The Audi R8 is the Audi flagship sports car/supercar made for those who want to enjoy the thrills associated with piloting a low-slung exotic without all of the compromises associated with interior space and punishing ride quality. The R8 is one of the best supercars out there when it comes to daily driving as it offers enough space and lots of technology.
When it comes to reliability, the R8 seems to hold up nicely which is somewhat of a surprise considering what it is. Supercars are known to cost loads of money to run and maintain and many people are not able to keep up with that which inevitably leads to the car having all sorts of issues.
The R8 has been around for almost 20 years now and Audi has learned how to keep it reliable. However, there are some issues worth talking about such as the car’s electronics, the suspension, issues with equipment, heavy oil consumption, and issues related to older V8 engines.
All in all, the R8 is a reliable car because there truly aren’t all that many problems. On one hand, a car that costs as much as the R8 does should not have any problems. On the other hand, high-end sports cars and supercars are known to be delicate and fragile, yet the R8 is not.
Audi R8 – Electrical issues
Newer Audi R8 models are known to sometimes suffer from electrical issues related primarily to the MMI infotainment system. These issues can often be both software and hardware related which means that they can be fixed with replacement parts or software updates. The good news is that the vast majority of these are related to the software and can be updated to work properly.
However, some owners have complained about older R8 models that seem to experience issues with buttons and teach gear. These can either wear out fast or completely stop functioning which will require you to source replacement parts and replace them.
Audi R8 – Suspension issues
The R8s suspension is tasked with managing the weight of the car and the weight transfers associated with the car going full tilt on a race track. Even though the suspension seems to hold up relatively well on newer models, there are instances in which the shock absorbers fail on higher mileage cars.
The only way to fix this issue is to replace these absorbers completely. The good news is that this is not a really difficult thing to do, but the bad news is that almost all repairs associated with the R8 are more expensive than with other Audi models.
Audi R8 – Equipment issues
The Audi R8 is a quality-made car which means that most of its functions work really well even after a decade of continuous use. Some people had R8s for a better part of 15 years and they say that there are some annoying niggles that do seem to pop up in more examples. A great example of this is the trunk latch that can sometimes get stuck and therefore will have to be replaced.
Other issues are associated primarily with the car’s fabric roof that comes with the R8 Spyder models. These soft tops are known to leak if all the drains aren’t cleaned regularly and can sometimes even have trouble closing.
Audi R8 – Heavy oil consumption issues
Many Audi vehicles are notorious for consuming a bit too much oil. However, the R8 seems to be experiencing these issues more than most cars out there. The reason why is because the R8s engine is one of the largest serial production engines in existence, a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 engine which is more than double the size of the engine found in some RS cars.
This means that these engines are notorious for running costs as well because they consume lots of fuel too. All in all, be sure to always have a can of oil in your trunk and keep an eye out on the oil levels as lack of oil can cause lots of engine issues.
Audi R8 – Older Audi R8 V8 engine issues
The very first generation of the R8 featured a 4.2L naturally aspirated V8 as well as the V10 engine. These V8 engines are available in other Audi models such as even the Audi S5 from that era. Carbon buildup on the intake is a known gripe with these engines and so are bearing issues.
FAQ Section
Is the Audi R8 worth it?
If you are after a supercar that you can drive on a daily basis without worrying about lack of space and lack of comfort, the R8 is one of, if not the best car you can get. This means that the R8 is worth its asking price, especially because it uses one of the best engines you can buy right now.
The R8 is shared with the Lamborghini Huracan which is based on the same platform, but the Huracan is a much more compromised car with less space, less visibility, and noticeably harsher ride quality.
Which Audi R8 is the best?
The best Audi R8 model of all time is the original, the R8 Type 42 from 2006. The reason why is that it was the one that started it all and because it is available with an amazing gated manual shifter. The RWD modern-day R8s are also a joy to drive because they offer RWD and are much more dynamic.
If you want the coolest Audi R8 models yet, you should go for the R8 LMX, the R8 Spyder GT, or the R8 V10 Decennium edition.
Is Audi R8 a supercar?
Yes, the Audi R8 is a certified supercar and there is no arguing about that. Many people are keen on saying that the R8 is just too tamed to be a real supercar, but they are ready to say that for many 6-cylinder cars like the McLaren Artura.
The R8 is a V10 naturally aspirated car with upwards of 600hp, a mid-engine setup and it looks amazing. You might think that a comfortable car can not be a supercar, but that is just not the truth as lack of comfort does not define a modern-day supercar.
