Drove an R8
08-22-2008, 10:50 AM
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Drove an R8
Yesterday was a nice sunny day and I was at one of the Audi-promoted events where for a modest fee you get a 1/2 day autox and track event, driving almost all vehicles in Audi lineup. I won't talk about their other cars, since they're in a different league. Some were better, some worse, some were quite a bit of fun in auto-x, but nothing felt like a true sports car. Even TT felt whipmy and tin-can-like (no offense to anyone).
R8, though, stays way, way apart from everything else. It's not just a car, it's an experience. Its agressive curves, amazing glass-covered engine in the back, and business-like cockpit make you drool, and at the same time intimidate you, hinting at a true beast of a car. But surprisingly, it is very easy to drive, willing to accomodate even an inexperienced driver. It's even easier to drive than our RX8.
Being new to the track, we obviously are not great sports drivers, but the R8 made even poor drivers look good. The powerful, flat torque curve that comes early, its wide rpm range (I believe redline is about 7000) help the car accelerate decently even in the wrong gear.... you can goof it and the car will make up for it. Coming from RX8 background, I had the urge to grop a gear lower, but they told us not to go under 3rd on the track, so I had to fight it... I must have missed some fabulous acceleration, or worse
As they have instructed us, getting in 3rd from 30-40mph, the acceleration is not neck-snapping, but quite sufficient. The throttle response is very satisfying, and you're also rewarded with an amazing exhaust tone: it just keeps getting better as you speed up. We never exceeded fourth gear and 100mph, at which car seems perfectly happy and stable, it still had lots of power and was ready to play, yet it was perfectly content with our style. Actually, the faster we went, the more stable it seemed.
Steering is fabulous, with just the right amount of feedback, and it feels the same at 10 mph or 100. To me, it felt just a tad lighter then RX8's wheel, with very precise response. In the turns the car is surprisingly easy to handle, devouring curves with pleasure, and never once you felt the car getting away from you, as it was giving plenty of warning when gradually approaching it limits. We surely messed up lots of turns, with aggressive steering / throttle over-response, and not once we came close to losing control, the car was telling us way ahead just how far or close it was getting to being unhappy.
Brakes are great, with nice modulation and great bite, and never gave us a reason to lose confidence... I tried braking a bit late when going in turns, and the car was glad to oblige, with direct response to pedal input. It was hard to judge car limits from a few laps, but each one was getting better, and at the end it began to feel like you're wearing it. But all fun comes to end, and our track time was up.
Getting back to RX8 is was ready to be disappointed. But I wasn't! It actually felt nice going back to it. It's razor-sharp steering and handling put a smile back on my face, and acceleration wasn't that sluggish, as long as you remember to use lower gears and keep rpms high. Is it in the same class as R8? No. But ours is an awfully nice machine, that is extremely affordable compared to its German sibling. Audi takes it away in terms in 'wearability', power, looks, and amazing exhaust tone, but it takes it away gently. There is certainly a gap, but amazingly, it's not that deep.
So until one gets some spare change to a tune of hundred grand to drop on a Teutonic wonder, he can keep smiling & enjoying RX8, knowing that our car is not such a far cry from one of the most amazing sports cars in recent history.
R8, though, stays way, way apart from everything else. It's not just a car, it's an experience. Its agressive curves, amazing glass-covered engine in the back, and business-like cockpit make you drool, and at the same time intimidate you, hinting at a true beast of a car. But surprisingly, it is very easy to drive, willing to accomodate even an inexperienced driver. It's even easier to drive than our RX8.
Being new to the track, we obviously are not great sports drivers, but the R8 made even poor drivers look good. The powerful, flat torque curve that comes early, its wide rpm range (I believe redline is about 7000) help the car accelerate decently even in the wrong gear.... you can goof it and the car will make up for it. Coming from RX8 background, I had the urge to grop a gear lower, but they told us not to go under 3rd on the track, so I had to fight it... I must have missed some fabulous acceleration, or worse
As they have instructed us, getting in 3rd from 30-40mph, the acceleration is not neck-snapping, but quite sufficient. The throttle response is very satisfying, and you're also rewarded with an amazing exhaust tone: it just keeps getting better as you speed up. We never exceeded fourth gear and 100mph, at which car seems perfectly happy and stable, it still had lots of power and was ready to play, yet it was perfectly content with our style. Actually, the faster we went, the more stable it seemed.
