[Socal_R8]

Ok, looks like I have sold the NSX as someone from Texas is driving out on Friday with a cashiers check in hand....kinda wish he'd back out, but oh well, I'm making a nice little profit on a car I enjoyed for over 5 years, so it's on to the next toy.

The announcement of the C8 and then sitting in one a week later is the catalyst for selling....I still can't believe I'm a huge Vette fan all the sudden, the car is simply amazing for the price .....

But, I still have love for the R8 and you can get one for less money than a C8 these days.....and it's definitely in the mix. Plus you can get one much sooner than waiting around for your C8.

I think the C8 is the better car, in looks and performance, but I think a used R8 might be the better choice financially and still has the looks and performance and more exclusivity

I might just sit it out for a year or so and see where the market goes.....

2008-2010 R8


Or.....

2020 C8

[N54Yankee]

C8 for me but the V10 R is very, very tempting I have to say. In that case I’d wait for the Z06.

[Soterios]

Given that you're coming from an NSX, I think the R8 would be a lot more in line with that style of car.

If you want a new kind of monster, get the C8

[Red Bread]

I'd still wait out the Z06. At least you'd be sticking with a DOHC motor and gaining some turbos.

Lease an ND Miata in the interim.

[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I'd still wait out the Z06. At least you'd be sticking with a DOHC motor and gaining some turbos.

Lease an ND Miata in the interim.

Well, considering the low optioned C8 is about the top of my budget(wife issues) and 99% of the population couldn't drive a 495HP car to its limits anyway (and I'm in that 99%), I think a base or hopefully a z51 would be plenty for me.

No way would I ever buy a Miata , unless it was for my daughter

Luckily I still have a pretty nice 4 series to slum around in in the meantime ....

[Humdizzle]

The C8 will no doubt be nice. But I can't see it being anything exclusive. Just look at how many C6 and C7 base models you see sitting outside on dealer lots after a few years.

If you do go with a early model R8 try to get a 6 speed. The E-gear / R tronic is terrible. And they didn't give the car S-tronic (DCT) until 2014. The v8 is pretty slow compared to the V10, but nothing a supercharger can't fix.

[Viffermike]

Rumor has it that enough deposits have been put down on C8s to account for the entire 2020 model year run.

So unless you've reserved your spot sorta-kinda Tesla-style, you may be waiting longer than a year.

Meanwhile: R8 = Raging Italian bull in a clean, nifty, semi-reliable German suit. It's what I'd get if I totaled my Porsche and, well, didn't want another Porsche.

[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Rumor has it that enough deposits have been put down on C8s to account for the entire 2020 model year run.

So unless you've reserved your spot sorta-kinda Tesla-style, you may be waiting longer than a year.

Meanwhile: R8 = Raging Italian bull in a clean, nifty, semi-reliable German suit. It's what I'd get if I totaled my Porsche and, well, didn't want another Porsche.

That is just a rumor according to my local dealer that I stopped by to see the other day....he said most of the first allocations are all spoken for, but it's hardly sold out.... either way though, it's gonna be awhile before you actually get the car if you're not on first allotments and even then it's gonna be 5-6 months

I think the smart move might be to search for a great deal on an R8 and drive it a couple years then maybe sell it for not much of a loss hopefully and then get the 2021 C8 or maybe a deal on a used one....

Btw, there are other options that might come up .... I was watching a very clean 2007 28k mile Vantage on BaT yesterday that sold for $38k

A lot of great cars out there these days in the sub$50k range

[ShocknAwe]

No contest. V10R or one of the older V8 manual R8 if you can drive stick. Wouldn't touch a C8 with a 10 foot stick the first year it's out, and even then not since it's gonna be a horrendous rice/cop magnet.

Definitely gonna be a brilliant car, but hell no.

[NickyC]

Z06 like others have said.

[duder13]

I wouldn't touch a 2008-2010 R8. There's a known engineering defect that leads to cracked frames.






If it were me, I'd keep the NSX.

[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by duder13

I wouldn't touch a 2008-2010 R8. There's a known engineering defect that leads to cracked frames.






If it were me, I'd keep the NSX.

Wow! I hadn’t heard about that one, will have to look into that...

Kinda already regretting it and it hasn’t even been officially sold yet... excited for something different after having three or them over the years.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by SoCal_NSX

Wow! I hadn’t heard about that one, will have to look into that...

Kinda already regretting it and it hasn’t even been officially sold yet... excited for something different after having three or them over the years.

