Generation-specific owner insights from 187+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2015–2022 R8?3
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2015–2022
0
recall campaigns
unknown or other
most-complained area
Our take, from owner reports
Owners of the 2015-2022 R8 describe it as a genuinely usable exotic that can be driven daily, with one owner reporting 30k miles on a previous car in all weather with no trouble beyond oil changes and modifications, and another calling it a proper supercar that is also a perfect daily.
8 problems reported (8 isolated) · high confidence
With one owner needing brakes at 30k miles despite no hard driving.
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus, but the strongest signal favors the V10 over the V8, with multiple owners stating that if you buy an R8 you should buy the V10, and the naturally aspirated V10 framed as the defining feature of this generation. Within the V10, owners are split between the all-wheel-drive Performance, which one owner says he will not give up because he prefers the newer launches, the carbon brakes and the full factory power tune, and the rear-wheel-drive RWS/RWD, which another owner says has much better steering feel, is significantly more playful at street speeds and is a bit lighter. Late 2020-2022 cars are treated as the most collectible because they are the last of the V10.
Owners compare it most often with the McLaren 720S, McLaren 570GT, Porsche 911, Porsche 718 Cayman and Lamborghini Huracan.
Is a 2015–2022 R8 right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Owners of the 2015-2022 R8 describe it as a genuinely usable exotic that can be driven daily, with one owner reporting 30k miles on a previous car in all weather with no trouble beyond oil changes and modifications, and another calling it a proper supercar that is also a perfect daily. The naturally aspirated V10 is the central appeal, repeatedly framed as the last of its kind and the reason to buy this generation rather than a V8 or a rival. Praise centers on sound, comfort for tall drivers, steering feel and playfulness of the rear-wheel-drive variants, and the fact that it draws attention without being as over-the-top as a Lamborghini. Criticism is narrower: the fixed suspension on Performance models is called brutal by one owner, the car is impractical for cargo and family use, and running costs and consumables are acknowledged as supercar-level. Late cars (2020-2022) dominate owner discussion and are treated as the most desirable and collectible because production ended, while earlier 2015-2018 cars appear mostly in pricing and cross-shopping threads.
Owners position the R8 as the more livable and cheaper-to-run exotic against McLarens, with one owner who owned both an R8 and a 720S saying the R8 was bought specifically as a more daily-friendly exotic with cheaper consumables for track use, that the R8 sounds significantly better, and that at 6'3" it is significantly more comfortable. Against the Huracan, owners say the R8 is less raw but better overall, and that a Huracan attracts over-the-top attention while the R8 is a unique animal that most people do not even recognize. Against Porsche, owners concede the 911 is more common and similar-looking across the range but argue the R8 is more special and unique, and one owner who had driven all three of the R8, GT-R and McLaren said the latest V10 R8s are fantastic while the GT-R is boring unless heavily modded. Against the Corvette C8, owners say the R8 is the purer fun choice and will depreciate less. Against the RS5, owners note the R8 is impractical to live with and has older infotainment.
Owners recommend the V10 over the V8 for this generation. For buyers choosing between drivetrains, the rear-wheel-drive version is recommended by owners who prioritize steering feel and playfulness, while the all-wheel-drive Performance is recommended by owners who want the stronger factory tune and carbon ceramic brakes. Owners advise budgeting for a tune only with awareness that it can void the warranty, with one owner noting a simple tune nets about 100 bhp and another choosing APR because it can run full E85. Paint protection film is the most consistently recommended addition, including full hood, doors and the wide side blades, with side marker wraps also suggested.
This generation suits buyers who will actually drive the car rather than garage it, with owners emphasizing that they daily theirs and bought it to drive. Owners considering the car should expect supercar-level repair prices and should not stretch themselves thin to buy one. Buyers should have a pre-purchase inspection done and should not buy without one, and should check the Carfax for structural damage, title issues and how long the car has sat unsold, since one shopper walked away from a car with reported structural damage. Owners also advise checking brake pad and rotor life, clutch life, suspension condition, leaks and prior accident repair before purchase. For buyers worried about the end of production, owners suggest that waiting makes used cars cheaper, while others argue the last V10 cars will hold or gain value.
A recurring theme in owner discussions is that this generation is the last naturally aspirated V10 Audi will produce, and several owners say that is the main motivator for buying one now. Owners report that new R8s are often sold without test drives, with dealerships requiring agreed pricing and credit checks first, and that cars arrive with 25-35 miles from factory testing. One owner shipped a 2020 R8 by air from California to Switzerland rather than sell it, and warned that Swiss speeding penalties can include confiscation and auction of the car. Owners repeatedly note that the R8 is one of the cheaper supercars to maintain, though they stress this is relative. Analysis based on approximately 187 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | unknown or other |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | air bags |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | engine and engine cooling |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.