Several of us here miss our dearly departed 2009 Audi R8. It was so popular, in fact, that it was voted staff favorite long-termer in a poll conducted by Mr. Romans.
So we were quite fortunate when the 2011 Audi R8 Spyder V10 recently showed up for testing. I had an opportunity to briefly drive it.
This Spyder differs from our departed R8 in three significant ways:
- Convertible top (don't care and didn't try it -- just got my hair did.)
- 5.2L V10 engine with 525 hp
- 6-speed gated manual transmission (in lieu of the jerky R tronic single-clutch auto-manual)
As much as I loved our long-term 2009 R8, I hated that R tronic transmission. The six-speed manual is a big improvement. And listening to that V10 wail when you rev it: it's awesome! (or if this were an episode of "The Bachelor" -- 'Amazing!' x 17).
Unfortunately, this 2011 R8 Spyder V10 goes away in a few days.
Perhaps Audi will give us a long-termer if we get a lot of readers' requests for one.
Albert Austria, Senior Engineer
indy_mistert says:
05:51 AM, 09/ 3/10
nah, I'm not that nice! you all are way too lucky as it is ;)
mrb5091 says:
06:09 AM, 09/ 3/10
Isn't this blog supposed to be about cars which your readers would potentially actually purchase (or at least relate to)? The Viper is already pushing it, and I think that the R8 is out of the price range of 99% of your readers.
carguy622 says:
06:54 AM, 09/ 3/10
It's very nice. I'd love to drive it, but it really isn't a great long term choice. Perhaps you could ask VW for a new Jetta instead. I'm sure it's every but as enjoyable to drive. Aah, who am I kidding. Seriously though, I'm curious about the new Jetta. I say get the bottom of the barrel one with the old 2.0 engine and wheel covers!
joliveira says:
07:12 AM, 09/ 3/10
Dear mrb5091:
Maybe... that's your point of view...
I just started to folow this blog because of cars like this, Ford GT, R8, Nissan GTR, M3, etc... because this are cars that I can't get my ass in, so I really enjoy to know how is to live with this more rare cars, how can this cars work in a not so "tracky" environment.... that's really interesting to me. The cheap cars, I really don't care, because I try a lot of them every year, I know they are good in general for day to day basis...
Please IL, keep babyes like this keep coming, this is the reason I read this blog... and I would want more classics like the Ferrari 308 too, that was a hell of a fun to read about it ;)
93aero says:
07:27 AM, 09/ 3/10
well we know its going to be much faster, and the manual is a great addition to the temptations. But from a general driving sense, i think we got alot of what we needed to know from the first time you did the R8, so the story couldn't be too much different. Why not add something else thats strange to your test fleet down the road, idk, maybe the new Saab 9-5...that would be something drastically different for edmunds. As for a exotic car; I'd like to see a spyker or something...NOT huge names like ferrari, audi, porsche, lambo..ect. Where are all the quirky super cars that would be an interesting read. We are all very much aware the modern name brand sports cars are good, so what about the other guys...not the movie...which was in fact GOOD.
vt8919 says:
07:33 AM, 09/ 3/10
Heck, get a Tesla Roadster! I was so fascinated when you guys had the Mini E and it would be awesome to see another electric car on the fleet.
sherief says:
07:38 AM, 09/ 3/10
Yes, but only if you'll take me for a spin :D
ed124c says:
08:02 AM, 09/ 3/10
nah, been there, done it, Al. I call my brother "Al"-- because his name is Albert.
Bring us more mainstream cars, not unobtainium cars and not boring cars either.
How about a Turbo Optima?
Or a Juke?
Or a Legacy or Outback with the CVT? (not boring to me)
Cruze
V6 Mustang
The list is endless, but hold off for a while on the cars we can lust for but never afford.
firstwagon says:
08:08 AM, 09/ 3/10
You got a chance to drive an R8 convertible and you didn't put the top down because you got your hair done????
Albert is a guys name in the US, right?
igeekone says:
08:25 AM, 09/ 3/10
@ vt8919
I would love to see a long term Nissan LEAF tester.
carguy622 says:
09:02 AM, 09/ 3/10
@firstwagon: I know. I laughed at that too. I hope he's kidding. That's what baseball caps are for! Besides, you can probably enjoy the engine more with the top down.
blueguydotcom says:
09:12 AM, 09/ 3/10
They ruined that car making it a convertible. A once gorgeous visage ruined by a bad haircut.
throwback says:
09:14 AM, 09/ 3/10
mrb5091:
I can relate to this car. 525hp, convertible and a 6 speed manual? Yeah I can relate just fine.
_carrera says:
09:27 AM, 09/ 3/10
PERHAPS it would have been a good idea to add the R8 Spyder if you focused on higher-end vehicles in general. It really doesn't benefit Audi if you feature this car on the long-term road test blog.
It would, however, benefit YOU if there you ever feel the need to take a six-figure sports car on another 3000 mile road trip to buy BBQ.
rick8365 says:
11:18 AM, 09/ 3/10
Can we have a video with great audio of this car before it goes away? Just a few clips cobbled together - a day in the life style - including a little canyon run.
teampenske3 says:
12:56 PM, 09/ 3/10
I'd love to see the R8 spyder in the long-term blog. That gated shifter is great touch. I wish more cars had the shifter gate exposed. Apart from the Ford GT, I can't think of any others that do. I agree w/ joliviera, I like seeing how these supercars are from an everyday standpoint. The R8 is up there in terms of cars that I hope to be able to own someday. Seeing as I'm only in high school now, the R8 might be out of production by the time I get the cash for one. But one can always dream.
_carrera says:
03:56 PM, 09/ 3/10
Perhaps an semi-exotic car would suit the fleet well if only to provide the vicarious thrill to users such as @teampenske3.
HOWEVER, I think IL ought to pick up a lightly used model of something equally cool, รก la the 308, except not as old.
I'm thinking....
'06 Maserati GranSport coupe ($36,000)
'06 Aston Martin V8 Vantage ($75,000)
...for example.
The R8 coupe was enough coverage of this car. The Spyder is really not that much different except for the V10 (which has more power, but that's pretty much it) and a retractable roof. The ROI on this wouldn't be that great as opposed to a car like I mentioned above.
_carrera says:
03:59 PM, 09/ 3/10
@rick8365
Apparently the R8 V10 isn't nearly as mellifluous as the similar engine in the Lamborghini Gallardo, so maybe you just should YouTube clips of that car's exhaust.
audidriver says:
04:45 PM, 09/ 3/10
How about just a 3 or 6 month test?
buickboy92 says:
05:45 PM, 09/ 4/10
I would love to see Long Term of this car!