More than 200 R8s sitting in US dealers.

Supercar shopping isn’t as easy as waving a certified check in the air. Thing is, if you just found out the Ferrari 458 Italia existed, you can’t buy one. You’ll probably wait a whole year or more. If you didn’t know the Mercedes SLS AMG was nearing completion in 2009, too bad. Nearly all of the 500-per-year allotment is taken through the 2012 model year. A new Porsche 911 GT2 RS is — nope, sorry, two of the four in this country are used.

And Warren Buffet says the rich have it too easy.

But thanks to Audi, they can go burn $172,000 in their checking accounts today. According to Cars.com, there are more than 200 R8s sitting in US dealers, waiting for Lamborghini buyers to cancel their Gallardo orders. Audi won’t recommend this (they own Lamborghini, which donated the Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 engine), but dealers should smear every R8’s windshield in neon dry-erase marker. A LAMBO at $30,000 OFF! Why WAIT??

Two minor things. A Porsche 911 Turbo S is much, much faster than the R8 for the same money, and a Corvette ZR1 is faster for much less money.

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PUGPROUD - 8/19/2011 1:54:58 PM

+5 Boost

In this price range there are other options with greater heritage and you never have to explain your purchase.

SSP350 - 8/19/2011 2:08:27 PM

+4 Boost

I know it hasn't been that long since it debuted but, the design is getting tired looking. People aren't digging it, anymore?

1dott8 - 8/19/2011 2:50:20 PM

+2 Boost

for the money, there are better purchases. love the car, hate the price.

AgentOrange - 8/19/2011 3:06:00 PM

+3 Boost

They're appreciating like tulip bulbs in 17th century Holland.

pcar4evr - 8/19/2011 3:47:02 PM

+5 Boost

I can only laugh at the NJ dealership who ordered a R8 for me when they first were introduced and then told me I'd have to pay $40K over list for my car, once it actually arrived. I bought a 997 turbo and said "f'u". They have had 4 R8's sitting on their showroom floors and those cars have been there for many months. The R8V8 is too slow and the r8V10 is too expensive - so they sit.

enthusiastx11 - 8/19/2011 6:41:28 PM

+4 Boost

200 cars in the entire country...so about 1 per dealer.

BondMI6 - 8/19/2011 10:29:09 PM

+3 Boost

Wait, doesn't Tony Stark own one now?

That means there's only a 199 available at US dealers......

1BadMan - 8/19/2011 11:24:17 PM

+3 Boost

Two things.

1) Audi won’t recommend this (they own Lamborghini, which donated the Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V-10 engine). Wrong, Audi manages Lamborghini and has never owned the company. VW owns it.

2) The R8 is cool but it is an old car in the exotic car world. There better choices for the money. And I have stated that R8 Spyders are just sitting around in piles at dealerships. This is an old car and the update that is coming this fall won't help dealers with the inventory they have now. Scary floor plans for those guys. And I will take an R8 5.2i Spyder with a manual and grey paint and the old Nav system!!!!

JustaCar - 8/20/2011 11:18:04 AM

0 Boost

Audi does own Lamborghini which they purchased in 1998. Audi is not just a brand owned by Volkswagen AG like for example Lexus is a brand of the Toyota Company or Infiniti is a brand of Nissan Motors. Audi AG is a subsidiary of the VW Group and has its own stock on the German stock exchange (NSU).

markanthony0419 - 8/20/2011 6:49:42 AM

+3 Boost

audi makes some great looking cars. problem is they are very expensive compared to their competition and you dont get anything more. every car they make in every segment they have you have to pay a premium for over the competition and you get less performance. examples of this are everywhere s5 more money less performance then either the 335 or 335 is rs 5 way more money then old m3 (which is dated) less performance. hell the r8 v8 wont beat an m3. a8l more expensive then the 750li . i can go on forever with this.

Eyecarehawaii - 8/20/2011 5:11:45 PM

+1 Boost

Speed isn't everything and neither is money for those who can afford this. The biggest problem for most luxury car makes nowadays is decreased disposable income. There will alwasy be the super-rich, but they happy to drive inconspicuous cars or be driven in sedans or limos when necessary. For the nouveau riche, these kinds of cars serve mostly as status symbols and exclusivity matters more than performance figures.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/20/2011 8:18:46 PM

-3 Boost

Thank You