Should you buy one?

Regretfully, the R8’s lifetime has come to an end, as Audi has stopped making them. Should you buy a decent used example if you can? Yes, you should. Other supercars might do things better (a Porsche 911 Turbo is faster, an Aston Martin Vantage is more exotic, a Bentley Continental is better at cruising) but an Audi R8 is still one of the finest jack-of-all-trades supercars around. The ICE unit is dying out across all segments, but naturally aspirated big volume engines will soon become the preserve of cars with seven-figure price tags. If you can find a decent R8, now is probably the time to buy.

We suspect the base model RWD will be enough for most people, and this is the one we recommend. Luckily there’s not a bad car to choose, so if you’d like the surefootedness of 4WD, fill your boots.

What we like

The 5.2-litre V10 is one of the finest engines around. The way it gains and sheds rpm is masterful, and it has an engine note to die for. While not practical, the R8 is easy enough to live with because of the cabin space and the fact it can be serviced at any Audi dealership.

What we don’t like

The interior, while logically laid out, doesn’t feel special enough for a £130,000 + car. There are lots of shared parts and the gear paddle shifters feel like they should be on a hatchback.