Discussion
So after 3+ years of owning my 2005 DB9, I'm considering a change.
I quite fancy a Audi R8 5.2 FSI R-Tronic Spyder, something not unlike this...
As I see it, compared to the DB9, it pans out like this (in no particular order);
Pros
More modern switchgear
0-60 = 4.1s (3.6s for the GT variant)
Cons
Its not an Aston
Its an Audi
Neutral
Running costs (mpg/tyres/servicing etc) - similar
Feel free to talk me out of it! It would be most interested to hear the thoughts of anyone who has 'come the other way' from an R8 to DB9/V12V.
Caveat : Its an Aston Martin forum - I'm not expecting unbiased views!
I quite fancy a Audi R8 5.2 FSI R-Tronic Spyder, something not unlike this...
As I see it, compared to the DB9, it pans out like this (in no particular order);
Pros
More modern switchgear
0-60 = 4.1s (3.6s for the GT variant)
Cons
Its not an Aston
Its an Audi
Neutral
Running costs (mpg/tyres/servicing etc) - similar
Feel free to talk me out of it! It would be most interested to hear the thoughts of anyone who has 'come the other way' from an R8 to DB9/V12V.
Caveat : Its an Aston Martin forum - I'm not expecting unbiased views!
Hi. When I was buying a sports car it was actually between the R8 and the DB9. The thing that attracted me to the R8 is the fact it was 4 wheel drive so it could be used in many different weathers and it goes like the wind. To be fair the R8 has had very good reviews. In the end I drove them both back to back and decided on the DB9. Sure it was not as texhnologically advanced as the R8 and it had fewer toys but it had that which I could not put my finger on plus the engine sound (in my view) was nicer in the DB9.
I looked at the r8 coupe and decided on the vantage. The spyder was a tight fit fir me which put me off and luggage space is a joke. Pre 2010 cars are also lower on tech - I think the thing to look for on the audi is cd/sd or media on the sat nav screen thing. The gear box us also single clutch so more like the ASM box.
Very different cars in my book, the v10 R8 would be a lot nearer to a v12 vantage than a db9. There's also speculation that the new R8 will be out soon (and unlike aston, it probably will be fairly soon!)
Smart money is a v12 manual vantage
Very different cars in my book, the v10 R8 would be a lot nearer to a v12 vantage than a db9. There's also speculation that the new R8 will be out soon (and unlike aston, it probably will be fairly soon!)
Smart money is a v12 manual vantage
Little Donkey said:
So in comparing an Audi R8 with an Aston Martin DB9 your very first consideration is the switchgear? I think you may have done a perfectly good job of talking yourself out of it yourself!
No, as I said, "in no particular order". But fair point, maybe switchgear was the wrong term anyhow - I meant general tech i.e. satnav, toys etc.
Outstanding car, the V10 is very quick and 4WD which will outpace your DB9 in everyway.
Unfortunately once you start researching into the car there boring to drive pops up a lot.
If you have a Audi as a daily it looks the same in the cabin as the R8 which is a downer for me.
I would say the running costs would be slightly cheaper than a Aston but also better mpg.
All depends how you drive I guess.
Im considering moving onto a Gallardo not a R8 early next year unless I find the right colour DBS Volante.
They look more exciting but really they are the same car underneath I believe.
The tech in the R8 is well behind other, 'lesser', Audis. Even though it is still better than the Aston it is annoying as you know Audi could do better whereas Aston is just what it is.
I have had Audis for 25+ years so naturally drove the R8 whilst looking for my next new car. It was great on the track but I hated it on the road. Cannot really put my finger on it but I could not wait to get out and had no redeeming features for me. If I was buying an Audi it would be an RS6/7 a much better car. I ended up with a V8V S
Not very subjective but those were my findings :-)
I have had Audis for 25+ years so naturally drove the R8 whilst looking for my next new car. It was great on the track but I hated it on the road. Cannot really put my finger on it but I could not wait to get out and had no redeeming features for me. If I was buying an Audi it would be an RS6/7 a much better car. I ended up with a V8V S
Not very subjective but those were my findings :-)
V8 Animal said:
Outstanding car, the V10 is very quick and 4WD which will outpace your DB9 in everyway.
Unfortunately once you start researching into the car there boring to drive pops up a lot.
If you have a Audi as a daily it looks the same in the cabin as the R8 which is a downer for me.
I would say the running costs would be slightly cheaper than a Aston but also better mpg.
All depends how you drive I guess.
Im considering moving onto a Gallardo not a R8 early next year unless I find the right colour DBS Volante.
They look more exciting but really they are the same car underneath I believe.