Steering is fabulous, with just the right amount of feedback, and it feels the same at 10 mph or 100. To me, it felt just a tad lighter then RX8's wheel, with very precise response. In the turns the car is surprisingly easy to handle, devouring curves with pleasure, and never once you felt the car getting away from you, as it was giving plenty of warning when gradually approaching it limits. We surely messed up lots of turns, with aggressive steering / throttle over-response, and not once we came close to losing control, the car was telling us way ahead just how far or close it was getting to being unhappy.
Brakes are great, with nice modulation and great bite, and never gave us a reason to lose confidence... I tried braking a bit late when going in turns, and the car was glad to oblige, with direct response to pedal input. It was hard to judge car limits from a few laps, but each one was getting better, and at the end it began to feel like you're wearing it. But all fun comes to end, and our track time was up.
Getting back to RX8 is was ready to be disappointed. But I wasn't! It actually felt nice going back to it. It's razor-sharp steering and handling put a smile back on my face, and acceleration wasn't that sluggish, as long as you remember to use lower gears and keep rpms high. Is it in the same class as R8? No. But ours is an awfully nice machine, that is extremely affordable compared to its German sibling. Audi takes it away in terms in 'wearability', power, looks, and amazing exhaust tone, but it takes it away gently. There is certainly a gap, but amazingly, it's not that deep.
So until one gets some spare change to a tune of hundred grand to drop on a Teutonic wonder, he can keep smiling & enjoying RX8, knowing that our car is not such a far cry from one of the most amazing sports cars in recent history.
Last edited by Toly; 08-28-2008 at 08:16 AM. Reason: added pix
08-22-2008, 02:50 PM
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sexy car, must have been a blast to drive.
08-23-2008, 11:24 AM
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http://www.truthinengineering.com/au...ng-experience/
there are many different programs there, I took the half-day enthusiast event.
there are many different programs there, I took the half-day enthusiast event.
08-23-2008, 11:42 AM
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My uncle owns one and I have similar feelings about the car except for the exhaust note. Unless you are really getting on it, it just is a little too quiet for my liking. That and it almost sounds like a vette. Unlike a Ferarri where it has its own distinct sound. Otherwise incredible machine. You have to see one in person to appreciate it. It doesn't photograph very well IMO.
08-24-2008, 02:52 PM
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08-24-2008, 05:07 PM
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that's strange considering that it has twice the power, half the doors, and half the seats, with twice the driven wheels.
08-25-2008, 01:15 PM
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Look, I'm sorry, but I can't believe for a second that there is so little differance between an RX8 and the R8. Maybe YOU just don't feel much of a change between the two. Which leads me to believe you must be numb from the neck down. And blind too.
08-25-2008, 01:33 PM
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08-25-2008, 09:04 PM
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Well, have you actually driven one? I can't claim that I've taken R8 (or RX8 for that matter) to the edge of its abilities... Just some spirited driving and cornering on the track, and my observations are based on that matter. To that extent an experienced driver might see bigger difference, when squeezing out every ounce of performance and handling.Regardless, there is a law of diminishing returns... like it takes like 100% more effort to get 10% improvement. Bugatti Veyron costs almost $1.5M & has 1000hp but goes 'only' 250mph. R8 didn't feel amazingly powerful, for that matter, but its handling was superb. A step above RX8, but not the world apart. Why is it so hard to believe?
08-25-2008, 09:33 PM
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I have not driven an R8, but I have driven Z4's, Cayman's, 'vettes, and a few 911's. I also drove a friends '04 RX8, and there was a noticeable differance between those. To say the R8 and the RX8 are so close is hard to believe. I'll just have to try and and test drive one next time I'm at the local VW/AUDI/Porsche dealer to see for myself. Still, you must admit it's hard to believe that a 420 hp mid-engine car that does 0-60 in 4.3 sec and 1/4 mile in 11 flat would feel anything like a 5.7 & 14sec. car. With little torque no less.
08-25-2008, 10:47 PM
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I get what Toly is saying. Despite whatever magazine number gibberish separates these cars at the end of the day what really matters is how the car 'feels' and how it communicates with you.
08-26-2008, 08:41 AM
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I have not driven an R8, but I have driven Z4's, Cayman's, 'vettes, and a few 911's. I also drove a friends '04 RX8, and there was a noticeable differance between those. To say the R8 and the RX8 are so close is hard to believe. I'll just have to try and and test drive one next time I'm at the local VW/AUDI/Porsche dealer to see for myself. Still, you must admit it's hard to believe that a 420 hp mid-engine car that does 0-60 in 4.3 sec and 1/4 mile in 11 flat would feel anything like a 5.7 & 14sec. car. With little torque no less.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...ion/index.html
R8 in the 1st place, RX8 in 4th. I feel they captured it quite well.
Last edited by Toly; 09-05-2008 at 09:59 AM.
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