A supercar from a fading breed, the Audi R8. The normally aspirated engine is dwindling in popularity as automakers equip their vehicles with turbochargers to fulfill ever-stricter pollution goals. The R8 is a beautiful farewell in some ways. The 5.2-liter V10 is the car’s main attraction, but the R8 is much more than just a large engine.
If you can live with the running costs, it’s as practical as an Audi TT for daily driving, and it’s easier to operate than other superminis. It boasts a lot of traction and grip because to the quattro four-wheel drive, but unlike many fast Audis, it’s also fun to drive on the racetrack. The V10 is quick and agile, and it has a powerful punch and an exhilarating soundscape.
In This Article...
A sports car, is the Audi R8?
In the United States, the first-generation Audi R8 debuted for the 2008 model year. Based on the Audi Le Mans Quattro concept car, the R8 is a two-seat sports car.
Is there a supercar from Audi?
The top-of-the-line R8 sports vehicle from Audi has a roaring 602 horsepower V-10 engine hidden under its cramped two-seat interior. The R8 and Lamborghini Huracn have many similarities, but the R8 has a less showy design. Although it’s less fun to drive, consumers looking for a supercar they can use every day might find the Audi’s refinement intriguing. Although the R8’s interior is underwhelmingly equipped and all infotainment functions are handled by the digital gauge cluster, the space is nevertheless luxurious and comfortable, justifying the R8’s high starting price. Although more cargo room would be appreciated, you don’t buy a car like this for that purpose. You purchase a R8 or one of its competitors, such as the Porsche 911 or McLaren 570S, for the enjoyment of driving it.
Is an Audi R8 a rare vehicle?
Compared to a normal Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maserati, the R8 has developed a reputation as a sturdy and dependable exotic automobile.
What characteristics make an automobile a supercar?
A flashy, quick, opulent, and expensive car is what is meant by the term of a supercar. Consider a supercar as the pinnacle of the industrythe finest of the best.
Is a Lamborghini R8 an Audi?
The 5.2 liter naturally aspirated V10 engine from the original Audi R8 is thought to be a Lamborghini engine nearly generally among auto aficionados. This is so because the Gallardo also had a V10 engine and Audi acquired Lamborghini before the unveiling of that powerplant.
Nissan GTR: A supercar or not?
We didn’t have Facebook, Instagram, or really anything similar to what we have now when I first received my driver’s license in 1999. There were chat boards available, and my god, they were rife with strife. In fact, during a dispute that began online, I received my first ever punch to the lips (in fairness, I deserved it). This anecdote has a purpose: you can’t win online debates. For me, it began with the statement “Imports are superior to domestics. We would argue for hours about “what’s better. It ultimately comes down to personal preference (also, imports are better).
The following master debate for master debaters will take place in 20 years.
This page specifically discusses the R35. The Skyline GT-replacement, R’s the R35, was introduced in 2007, much to everyone’s excitement. I’ve received contempt for saying that the R35 is NOT a Skyline in the comments section of numerous vlogs. Don’t call it a Skyline, please.
The Porsche 911 Turbo was defeated by the R35 Skyline Godzilla, who blasted through the Nrburgring in a lap time of 7:38. (also not a supercar). It had an iconic launch control system, a twin turbo V6 engine, a DCT transmission, and an AWD drivetrain that received just the right amount of power. It deserves credit for being a lot of car for the money. But there is a but attached to that complimentnot it’s a supercar.
A supercar should have a special feeling, in my naive view. Although there isn’t a formal “this is a supercar checklist,” in my opinion it should have the following items:
Foreign Style
Even if you’re not into vehicles, you still give one a close look when you see one. A 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo will catch your mother-in-eye law’s before she stops traffic to check out a GTR. I’m sorry, but this is true. The R35 is a car with cup holders, back seats, and a trunk.
Noise
A real supercar HAS supercar SOUND (I know this is changing..). These cars are such an experience because of the noise. GTRs make a bad sound. I must admit, though, that I like the tingling and rattling of the broken bell housing.
