Both cars very close in pricing with the markups on the Audi R8. Which would you take and why?

Is it really worth paying 50k over sticker price for the R8 versus a little more cash for the more exotic Lamborghini Gallardo?

and that was just once. I see Gallardos every week... So I'm not sure which one is more exotic :-)

I saw one R8 so far and a few Gallardos so yes because the R8 just came out and is in such limited production and hot demand, not as many as the Gallardo.

BUT- which is better car? The Gallardo has a powerful V10 and the Audi R8 just a V8 until next year model. Then should be interesting to see what happens.

handles much much better than the Gallardo.
The lambo is still wild even with it's four wheel drive.
I've seen 3 R8s in my neck of the woods.
Lucky ducks.

I would wait for the diesel version.
Yes I know the V12 isn't coming.

But it's still up in the air if a diesel is in the works for the future, no?

Can you get it MSRP if you do European delivery???
[p]

Both the Gallardo and the R8 are fantastic cars. If you have to have an R8 now and didn't plan ahead, you are going to pay way over sticker right now due to availability. But the R8 is not going to stop production, and the cars are going to depreciate. In a few years, you will not be paying over MSRP, the V10 will be out, the V8's will be readily available on the used market, and the price differential will have stabilized. The Gallardo has an MSRP of near to 200k, roughly 30% more than the R8.

For the same price, I would rather have an '06 Gallardo with a 500 hp V10 than an '08 R8 with the V8. An '04 Gallardo is an absolute steal now.

It's all supply and demand. The R8 is currently in short supply, so if you have to have it, you are going to pay. But the supply will shift, and like the Gallardo, the R8 will be improved in the future, and the older cars will not be as valuable.

ALL regular production cars depreciate. The only cars that truly hold value are those in limited production that also happen to be great cars (Ford GT, CGT).

Lambo takes it for me....Great V10 engine. The R8 is too a slow car to be consider a supercar, slower than the new M3, yet has some great lines and looks. No way I would pay over MSRP..Maybe if the V10 were available.

No doubt it is a great handling car, and we know the V8 engine is very reliable...That is an advantage over the Lambo...a huge one...

However, for 125k you can get an 04/05 gallardo, and the F430s are under 200 now...My guess is the resale of the R8 tanks once the V10 arrives.....

Still, it is a great new launch

the R8 is faster than the new M3. the RS4 is slower than the new M3.

at its very best the new M3 is neck and neck with the R8 at triple digit speeds on the straights. at its best. on a good day.

with engines. Just the E-Gear when people drive them like conventional autos - same as the R8.

I can tell you a buddy of mine has a 2008 gallardo and he pulled away from me in my R8 at 130mph almost like i was stopped. The gallardo kept pulling up to near 180... it was pretty impressive. But you can't talk in a gallardo as the engine is so loud!

C/D got a 0-60 of 4.3 and a 1/4 mile of 12.5 in M DCT. There are other unofficial times of 4.1 and 12.4 in the M DCT with launch control.

I have a 360 spider in the garage and with the extra wt of the ragtop, I am sure the M3 is as fast....despite the early reviews, after driving it recently it is a phenom car..especially for 60k well equipped...a steal really for how well balanced it is.

Dont get me wrong, I love the looks of the new R8. The best launch of the last decade. I simply would not pay 150k for it with its current engine when I could get a 911TT or GT3 for that.

It is however the exclusive car of the moment...

The R8 is a fantastic car, for certain. But it was meant to be a 911 killer, and it is in spades (I'd take it over a GT2, I don't care the performance difference).

