RE: Paris: V8 Audi R8 Spyder
Thursday 30th September 2010
Paris: V8 Audi R8 Spyder
Open R8 finally gets its V8 option, plus miscellaneous tweaks
If it wasn't for the new Quattro concept, this is what we'd all be looking at on the Audi stand - they've lopped the head off the V8 R8, and Paris is the new model's show debut.
The new V8 Spyder (and the coupé) comes with a slightly updated engine to comply with the Euro V emissions regulations, which isn't bad news at all, as the update helpfully gives it 10bhp more than before at 424bhp.
Transmissions on offer are standard R8 fare - a six-speed manual or the six-speed R-tronic automatic. Both options will take the V8 Spyder to 62mph in 4.8seconds and on to 186mph. Where legal, naturally.
To make the Spyder a little more enticing it gets a few more standard options over the coupé. You get electrically adjustable heated seats, Bluetooth, seatbelt mounted mics (for roof-off motorway phone chats) and extra metallic paint options.
If that sounds like your cup of tea, be prepared to drop at least £95,545 for the manual and £100,855 for R-Tronic 'auto. Deliveries begin in January 2011.
Discussion
Sorry to sound like a old git, but I really don't like high performance drop tops. They are designed quite frankly to pose in and nothing else. Why take a well sorted, good handling car (R8, 911, AM Vantage et al) and then make it all floppy?
Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
dave stew said:
Sorry to sound like a old git, but I really don't like high performance drop tops. They are designed quite frankly to pose in and nothing else. Why take a well sorted, good handling car (R8, 911, AM Vantage et al) and then make it all floppy?
Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
While i see your point, i think so few supercars are ever really 'pushed' (outside of a track day you can't really lean on one to anywhere near it limits anyway), that the positive of roof down motoring in summer (particularly with a lovely sounding engine) outweighs the not quite so rigid chassis.Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
Some are done better than others of course, but if the handling isn't completely terrible, a small compromise i would find acceptable. I'm not a roof down poser either, i just find it a more 'pure' and enjoyable form of motoring to have the wind in your hair and the engine fully audible. Quite simply i have more fun driving my drop top on the open road with the roof down, whether there is anyone to see me or not.
To me this is just sacrilege. They have taken one of the most gorgeous cars iv ever layed eyes on and made it slower?
And now for some reason it just doesnt look as pretty as it does in v10 form
Plus you would always be worried that someone in a v10 version would pull up beside you and make you look like a cheap sod.
And now for some reason it just doesnt look as pretty as it does in v10 form
Plus you would always be worried that someone in a v10 version would pull up beside you and make you look like a cheap sod.
dave stew said:
Sorry to sound like a old git, but I really don't like high performance drop tops. They are designed quite frankly to pose in and nothing else. Why take a well sorted, good handling car (R8, 911, AM Vantage et al) and then make it all floppy?
Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
Before this summer i would of completely agreed, but having rented a few drop tops I've done complete u turn. The fact is you can get no where near the limts of a car on the public road to notice the difference. If its a weekkend toy, as most of these will be, why not have the roff down and enjoy the sound of a V8 roaring behind your head, I'd take the V10 but wouldn't turn my nose up at this.Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
rlc18 said:
Plus you would always be worried that someone in a v10 version would pull up beside you and make you look like a cheap sod.
That made me laugh out loud, cheap sod in your £100k motor lolsssssI like it but prefer the V10 hard top, unless i moved to the south of France and posed about all the time.
I see nothing wrong with the V8 spyder.
Had i known that audi would be making a v8 spyder prior, i probably not have bought my V10 spyder. (dunno how i missed that info!...costly)
With hindsight, living in london and owning such a car that is usualy reserved only for the weekends,(my usage) id have used my head/ wallet rather than my petrol heart and saved the extra £30k for the v10.
As for design i think the spyder only makes the car look better. The coupe is a great desgin, unquestionable, but with the roof down on the spyder it looks just amazing.
The V8 spyder is priced right along side the porsche 4s cambrio drivers and well in london porsche are like pubs, on every corner. so i am sure that audi will be winning some new customers.
