[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

My days of 2 seat cars are over for at least 13.5 years, lol. Thats when my son will be 16 and could start driving himself and his sister until then, my 2 seaters sit in the garage

The R8 never felt like an NSX to me in any way but being sort of underpowered. The NAX felt light and nimble, the R8 heavy and understeery. If it's on your mind engine bingo card I get it, but it's gonna be less fun to drive than like all the other options.

Have you considered an Evora? It's like a mix of an NSX and a Cayman but without the attention to detail and perfectionism. Maybe a Cayman R? Porsche never really let loose with the Cayman until recently, but rare Porsches always go up in value.

If you really want the R8 I'm sure you'll enjoy checking it off the bingo card, just thinking about other similar midengien stuff.

The original R8 has 160 more hp than the original NSX, (430 to 270) so even the v8 version has plenty of power and much more than what most people would ever be able to use without wrecking it or ending up in jail…Watch the video above where the guy who owns both the NSX and an R8 and the other NSX owner compare the cars back to back..it’s pretty clear what car that puts the bigger grin on their face. I’ve been watching a ton of videos about the gated manuals and pretty much every one of them rave about the car and it’s driving dynamics… If I end up not liking it, I won’t lose much if any money, but I have a feeling that won’t be an issue.

Btw, having kids doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun…. I’ve always had a two seater while raising two kids, that’s what a 4-Runner is for

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by SoCal_NSX

The original R8 has 160 more hp than the original NSX, (430 to 270) so even the v8 version has plenty of power and much more than what most people would ever be able to use without wrecking it or ending up in jail…Watch the video above where the guy who owns both the NSX and an R8 and the other NSX owner compare the cars back to back..it’s pretty clear what car that puts the bigger grin on their face. I’ve been watching a ton of videos about the gated manuals and pretty much every one of them rave about the car and it’s driving dynamics… If I end up not liking it, I won’t lose much if any money, but I have a feeling that won’t be an issue.

Btw, having kids doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun…. I’ve always had a two seater while raising two kids, that’s what a 4-Runner is for

I have a pair of Corvettes in the garage still. They don't get driven much anymore. Kind of a shame, they deserve more, but with all my weekend time taken up with the kiddos, and my work commute a traffic congested bore, it is what it is. The X5 M50i is faster than them anyways 0-60.

I dunno, maybe I'm weird, but I always thought the dynamics of the R8 sucked. It was kinda a heavy, understeery, boring thing to me. It doesn't rotate or slide on throttle the way I'd like, it doesn't do the same rear end weighting up like a 911, it just kinda drives... Kinda like a GTR, there's not much drama to it. Not for me. It's weird to me that people would rave about their dynamics... I felt like it had none. Maybe it comes alive at speeds above test drove speeds?

[Alfisti]

Socal is not a raw/analog/basic guy, likes a fun car but also wants relatively modern and civilised, he ain't buying no Viper in a million years. He's done Cayman and NSX.

Personally I would now look to Lotus or even a GT350 if he wants drama, but he clearly has a boner for the R8 so best he scratches that itch.

[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Socal is not a raw/analog/basic guy, likes a fun car but also wants relatively modern and civilised, he ain't buying no Viper in a million years. He's done Cayman and NSX.

Personally I would now look to Lotus or even a GT350 if he wants drama, but he clearly has a boner for the R8 so best he scratches that itch.

it doesn't get much more analog than a NA1 NSX with the C30A engine and manual steering

btw, only thing I have a boner for is your mom

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by SoCal_NSX

it doesn't get much more analog than a NA1 NSX with the C30A engine and manual steering

btw, only thing I have a boner for is your mom

Yeah but 200 hP and barely enough torque to lift the lid off a custard vs the Viper is a very different experience, as is, I suspect, Japanese build quality and suspension engineering vs the "Chuck a V10 in it and see how she goes" from Dodge. To be fair, the ACR is, apparently, one of the all time great track weapons.

And my mum would feel flattered, I'll let her know.

[Socal_R8]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Yeah but 200 hP and barely enough torque to lift the lid off a custard vs the Viper is a very different experience, as is, I suspect, Japanese build quality and suspension engineering vs the "Chuck a V10 in it and see how she goes" from Dodge. To be fair, the ACR is, apparently, one of the all time great track weapons.

