Don't ask me how it happened but I scored our 2008 Audi R8 for the weekend. Yup! Little ol' me, the editor who usually gets assigned the Smart. And I used this supercar -- Iron Man's car, the star of I, Robot -- to finish up the last of my move, to run donated items over to Goodwill and to attend the American Wine & Food Festival (AWFF) which, funny enough, was sponsored by Audi. I was in heaven.
Sure, it's not really practical for running errands, and this car does not enjoy going slow but at all, but it somehow turned even the most mundane moments into a cinematic experience.
When I had parked it in front of my new house, a group of good-looking shirtless college-age men, from the nearby college's track team I assume, were running down the street and descended upon the R8 whooping and hollering. "Is this YOUR car?" they asked me as I stepped out of my house to investigate what all the ruckus was about. "Why yes. Yes, it is," I replied, fanning myself.
And I even found myself driving 10 miles away to another Ralphs since the one near my house didn't carry the cake mix I was looking for. Any excuse to jump behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, this car has no place in my life. I'm not fancy enough, rich enough or even skilled enough as a driver to own it. Like I said, it doesn't like to be driven slow as it jerked and puttered when I was driving around the garage at the AWFF looking for parking. And even if you sit at a traffic light too long, it automatically switches its gear to Neutral as if impatient for sitting still too long. "Yes, I understand, dear supercar. You want to go, and go fast."
In any case, borrowing this car, even for just staying in town really made my weekend. It's definitely great motivation for doing errands.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 20,720 miles
trjnflip says:
12:26 PM, 09/29/08
You should post a picture of the dirty R8 parked in front of your house.
caroscuro says:
12:30 PM, 09/29/08
I couldn't bring myself to do that. Or even post a picture of the R8 with moving boxes sitting on the passenger seat. It just seemed wrong.
opfreakx says:
01:54 PM, 09/29/08
brilliant line
"Yes, I understand, dear supercar. You want to go, and go fast."
adavis2493 says:
02:28 PM, 09/29/08
When yo think of this, I don't know why anybody would want the Gallardo over this. Though it has the Lamborghini Emblem on it, the Audi is sooooo much better looking....
sabastian says:
02:37 PM, 09/29/08
Awesome picture.
hondacura4 says:
05:54 PM, 09/29/08
According to Stingray the Audi wouldnt be considered a "supercar" as it doesnt have enough power. What is the true definition of supercar?
Speaking of the Gallardo, I found this interesting video (by Lamborghini) on YouTube. Quite entertaining and imaginative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5CVfZ-kg8Y
e34bmwlover says:
11:04 PM, 09/29/08
^^^ Love that video, it's my favorite commercial!
To the OP: it's understandable that some people are not car nut. It's OK that you're not a match for a R8, cause most people aren't. Even if you give poor people a supercar for free they can't afford a maintenance, upkeep and celebrity status. That brings us to the point that insideline is getting high performance expensive cars like R8, GTR and etc for their own enjoyment and nothing more. IL should test everyday practical new cars that most middle class american could buy and drive. What gives?
anilpunjabi says:
08:50 AM, 09/30/08
Are you at UCLA - i live right by there - it sounds like it since you mentioned a ralphs - I am such a fan of edmunds. Goodluck if you are near campus - sorority and frat row lol
caroscuro says:
11:16 AM, 09/30/08
e34bmwlover,
I can't speak for the powers that be, but we do plenty of tests and reviews on new practical, everyday cars for the Average Joe consumer. Inside Line, however, is also an enthusiast site so it makes sense that we review the cars that people drool over. Plus it's interesting to see what it must be like to own such a car, you know, for future reference.
anilpunjabi,
My new place is right near Loyola Marymount.