Always amazed by the boring to drive brigade,found the majority haven't actually driven one .amazing handling ,you can just let it grip and grip,or slide if you want ,still not driven Anything that handles as well.Unfortunately once you start researching into the car there boring to drive pops up a lot.
If you have a Audi as a daily it looks the same in the cabin as the R8 which is a downer for me.
I would say the running costs would be slightly cheaper than a Aston but also better mpg.
All depends how you drive I guess.
Im considering moving onto a Gallardo not a R8 early next year unless I find the right colour DBS Volante.
They look more exciting but really they are the same car underneath I believe.
In the 991c4s targa review in autocar they refer to the r8 as the dynamic standard.
The interior is the same as a tt is a fair comment though and the r8s weakness.
"It's not an Aston" is something you will notice every time you look at it.
An improvement by a second or two on 0-60 is something you'll notice... what, a couple of times a year?
If you want something a bit faster and more modern than a 2005 DB9 then I suggest a V12 Vanquish, or a DBS. Or a 2009 V8V or DB9 and get one of the well-known-on-this-forum independents to enhance it. In my humble opinion
An improvement by a second or two on 0-60 is something you'll notice... what, a couple of times a year?
If you want something a bit faster and more modern than a 2005 DB9 then I suggest a V12 Vanquish, or a DBS. Or a 2009 V8V or DB9 and get one of the well-known-on-this-forum independents to enhance it. In my humble opinion
'It's not an Aston', is something you will notice every time you look at it.
The Audi TT range of cars are quite pretty, similar silhouette to the Ford Street Ka Convertible, but they are now a very common sight, compared to an Aston Martin.
(Aston Martin forum)
Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 25th June 09:22
George29 said:
What a revolting spec 
I don't think an R8 is special enough to replace an Aston personally. Just seems a bit generic and a little bit boring (I appreciate they won't be boring to drive).
R8 spyder really suits that colour, especially at night under city lights, or when you're in your iron man outfit. Don't like the black wheels though.I don't think an R8 is special enough to replace an Aston personally. Just seems a bit generic and a little bit boring (I appreciate they won't be boring to drive).
LordBretSinclair said:
Jon1967x said:
The spyder was a tight fit fir me which put me off and luggage space is a joke.
As I have found to my cost the luggage space on the Vantage roadster is hardly commodious 
What tech are people referring to that the Audi might have that the Aston doesn't? The Aston Nav is a little dated, but then mine does have speed camera notifications. But I have USB, Iphone, bluetooth, folding mirrors.. I don't have the "mag ride" but that can be retro fitted if its an issue. I have a rear parking camera... for £30 you can have bluetooth audio streaming. Gearbox, unless you buy a fairly new one (and at 100k I'd definitely be looking at a V12V Roadster with a manual box) have the same single clutch gearbox arrangement as the ASM boxes.
The R8 isn't a more boring car, it just signifies the driver is a more boring person
This may be of interest to you.
I traded in my DB9 in January 2013 for a Lamborghini Gallardo ( bought with my heart and not my head. Still regret it ! ).
After the initial novelty wore off, the cons of Lamborghini ownership soon outweighed the pros , to such an extent that I traded it in against an R8 R Tronic 10 months later as I just couldn't live with it.
Lost a packet on it too.
The R8 is very much more usable and so far I have been very pleased with it , save for the R Tronic.
There is no doubt that it out performs the DB9 in every respect , and I would say probably the V12 Vantage as well.
My advice however is to steer clear of the R Tronic gearbox which in my view is slow and cumbersome , in effect a manual box operated by an electrically powered hydraulic arm as fitted to the Gallardo E gear.
If I was to go down the R8 route again, I would have the S Tronic where gear changes up/down are instantaneous or a manual gearbox.
If you test drive an R Tronic R8 you will see what I mean .
Hope my comments help.
I traded in my DB9 in January 2013 for a Lamborghini Gallardo ( bought with my heart and not my head. Still regret it ! ).
After the initial novelty wore off, the cons of Lamborghini ownership soon outweighed the pros , to such an extent that I traded it in against an R8 R Tronic 10 months later as I just couldn't live with it.
Lost a packet on it too.
The R8 is very much more usable and so far I have been very pleased with it , save for the R Tronic.
There is no doubt that it out performs the DB9 in every respect , and I would say probably the V12 Vantage as well.
My advice however is to steer clear of the R Tronic gearbox which in my view is slow and cumbersome , in effect a manual box operated by an electrically powered hydraulic arm as fitted to the Gallardo E gear.
If I was to go down the R8 route again, I would have the S Tronic where gear changes up/down are instantaneous or a manual gearbox.
If you test drive an R Tronic R8 you will see what I mean .
Hope my comments help.
Edited by runner911 on Wednesday 25th June 09:39
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