R8 What do you think of the R8?

[Mr. M]

Now a few months has passed since the R8 was unveiled to the world. Shock and owe, Audi finally released a proper mid-engined sports car to compete with the 911s. While previously Audi was notorious for its FWD cars, numb steering and ungainly weight distributions, the R8 suddenly and quite spectacularly deconstructed notions of Audi's incapability to build a sports car. Undoubtedly, in the few months following its release, the R8 has garnered award after every award, winning comparisons like it's an everyday occurrence. It has even, at times, beaten its own step-sister, the Gallardo, and even the 911 Carrera S.

It's now appropriate for you to state in this thread, what you think of the R8, Audi's first modern supercar and arguably its biggest achievement to date.

Say anything you want about it - design, performance, interior, whatever - I want to know what you think.

 

[Yperion]

It's a fantastic car.

 

[Mr. M]

I'd chip in first.

No one expected the R8 to perform so well but it did so admirably, from running the Hockenheim so amazingly quick and being so comfortable and useable at the same time. I think, nobody thought of Audi as a sports car maker before the R8. Now, everything has changed. The R8 is the proper halo car for Audi. No matter what the link, people would draw to the R8 whenever they talk about Audi.

I have never seen such an Audi myself (fair, given I've been around for only 18 years) and the R8 is a revelation to me. I'd never think of Audi quite the same way again.

With the V10 coming, coupled with DSG, this car is going to rock the house. As JC puts it so aptly, '... This car is without fault' and I think he's 100% right.

Too bad there's no space in the house for an R8 now. Otherwise...

 

[Mr. M]

It's a fantastic car.

Okay, I could have just said that without writing such a long post.

 

[MikeJ]

Too bad there's no space in the house for an R8 now. Otherwise...

Time to start looking for a bigger house then.

Seriously, I think I would choose this car over the competition if I were in the fortunate position to have the money required. It's less brash than the Italians and less ubiquitous than the 911.

 

[coolraoul]

Weel, this technically a fabulous car, Audi managed to create a really really serious spotscar, among the best of the category at the first attempt.

But it does not appeal to me that much. The design is strange, too long, and too Audi. It will age I think, the front really begins to imo.

And the RS4 motor is not like a flat six, emotionwise. Let's see with the V10...

So, even if this is a fabulous car, really, I would take a 911. Because it is something more. It is a classic, it is a myth, it is beautiful, the motor is a masterpiece. It is a 911. Everytime I see one, I think to myself "this is perfect. This is THE car...". It is not the case with others sports cars. Even Gallardo or Ferrari 430, they are spectacular, yes, but... The 911 is my dream, a Carrera S...

(because, strangely, I don't like the 911 Turbo at all, even designwise, and there is a 911 Turbo Cabriolet 997 often parked near where I work).

So 911 for me...

 

[Mr. M]

Time to start looking for a bigger house then.

Seriously, I think I would choose this car over the competition if I were in the fortunate position to have the money required. It's less brash than the Italians and less ubiquitous than the 911.

Maybe, maybe... It's a shame it's either manual or R-tronic for now. If it had been DSG it would have made it more certain...

That's a nice way to think of it. I never liked the 911 for its same-shape-different-model philosophy. If you drove a 911 and a R8 down a street, you'd know which one would get the stares, the awes and the dropping jaws...

Weel, this technically a fabulous car, Audi managed to create a really really serious spotscar, among the best of the category at the first attempt.

But it does not appeal to me that much. The design is strange, too long, and too Audi. It will age I think, the front really begins to imo.

And the RS4 motor is not like a flat six, emotionwise. Let's see with the V10...

So, even if this is a fabulous car, really, I would take a 911. Because it is something more. It is a classic, it is a myth, it is beautiful, the motor is a masterpiece. It is a 911. Everytime I see one, I think to myself "this is perfect. This is THE car...". It is not the case with others sports cars. Even Gallardo or Ferrari 430, they are spectacular, yes, but... The 911 is my dream, a Carrera S...

(because, strangely, I don't like the 911 Turbo at all, even designwise, and there is a 911 Turbo Cabriolet 997 often parked near where I work).

So 911 for me...

I agree that the R8 isn't beautiful. In fact it's not even a good looking car to begin with... Just eye-catching maybe.

The Porsche has a more organic shape, and has the name and history to go with it... Good choice. The R8 to me though represents something new and different which of course I always treasure.

What do you guys think of the Gallardo-R8 conflict? Will the upcoming V10 R8 be too close for comfort to the Lambo? Is the R8 a wrong project from the start, and that just like the Phaeton, it would forever be labelled as a 'poor cousin' to its better endowed siblings? I for one would be very interested to see how they price the V10... And whether they would introduce DSG in the Gallardo or R8 first.

 

[coolraoul]

It is a very interesting question, the Gallardo/R8.
Even if the R8 seems a bit better balanced technically speaking, the look of the Gallardo is just incredible...Its name too.
I don't know how they are priced. The V10 R8 will be near the Gallardo I think, and then, I would pick the Lambo in a heartbeat.
The R8 has only interest in V8 version, lower-priced, where it can challenge the 911/Aston.
But it won't.