Had i known that audi would be making a v8 spyder prior, i probably not have bought my V10 spyder. (dunno how i missed that info!...costly)
With hindsight, living in london and owning such a car that is usualy reserved only for the weekends,(my usage) id have used my head/ wallet rather than my petrol heart and saved the extra £30k for the v10.
As for design i think the spyder only makes the car look better. The coupe is a great desgin, unquestionable, but with the roof down on the spyder it looks just amazing.
The V8 spyder is priced right along side the porsche 4s cambrio drivers and well in london porsche are like pubs, on every corner. so i am sure that audi will be winning some new customers.
xto said:
I see nothing wrong with the V8 spyder.
Had i known that audi would be making a v8 spyder prior, i probably not have bought my V10 spyder. (dunno how i missed that info!...costly)
With hindsight, living in london and owning such a car that is usualy reserved only for the weekends,(my usage) id have used my head/ wallet rather than my petrol heart and saved the extra £30k for the v10.
As for design i think the spyder only makes the car look better. The coupe is a great desgin, unquestionable, but with the roof down on the spyder it looks just amazing.
The V8 spyder is priced right along side the porsche 4s cambrio drivers and well in london porsche are like pubs, on every corner. so i am sure that audi will be winning some new customers.
I'm pretty sure a fully optioned V8 to get it to V10 spec would only be around £7-10K cheaper... you done good with the V10 Had i known that audi would be making a v8 spyder prior, i probably not have bought my V10 spyder. (dunno how i missed that info!...costly)
With hindsight, living in london and owning such a car that is usualy reserved only for the weekends,(my usage) id have used my head/ wallet rather than my petrol heart and saved the extra £30k for the v10.
As for design i think the spyder only makes the car look better. The coupe is a great desgin, unquestionable, but with the roof down on the spyder it looks just amazing.
The V8 spyder is priced right along side the porsche 4s cambrio drivers and well in london porsche are like pubs, on every corner. so i am sure that audi will be winning some new customers.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 30th September 16:32
Arguably, this V8 version will sound better than the V10 version.
Horses for courses, and all that, but IMO nothing beats the sound of a glorious V8 on full chat!
As good as the V10's are, I'll take a V8 for it's sound anyday of the week (Give it the ABT upgrade package and you'll have the performance of the V10, with the sound of the V8....happy days
)
Horses for courses, and all that, but IMO nothing beats the sound of a glorious V8 on full chat!
As good as the V10's are, I'll take a V8 for it's sound anyday of the week (Give it the ABT upgrade package and you'll have the performance of the V10, with the sound of the V8....happy days
)Edited by Spiritual_Beggar on Thursday 30th September 17:06
dave stew said:
Sorry to sound like a old git, but I really don't like high performance drop tops. They are designed quite frankly to pose in and nothing else. Why take a well sorted, good handling car (R8, 911, AM Vantage et al) and then make it all floppy?
Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
Who says it's floppy?Make sure that the exhaust is tuned to sound good at 4,000RPM in second gear (auto of course for the lazy old trout driving) and you're good to go.
Mmm. 911 Carrera coupe six speed manual or drop top 'tiptronic'.
If anyone says the latter, they're on the wrong site!
Just because it isn't AS rigid does not mean it isn't rigid. Face it, how many will see a track.
From a sound point of view I am slightly siding with the v8. I've done only 800 odd miles in mine so I can not say the v10 sounds amazing. But I have heard a few v8 under full throttle and it sounds a m a z I n g.....!! Hard to describe it buts it's an epic noise. The rasp of a v8 under acceleration repetitive and every seconds it sounds louder.
With the roof off it will be have to be a very good reason why someone in that £100k - 115k bracket would go for another brand.
Plus I do not think there would be any engine snobbery between a v10 and v8 spyder owners. I def will not and don't think any less of a v8 driver. I think brand snobbery exists outside the Audi brand on the whole. It's a less "in your face" brand in comparison to say Ferrari eg.
With the roof off it will be have to be a very good reason why someone in that £100k - 115k bracket would go for another brand.
Plus I do not think there would be any engine snobbery between a v10 and v8 spyder owners. I def will not and don't think any less of a v8 driver. I think brand snobbery exists outside the Audi brand on the whole. It's a less "in your face" brand in comparison to say Ferrari eg.
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k not just have a V10 Spyder and leave it as that.
