RE: Audi R8 'too good': Tell Me I'm Wrong
Discussion
Would definitely echo the comments in the article and made by many posters. Drove a friends R8 V10 spider with the S tronic box last year. Unlike most I don't mind the looks, I think they look pretty decent in the flesh and nothing like a TT. With the hood down it had that low, wide menacing presence that only supercars have.
I was a bit nervous at first at driving something which cost £150k and with over 500bhp. Unfortunately it drove just like my S5, now my S5 isn't a bad car for what it needs to do. I use it to ferry my family around in safety and comfort so it's perfect for that role. However getting into a 500bhp supercar and having it feel like a family performance saloon is NOT a good thing. The primary controls where almost identical, light steering, over-servo-ed brakes and a DSG box which felt exactly the same to use, even down to the same paddles. It even felt the same weight and I was shocked to learn later when I checked that yes they are very similar in weight, that's a mid engined supercar made of exotic materials that weighs the same as a family saloon?? Yes it was a bit faster and a bit louder but I expected more from it then to feel like a slightly better version of my S5.
Came away feeling rather disappointed with it but didn't want to poo-poo a mates brand new £150k purchase so put on a brave face. He has since admitted it's not the most exciting car he has had!
I was a bit nervous at first at driving something which cost £150k and with over 500bhp. Unfortunately it drove just like my S5, now my S5 isn't a bad car for what it needs to do. I use it to ferry my family around in safety and comfort so it's perfect for that role. However getting into a 500bhp supercar and having it feel like a family performance saloon is NOT a good thing. The primary controls where almost identical, light steering, over-servo-ed brakes and a DSG box which felt exactly the same to use, even down to the same paddles. It even felt the same weight and I was shocked to learn later when I checked that yes they are very similar in weight, that's a mid engined supercar made of exotic materials that weighs the same as a family saloon?? Yes it was a bit faster and a bit louder but I expected more from it then to feel like a slightly better version of my S5.
Came away feeling rather disappointed with it but didn't want to poo-poo a mates brand new £150k purchase so put on a brave face. He has since admitted it's not the most exciting car he has had!
These are probably the same arguments we've been having about cars since cars were invented. Each generation of car gets faster and more competent. The boring, uninvolving cars of yesterday are the raw, fun, interesting cars of today, while the next generation takes its place.
If we put our money where our mouth is, we'd probably all be driving cars at least 20 years old.
I'm as guilty of saying it as everyone else for what its worth....
If we put our money where our mouth is, we'd probably all be driving cars at least 20 years old.
I'm as guilty of saying it as everyone else for what its worth....
I think the same thing on a cold morning driving my M3 to work. It doesn't like the cold - the cold start hunts a bit and the shift/clutch is heavy, making it awkward for the first few mins driving...
...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
GroundEffect said:
I think the same thing on a cold morning driving my M3 to work. It doesn't like the cold - the cold start hunts a bit and the shift/clutch is heavy, making it awkward for the first few mins driving...
...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
They do make your car with a DCT and it by far outstrips manual sales. ...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
Most current performance cars aren't even offered with a manual. There is a definite divide between people who are car enthusiasts and people who just want to drive fast cars. Unfortunately there are a LOT more of them then there are of us hence why we have ended up where we are.
Guvernator said:
GroundEffect said:
I think the same thing on a cold morning driving my M3 to work. It doesn't like the cold - the cold start hunts a bit and the shift/clutch is heavy, making it awkward for the first few mins driving...
...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
They do make your car with a DCT and it by far outstrips manual sales. ...but if BMW engineered that out by either making it DCT or refining the engine, it wouldn't be such a riot at 8000rpm+. So I don't want it 'fixed'.
Most current performance cars aren't even offered with a manual. There is a definite divide between people who are car enthusiasts and people who just want to drive fast cars. Unfortunately there are a LOT more of them then there are of us hence why we have ended up where we are.
I bought an R8 V10 Plus a few weeks back, the previous generation and bar a couple of niggles which are still to be sorted I love the car. Heading down to the Ring in it with some buddies this weekend and the weekend after I have the new R8 V10 Plus on loan for the day so will be able to give some back to back perspectives for anyone that's interested. Two weeks after that I am of to Oulton Park to drive the new ones and the RS range around there so can give some track feedback too.
Audemars said:
Audi cars look bland. The R8 is fugly just like all Porsches. If you like Porsches you will probably like the R8.
Audi even ruined the Gallardo replacement.
Audi even ruined the Gallardo replacement.
