An Evening Drive in a 2010 Audi R8 V10 Spyder

Old cars, especially Audis, can be a joy or a trial and the Audi R8 V10 Spyder is no different. It could have gone horribly wrong, but as it was, was better than sex.

The Audi R8 V10 Spyder is a howler, its high-pitched wail revealing to all that this thug in a dinner suit could whip your head of as easily as it could whip you into a frenzy. Unlike many of its ilk, this 13-year-old treasure is in the hands of its original owner who has amassed 80,000km of open top joy, much of it on a track.

It is protected in the loving care of a clear wrap that has kept the worst of nature’s wrath at bay.

Wheel arches show a hint of the high-speed torture these weapons endure. Fine grains kicked up at 200kph hit the panels with the force of a Saharan storm. The average punter won’t notice, because even after all these years, it still gleams with all the glory of its original $392,000 purchase price.

The 42kg roof gently folds away, delaying the journey by only 19 seconds. If you must move, you can deploy it again at speeds of up to 50kph. The glass rear window can slide up or down whether or not the roof is open.

Audi R8 V10 Spyder’s space frame weighs in at 216kg, only 6kg more than the coupé. The manual weighs 1720kg, but our 6-speed R Tonic is a touch more. Once under way, the low-slung Audi feels as light as a feather.

Despite being a veteran, the V10 still commands respect, but that single clutch automatic can be tetchy, especially at low speed. It is one of the many delightful, yet annoying hangovers from early Audi supercar development.

The like the much-loved body-work, cabin shows few signs of aging. Technology therein, is another story. The Audi R8 V10 Spyder’s audio system, once cutting edge, is now a museum piece. Although it still matches the best with its sound, Apple CarPlay is still a distant dream. The 2010 R8 had Bang and Olufsen speakers, so although the way you chose your music was not up to modern snuff, the sound was still something to marvel at.

While this might not surprise you, optional equipment included seatbelt microphones for open-top telephony. We’ve seen this in our Audi A5 Cabriolet review, the car that made a special guest appearance in last month’s 45^th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

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Audi R8 V10 Spyder On the road:

There was a sense of anticipation as the V10 sparked up. In our underground bunker, there was a hint of echo as we crept towards the opening shutter.

We turned out into the balmy evening, and the peak hour traffic.

We managed brisk sprints, but the 4.1 second 0-100 was never in danger of being tested. You know what? It didn’t matter. The brutality still made itself felt, so turning the electronic nannies off is something only a complete fool would try, and we didn’t. Doing so would transform their toy into a very expensive pile of steaming scrap metal, and neither of us wanted that kind of sceptical on the 6pm news .

The owner says the 100L luggage box under the bonnet is plenty for a cosy weekend away, a week of you pack carefully.

Directional changes are exactly what you expect from a masterpiece of Audi R8 V10 Spyder QUATTRO loveliness. Gear changes commanded in manual mode have the urgency of of a small bolt of lightning, and the old-school cabin layout make sthe old-school suspension all the more piquant. In sport mode, ride is similar to riding a BBQ on a cobbled street. Even on the track, the owner says the R8 is a trifle firm.

In many ways, the naked brawn is raw and untamed. There is none of the fancy stuff that Audi shoehorns into its modern cars, and the 4.1second sprint is now bettered by a Genesis GV60. None of the matters, because there is naught to equal the joy of rolling through the traffic in an R8 Spyder regardless of speed. with the roof and windows down

It is nice to see an automobile of this class and calibre being used as its designers intended.

Finally: With the obsession with new cars to sip juice like a teetotal, the 2010 R8 drinks like a drag queen. Our short drive recorded a thirsty 20L/100km. I shall never mention this again. I drove the new R8 and an Audi track day. The Audi R8 reviewed, was one of one of 5 Audi high performance machines unleashed, and once driven, is never forgotten. Fuel consumption on the new models is equally frightening when pushed beyond a gentle canter.

Does the old R8 still gird my loins? Well, in a word, yes.

After we backed into the assigned spot and raised the roof, the only regret was that the short journey had ended.