How does your new Audi R8 compare to your modern Ferrari?

Saw one tonight with the carbon fiber panel behind the door painted body color. Looks great that way.
see pic-
click her for crappy cell phone pic

 

We've seen many R8's this year and by far the best color combo was at the Audi display at Road Atlanta in October - absolutely beautiful blue with the carbon fiber panel. The best S5 so far has been a silver color with a burgundy leather interior - very nice.

Carol

 

There are those who are simply going to say "it's an Audi" and that's that. These are the same folks who say a Ford GT is "just a Ford." It is just fine to be disinterested in a car because of the maker - no issues there - but to say it is crap for the same reason just won't work. I am not a Porsche man, but the cars are outstanding without a doubt, no one can deny that.

You can also dislike the styling. But Ferrari has proven it time and time again: You cannot do something bold without pleasing some and turning off others. In fact, I wold say that if everyone likes the design, you didn't try hard enough.

But I have not read ANY bad press about the way the R8 drives. None. Every article, every video author is floored by it's chassis, it's agility, it's balance. I have not driven one, but I sure as hell want to. I have an RS4, and the car is plenty fast. Shedding some 600 pounds and moving the center of gravity to the middle of the car (and down about 6 inches) will do some impressive things.

But let's be realistic: the R8 should not be compared to the 430, and for pete's sake... the Scuderia??? Come on. The R8 is 120k. A used 430 is 220k. The Scud will be near a half million for a while unless you are one of the few to order one and pay MSRP. And even then how much?

The R8 IS a good comparison to the 360: similar price, similar power/weight, similar torque/weight, similar performance, similar size, etc. The differences include German sensibility vs. Italian flare, but it is also used car vs. new car under warranty. It can also be compared to an earlier Gallardo, as they are very similar in price.

It now looks as though the "RS" version of the R8 will in fact house the twin turbo V10 developed for the new RS6. The head of GmbH has recently admitted that the test mules that burned did so because of heat dissipation issues with the midengine placement vs. the RS6. The car has since resumed testing. That motor makes 580 hp and 480 ft/lbs of torque. Stock. THAT will be something you can compare to a 430.

 

Not in the same league as the F cars.... They are exotics.. Not daily drivers. ( for most of us )

Don't forget about the 997 GT3. Way better car with a way better driving experience.

I love the looks and feel of the Audi car, but up agianst the GT3 for the same $$$$. No comparison.

At the end the of the day it is still an Audi.....

 

Including The F car.....

Oh, don't forget about the P cars... They usually dyno for more.....

 

The R8 is more of an everyday supercar like the 911, F-Cars are more for special days and sunny weekends. Thats what i would do if i ever own both of these.

 

a good friend is part owner of a local audi franchise and is a big time sports car nut...he says for 09 audi will release a normally aspirated v10 r8, just under 500hp....i doubt audi will go with 580 hp..that would make the car with similar power to weight as the lp640 and better than the gallardo...this could cause cannabilization of sales from lambo to audi......

 

I am impressed with all that I have seen and read. I am a fan of S and RS Audis.

I have a deposit on the R10 (or whatever it is called) and am third on the list for delivery for my local dealership. This will be my daily driver as my 996TT was a few years ago. The Ferraris are for the weekends.

Audi is an amazing company and has immense potential to take the current R8 and increase the power and handling to Ferrari levels. Just wait and see!

 

http://paultan.org/archives/2007/11/27/audi-rs8-to-be-powered-by-rs6-twin-turbo-v10/

I have heard this as well, but clearly the twin turbo V10 is being tested. Audi already spent the money to develop the motor for the RS6. The question now is whether they solved the cooling problems or not. I suspect that if they are running fire supression on the new mule, then they are at least trying.

And you are right - a 580 hp R8 will leapfrog the car into the big leagues. But will it really steal sales from Lambo? Just look at opinions here; people who like Ferrari like Ferrari. Same goes for Lambo, same for Porsche. The Audi will have a completely different market. Lambo is selling more cars now than ever. If the R8 has 650 hp, it will still be an Audi.