Rarity
I can still picture my first encounter with a Ferrari 458. I was unable to take my eyes off of it. Until my family staged an intervention, I even followed it home, put up a steakout, and recorded every step it made on paper for six weeks. Depending on where you live, you actually just don’t see them that much. A R35 is probably something you see every day.
In conclusion, I can comprehend that you are writing disparaging things about me right now. Compared to most supercars, the R35 is quicker, more inexpensive, and more useful. It’s a terrific car with many upgrade options and plentiful parts supply!
The internet appears to be evenly divided, too. I polled my Instagram Story followers, and the results shocked me!
Describe the BMW supercar.
Electric and hybrid vehicles were originally considered to be fairly plain and uninteresting. Then, a few of the most well-known and prosperous automakers in the world got engaged, assuring that the future of electric and hybrid vehicles was no longer depressingly dark. One of such producers was BMW, which unveiled the amazing i8 in 2014.
The BMW i8 is a futuristic sports automobile that is frequently referred to be a supercar, despite its eco-conscious character. Given its striking appearance, this is not surprising at all.
But ought to you purchase one? Does it live up to its appearance? Does it merit being referred to in the same sentence as a supercar? Discover our eight (get it, i-eight…) justifications for why it is a great deal on a “supercar” by reading on.
Is Audi thought of as exotic?
The appearance of an exotic car resembles what its name implies. It is startlingly out of the ordinary and is offered by well-known manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Bentley, and Porsche. Others, though, like Lotus, McLaren, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Zenvo, Hennessey, and SSC North America, you might not be as acquainted with right away. There are also mainstream automakers that produce exotic vehicles, but in higher quantities. Examples include the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, Audi R8, BMW i8, Acura NSX, Nissan GT-R, and Audi R8. Even Lexus once produced one. There are many qualities and attributes that characterize what is regarded as an exotic car, however there are many excellent examples.
An exotic automobile is what? Exotic automobiles tend to be low-slung sports cars with capacity for two passengers, a trunk big enough to fit a toothbrush, and ground clearance that will force you to slow down to a crawl while negotiating speed bumps, though this isn’t always the case. They stand out immediately because to their garish colors and crazy designs, making them a poor choice if you’re in the witness protection program.
Their very sporty exteriors conceal a cutting-edge drivetrain and platform that give exceptional performance ideally suited for racetracks. More pedestrian automobiles cannot match their capabilities. Their enormously powerful engines are often situated behind the driving compartment but in front of the rear axle. Its front-to-rear weight distribution is optimized for the best handling, and it is known as a mid-engine configuration. However, operating these vehicles safely and correctly at high speeds needs competence, so if you have never regularly driven one, performance driving school lessons are necessary.
Given that they are designed for great performance, it should come as no surprise that they are constructed from the most expensive and rare materials, which are chosen for both their exceptional quality and their incredibly low weight. This enhances performance. It also implies that routine maintenance is crucial, expensive, and typically necessitates specialized equipment, extensive work, and training. This type of vehicle is not something you should be thinking about if you value minimal maintenance costs. The $1,700,000 Bugatti Veyron’s engine oil change takes 27 hours and costs $21,000. The $8,000 oil change fee for a McLaren F1 appears cheap in comparison.
Exotic automobiles are typically only produced in small quantitiesa few hundred to perhaps thousands globally. However, some brand-new exotic nameplates are more scarce than others. In America, Ferrari sold 2,580 vehicles in 2019. Lamborghini sold 2,784 units, McLaren 2,286; Aston Martin 1,186; and Lotus 192, in comparison. Compare that to Porsche, which sold 61,568 units over the same time period, despite the fact that most of them would not be considered exotic, or BMW, which sold 324,826 vehicles in the U.S. last year.
With all of this in mind, it is not surprise that exotic automobiles frequently cost more than $100,000, with the most valuable ones selling for millions of dollars.
