Threat to Porsche Audi R8

[rockyr]

"Light blue touch paper and stand well back ...."

I drove my friends Box and found it way more balanced than the 911, dare I say that it felt better, just lacking on power.

Thats something the 911 has GRUNT ..... especially the last 1000 revs that zip by so quick that when you first get it you spend quite a few gear shifts banging off the limiter looking like an idiot (driver error).

[pesty]

rockyr said:

I didn't realise I was posting in the Porsche forum .... sorry guys. Possibly not the best arena in which to vent my frustrations with my current car.

I disagree. its exactly the place. Dont get me wrong I love my car(vary different to a 997 but..) All we tend to hear from around here from the converted is the 997 is the dogs.

Its actually nice to hear a different voice for a change. I am not saying I agree or that I would find the same but I like to hear a ballanced view.

After all how long have we been hearing that porsche Engineering is bullet proof. Many people who read that and absorbed it have found their experience to be different.

Keep posting. Oh and by the way I think teh R8 is a stunning looking car. If I could afford one it would probably top my list.

[rockyr]

Bullet proof ?

My passenger door filled up with water the first time I drove it in the wet

[rockyr]

Mind you compared to my Esprit its the paragon of reliability.

Average monthly running costs in its final months exceeded £1500


Fuel Tanks x 2
Steering Rack
Radiator
Air Con Systems
Indicator Stalk
Light Motors x 2
Windscreen Wiper motor

So if nothing else the zero pounds I have spent on the 997 is a relief.

[pesty]

rockyr said:

Bullet proof ?

My passenger door filled up with water the first time I drove it in the wet

exactly my point sir dont forget RMS , cylinder linings and intermediate shafts etc etc. damn im in for it now.

[loach]

I could have my figures slightly wrong here, but Aston are aiming to produce and sell somewhere in the region of 2-3000 assorted AMV8s per year. Audi plan to make a similar number of R8s - though it seems that it will take them a while to ramp up production to these levels. With Porsche already shifting around 30,000 911s per annum, I don't see either the Audi or the Aston making more than minor inroads into Porsche 911 sales. 911 TT sales perhaps, given what a specified R8/AMV8 costs; but even then I doubt there will be too much consternation in Leipzig/Stuttgart. In any event, I'd be amazed if the final verdict on the Audi didn't contain the usual 'so close, but still no cigar' caveats.

[Moosh]

Audi R8 the last one I was with at a track day last month, the gear box fell out and the clutch went, only 2000 miles on the clock. OUCH!

[rockyr]

The undeniable problem of exclusivity. Audi / AM 3000 units ... Porsche flooding another 30,000 units.

EVERYONE has a 911 ... even me ... our car park at work is rammed with them. Pull up at a petrol station and you'll be with another one in minutes, probably the same colour as yours (in my case silver).

You can't drive flat out all the time, sometimes you want the car for its looks. If its the same as everyone elses then it just isn't cool anymore.

Going back to my original point, my Golf provides more thrills per day the my 911. Its not as sorted, its not as quick (all obvious) which means when you get to that off camber corner you go in on the limit at 45-50 not 70-75 in the 911 ... it doesn't matter about the speed so much, you are still on the limit of what it can do and when iit comes out the other side you have a smile from ear to ear.

Get them on the track then its a different matter ... power reigns supreme. On the road with the chances of hitting trees, little old ladies, tractors and sheep ..... give me the accessible fun.

[silver993tt]

rockyr said:

Going back to my original point, my Golf provides more thrills per day the my 911. Its not as sorted, its not as quick (all obvious) which means when you get to that off camber corner you go in on the limit at 45-50 not 70-75 in the 911 ... it doesn't matter about the speed so much, you are still on the limit of what it can do and when iit comes out the other side you have a smile from ear to ear.

Get them on the track then its a different matter ... power reigns supreme. On the road with the chances of hitting trees, little old ladies, tractors and sheep ..... give me the accessible fun.

That'll be the same with the R8 then Sounds like a performance car isn't for you then.

[Mannginger]

Or maybe a Caterham is the car for on road fun?

[loach]

rockyr said:

The undeniable problem of exclusivity. Audi / AM 3000 units ... Porsche flooding another 30,000 units.

EVERYONE has a 911 ... even me ... our car park at work is rammed with them. Pull up at a petrol station and you'll be with another one in minutes, probably the same colour as yours (in my case silver).

You can't drive flat out all the time, sometimes you want the car for its looks. If its the same as everyone elses then it just isn't cool anymore.

Going back to my original point, my Golf provides more thrills per day the my 911. Its not as sorted, its not as quick (all obvious) which means when you get to that off camber corner you go in on the limit at 45-50 not 70-75 in the 911 ... it doesn't matter about the speed so much, you are still on the limit of what it can do and when iit comes out the other side you have a smile from ear to ear.

Get them on the track then its a different matter ... power reigns supreme. On the road with the chances of hitting trees, little old ladies, tractors and sheep ..... give me the accessible fun.

Are there too many water-cooled 911s about? Yes - from an owner's point of view certainly. Mind you - would it not be fair to say that your workplace car park was full of them before you bought yours? Do you not think you could have gone for a slightly more original colour yourself if having something a bit more unique was high on your list of criteria? You'll be telling us your car has black leather next. I agree that there's an enormous amount of fun to be had driving something quick but unassuming like a Golf Gti or a Mini Cooper S (there are billions of those around too, btw) but you'd have to be seriously jaded to assert that the 997C2S competes on more or less equal footing with a hot hatch. I think a 997GT3 in a distinctive colour would address pretty much all of your concerns. The R8 shows promise, but if it ends up thrilling to drive, it'll be a first for Audi in a long time (and I include the new RS4 which I think is worthy, but slightly dull).

[slippydiff]

rockyr said:

The undeniable problem of exclusivity.
EVERYONE has a 911 ... even me ... , probably the same colour as yours (in my case silver).

The undeniable problem of exclusivity ? so you went out and bought a silver one ?

[Heli Coil]

Audi build a TT and Porsche build a Boxster,if the parts are the same then Audi have Fckup big style. Will the R8 be better than 911. not judging by the TT and Boxster comparison. People who can drive a 911 on the limit will be laughing at this and saying nothing. Just smiling.