I don't see it selling a lot, for me the sales will decrease considerably once the "wow, new" instant has passed. It is just an Audi after all, and looks like a stretched TT from certain sides... Nothing to compete with Porsche perfection and Aston's astonishing, stunning look.

So for me, two things are bad flaws: it is just an Audi, and it sort of looks like a TT.

 

[Centurion]

When I read the press release for the R8 I became very skeptical about the car and doomed it to be a failure. Despite the "low" 420hp, AWD and relatively high weight the R8 was surprised us all. It does perform like a sports car and Audi has proven that they have officially joined the game. With a V10 and DSG box it will be one of the best sports cars on the market. The R8 is the only car at the moment which can truly challenge the 911.

Unfortunately it is not all perfection. Audi failed with the design. The design is a bit fabricated like an American idol artist.

It's not as passionate and perfectly crafted like the Audi TT which is Audi's design star. Standing next to the R8 it doesn't evoke the same emotions as F430 or any other exotic. Nonetheless it's Audi's first job and they have created a good sports car. I look forward to the successor though.

 

[Monster]

I will definitely buy one if I have the money. I love the styling. I saw a silver version with carbon fibre side blade. It just looks so much better and smaller on the road under natural lighting. And that V8 sound, I can hear it through the noisy diesel engine of the bus I was in.

In every single drive review I have read, it has been described as one very serious driving machine, that performs on the road as well as on the track, and unlike previous Audi performance cars, the driver receives detail feedback from the car and he is fully involved in action, controlling every aspect of the car.

I am not lucky enough to have driven one, but judging from all the reviews I have read, the R8 is a true driver’s car, and for that I want one. The stunning styling comes as a bonus.

 

[GrimReaper]

While I think the R8 is an absolutely brilliant car, I think it is rather flawed in its positioning in the market. To be honest, it doesn't have any competitor because the SL is more of a GT and the 6 is again a cruiser more than an out and out sports car. Even the Porsche comes in the same range as the other two. The only logical market the R8 has is actually one step above which is the Gallardo/F430 and in all honesty I do not believe that Audi has the brand image to take on the likes even though it definitely has the technical prowess. The V8 (the way I think of it) was chosen with 'only' 420 hp for exactly that reason and not to tread on the steps of its sibling the Gallardo. Now with the V10 coming in, I would think the price would go up by a considerable amount and be almost comparable to the Gallardo. If so then I really cannot justify how I would choose the R8 over it. It is the same situation as the R8/Porsche right now. Today if the R8 and Porsche go down a street nobody will look at the Porsche at all. Tomorrow with the V10, and the R8/Gallardo going down the street, nobody will look at the R8 a second time.

 

[Mr. M]

It is a very interesting question, the Gallardo/R8.
Even if the R8 seems a bit better balanced technically speaking, the look of the Gallardo is just incredible...Its name too.
I don't know how they are priced. The V10 R8 will be near the Gallardo I think, and then, I would pick the Lambo in a heartbeat.
The R8 has only interest in V8 version, lower-priced, where it can challenge the 911/Aston.
But it won't.

I don't see it selling a lot, for me the sales will decrease considerably once the "wow, new" instant has passed. It is just an Audi after all, and looks like a stretched TT from certain sides... Nothing to compete with Porsche perfection and Aston's astonishing, stunning look.

So for me, two things are bad flaws: it is just an Audi, and it sort of looks like a TT.

Here in Singapore the Gallardo is priced almost more than 40% than the R8. That makes sense to me, and thus the V8 makes sense to me. I don't see any meaning in a V10 at all and I wished Audi hadn't shown any intention to make it. If I were a Gallardo owner, I probably wouldn't even know about the R8, but if I knew about it I would ignore and pretend its just another Audi. But fact of the matter is that the R8 is a cheaper, and arguably just as competent car as the Gallardo. Probably the only thing it doesn't do as well as the G is attracting attention and representing status and wealth. Still, the R8 is one very ostentatious car indeed.

There is no mid-engined car in its segment right now that can really compete. That's what that makes it so special. If you want a mid-engine sports car that performs as well if not better you're already looking at a Ferrari. So maybe the R8 is here for people who don't want to pay so much for a mid-engine supercar, yet who want to enjoy the experience and talk of owning one.

I too wouldn't see the R8 selling well. But apparently there are very long waiting lists and people are putting a premium on the car's price. Now that's something surprising to me.

When I read the press release for the R8 I became very skeptical about the car and doomed it to be a failure. Despite the "low" 420hp, AWD and relatively high weight the R8 was surprised us all. It does perform like a sports car and Audi has proven that they have officially joined the game. With a V10 and DSG box it will be one of the best sports cars on the market. The R8 is the only car at the moment which can truly challenge the 911.