Nissan GT-R2007 to 2021
The sixth-generation Nissan GT-R is the first supercar on our list of the most dependable models (R35). Nissan’s brutally swift Godzilla, one of the fastest vehicles to ever leave Japan, has been in production since 2007 and can produce between 480 and 565 horsepower.
Since Nissan components are so widely available and labor rates are typically average for the brand, many owners claim that maintenance costs are not significantly higher than those of a typical automobile.
Motor Trend estimates that the 5-year cost of ownership of a new GT-R will cost you $9,000 in maintenance and $2,000 in repairs.
Overall, that works out to $11,000 over the course of five years, or just under $2,000 a year. This is not too terrible for a supercar that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just three seconds.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage2009 to 2016
This Aston Martin boasts contemporary James Bond styling and incredible performance. It has a V8 engine that generates 380 to 420 horsepower for less than $40,000 for some older models, which is a remarkable deal for a vehicle that originally cost over $120,000.
Imagine getting an Aston Martin for less than you would pay for a brand-new, top-of-the-line Toyota Camry.
Its dependability has also proven unexpectedly good, as evidenced by the numerous accounts of people who regularly drive their Vantage with little problems.
For instance, renowned auto journalist Doug Demuro notably kept track of all of his expenses when owning a V8 Vantage for a year. Freddy “Tavarish Hernandez, a journalist for Jalopnik, also talked about his experiences with a 2017 V8 Vantage that he purchased for only $36,000.
He mentioned that the oil changes at the dealer cost about $300, which isn’t too outrageous for a supercar, and that the front engine area was very simple to reach.
Although this generation of the Vantage made its debut in 2006, we believe the ideal years to focus on are 2009 and up because that is when Aston Martin started to fix some of the issues.
These included things like upgrades to the O2 sensors and the caliber of the interior leather.
Ferrari F4302006 to 2009
On our list of the most dependable supercars, a Ferrari appeared! Although earlier Prancing Horse models may have had a bad reputation for quality, the F430 has shown to be very dependable and reasonably inexpensive to service.
It was the first Ferrari to use an engine timing chain rather than a belt, which were more prone to failure and needed maintenance every 15,000 miles.
There are still some issues to be aware of. The major problems some owners had were with the motor mounts and the exhaust manifold.
The F430 was introduced in 2005, although we advise looking for a 2006 model or later because that year saw a change to the F1 hydraulic pump.
A 2008 or 2009 model would be ideal because that year Ferrari improved the exhaust manifold.
In any case, unlike earlier models, the F430 is a contemporary Ferrari that can be driven on a daily basis.
Audi R82006 to present
In 2006, Audi released the R8, marking their entry into the supercar industry. Since then, they’ve built about 40,000 R8snearly twice as many as the majority of the vehicles on this listin two generations.
Audi has been able to refine the R8 through mass production, making it one of the most dependable supercars available for purchase either new or used.
But what gives it its superpowers? The first-generation R8 had a 420 horsepower V8 and a massive, Lamborghini-sourced V10 that arrived in 2009 and produced 525 horsepower.
But the R8’s cutting-edge electronics can eventually break down. The magnetic suspension shocks’ potential leakage has been one of the main problems. The cost to replace the shocks at each corner of the car might range from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the price of the parts and labor.
The R8 is a superb used value as well as a reliable option for a new supercar because the engines have been considered as being comparatively indestructible.
Lexus LFA2010 to 2012
Without a Lexus, no ranking of the most dependable supercars is complete. Toyota’s luxury brand is known for its high quality, and the company’s foray into the market for supercars only served to reinforce this image.
The LFA made its dbut in 2010, and Lexus only produced 500 units globally. It was one of the priciest Japanese automobiles ever sold, with a base price of $375,000 (which many dealerships were able to markup due to the exceptionally low availability).
