RE: Facelifted Audi R8 - details
Discussion
zebedee said:
A facelift and no-one at Audi has still noticed that it is totally unacceptable to replace front end styling by slotting some sodding great bits of plastic mesh all over it. Absolutely ruins that car and just isn't excusable at that price point.
Each to their own - I like the front end of the R8 (in fact I like all the styling of the R8 except the side-blades). One thing I don't get about the R8 (and I do admire it, even though it doesn't excite me enough to make me want one) is that, despite being mid-engined, it still has the trademakr Audi massive front overhang and small gap from back edge of front wheelarch to front edge of door. Audi just seem stuck on big overhangs, even when it's not to accommodate the engine ahead of the front axle.
Zod said:
One thing I don't get about the R8 (and I do admire it, even though it doesn't excite me enough to make me want one) is that, despite being mid-engined, it still has the trademakr Audi massive front overhang and small gap from back edge of front wheelarch to front edge of door. Audi just seem stuck on big overhangs, even when it's not to accommodate the engine ahead of the front axle.
It doesn't look any bigger than the Gallardo's or indeed the 911's to me? kambites said:
zebedee said:
A facelift and no-one at Audi has still noticed that it is totally unacceptable to replace front end styling by slotting some sodding great bits of plastic mesh all over it. Absolutely ruins that car and just isn't excusable at that price point.
Each to their own - I like the front end of the R8 (in fact I like all the styling of the R8 except the side-blades). zebedee said:
Agreed each to their own but cheap-looking egg crate plastic on a top-end car? There must have been a better way?
Hmm, I don't remember it looking particularly cheap when I've looked at them. Mind you I don't understand this different aesthetic grades of plastic thing - plastic looks like plastic as far as I'm concerned.
Sexual Chocolate said:
V8KSN said:
Quick question - Have you driven one?
What do you think makes a 'proper' sports car?
Have you driven one?
So, going back to my original question, what do you think makes a proper sports car?
kambites said:
Hmm, I don't remember it looking particularly cheap when I've looked at them.
cheap in the sense that diagonal bits of plastic are never going to look anything but, and the top ones are even fake diagonal plastic mesh!:http://www.supertweaks.com/audi-r8-v10-front-grill...
zebedee said:
kambites said:
Hmm, I don't remember it looking particularly cheap when I've looked at them.
cheap in the sense that diagonal bits of plastic are never going to look anything but:http://www.supertweaks.com/audi-r8-v10-front-grill...
There was nothing wrong with the car dynamically so simply no need to change anything. With the exception of the exhaust I like the styling changes too. I don't think it looks dated at all but they do say that familiarity breeds contempt.
Whilst R-Tronic is nowhere near as bad as the article suggests (seriously, it sounds like secondhand forum garbage) the S-Tronic is a welcome addition. I don't think it will have the heavy mechanical feel of the R-Tronic but the whipcrack changes and burble fart at higher revs will be fun with the 8/10 soundtracks.
Whilst R-Tronic is nowhere near as bad as the article suggests (seriously, it sounds like secondhand forum garbage) the S-Tronic is a welcome addition. I don't think it will have the heavy mechanical feel of the R-Tronic but the whipcrack changes and burble fart at higher revs will be fun with the 8/10 soundtracks.
It's still a heavy car for an aluminium chassis. I suggest that VW-Audi use Lamborghini to assist in the next iteration with their carbon/titanium chassis technology or even Horacio Pagani although Mercedes Benz may object to that option. Otherwise yes, a reliable 458 alternative, although McLaren is the obvious choice for us Brits with the generous upgradeable facilities at Woking. Just like my British Hi-Fi -upgradeable, thank you too Cyrus.It pays to invest your money locally at times.
kambites said:
Zod said:
One thing I don't get about the R8 (and I do admire it, even though it doesn't excite me enough to make me want one) is that, despite being mid-engined, it still has the trademakr Audi massive front overhang and small gap from back edge of front wheelarch to front edge of door. Audi just seem stuck on big overhangs, even when it's not to accommodate the engine ahead of the front axle.
It doesn't look any bigger than the Gallardo's or indeed the 911's to me? Zod said:
kambites said:
Zod said:
One thing I don't get about the R8 (and I do admire it, even though it doesn't excite me enough to make me want one) is that, despite being mid-engined, it still has the trademakr Audi massive front overhang and small gap from back edge of front wheelarch to front edge of door. Audi just seem stuck on big overhangs, even when it's not to accommodate the engine ahead of the front axle.
It doesn't look any bigger than the Gallardo's or indeed the 911's to me? ETA: In fact, the R8's front overhang is 999mm, vs 975mm for the Gallado and 1026mm for the 997 (can't find find figures for the 991 but I think it's a fair bit smaller). Front engined cars tend to have smaller overhangs to get the engine behind the front axle, but I think that's pretty much normal for a mid/rear engined car of that size.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 25th July 10:39
V8KSN said:
It was like a comfortable saloon on the motorway too.
So, going back to my original question, what do you think makes a proper sports car?
I had one over a weekend on a test drive. I could nip to the shops in it, drive it to the golf course, pick my mum up and it wouldn't bang and rattle over the bumps but then I thought to myself, well its a sports car but it doesn't feel like it. It feels like a comfy saloon. And therein lies the problem with it. The 911 turbo would be a better option if you wanted a daily use sports car.So, going back to my original question, what do you think makes a proper sports car?
AS for what makes a sports car, well for many people it will be different things. It has to look good, sound incredible but more importantly, it has to make you feel alive. The Audi failed to do this where as the 430 and Gallardo did.
Of course its all subjective and if you ask someone else what they think makes a sports car they will have a different option.
Fittster said:
So which cars are 'proper' sports cars?
Ones that don't feel like a comfy saloon. Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Wednesday 25th July 10:43
Edited by Sexual Chocolate on Wednesday 25th July 10:45
As an owner of a gen 1 manual V8 R8, I'm relieved they haven't changed that much.
Personally, I like the open gate manual - the only problem is when you drop a jaffa cake or similar in the gaps as it's a bit fiddly to get it out again
On the R-Tronic, I'm probably quite unusual in that I'm expressing an opinion after having actually driven one. It's really not that bad once you think of it as a manual without a clutch pedal. Lift the throttle a bit on upshifts and it's nice and smooth. Keep it down and it's harsh.
I'd v much like to try the new 7-speed double clutch jobbie though. Some are not so good, eg on the TT-RS where it's set up too soft.
Personally, I like the open gate manual - the only problem is when you drop a jaffa cake or similar in the gaps as it's a bit fiddly to get it out again
On the R-Tronic, I'm probably quite unusual in that I'm expressing an opinion after having actually driven one. It's really not that bad once you think of it as a manual without a clutch pedal. Lift the throttle a bit on upshifts and it's nice and smooth. Keep it down and it's harsh.
I'd v much like to try the new 7-speed double clutch jobbie though. Some are not so good, eg on the TT-RS where it's set up too soft.
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