Pick of the Day: 2008 Audi R8

Can a true supercar be practical for day-to-day use? This is a question many ask, and having owned a few and driven many, I would say there are few cars in the supercar class that can be used as a daily driver. Of all the cars in this category I would say the Audi R8 makes the best argument for using a supercar as a daily driver.

The R8 was designed, developed, and constructed by Audi Sport. Think of them as the M group at BMW. The car was based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform, a good place to start, and then the R8 was wrapped in all the things that make Audi fans love their cars.

In a 2008 review by Road & Track magazine one editor is quoted as saying that the R8 reminded him of a German version of the Acura NSX. If you have driven an NSX you know that this is pretty high praise. Think of the R8 as the NSX taken about two levels up from what Acura built.

The fit and finish of the R8 is nothing short of exceptional, the switches and controls feel special. A big surprise is that the R8 offers supercar performance, with 0-60 mph in 4 seconds flat and a top speed of around 185 mph, but is such a smooth driving car that it’s good for a daily commute.

The cabin is wonderful, the clutch is light, and the gated manual transmission shifts perfectly. If you wonder about the handling, then consider that six-time Le Mans winning driver Jacky Ickx described the R8 at launch as, “the best handling road car today.”

It’s interesting that compared to the Gallardo, Ferrari cars of the era, and even a lot of GT2 and GT3 Porsche 911s, a manual gearbox equipped R8 is an incredible value.

The Pick of the Day is this Ibis White over black 2008 Audi R8 available for sale on ClassicCars.com. (Click the link to view the listing)

According to the Charlotte, North Carolina dealer offering this R8 it’s a three-owner car from new that has covered only 20k miles. It has a full-service history, has been extremely well kept, and was never tracked. In addition, this is a manual transmission equipped car and that makes it even more desirable.

The asking price for this stunning car is somehow only $92,500, which to me makes it the best available deal on a car in this category, especially one with a manual gearbox. If you have always wanted one of these cars you should act fast, as prices simply cannot stay this low forever.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.