As one who is a Ferrari fan and an Audi fan, I think the car is going to be fantastic.

 

Funny...


RS4 engine goes to R8
RS6 engine goes to R10

Not a bad strategy... "We have the platform, we have the know-how (from Gallardo) and we have all the bits and pieces - why not?".




Audi is winning my heart more and more, their final finish in Audi standard cars are above Mercedes and BMW these day, same with reliabilty and rust resistance etc. Just make some RWD sedans Audi and I'm all yours.

 

I've heard they're talking about making a R4 also..... Looking for a way to satisfy the mid-engine mass-market in the $50,000 price range.
R4 $50,000
R8 $120,000
R10 $170,000
Audi wants to do it, but not sure if Porsche will let them build a Boxster competitor

 

I'm probably biased because I'm an Audi owner, but their top-line cars have terrific quality for fit, finish, and materials. Some lesser Audis do suffer from a few glitches, but they are a fabulous carmaker. As for the R8 twin-turbo...testing showed promise but they aren't going to build it due to packaging and heat dissapation issues. So they are going to develop a specific v-10 engine for the R8 making about 520hp. I gets me that some people say things like "it's just an Audi"...come on people...it's not a Kia or similar marque. Audi is a great upscale brand and deservedly so.

 

As a Ferrari owner and Audi owner, I'd say a 580 bhp Audi will scare Porsche more than it will Ferrari or Lambo. There's simply nothing exotic about a car company that makes a big SUV (Q7), entry-level luxury sedan (A4), and a $30K station wagon (A3). I hate to bring marketing psychology into this, but a marque is either low-volume/exclusive or it isn't.

That said, I'm sure the R8 is going to tear up the track and I'm glad to see Audi giving the 911 some real competition at the low-$100K range. With the AM V8 there as well, that segment has gotten very interesting.

Yup. I love my TT. The interior beats my ex-BMW, and everywhere you look there's a thoughtful detail. I cross-shopped BMW and Mercedes, and Audi is solidly in that league.

 

i would like to get one but all the r8 are sold out. Anyone here know where i can pick one up for msrp?

 

I'm #3 at my dealer, and also delayed. Car was spec'd/ordered in May for expected Sept delivery. Every month its been "next month." This week the GM admitted that they have no idea, and that Audi refuses to provide dealers with any info (they have only delivered one car so far). He tells me that maybe in early 2008 they will hear something about schedule, and that perhaps it would be an '09!! As a business and a US operaton, Audi has always been ****, and they are proving my intial fears to be correct. The car may be great, but I'm convinced Audi will find a way to f*ck it up and get no improvement in their brand reputation for one great car.

 

You will not get one for MSRP unless you have already ordered. For now, Audi is doing the same thing Ferrari does - the cars are being sold at MSRP to those who stepped up early.

Though I am sure it is tough to wait, the longer it takes to get one and the fewer they bring in, the more exclusive they will remain, and the better they will hold their value. Again look at the Ford GT: everyone said they would depreciate like a stone, it is only a Ford after all. But with production done and car proven to be fabulous, the prices are rock solid. So despite the pain, there is a silver lining.

Oh, and the dealer originally told me 6-9 months for my RS4 (which is what I told my wife). 2 weeks later the car was in the driveway (she wasn't too happy!). Sometimes it just depends on allocation and which dealer is getting what.

It will come, and it will be worth the wait!

 

I would think that the R8 is rather exclusive since their Neckarsulm facility can only produce 20 R8s at the limit in one day.

Granted, the marque is not at all exotic, and the R8 as it is right now really doesn't have enough brio to compete with the big boys, but we need to remind ourselves that the R8 is only their first ever supercar and yet it is capable to generate all this jazz. It always makes me wonder what is going to be their target the next time around.