Unfortunately it is not all perfection. Audi failed with the design. The design is a bit fabricated like an American idol artist.

It's not as passionate and perfectly crafted like the Audi TT which is Audi's design star. Standing next to the R8 it doesn't evoke the same emotions as F430 or any other exotic. Nonetheless it's Audi's first job and they have created a good sports car. I look forward to the successor though.

I agree with what you think of the look. There are flaws there and here, which is something you shouldn't be experiencing for a car costing that much. I've yet to see one though so maybe I'd comment more once I've done so. I heard more than one account of people totally changing their opinions of the car once they've seen it (eg. Just_me).

I wonder who's the designer of the R8.

I will definitely buy one if I have the money. I love the styling. I saw a silver version with carbon fibre side blade. It just looks so much better and smaller on the road under natural lighting. And that V8 sound, I can hear it through the noisy diesel engine of the bus I was in.

In every single drive review I have read, it has been described as one very serious driving machine, that performs on the road as well as on the track, and unlike previous Audi performance cars, the driver receives detail feedback from the car and he is fully involved in action, controlling every aspect of the car.

I am not lucky enough to have driven one, but judging from all the reviews I have read, the R8 is a true driver’s car, and for that I want one. The stunning styling comes as a bonus.

I like that you could hear the sound from inside your bus... Should be quite loud then.

While I think the R8 is an absolutely brilliant car, I think it is rather flawed in its positioning in the market. To be honest, it doesn't have any competitor because the SL is more of a GT and the 6 is again a cruiser more than an out and out sports car. Even the Porsche comes in the same range as the other two. The only logical market the R8 has is actually one step above which is the Gallardo/F430 and in all honesty I do not believe that Audi has the brand image to take on the likes even though it definitely has the technical prowess. The V8 (the way I think of it) was chosen with 'only' 420 hp for exactly that reason and not to tread on the steps of its sibling the Gallardo. Now with the V10 coming in, I would think the price would go up by a considerable amount and be almost comparable to the Gallardo. If so then I really cannot justify how I would choose the R8 over it. It is the same situation as the R8/Porsche right now. Today if the R8 and Porsche go down a street nobody will look at the Porsche at all. Tomorrow with the V10, and the R8/Gallardo going down the street, nobody will look at the R8 a second time.

Again, it seems VAG is appealing to the 'alternative' customer. The one not looking for a strong brand name but who value engineering. Similar cars follow the same thinking - Phaeton, Treg. It's in a market of its own - something I'm not sure will be sustainable.

 

[Tarek]

Fantastic car and would buy one for sure over 911(turbo and GT2 excluded),it's so advanced from the future look that really gets me,it's not sexy as he italians but it's a hell of a great car

 

[Bruce]

Errm... I can't decide on an option at the moment...

My affection for the R8 seems to be a relationship of love and hate. In terms of it's technical prowess there is next to nothing to fault; It's beautifully assembled, technologically advanced and certainly revolutionary for Audi.

The same could be said for the interior which is just beyond first-rate. I haven't any qualms with it's interior. None. It's just fantastic in all respects, and is undoubtedly one of my favourite interior designs of all time.

Honestly though, the exterior of the R8 is what I am less convinced of. Sometimes I think it's look marvelous, whilst other times I feel it looks too contrived, too busy.

But despite that - I think if it came down to purchasing one of these vehicles, I'd definitely take the R8 over the 997 Carrera S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage or any other such comparable vehicles.

 

[Mr. M]

Errm... I can't decide on an option at the moment...

My affection for the R8 seems to be a relationship of love and hate. In terms of it's technical prowess there is next to nothing to fault; It's beautifully assembled, technologically advanced and certainly revolutionary for Audi.

The same could be said for the interior which is just beyond first-rate. I haven't any qualms with it's interior. None. It's just fantastic in all respects, and is undoubtedly one of my favourite interior designs of all time.

Honestly though, the exterior of the R8 is what I am less convinced of. Sometimes I think it's look marvelous, whilst other times I feel it looks too contrived, too busy.

But despite that - I think if it came down to purchasing one of these vehicles, I'd definitely take the R8 over the 997 Carrera S, Aston Martin V8 Vantage or any other such comparable vehicles.

Maybe this can help you.



I really can't wait to see this car!

 

[Bruce]

I really can't wait to see this car!

Well, me too. I still haven't seen it in the flesh, but for the moment I'll stick with my love and hate relationship.

 

[klier]

It's not that I dislike the R8 per say, but I would take a Porsche over it any day of the week.

And, how is it possible that The Artist voted twice???

 

[MikeJ]

And, how is it possible that The Artist voted twice???

It's a multiple choice poll, for some reason.

 

[LaArtist]

i really dont love it..
the LED´s bother me..cause they look elegant when the car is supposed to be agressive..
and i dont like the black plastic either..

other than that..as a machine its awesomme

 

[coolraoul]

Yes, the LEDS were better if placed above and not under the lights, it could make a spectacular angry eyebrows...