We review the Audi R8 Spyder from price to economy and all its features
And the Spyder with the roof down adds that little extra touch that makes you feel good about yourself.
Something special ... Audi R8 Spyder
Just watching the intricate routine of the canvas roof disappear into the bodywork is a show all on its own that confirms you are driving something special.
After the GT, the 4.2litre V8 engine in the Spyder could have been an anticlimax – but it is still quick enough to put a big smile on your face – 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and a 186mph top speed is not exactly dawdling.
And with the roof down you get to savour that deep, rich sound of the engine even more. The rest of the Spyder is the classic R8, with the beautifully finished leather-clad cabin the icing on the cake. It is a surprisingly comfortable and relaxing place to be for a supercar, on short or long journeys.
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There is a £7,000 premium for the Spyder, which takes the price up to £93,950 but you always have extras with an Audi which pushed the price of my test car to £101,200. Still, the R8 is almost a bargain compared with a Ferrari.
What to look out for when buying a used Audi R8 (2007-)
Cars with the R8’s kind of performance used to be high-risk, high-reward; often characterised by overheating, misfiring and being just plain hard work to drive.
So for decades we celebrated the relative ease of Porsche 911 ownership. Then the Audi pitched up and rewrote the rule book.
The R8 is beautifully built and, even more impressively, its astonishing performance appears not to stress it mechanically. The result is a car that is as easy to live with as a Nissan Micra yet as potent as a Ferrari.
Audi has issued just one recall since launch, which affected fewer than 500 Spyder models — check with your dealer if you are unsure whether the work has been completed. As with any big investment, check the car’s service history and provenance before you sign on the dotted line.