2008 Audi R8

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the introduction of Audi’s supercar-scaring R8. It really was a bit of a leap for the company which typically mastered unsteer-laden sedans to jump into a mid-engine, rear-biased all-out sports car, but when they put their mind to it they sure did an impressive job. The design built off existing themes in Audi’s show car history such as the Spyder and Avus concepts of the 90s, but the real foundation work was laid with the twin-turbo Lamborghini V10-powered LeMans quattro show car in 2003. Of course, such a crazy concept would never come to fruition, right?

Fast forward only three years later and the road-ready and newly coined “R8” was brought to the market. Architecture was heavily borrowed from existing models within the company’s umbrella; the basic platform was shared with the Audi-owned Lamborghini Gallardo, while the initial engine came from the RS4 in the form of the 4.2 liter, all-aluminum FSI V8. At 414 horsepower, it might not have given a 599GTB driver much concern, but it surely gave the crew heading into Porsche dealers pause.

From the get-go, journalists swooned over the performance and dynamics of the R8. It was lauded as one of the best packages you could buy – even Clarkson liked it! Even before the mega-V10 model rolled out for the 2009 model year, the 4.2 offered blistering performance in a budget (for the market) package. 0-60 was gone in 4.6 second, the standing quarter in 12.5 and it’d do nearly 190 mph flat-out – at least, that’s what Audi claimed. Car and Driver eclipsed the 60 mark in 4.0 seconds in theirs. At around $120,000 new with some options, the R8 was more dear than any Audi had ever hit market.

But there was something even more odd and unique that this car did, or rather, didn’t do, and it’s one of the main reasons I don’t often write them up. It didn’t fall in value. If you bought a well-equipped, V10-engined S8 in 2007, you’d shell out about the same money – $110,000. Today? Less than 20 grand. But the R8 was the first modern Audi not to fall victim to depreciation. Lower mile examples of the early models are still asking over $70,000 – sometimes well over $80,000. Today’s car has the more valuable gated manual gearbox and is in my favorite color on these – Jet Blue Metallic. Let’s check it out:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2008 Audi R8 on eBay

Year: 2008
Model: R8
VIN: WUAAU34248N001529
Engine: 4.2 liter V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Mileage: 36,400 mi
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Price: $72,999 Buy It Now

– 2008 Model Year Audi R8 V8 Manual Gated 6 Speed
– Jet Blue Metallic Exterior
– Limestone Gray interior
– Gated 6 speed manual transmission
– Carbon Sigma Side Blades
– Leather package
– LED taillights
– Navigation
– Premium Package
– Bluetooth phone prep
– Hill hold assist by audi
– Seller reports the struts have been upgraded with the Bilstein system
– Seller reports the car was purchased with an aftermarket exhaust already installed

The likes? It’s a great color combination of Jet Blue Metallic and Limestone Gray leather. The Dynamic Ride Suspension has been replaced with Bilstein components, it’s got lower mileage, and the condition appears to very good. Personally I’d revert the wheels to their original polished configuration, as truth told I think the color works slightly better with that coupled with silver side blades. A very similar example recently sold for $65,500, which at first glance makes this one seem overpriced. However, that car just referenced also had the R-Tronic gearbox, and the prevailing thought is that affects value by about 10k. Perhaps a little negotiation gets you to 70 here, and when you look at what that delivers in the Porsche world…well, these just seem like a deal.

-Carter