"I used to like this car." She says as I'm opening the throttle, tearing down the only deserted stretch of roadway in Southern California last night. "But after the GT-R it's just so... I don't know...pointless and soft. And can you please stop doing that with the transmission?" The car had just changed from second to third, lagging for a second and then slamming the car forward. She was not impressed. But she does have a point.
Compared to the GT-R our Audi R8 is a beauty queen. Side blade and all. Functionally, though, the Audi doesn't stand up to the GT-R, at least not as far as I'm concerned.
Ever try to get out of an R8? First step is to readjust the seating position away from the correct driving position. Don't do that and you've got to tie your shoes together, dislocate your hips and swivel the whole knotted mass over to the left up to your chest and then around over 90-degrees out the massive doors and over the sill. Now imagine doing that in a dress. See, it's not that poor Hilton girl's fault.
And then there're the seats, quality is better in the Audi by a country kilometer, but the GT-R's are more supportive and grippier when the road gets turny. They also, as a reader pointed out, at certain angles look like the scream mask.
And then there're the human interfaces. Radio control: GT-R. HVAC: GT-R. Seat adjustment: GT-R. Steering wheel Adjustment: GT-R. Aforementioned ingress / egress: GT-R.
And then there's the attention. The GT-R certainly gets its fair share of looks (some of horror), but they're from people "in the know." Everyone looks at the R8. Still. Grandmothers, children, men, women, puppies. Everyone.
Oh, and cops.
The GT-R may be acoustically muted to a Toyotaistic degree, but a low vocal profile ain't always a bad thing, ya know? People who gawk at the GT-R know what it is. Everyone else just passes by. I like being passed by when I'm preparing to be bad. (As an aside, I'm a big fan of de-badging cars. I've never understood why anyone would add badges. Especially ones claiming displacement, AMG/SRT/M/SVT/SS affiliation, or horsepower --remember the C5 Z06s 405hp badge?)
Anyways, back to the point. For me, the draw of the Audi R8, despite many high-speed attempts, remains elusive.
We pulled into our garage at the end of the night and, maintaining forward momentum from the slope of the entry way, I popped the lever over to neutral and treated my neighbors to the sound of world-ending fury Audi's 4.2-liter V8 produces. She smiled that placating smile all men--especially car guys-- have seen 1,000-times and finally gives in, "Okay, that's nice. But seriously, can't we just get our own GT-R? A red one? We could make it louder." And as the GT-R, a red one, costs some $59,580 less than a similarly equipped R8, it's a bargain. It also leaves enough in the (fictional) bank for a new transaxle...should the need arise.
Cheaper + faster + more functional + girlfriend approved = better.
Mike Magrath, Vehicle Testing Assistant @ 25,200 miles
adavis2493 says:
01:18 PM, 12/20/08
Honestly, regardless of price, and power, I would never buy a $80,000+ Nissan 350z with standard leather interior.
dragonflight says:
01:19 PM, 12/20/08
Great post on the supercars. These are why I read this blog!
tmanz says:
03:26 PM, 12/20/08
Marry her!
zjev says:
04:00 PM, 12/20/08
I'd keep the R8 and just change girlfriends. Also proving to be more reliable than a GT-R :-)
jaeger1 says:
04:08 PM, 12/20/08
I agree - you need a new gilfriend. This one's too smart. Smart women are trouble. You need one of those shallow dopey types that know Audi is better than Nissan, and more importantly, knows that all her girlfriends know it as well. That Hilton girl should do just fine.
carfreak8394 says:
05:21 PM, 12/20/08
adavis2493 is right, and so is tmanz. ha ha. but I disagree with jaeger 1. smart girls are the ones to keep. Paris Hilton couldn't tell the difference between a Hummer H2 and a Smart, let alone the difference between an R8 and a GTR. :P
srlracing says:
05:52 PM, 12/20/08
Girlfriend approved+ less functional+ slower+ more expensive= better
As long as it is girlfriend approved it is better.
jaeger1 says:
06:07 PM, 12/20/08
carfreak - guess the sarcasm went right over your head.
carfreak8394 says:
06:21 PM, 12/20/08
maybe my seriousness went over your head? ha ha. yeah, i guess so. hard to tell people's intentions through computer..
MS3lvr92 says:
07:17 PM, 12/20/08
I agree with adavis on a certain level. I agree that the GTR is no attention drawing, jaw dropping, drool inducing supercar such as the R8. That doesn't mean it's a fine machine that will destroy your very imaginable limits about acceleration. If I were looking for a car in this category I think I would get around a two year old Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Or even a new one would be reasonable in price. An Aston would get mindless gawks from everyone on the sidewalk while enticing your aural senses and having that "supercar" like feel and quality to it. I would love that darn car. In british racing green please.
bimmerjay says:
07:52 PM, 12/20/08
"But seriously, can't we just get our own GT-R? A red one? We could make it louder.""
Immediately marry her.
billt9 says:
09:08 PM, 12/20/08
The GT-R gets my attention more than the R8...
mustang5507 says:
10:55 PM, 12/20/08
There are a number of cars that look better than the GT-R, that cost the same, and more, and will still look good 20 years from now. XKR, R8, Aston Martin V8, (arguably) Corvette ZR1. One is faster, and all will most likely have less problems than the GT-R 20 years from now. I'd spend the extra money.
aerodax says:
12:12 AM, 12/21/08
As a interpersonal communication major, my advise is to leave this woman asap.