The incredible 4.8-liter V10 used in the LFA, which was put through rigorous testing at the Nurburgring, produced 553 horsepower.
It was constructed with the same renowned Lexus quality that the company has developed over the course of more than 30 years. LFAs are a great choice for a dependable supercar, according to a luxury sports car broker who spoke with Motor Trend and who specializes in LFAs. He highlighted that service charges have been relatively affordable while services are straightforward compared to other supercars.
Ford GT2005 to 2006, 2017 to present
If you can find a Ford GT, it’s one of the most dependable supercars you can buy. Prices for second generation models of the Ford GT have recently surpassed $1 million, suggesting that both generations of the car are continuing to appreciate in value.
The fact that their engines are simply tweaked copies of the power plants used in millions of Fords worldwide contributes to their status as a premium automobile.
For instance, Ford’s EcoBoost engine, which is used in mass-produced vehicles like the F-150, Focus, and Taurus, was adapted for the second-generation GT. This has made it possible for Ford to perfect its winning formula and be sure that the engine in the GT is long-lasting.
Doug Demuro also owned a GT for 13 years, and during that time, he spent slightly about $17,000 on maintenance and repairs.
That amounts to just $1,300 annually, which is quite affordable for a vehicle that generates 550 horsepower.
Acura NSX1997 to 2005
Despite having a relatively low power output, the renowned Acura NSX manages to make this list of the most dependable supercars. Be that as it may, the NSX is every bit as capable as any other vehicle on our list.
Its interior was modeled after the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet, and it was built with the assistance of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna.
Even though the first-generation NSX only produced 270 horsepower, that is still quite a feat considering it is powered by a 3.0 liter V6. It also made up for its limited output with its small weight, nimble handling, and high-quality construction.
In fact, the NSX was one of the first supercars that was considered reliable enough to be driven on a daily basis.
The NA2 generation, which began in 1997 when Acura made some performance enhancements to increase output to 290 horsepower, is what we believe to be the ideal target years.
Although this older car’s parts are becoming a little more pricey, routine maintenance is still reasonably priced. According to Repair Pal, a routine tune-up only cost $354.
That is an advantage of being created and constructed by the engineering and production team of Honda.
A man who regularly rides his NSX and took it on a cross-country road trip was also profiled by Road and Track for his voyage (even through the snow). His NSX maintained its reliability after 172,000 kilometers without any problems. The only thing he noticed was how quickly his back tires degraded.
Lexus LC2018 to present
The newest supercar from Lexus is also regarded as one of the most dependable ones on the market right now. With a gigantic 5.0-liter V-8 engine that produces 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, the LC500 was introduced in 2018.
Another option is a hybrid model that combines a V6 gasoline engine with two electric motors.
There is no doubt that the LC will maintain Lexus’ reputation for producing dependable automobiles, which the company’s reputation for reliability is only growing.
Given that Lexus is frequently cited as the most dependable brand on the market and that their first supercar has shown to be incredibly dependable, we believe that the LCs are equally well-made and should give owners many miles of stress-free enjoyment.
Porsche 911 Turbo1975 to present
The Porsche 911 Turbo tops the list of world’s most dependable supercars. No other manufacturer on this list produces as many narrowly targeted sports vehicles as Porsche.
In actuality, since 1963, they have created over 1 million 911s, providing them experience unequaled by any other company.
This claim is also supported by studies and surveys. For the second time in the last three years, J.D. Power ranked the 911 the most dependable car on the market.
The 911 Turbo has a bigger engine that gives it supercar-level acceleration while maintaining the same robustness of the base 911 models. One of the fastest cars that Car and Driver has ever tested is the most recent 992 Turbo S, which produces 640 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.2 seconds.
We estimate that the 911 Turbo would cost around $12,000 in maintenance and repairs over the course of 5 years, which is in line with Edmunds’ estimate for the 911 Carerra. Given the incredible performance the 911 Turbo provides, $2,000 to $3,000 a year is a very modest expense.