MvM and GoldNSX, have you actually driven the R8? Just wondering if your opinions are based on what you've read, or what you've experienced first hand.
No, I have not driven the R8 although I would love to try it. Have sat in it. Very cosy, but also more like a bathtub (in a nice way). Very much RS4 inside.
As far as my opinion is concerned, it's based on the R8's I've seen and checked out in real life.
The first time, everyone is like WOW !!
The second time it's like, oh, is that the new TT ?
The third time it's like, heh, it's an Audi...
The fact that most buyers take it in the standard 'lease' colors like silver or black doesn't help the car either.
No pun intended, for all it's worth, the R8 is technically an very good sportscar. It was hailed as a (very good) competitor to the Porsche 911 when it came out (you will remember that the NSX got the label also).
But now it seems that everyone is back into buying the Porsche again.
The problem with EVERY HALO-car like the R8 is that it's ONLY a halo-car until the next model comes onto the market.
Being a smaller and somewhat more ordinary brother to the Gallardo I'd say that most people would buy the Lambo because the Lambo doesn't compare or look like any other car. More or less like the NSX doesn't look like any other Honda.
Just last week when I was going home from work in the evening, I had a R8 tailing me for about 20 km and I didn't even notice it was a R8 until I left the highway. All that time I saw it behind me, I had just mistaken it for just an Audi. Have to admit though it was almost dark so I mainly saw it's headlights, but I think you will get my point.