But the G-car has the look, a bomber chassis, a better motor, it is more exotic (V10, lambo aura) it is faster, it is still AWD, and it is a fantastic drivers car. New vs. new, the Gallardo costs much more money. But used vs. inflated new cost... the G-car is more for the money, simple as that.

you make a reasonable statement. but the R8 itself has been tested at 3.9 seconds to 60 and a corresponding sub 12.5 sec 1/4.

it is only with the advantage of a DSG that the M3 could potentially keep up with a manual R8 on a straight. particularly from a roll. even with the DSG, however, the M3 will not be able to keep up with one on a track or around the bends. if the M3 is equipped with a manual then forget it.

on a side note- all of these new DSG equipped cars have an enormous advantage in acceleration. the GTR's ring time has more to do with its DSG than its awd system imo. were the R8 available with DSG it would probably obliterate the GTR.

the inflated cost is where my point was coming from as well....It is a def buy for 115k, but inflate it to 150k+, and you have to consider some very exotic cars.

Cool thanx April for the input on the Gallardo.

Me- I would rather buy the exotic Lamborghini than the overpriced Audi R8. Heck both cars are overpriced but I have always wanted a Lambo since I was a kid. I never drooled over an R8 then again, there were no R8 years ago either. So.Go figure

To my eyes the Gallardo looks much better. It's got a massive torquey punch, and the sound when you wack open the throttle makes you drive around with the windows down;-) However, it feels a bit heavy and clumsy sometimes - even in corners. Feedback is ok, but not as good as it could be. Some people may like the freight train sensation of weight, but I do not.

The R8 is far more sensitive to throttle inputs in corners. You can adjust the attitude of the nose and tail just with tiny motions of the gas pedal. And the feedback is just fantastic - you know everything that is going on with the chassis.

I have not heard of any pattern of problems with either the Gallardo V10 or the RS4 based V8. Just the early E-Gear systems.

The front trunk in each car is good for nothing more that a briefcase or single change of clothes. That awd system takes up all the room. However, that extra length in the R8 means you can actually stash a decent amount of stuff behind the seats.I'm a bit spoiled in this respect, because our Ferrari's trunk can fit a full sized ice chest, two paper grocery bags, and some odds and ends, while there is room behind the seats for a small garment bag and laptop case. It makes the difference between a road trip car and an around town only car. If we bought a G, we'd have to ship clothing ahead, collect it, and send used stuff back home.

Several friends have now driven the Lambo 560-4, and say it's a vast improvement, but still has that heavy locked down feel.

Of course the R8 is faster- but it also costs twice as much as the new M3!!! I would hope that Audi R8 is faster, it would be sad if a cheaper can whipped it. But then again the Nissan GTR is faster for half price. But I like the R8 and Gallardo better. And of course the Ferrari F430 Scuderia is the best sports car just about. But at 300k loaded, way more than either the Gallardo or R8.

Having owned both, I would say the R8 is a way better car then the Gallardo. The Gallardo is poorly built, is dated inside, and has many foibles which just should not be there with a car of its value (in fact in any car)

Examples: Inside door leather suffers from Mould growth if car left out in rain for long periods of time. (Apparently this is a common problem). The same happens in the luggage compartment.

The car is very uncomfortable on any long distance, the suspension and seats offer no compromise.

Visibility especially through the small triangle which forms the space between the A pillar and the side window is severely restricted around corners, which does not bode well for fast cornering.

Also, bear in mind servicing and parts are way more expensive on the Lambo (example a replacement Front Disc costs £1,100 ($2,200) here in the UK)

As a final point, the clutch on G's especially earlier models have been known to last 1500 miles if you're lucky. This is complete madness, and makes ownership ridiculously expensive.

In driving the, the R8 is way more enjoyable, handling better, being almost as fast and just being a much more pleasant place to be sitting.

The R8 is an everyday car, whilst the Gallardo is not.

As a final point, anyone who might think the Lambo would get more attention than the R8 is wrong. The R8 gets far more looks, and attention from almost everyone. The best thing is the attention the lambo used to get was often derogatory. Whilst all you get in the R8 is waves, thumbs up, and nice comments.

In summary, if you are mega rich and can afford a collection of exotica, the Lambo would of course be a nice addition. It does looks fantastic! But, if there is a choice between one or the other, and you want to use your `supercar' on a regular basis, then the R8 is the way to go.