And my mum would feel flattered, I'll let her know.

lol

Yeah, I wouldn't mind an ACR for a track toy when I hit the lotto

btw, 270 hp but yes, civics have more than that these days....but for some reason people still paying gobs of money for them

[10"]

Originally Posted by baege

OP, have you driven an R8?
I know you enjoy the porsche experience and I think you might feel a little let down going from the dynamic fun nature of a small porsche to the heavy feel of an R8

I looked hard at gated R8's but the last one I drove which was a 2012 gated v10, I got back in the M2 comp I had at the time and said to myself, all I really prefer about that R8 is that INSANE V10, if only I could put that engine in my M2 (that's literally what I thought)

R8's are big, heavy cars that don't have the dynamic feel of a bmw or a porsche, they just aren't driver's cars as much

sounds like you have a real emotional attachment to the R8, which I never had so it still might be the right choice for you but you need to drive one back to back with a porsche and see if it still speaks to you

Does not compute.

The R8 weighs the same as your M2 Comp and is smaller in most dimensions 🤷🏻‍♂️

It probably felt heavier to you because it’s not electronically boosted everywhere by electric steering and brakes and electronic everything.

[baege]

Originally Posted by 10"

Does not compute.

The R8 weighs the same as your M2 Comp and is smaller in most dimensions 🤷🏻‍♂️

It probably felt heavier to you because it’s not electronically boosted everywhere by electric steering and brakes and electronic everything.

actually the R8 V10 is about 3 inches wider and about the same length, definitely feels like a bigger car

and I suspect the AWD also factors in to it just not feeling as live as a good rwd BMW or a porsche

but you are probably right about the inputs feeling heavier playing a role

[Alfisti]

Wait, the R8 is AWD only? I'll take, and did take, a modern auto that lets me choose my gear before I go AWD in a sports car. Soul sucking.

I know it's not a borderline exotic but to me, the Jag F Type is sexy as hell with a fantastic engine, if it was 2+2 I would have one instead of the 911 but I use the back seats abut 70% of the time.

[x622]

How about OP just rents the car for a few days or a week and drive it and see what it's like to live with

[Alfisti]

TURO is a great idea.

[baege]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Wait, the R8 is AWD only? I'll take, and did take, a modern auto that lets me choose my gear before I go AWD in a sports car. Soul sucking.

I know it's not a borderline exotic but to me, the Jag F Type is sexy as hell with a fantastic engine, if it was 2+2 I would have one instead of the 911 but I use the back seats abut 70% of the time.

I love the look of the f type and given my thing for low end torque was looking at the R's. Prior to 2016 they were RWD but in 2016 they went AWD. I have driven both. The RWD has traction issues. The AWD can put down the power.

In the end though the F type did not speak to me like a porsche did, just doesn't feel as alive or connected of a drive.

But if I ever win the lottery I would have one as part of the collection, a different kind of fun than a porsche. Outrageous sound and balls to the wall torque!

[Alfisti]

truth be told a Porsche is wasted on our roads. There's literally nowhere decent, even remotely decent, all the roads are arrow straight.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by baege

actually the R8 V10 is about 3 inches wider and about the same length, definitely feels like a bigger car

and I suspect the AWD also factors in to it just not feeling as live as a good rwd BMW or a porsche

but you are probably right about the inputs feeling heavier playing a role

Manual coupe on BaT. A bit higher than your price range.

[Socal_R8]

A gentleman reached out to me on the R8 forums after I posted my sell the 718 for an R8 post that he might be selling his low mile gated V8 soon and I could come check it out if I like, so I took him up on his offer and now I know for sure I need this car.... Nice enough to let me test drive it too

Soon as he opened up the garage and I was mesmerized... it looks even better in person....super clean 2010 with 18K on the clock

He has an Emira on order and will be one of the first ones in the states to get it, he's just waiting on CARB and should have it within the next couple weeks, so he needs to make room, but still may keep it. I thought I wanted a white one, but I think the silver one might be even better.

[Burrcold]

That looks awesome, buy it!

[Davil]

Good for you. Don’t listen to the Porsche cult. This one is different and very interesting. Plus you can play AC/DC and pretend you are Tony Stark.

There is nothing like a V8 with AC/DC backing track. They harmonise.

[chassis]

Looks great. GLWP!

[Socal_R8]

well, the deed is done.....wrote the biggest check I ever wrote today, but worth every penny!!!

I'm still in a bit of shock that I have one of my all time favorite cars in my garage right now

Loving this car...Took the coastal route back home form OC and took a few pics

[x622]

Congratulations! I've always loved this particular generation of R8. What are your plans for it?

[chassis]

Congrats! Looks great, enjoy.

What is the intended ownership period for this car? Short term or long term? Didn’t re-read all of the posts.

[Burrcold]

Super awesome, congrats!