Yeah, I hadn't heard about it either, but someone brought it up in Jalopnik comments the other day, and I started reading about it. Here's a quote from the guy about a particular R8 that brought it to my attention:

"As I mentioned, not an R8 expert here. But I did some homework while I was shopping. One of the key features of the R8 is that it’s an all aluminum welded and bonded spaceframe. (So already, you’re into “1 inch crack, totaled and unrepairable.”)

Weeeeeeeeeell if you look at the geometry there, what you find is that you have about 1/3-1/4 the metal handling your vertical transients on-axis as you do handling them perpendicular. Which means a lot more load on that perpendicular section. Which is then increased even further by the forming of the firewall section there with all those sharp angles to make cutouts. Plus right below where the crack usually starts, the metal’s been drilled for riveting. Add to that it’s butt-welded with no gusseting and yeah.

And Audi’s stance is that even though there are body shops capable of repairing this safely and properly, most cars are deemed unrepairable under any circumstances. Audi won’t sell the parts required to anyone except an Audi dealer. There is no published procedure for repair, only preemptive installation of reinforcing plates (which can only be done with Audi approval.) Those cars deemed repairable are often looking at a $30,000 repair. They also insist it’s not a defect, despite many owners obtaining engineers reports stating ‘no accident, structural failure due to metal fatigue.’

Only some 2010's got the factory reinforcement plates. Add to that all the other known problems (frequent magnetic shock failures at $10k a shot, timing chain guide replacement which is engine out, A/C compressor failure at 38 hours of labor, carbon coking,) high miles, and a posting with no photos of areas of concern or service history? Run away!"

[RM7]

Originally Posted by duder13

Yeah, I hadn't heard about it either, but someone brought it up in Jalopnik comments the other day, and I started reading about it. Here's a quote from the guy about a particular R8 that brought it to my attention:

"As I mentioned, not an R8 expert here. But I did some homework while I was shopping. One of the key features of the R8 is that it’s an all aluminum welded and bonded spaceframe. (So already, you’re into “1 inch crack, totaled and unrepairable.”)

Weeeeeeeeeell if you look at the geometry there, what you find is that you have about 1/3-1/4 the metal handling your vertical transients on-axis as you do handling them perpendicular. Which means a lot more load on that perpendicular section. Which is then increased even further by the forming of the firewall section there with all those sharp angles to make cutouts. Plus right below where the crack usually starts, the metal’s been drilled for riveting. Add to that it’s butt-welded with no gusseting and yeah.

And Audi’s stance is that even though there are body shops capable of repairing this safely and properly, most cars are deemed unrepairable under any circumstances. Audi won’t sell the parts required to anyone except an Audi dealer. There is no published procedure for repair, only preemptive installation of reinforcing plates (which can only be done with Audi approval.) Those cars deemed repairable are often looking at a $30,000 repair. They also insist it’s not a defect, despite many owners obtaining engineers reports stating ‘no accident, structural failure due to metal fatigue.’

Only some 2010's got the factory reinforcement plates. Add to that all the other known problems (frequent magnetic shock failures at $10k a shot, timing chain guide replacement which is engine out, A/C compressor failure at 38 hours of labor, carbon coking,) high miles, and a posting with no photos of areas of concern or service history? Run away!"

If that’s all accurate, that’s ripe for a lawsuit and would be a slam dunk. Prior VW corporate culture?

[duder13]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

If that’s all accurate, that’s ripe for a lawsuit and would be a slam dunk. Prior VW corporate culture?

Yeah, don't take mine or that guy's word for it. I just used that post as a jump off point to start reading about it the other day.

[Matt 335is]

I personally wouldn't get either but definitely R8 over C8.

[Grumpy Old Man]

So just my two cents. I'd hang onto the NSX as you almost never see one so very unique. That and it will go up in value. For the same reason, if you must sell I'd lean towards the Audi as the C8 will be a pretty common car in the not to distant future, at least when compared to the R8 as you see them only slightly more often than an NSX, which I wouldn't sell but I already mentioned that.

[Alfisti]

I can't warm to the C8, it's a f360/Camaro mash up. Just fugly to me and I am no euro snob.

I'd do the R8 every time because it's a bit different. Going through a similar dilemma myself with very different cars but do you go the one that is slightly more modern and likely the "better" car or something more exclusive if a weekend driver.

[Alfisti]

The cracked frame is a real issue, see here ..... and no you're not doing it right for $500.

[WiM235i]

Given thed cost and frequency for repairing Audis, I would go for the Vette hands down.

[Ickdeep]

I would go for the C8 over the R8 mainly because its newer. I would have gone for the R8 but I didn't know about the frame issue until now. Best of luck!

[WestRace]

I'd go with the R8 not because the C8 will be a common thing, but I don't think you will like the feel of the C8 coming from the NSX. Driving feel cannot be underestimated.