all from the R-tronic as far as I can tell.
Glad to hear you are loving it, when driven hard they cover ground at a very respectable rate. As you say, great stability!

I've lost count of how many people I've had that have come over to ask/talk about or drool over the car, definitely still have a big 'wow' factor.

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jonnysideways
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by jonnysideways » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:51 pm

hi all, just flicking through the thread, as had a similar thought.

I'm hoping to look for a entry range R8 this year, but never spent 4-K plus on a car, and as the cheapest R8's that I'd be able to hopefully afford are the oldest highest mileage examples, how do you know if you are getting a good car?

If there anything to avoid like too many owners, over 100K ?

Like with certain cars, Cambelts and timing chains need to have been done or checked, and brakes disks only last so long, and I know on the rs6 and rs4 they are dear, so assume the same of the R8.

also do the specialist garages that I see cars for sale at actually offer a worthwhile warranty form the owners on heres experience, or are they worthless.

Can you get a Audi warranty on any R8 or are there age and mileage limits.

I'm used to bmw and with the v8 m3 for example without the right miles, age and age you can have issues with bottom end shells, and actuators, let alone the dct box, so a bmw warranty is a must, and you need the full service history and miles etc.

I guess the honest this is that its a scary thought that the most money Ill ever have spent on a car would be for the oldest example of the mark, which could tunr out to be a lemon.

If there is anything else to look out for i'd appreciate the steer.

cheers

John.
A hedge is better than a tree, but try and avoid both!

Current Audi: B7 RS4 Avant
Previous Audis: RS4 Avant b5, 2003 C5 RS6 Avant. C5 2.5 Quattro Avant Sport, V8 S4 Avant, B5 V6 TDI Quattro Avant Sport, Audi S3 & 96 Audi Coupe

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jonnysideways
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Re: Thinking of buying a V8, advice please

Post by jonnysideways » Sun Apr 09, 2017 4:53 pm

PS. After reading all the advice on the 2003 RS6 Avant, I still bought one that the DRC failed, and the gearbox went, and then it had to be scrapped, so buyer guides are important, but even when you are informed sh1t can still go south ;0( and with a R8 it would be four times worse that the loss on a old rS6.
A hedge is better than a tree, but try and avoid both!

Current Audi: B7 RS4 Avant
Previous Audis: RS4 Avant b5, 2003 C5 RS6 Avant. C5 2.5 Quattro Avant Sport, V8 S4 Avant, B5 V6 TDI Quattro Avant Sport, Audi S3 & 96 Audi Coupe

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