The current season of Top Gear has been decidedly mediocre, but last night’s show was a highlight featuring a comparison between three open-topped ‘budget’ supercars from Audi, McLaren and Ferrari.
The V10-engined R8 Spyder has 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm at its disposal, enough to achieve a 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds and an official top speed of 313 km/h (194 mph), putting it in direct competition with its rivals here.
It looks and sounds fantastic, doesn’t fall apart within a few days, and – unlike the Macca – it didn’t have to be instantly revised because motoring journalists criticized it on its debut.
Also factor in the fact that it costs £70,000 less than the other two and it’s a no-brainer. That’s virtually the price of a brand new Porsche 911.