JimB

Or something called a GT3.

I bet it does look good in person though.

michael.s.under

I think its cool, I cant believe it doesnt pull away more, maybe he was in cruise control

TheSpeedDemon

I've driven a Gallardo amazing car...and yes I would take that any day over an audi including the R8

Benjamin Choi

911 killa

rountreed

I too have seen the car in person here in Germany and it does look better live than in pictures. Just wait for the V10 I am not sure what Porsche will do to stay up, maybe buy the company and stop production after a very short run.

Mr. C4

Porsche buy Audi?! As far as I know they are all part of the same group as Lambo, VW, Skoda, Seat etc. etc.

rountreed

That is what I was joking about, they are in fact the major share owner now so do you think Porsche will allow Audi to build a better sports car for long before the R and D Euros dry up and the R8 is removed from production?

washington dc porsche

So the 996 is still quicker. Good to know.

caf

I don't know, if it was mine I'd be respecting the break-in period, which a car that new is probably still under. So probably not at all a reasonable test.

I think the R8 will be a force to be reckoned with, and a nice alternative for those shopping in the category.

Hard to do a lightweight car AND all wheel drive, however.

VGM911

The "cat and mouse" run did not determine the superiority or inferioriy of either car for obvious reasons that I won't even bother to list.

However, it's clear that the R8 is superior to most cars in terms of performance. We'll get a better idea of how good it is (versus its competitiors) by its achievements on the track and test results from car magazines. I think we'll be surprised at how capable it really is.

Bravo, Audi.

skiracer

The R8 motor is very similar to the Gallardo, but it is tuned differently to provide more torque. I've been driving Audi's for years and they're one of the best used car buys on the market because they depreciate so rapidly here in the US. Not so in Europe, where they outsell BMW. My plan was to wait 4-5 years and pick up a used R8 for ~$50k, but I got the P-car itch instead and found a C4. Audi may introduce a spyder version in the future, and there are plans for the S8's V10 to be installed which may really accelerate the depreciation of the first generation (current) R8. Haven't driven one yet...

JimB

I don't have the magazine in front of me but I read the Car & Driver article on the plane yesterday and as I recall the R8 was about a second faster than the 997 turbo. The Exige S was a second faster than the R8. The 997 GT3 was three seconds faster than the Exige and the X06 was another three seconds faster than the GT3. The Z06 ran the fastest lap yet of the cars C&D have tested.

If you haven't checked out C&D's new testing methods at VIR you should. I'm going to subscribe to the magazine again after many years without looking at it. VIR is a great track to measure real world fast. Much much better than the 0-60 and braking tests that everyone does now.
Jim

p.s. no the 996 is not faster than the R8. I'm sure it would be severl seconds slower.

MikeRosen

Based on the reviews I've read on the R8, the key benefit to the R8 over the 911 versions it’s been tested against is handling, not straight line performance. It's faster on most race tracks than a 911. It is easier to drive hard. I think one of the quotes I read was that the R8 "makes you a better driver".

JBRipps

Looks like I started a good one here.....anyhow, yes...there is no way to tell how hard he was accelerating....but again, no issue keeping up, so I would imagine he was "taking it easy", but so was I. I wasn't redlining or anything...just very hard accleration. I used "cat and mouse" as a term of endearment....

Not sure how many of these cars will be produced, but it definitely has the appearance of an exotic, no doubt on that. I can assure you all of that. This does not have the look of those pontiac or saturn roadster cars....this kinda has the same appearance as a super exotic. Very low.

J

MagnusB

but the R8 doesn't have back seats! :-)