Housey said:
I bought an R8 V10 Plus a few weeks back, the previous generation and bar a couple of niggles which are still to be sorted I love the car. Heading down to the Ring in it with some buddies this weekend and the weekend after I have the new R8 V10 Plus on loan for the day so will be able to give some back to back perspectives for anyone that's interested. Two weeks after that I am of to Oulton Park to drive the new ones and the RS range around there so can give some track feedback too.
It's great to have different perspectives. One being experience and ownership based driving in the right environments... but the other one, not so much.
grumpynuts said:
My bro in law tried one at a track day, against a 911 turbo and a Fezza of some description. He much preferred the R8. He isn't a brilliant driver and doesn't like driving, says it all.
I have driven the same ones, The 360 was, to be frank, a bit of a disappointment, nice noise but seemed very wide and could feel the engines weight, not that astoundingly quick, slightly dopey auto gearbox (manual must be better) but I liked how the front end felt, steering felt great, engine sounded fantastic and revved and revved. driven these three times now, always slightly nervous of it, perhaps needs more skill than I have to get the best out of it, still, I have managed to break one (Hydraulic line burst) so was trying !
996 Turbo, quick and very effective, but the Stability control removed any movement in the chassis the millisecond it started, impressive brakes but it is very much a road car that is devastatingly effective, it isn't a whole lot of use on track, well, it is in that it gets round quickly but you start exploring and it just says no. reminds me of a being in a Volkswagen, not a bad thing but other than being a devastating road car, its a bit two dimensional, I can see why they do the more hardcore versions
V8 vantage, lovely, lovely car but really not at all at home on a track, felt a bit wooden and indecisive, a little bit soft and more of a cruiser, albeit a fast one that looks stunning.
The R8, lovely feel to it **nice interior**
great brakes, sounded nice and it moves about, completely at odds with the Audi image and folklore, engine sounded great but felt a bit gutless low down but was fast enough, on a par with the Ferrari speed wiseChatting to the instructors on various day, I have asked them which they prefer and invariably they say the R8, oh and one said none of them, the Mini Copper S they use on the sighting lap !
Would have any of them for the road, would all be fantastic, but I have a massive soft spot for the R8, it gets a bad press, especially the V8 for being "slow", sure it wont be troubling GTR's and it may get its arse handed to it by an AMG A45 AMG but to me, that wouldn't matter, it is glorious thing and proof that Audi aren't just purveyors of white diesel lease things yadda yadda yadda, the car company that brought us the Quattro is still there.
Edit, "Insulated driving dynamics"
Have you driven one Chrismcoy ?
Edited by J4CKO on Thursday 30th June 10:16
You're not wrong. The R8 is very good accross the board. But that's all you can say about it. It should be brutal, demanding and flawed but wonderful. It isn't. Someone once said 'only Audi could make the supercar boring.' And they were spot on. A couple of years ago I took one over the North York Moors, some of the finest roads we have, arrived at my destination and realised that I'd been thinking about my kitchen extension the whole way. Says it all. It could of been a Golf. Not knocking the car, it's very good, it just has no magic.
KillyTheSaint said:
I laughed at this, had a 997 Turbo before the R8, think they are both beautiful cars ? Time for spec savers for me possibly ?? :-)
You're confusing beautiful with striking. I don't think many would call the R8 beautiful but it is striking. Deffo Spec Savers for you JACKO,
I'll admit I haven't had a great deal of experience with one, But have driven one along with a 430 and Gallardo spider on an experience day where I was allowed to open the taps considerably more than I had imagined. The 430 was my favorite on the day by a fair margin.
The Gallardo spider felt like a lethargic lump compared to the 430 dynamically IMO. The R8 felt very much as mentioned, Stable, Safe, predictable, smooth and refined but just not the experience I was after, Too much Audi and not enough super car from an event and control configuration point of view, All IMO of course.
I'll bet that the R8 is fantastic as a usable everyday 'super car' though.
I'll admit I haven't had a great deal of experience with one, But have driven one along with a 430 and Gallardo spider on an experience day where I was allowed to open the taps considerably more than I had imagined. The 430 was my favorite on the day by a fair margin.
The Gallardo spider felt like a lethargic lump compared to the 430 dynamically IMO. The R8 felt very much as mentioned, Stable, Safe, predictable, smooth and refined but just not the experience I was after, Too much Audi and not enough super car from an event and control configuration point of view, All IMO of course.
I'll bet that the R8 is fantastic as a usable everyday 'super car' though.
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