just driven an R8....
Discussion
just got back from Millbrook where i have spent the evening driving one of 15(!) R8s in assorted colours and specs - both on the high speed bowl and on one of the Alpine courses.
To put it simply, the car just blew me away. It is phenomenal.
The way the car looks first of all - fabulous dimensions and detailing - it looks like a car worth comfortably over £120K, it is that exotic looking.To my eye, more interesting than the Gallardo (which i love). Beautiful curves and proportions, there is something that catches your eye from every angle. you just cannot take your eyes off it. clearly there is no bad colour in these, but the ones in black, titanium and very light metallic blue looked stunning.
Out on the road/track, the manual car i drove, pursuing an instructor in an RS4, felt very precise, responsive and incredibly well balanced. Even with the suspension setting in the default comfort setting, the ride was incredibly well controlled over the many different cambers and corners of various severity. the turn in is instant and there is plenty of feedback to the steering. Needless to say the traction is totally superb and even when really throwing the car around i always felt i knew what was going on and it handles beautifully, with the electronic safety aides being very unobtrusive so you can really feel yourself flowing into and out of the corners at scary (from passenger seat) speeds. The brakes are very strong and responsive - i have an RS4 myself and the pedal feel and response felt superior, so not sure if totally different. This car delivers serious smiles from the drivers seat.
The engine sound and performance is even more memorable than in the RS4 and i have to say, in the real world, this car seems to have all the power, speed and acceleration you could ever need. The V10 will undoubtedly steal the V8s thunder but it will have to go some if it is to equate to a more desirable car. I just hope it can feel so beautifully balanced and agile.
Lambo manual gearbox is very good and once used to the metal gate (a bit more resistance might not go amiss) you really enjoy the changes, especially the metallic snick you get each time. At the same time as being a great shift when pressing on, Audi work wonders making such a high performance car so easy to pootle around in - it really will be easy to live with in town/city driving and when you get to anything resembling an open road it will astonish you.
Clarkson and Evo were spot on - in my experience/opinion this car is best in class. If you have ordered one and remained patience despite the seemingly high pricing/low spec and neverending wait, then you are in for an absolute treat. It is a car petrolheads and non petrolheads will lust after in equal measure.
As i said at beginning - it was staggeringly good and i have been fortunate enough to drive and own a lot of quite interesting metal. I love my RS4 but the R8 takes Audi desirability to another level!
Audi dealer here i come.
PS - Audi chaps there tonight said new RS6 unoffically has c. 580bhp.....
batster
To put it simply, the car just blew me away. It is phenomenal.
The way the car looks first of all - fabulous dimensions and detailing - it looks like a car worth comfortably over £120K, it is that exotic looking.To my eye, more interesting than the Gallardo (which i love). Beautiful curves and proportions, there is something that catches your eye from every angle. you just cannot take your eyes off it. clearly there is no bad colour in these, but the ones in black, titanium and very light metallic blue looked stunning.
Out on the road/track, the manual car i drove, pursuing an instructor in an RS4, felt very precise, responsive and incredibly well balanced. Even with the suspension setting in the default comfort setting, the ride was incredibly well controlled over the many different cambers and corners of various severity. the turn in is instant and there is plenty of feedback to the steering. Needless to say the traction is totally superb and even when really throwing the car around i always felt i knew what was going on and it handles beautifully, with the electronic safety aides being very unobtrusive so you can really feel yourself flowing into and out of the corners at scary (from passenger seat) speeds. The brakes are very strong and responsive - i have an RS4 myself and the pedal feel and response felt superior, so not sure if totally different. This car delivers serious smiles from the drivers seat.
The engine sound and performance is even more memorable than in the RS4 and i have to say, in the real world, this car seems to have all the power, speed and acceleration you could ever need. The V10 will undoubtedly steal the V8s thunder but it will have to go some if it is to equate to a more desirable car. I just hope it can feel so beautifully balanced and agile.
Lambo manual gearbox is very good and once used to the metal gate (a bit more resistance might not go amiss) you really enjoy the changes, especially the metallic snick you get each time. At the same time as being a great shift when pressing on, Audi work wonders making such a high performance car so easy to pootle around in - it really will be easy to live with in town/city driving and when you get to anything resembling an open road it will astonish you.
Clarkson and Evo were spot on - in my experience/opinion this car is best in class. If you have ordered one and remained patience despite the seemingly high pricing/low spec and neverending wait, then you are in for an absolute treat. It is a car petrolheads and non petrolheads will lust after in equal measure.
As i said at beginning - it was staggeringly good and i have been fortunate enough to drive and own a lot of quite interesting metal. I love my RS4 but the R8 takes Audi desirability to another level!
Audi dealer here i come.
PS - Audi chaps there tonight said new RS6 unoffically has c. 580bhp.....
batster
I agree, I went to see a black on black R8 at the Audi Epsom showroom at the weekend and it looked stunning, especially with the biege leather interior.
You're right 90-100k seems like a lot, but when you see it in the flesh it looks stunning, pics just don't do it justice.
Batster, I bet you'll be getting one before we know it! you've had the RS4 for months now, you must be due a change....;-)
You're right 90-100k seems like a lot, but when you see it in the flesh it looks stunning, pics just don't do it justice.
Batster, I bet you'll be getting one before we know it! you've had the RS4 for months now, you must be due a change....;-)
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