Used Audi R8 for sale: everything you need to know
The Audi R8 Coupe is one of the most exciting supercars you can buy, with a blend of incredible performance and usability. In just over 15 years the Audi R8 established itself as a major rival to the iconic Porsche 911.
Positioned as a junior supercar, the Audi R8 has plenty of competitors vying for your attention. Along with the Porsche 911 Turbo, this area of the market includes the Jaguar F-Type SVR, the great-looking Mercedes-AMG GT and wonderful Aston Martin Vantage. Picking from any of these cars is a tough choice, but the Audi R8 boasts a wondrous V10 engine and the option of Audi’s trademark quattro four-wheel-drive system.
Read on for the information you need if you are thinking of buying a used Audi R8.
Should you buy an Audi R8?
The Audi R8 Coupe is an excellent sports car, combining astonishing performance with comfort and ease of use. It’s a compelling choice for those who want to own a V10-powered performance car and drive it regularly.
This level of usability is what sets the Audi R8 apart from most other supercars. Driving an Audi R8 every day isn’t a stressful experience, with a degree of compliance from its suspension that’s almost unheard of in this category. Multiple sensors and a rear-view camera make parking quite straightforward, while forward visibility is better than many rival sports cars.
When you do want to use all the performance on offer, though, the Audi R8 will happily oblige. The naturally aspirated V10 engine sounds glorious, and the quick-shifting seven-speed S Tronic gearbox is easy to use. Choosing a quattro version with four-wheel drive brings extra traction, but the rear-wheel drive models are hardly difficult to drive. Fuel economy won’t be great, as you might expect from a 5.2-litre V10…
The Audi R8’s interior features elements that will be familiar to owners of other Audi models. This makes it easy to operate, but does detract slightly from the exotic image. Being able to service your Audi R8 at a local Audi dealership is a bonus, however.
Finding flaws at this level is hard, but the Porsche 911 Turbo and McLaren GT offer slightly better dynamics at high speed. We feel like we’re splitting hairs, though. The Audi R8’s front boot is also on the small side. Still, none of that matters much, as the Audi R8 Coupe is one of the very best sports cars you can buy or lease.
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What's the best used Audi R8 model to buy?
The Audi R8 is unlikely to disappoint. It’s fantastic to drive, brutally fast and comfortable for everyday driving. However, if you want to get the most out of your R8 experience, we’d encourage you to buy one of the facelifted models sold from 2019 onwards.
The mid-life update provided higher levels of standard equipment and important tweaks to the suspension and steering. Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’ system also became a standard, replacing the traditional instrument dials with a 12-inch HD screen.
The V10 is offered with two outputs, with the range-topping models getting the most power. Owing to its higher equipment levels and enhanced exterior styling, we think the V10 Plus/Performance versions provide the best R8 experience.
Used Audi R8 fuel economy and performance
The 2023 Audi R8 is offered with two different engine options, determined by whether you choose a rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive version. Both use a variant of the same glorious 5.2-litre V10 engine, mounted in the middle of the car. A seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission is standard for all.
Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD: For the rear-wheel-drive Audi R8, the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine produces a very healthy 570hp. It sees the Audi R8 accelerate from 0-62mph in less than four seconds, with a top speed in excess of 200mph. Although unlikely to be a major concern, average fuel economy is 22.4mpg.
Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro: Choosing a four-wheel-drive Audi R8 quattro results in even more performance. The V10 engine is stretched to produce 620hp, while the extra traction sees the 0-62mph time drop to 3.1 seconds. Top speed is 205mph.
The majority of Audi R8 Coupes for sale on the used market are in quattro guise, with RWD models proving hard to find. Cars in earlier ‘Plus’ specification are most prevalent, but all Audi R8s come with a strong level of equipment.
What used Audi R8 trim levels are available?
The Audi R8 Coupe comes in four distinct trim levels, with two different power options for the engine. As can be expected from a flagship sports car, standard specification is high on all versions.
Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD: The most affordable version of the Audi R8 Coupe comes with rear-wheel drive. It features 19-inch alloy wheels, a pop-up rear spoiler, leather upholstery and a rear-view camera.
Audi R8 V10 Performance RWD Edition: For more equipment in a rear-wheel-drive Audi R8, the Edition version gains larger 20-inch wheels and gloss-black exterior detailing. On the inside is a Bang & Olufsen sound system, carbon fibre trim details, and a fancy Alcantara headlining with diamond stitching.
Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro: The four-wheel-drive Audi R8 quattro models start here, with carbon ceramic brakes and a large fixed rear spoiler as standard. Exterior details are finished in a matt titanium effect, while the interior benefits from leather bucket seats.
Audi R8 V10 Performance quattro Edition: As the range-topping Audi R8, the Performance quattro Edition has all the equipment you could wish for. The standard carbon-ceramic brake callipers gain a red finish, with a gloss-black styling pack applied on the outside.
Used Audi R8 dimensions and boot size
The Audi R8’s exterior dimensions are:
Length: 4,429mm
Width: 1,940mm
Height: 1,236mm
Ground clearance: 117mm
The Audi R8’s boot space is:
Used Audi R8 road tax
For the cost-conscious Audi R8 buyer, if such a thing exists, the best bet when it comes to road tax is a version of this generation registered from 1 April 2017 this is now six-years old. Find one in this sweet spot and you pay road tax at £180. For newer cars, you'll pay an additional £370 per year for five years that's levied on cars that cost more than £40,000 when new.
Older R8s of this model registered prior to that April 2017 date will incur road tax at the highest rate of £695 per year at the time of writing regardless of which engine you pick.
How much is it to insure an Audi R8?
With supercar performance on offer for every model in the Audi R8 range, don’t expect a cheap annual premium. All versions of the Audi R8 are in the very top insurance group 50.
Read our full Audi R8 review
