RE: Audi R8 V8 manual: Spotted

[havoc]

MarkosGTV said:

we're going through a period where turbos have changed the picture.

But is it for the better?

When a hot hatch can take you to licence-losing (e.g. 90 in an NSL) in c.10s (or the top of 3rd gear, probably), and a super-saloon has >500bhp as a starting point, exactly how relevant is all this performance to the road???

I know, I know - "take it on track" - but how many people have the money to do trackdays, or are willing to risk a £30/50/70k car doing so? (most trackday insurance policies have an excess equal to 10% of the valuation) Moreover, most of these uber-fast cars are also increasingly heavy, which arguably reduces the 'fun' factor on-track and increases the consumables / cost of the trackday.


Anyway, going O/T...

[Ares]

havoc said:

But is it for the better?

When a hot hatch can take you to licence-losing (e.g. 90 in an NSL) in c.10s (or the top of 3rd gear, probably), and a super-saloon has >500bhp as a starting point, exactly how relevant is all this performance to the road???

I know, I know - "take it on track" - but how many people have the money to do trackdays, or are willing to risk a £30/50/70k car doing so? (most trackday insurance policies have an excess equal to 10% of the valuation) Moreover, most of these uber-fast cars are also increasingly heavy, which arguably reduces the 'fun' factor on-track and increases the consumables / cost of the trackday.


Anyway, going O/T...

It is fine.I have a 500bhp+ saloon. The turbos actually help it be more useable and relevant for the road. OK, it's a very good turbo application, drives almost like it's NA, without the huge diesel-like slug of torque very low down like the M3 was, but the easy so easy to drive normally - all the super saloon are, largely down to the turbo'd format - no dead zones, not wringing out then rev range.

And mine is stated at 1550kg (most weigh in 70-100kg heavier than that in the flesh) - the weights are coming down again.

[Trevor555]

Back in April I tasked myself to find an R8 for 50k after selling my Boxster S 981.

I looked at four, all had issues that stopped me buying, and I felt they were dated inside.

I found a good one at a dealer but the warranty offered had a £1000 claim limit, and after looking through service histories and seeing large repair bills that the warranty wouldn't have covered anyway (oil leaks) (mag ride) I thought I'd have to get a far newer one to be happy.

I also looked at TTRS, Alfa 4C, new Cayman S 718, and briefly a Bentley Continental GT.

Long story short, I bought the TT after a test drive that involved driving through a tunnel, and the lure of the 3 year warranty, new tech etc...

I'm still longing for an R8, I totally agree the TT is not special enough, albeit a fine machine that's easy to drive fast, and makes an addictive noise.

So I'm saving my pennies for a V10 R8 plus, my friend has one and it really does impress, who cares about being practical? I have a Fabia estate for that.

Alfa 4C horrid inside.

718 Cayman sounded awful after my 6 pot 981.

Bentley impressive, but at 46 felt I wasn't quite old enough.

I'm also wondering what the new Supra is going to be like.

Edited by Trevor555 on Friday 1st December 22:31