2012 Audi R8

With just three former keepers, the first of whom was reputed to be Oasis’s drummer, this 2011 Audi R8 has been in the seller’s hands since 2020. 

With a peerless MoT history thanks to a comprehensive main dealer service and maintenance record (none of its owners have ever had to deal with the horror of hearing the word “advisory”…), it also comes with a clear vehicle history check.

As for its specification, ‘EJ61 YGY’ is finished in Suzuka Grey with a black leather interior and the manual gearbox, making this both rare and a true driver’s sportscar

It’s only got 27,000 miles on the odometer and was serviced less than a year ago, so it’s on the button and ready to thrill its new owner for many years to come.

It’s not often you see an Audi R8 finished in Suzuka Grey, which seems inexplicable to us given how good this one looks – and while you might think it looks white in the photos, it isn’t and looks all the better for being so subtly different.

It helps, of course, that this one is in such a good condition. With laser-etched shutlines, ripple-free flanks, and no dents, dinks, or other damage, you could be looking at a three-year-old car rather than one that’s just celebrated a dozen years on the planet.  

It’s badges, trim, and the two carbonfibre side panels are all excellent, as are the lamp lenses and glazing. One of the joys of shopping for a car like this is that they really do tend to be pampered in a way that daily drivers simply can’t be – and this one’s cosseted existence shows at every turn.

Because the seller is fastidious and has had it professionally detailed on a regular basis. “I like to keep my cars as clean as possible” he confessed, and we suspect his investment is going to be returned with dividends.

The 19-inch alloy wheels are in fine fettle with only the odd mark on the rims. They’re also fitted with matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, with 245/35ZR19 being fitted on the front wheels and huge 305/30ZR19 on the rear.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, they’re few. There is some minor paint loss to the lower edge of the front spoiler and the nearside sill just ahead of the wheelarch, the tips of the exhaust are tarnished, and there is some nibbling to the nearside front rim.

The cockpit is a riot of brushed alloy, knurled chrome, and black leather. It is, therefore, perfectly Audi.

It’s in perfectly good condition, too. Sure, there is some light creasing to the leather seats and a few scratches to the gearknob but the fact we can mention this in the second paragraph rather than buttering you up with the good news before we break the bad, tells you all you need to know about its condition.

And while Audi might be a little too attached to the whole minimalist thing but there’s no denying it knows how to build a motorcar because the rest is excellent. 

Good door cards, a taut and clean headlining, and perfectly groomed carpets conspire with those comfortable and supportive leather sports seats to create one of the nicest, and most practical, cabins in the sportscar world.

And, while it might lack some of the stylistic flourishes the Italians are so fond of, everything in here works as it should and is likely to continue doing so for a very long time. #swingsandroundabouts

Part of the reason everything still works in the cabin is because the R8’s service history is as comprehensive as you could hope for. Always serviced within the Audi dealer network, its stamped service history booklet reads as follows:

• 01.07.2013 and 7,611 miles – service by Southend Audi
• 09.08.2012 and 4,887 miles – service by Southend Audi
• 20.11.2014 and 10,380 miles – service by Southend Audi
• 15.08.2016 and 12,858 miles – service by Southend Audi
• 03.11.2017 and 15,317 miles – service by Cheltenham Audi
• 19.12.2019 and 18,591 miles – service by Marshall Plymouth Audi
• 18.02.2021 and 20,652 miles – service by Amersham Audi
• 15.02.2023 and 25,937 miles – service by Amersham Audi

As you’d expect, it starts immediately, settles into a fuss-free tickover no matter what the temperature, and gets on with the job of producing in excess of 400bhp with as little fuss as possible.

It might sound a little muted compared to some of its contemporaries, but it’ll deliver you to the far reaches of the continent with the same effortless competence as it will devastate your local race circuit; others might do it more flamboyantly but if you want to get there faster and more safely than anyone else, this should be the car you choose.

The engine bay is as minimal and beautifully detailed as everything else. It’s clean too, but then that’s what happens when a car is as carefully curated and meticulously serviced as this.

If you wanted to you could address the staining to the perforated metal covers within the engine bay - and even replace the odd rusty fastener if you’re fastidious - but this is very much in the nice-to-do category rather than anything more pressing.

The underside is clean and well-maintained. Obviously.

The R8’s MoT certificate is valid until April 2024. 

It’s been given a completely clean bill of health every year since its first test in 2014 having never had an advisory.

As you’d expect, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear and it comes with two key fobs, the book pack and wallet, a stamped service history booklet, and a wad of old invoices.

The Audi R8 is a more accessible – and probably more reliable - version of the Lamborghini Gallardo. A genuine supercar in a discreet suit, it dispenses empty autobahns with the same aplomb it navigates cluttered city streets. 

Utterly untemperamental, many armchair critics have come to the conclusion that it’s a bit boring.

They’re idiots. 

When a driver of Jacky Ickx’s talent calls it “the best handling road car today” you know you are in the presence of something very special; as they used to say on the American reality show Cops, you shouldn’t mistake the R8’s kindness for weakness.

Our guide price for this one is between £40,000 and £50,000, which is astonishing value. It’s only being sold because the seller isn’t using it and thinks it’s too good to be consigned to storage.

We agree. We’ve sold a few of these over the years and this is one stands out as being one of the best, if not the best, we’ve seen.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.