She's sending you the tell tail signs of a chronic cheater. She likes something until something better comes along. Something the wows her more and suits her "needs" at the time. Something that makes minor flaws an ordeal when challenged with temptation and doubt.
Put it this way. How long until she meets a man that is more amazing than you, and how long after that does she start complaining about "flaws" she never brought to your attention. You know what happens from there.
Maybe a little to deep for these parts, but nonetheless, some advise for when you see unexplained behavioral changes.
Both cars are great imo.
sgude says:
04:11 AM, 12/21/08
You're listening to your "girlfriend"? She's not even your fiancee. You're so whipped it's not funny. Why don't you just take the Smart, put a fart can on it and call it a day?
And you're complaining about the looks the R8 gets? C'mon, man! It's a supercar!
On the bright side, at least there's still hope for you -- "treated my neighbors to the sound of world-ending fury Audi's 4.2 liter V8 produces." That's what I'm talking about.
ddoouugg says:
08:42 AM, 12/21/08
Get a GT-R and use the extra money for an engagement ring.
wshuff says:
01:03 PM, 12/21/08
"Paris Hilton couldn't tell the difference between a Hummer H2 and a Smart."
I'm sure that Paris knows what a Hummer is.
g8gtnorth says:
02:30 PM, 12/21/08
Yawn...
Are we still doing this? Why don't we compare the GT-R to an XJ220 next? Or a McLaren F1? Enzo? Veyron? People who like the GT-R are not going to change their minds, and neither will those who like the R8. These comparissons are becomming redundant and useless.
For the record, for my money, I wouldn't buy either. Firstly because cars will never be an investment. Secondly, if you're going to spend that kind of money, and lets be honest, most of us never will, dare to be different.
As an aside, please put both of these in some real weather, see how they do in the deep, cold stuff.
stovt001 says:
02:45 PM, 12/21/08
Why do we keep talking about the GT-R as if anyone not working for Edmunds could actually get one for MSRP?
dougtheeng says:
06:25 AM, 12/22/08
"Why do we keep talking about the GT-R as if anyone not working for Edmunds could actually get one for MSRP?"
Agreed.
On the girlfriend, any girl who knows or at least shows an interest in cars is ok in my books. Thats the most important thing.
gossard267 says:
07:23 AM, 12/22/08
With the economy like it is, I'm pretty sure you could get one for MSRP.
Go to Autotrader, search the entire country. Compile a list of contact info for dealer internet sales departments. Generate a form email offering MSRP. Click 'Send'. I'd bet at least one dealer, somewhere, is in dire enough straights to sell it at that price. If not, give it another month of catastrophic sales figures, and then try again.
senecagtr says:
10:11 AM, 12/22/08
I love how all the internet drag racers assume the GT-R is not a reliable car. If you read it on the internet, it must be true, right?
boxermike says:
11:38 AM, 12/22/08
"She likes something until something better comes along. Something the wows her more and suits her "needs" at the time. Something that makes minor flaws an ordeal when challenged with temptation and doubt."
Unfortunately you've described me-- the guy who's gone through 5 cell phones and 4 digital cameras in 4 years. Not her-- the woman who's iPod I cracked but hasn't replaced it because it still works.
"How long until she meets a man that is more amazing than you," In six-years she's yet to do so. I'm pretty comfortable.
"GT-R to an XJ220 next? Or a McLaren F1? Enzo? Veyron? " ...I'm in! Seriously, just for the opportunity to have that wallpaper on my computer I'm in.
"On the girlfriend, any girl who knows or at least shows an interest in cars is ok in my books. Thats the most important thing." Do any of the women in any of our (car guys) lives have a choice? They'll absorb it sooner or later.
Also, as for MSRP: Gardena Nissan has one for 93K, a scant 14K above MSRP. eBay has them with delivery miles for MSRP. Unlike the ZR1 which, at least at my local dealer, still wears a $177k price tag.
-mike
g8gtnorth says:
03:55 PM, 12/22/08
Mike that poster would be absolutely ridiculous, I agree.
My point however, was that the the GT-R is as awesome now as the R8 was when it came out and the same goes for those other cars. It is the bigger, better deal for the moment but these comparisons are getting old. Sure the performace of these cars is similar but they appeal to wildly different crowds. No one seriously considering an R8 would think about the Nissan or vice versa, with the only exception being serious motorheads. Paris Hilton wouldn't take the GT-R over her SLR, but she might consider the R8.
For the record, for my money, I'd get the Jag. "As advanced as a telegraph pole", but my goodness is it ever a good telegraph pole. Come to think of it, the Lotus Carlton was pretty hot too.
draw007 says:
04:16 PM, 12/22/08
Actually, it's "anyway"....
And as for the cars, make mine an R8.
redliner says:
08:47 PM, 12/22/08
adavis2493
You have never a ride in one, have you?
I don't have one and have never driven one, but a friend of a friend is a dealer, and he took us around the block in one. AMAZING. Still wouldn't buy one though.
modellajh says:
10:09 PM, 12/22/08
Oht, sorry Mike bout the scream mask comment. I see it's still haunting you. yowser! Sorry, but thanks for the recognition. Woo Hoo, I'm published! Is that downtown or it almost looks like Santa Monica? Cheers mate!
oldchap says:
06:46 AM, 12/24/08
Sad to hear getting in and out of the R8 is difficult, esp since it is developing a reputation of an approachable/comfortable exotic.
Reminds me of my favorite quote about entering an Elise, "It's like climbing into a bathtub through a hula-hoop." Followed closely by, "Last time I was climbing in, I hit my knee on the roof."