At this point, I've used the R8 for basic transportation around town and one long road trip. Yeah, it sounds great and handles nearly perfectly, but what keeps jumping out at me is how comfortable it is along the way.
It's a $120,000 mid-engined exotic, yet you don't have to fall into the driver's seat to get in. And once you're situated, it's not the least bit claustrophobic. The sight lines are good through the windshield and when you look over your shoulder you can actually see out the back window.
It rides smoothly too, with none of the bucking and twitching you might expect from a car with low-profile tires and a tight wheelbase. In other words, the R8 is a real car and when it comes to exotics that's saying something.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 15,830 miles
mercedesfan says:
07:04 PM, 08/ 5/08
The R8 is officially my favorite exotic and looks just stunning from that angle. Having driven one I can attest to the fact that everything about it just seems perfect. I could never get over the fact that it felt under-powered though. Not because it was slow, but because the chassis was capable of handling so much more.
platf1 says:
07:45 PM, 08/ 5/08
You have the GT-R now. Time to pit the two together in lots of random shenanigans.
Include categories like biggest crowd and longest tailgate-while-taking-camera-pics on PCH.
sabastian says:
08:33 PM, 08/ 5/08
mercedesfan, where did you drive the R8?
felonious says:
10:31 PM, 08/ 5/08
VERY nice picture! Do you have that available in desktop sizes?
huyracing says:
11:06 PM, 08/ 5/08
yes, it is a real car, but its not a real exotic. not one that power junkies would want. just as with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage... I loved everything about it except for the fact that it is slow. if its a matter of performance, a base corvette should easily trounce it and as for being a chick magnet/ status car, a 911 would suffice. (not to mention be faster for less money)
as for being a comfortable daily driver... you'd be crazy/ insanely rich to do that. i am not driving a nice low volume car every day and risk it getting damaged. if i drove a car once a week, i'd want it to be an insane experience. then again, most people who do buy cars like this just buy it for a status symbol. for that, i'd rather have a used Ferrari/ Lamborghini...
"What do you drive"
"An Audi"
Hmm... not quite the same effect as
"Ferrari" or
"Lamborghini" :)
ahightower says:
06:51 AM, 08/ 6/08
How does it compare to a Porsche 911 for comfort in everyday driving? I know the 911 is far less exotic and rare, but performance-wise it measures up pretty well (and is just as good-looking, IMHO). And I know this was about comfort and not "practicality", but the 911 actually has a decent amount of storage space with its front trunk and rear seat. Corvette also has a pretty decent cargo area. If we're talking about driving it once a month, by all means go for style above all else. But if the claim is that you could drive it all day, chances are you'll at least need to pick up dry cleaning and groceries. And I know that I'd want to take mine on some long weekend trips and such, so cargo space is actually an important consideration, if we're talking practicality.
chavis10 says:
06:53 AM, 08/ 6/08
I like this car, except for the styling quirks. Is it really that hard to produce a cohesive design without going off the deep end? At least the nailed the wheel design. If I were spending my money, I'd take an RS5 (if they ever make one) over this. Until then, the S5 is the Audi for me.
ahightower says:
06:55 AM, 08/ 6/08
huyracing,
Depending on your audience, you might not like the response you get from saying you drive a Lambo (show off... jackass...)
mercedesfan says:
08:34 AM, 08/ 6/08
sabastian, a client of mine owns an R8 6-speed and he let me drive it along Highway 1 North of San Francisco. The speeds were relatively low (there was no way I was going to risk wrecking his brand new $120,000 car) but even at modest speeds the R8 really is something special. And this coming from a diehard Porsche fan. :)
elfjon says:
10:26 AM, 08/ 6/08
^^
i couldve sworn you were a Benz fan.
hondacura4 says:
10:37 AM, 08/ 6/08
Its exotic in terms of drivetrain layout, design and styling but its really not that exotic when it comes to overall power and performance. A base Corvette Z51 could outperform this car. Audi needs to hurry with that V10TT model to claim full exoticness.
sabastian says:
11:05 AM, 08/ 6/08
mercedesfan, I am supremely jealous.
mercedesfan says:
12:26 PM, 08/ 6/08
haha, elfjon I am a huge Benz fan, but Porsche's were my first love.