I had a biz trip to Phoenix and was given a couple of flying options. So I declined the hassle of airports and took Audi's land-locked jet instead. On the wide-open stretches of Interstate 10, where you see nothing but desert and the horizon, I let the car stretch its legs a bit. I say "a bit" because my cruising speeds varied from 85-100 mph (with the assistance of a Valentine One radar detector). Yes, not even breathing hard.
The R8 will supposedly top 185, but though I enjoyed a couple of high-speed bursts, I didn't deem it necessary to fully explore that claim. Maybe I'm getting old...
As impressive as the effortless high-speed cruising is, so too was the R8's literally cool demeanor and overall comfort. With the temps above 100 degrees for most of the way and the A/C keeping the cabin nice and cool, the Audi's coolant temp never budged above the half-way mark. A hundred and one at 101 was no sweat. And my back and butt had no complaints with the driver seat, even though I was disappointed that it lacked a few expected adjustments, such as under-thigh and side-wing supports.
What's not to like? Well, you've heard it before, but I'll throw my two cents in anyway; the R tronic tranny is like a zit on the face of this gorgeous model. In normal, low-speed driving, it's so annoying the way it sometimes jerks to and fro when in automatic mode. Gimme the manual six-speed and all would be perfect in R8 land.
Oh yeah, I averaged 17.1 mpg for the trip, just one mpg below the EPA's highway estimate. Not enjoying the V8's thrust and glorious sound would've probably netted me a few mpg higher.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 21,339 miles
shotgunsi says:
03:51 PM, 10/ 3/08
70's hits? You are old...
saddlebow says:
05:27 PM, 10/ 3/08
Supposedly? here's a link..over 200 mph. Stock.
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?=NyZDSH2A8wo&feature=related
saddlebow says:
05:34 PM, 10/ 3/08
oops, wrong one...that one only gets to 312KPH, or about 194 MPH. Here's the real deal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82fBiKfth6s
322 KPH=200.08 MPH
compliance says:
08:08 PM, 10/ 3/08
Are we sure that coolant meter isn't a dummy gauge?
johnnyturbo says:
08:26 PM, 10/ 3/08
shotgunsi,
I was a kid in the '70s but I like music even older than that too. As far as being old, I take solice in the fact that my physical age is quite a bit less than my chronological age.
saddlebow,
I was going with Audi's official number of 187 mph. Of course, hitting the magic 200 mph mark is even more impressive, but how do you know that's a stock R8? Considering that the owner belongs to an Audi enthusiast's club, I suspect not.
drinkduff77 says:
07:18 AM, 10/ 4/08
Using the numbers in the picture, it's 'only' geared to go 192 mph.
4200rpm at 101mph = 41.58 rpm/mph
8000rpm / 41.58 = 192 mph
Does a manual transmission have different gearing maybe? Sorry too busy to look it up.
tinyelvis says:
09:40 AM, 10/ 4/08
Had you taken the picture at 1:01, your numeric harmonic convergence would have been complete as the date was 10-1.
And 70's music (disco is not music) is still far superior to todays junk.
hondacura4 says:
01:58 PM, 10/ 4/08
Im not sure how Audi does it but the color combinations they implement and overall design excution make the R8 a stunning piece!
swurster says:
04:49 AM, 10/ 6/08
That place looks like Gold Canyon Golf Resort. Haven't been there in over 7 years, though, so my memory is a bit fuzzy.
johnnyturbo says:
12:56 PM, 10/ 6/08
drinkduff,
The gearing in both of the R8's transmissions is identical.
tinyelvis,
That's kind of scary! And I agree -- I'll take '70s or '80s anyday over most of today's so-called "music".
swurster,
It's the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass resort near Phoenix.