2008 Audi R8 (6-speed, 5k miles) or 2004 Ferrari 575M (F1, 11k miles)

Totally agree... There is something about the Ferrari, V8 or V12...

 

Very true, I was reading one of my books and it claimed the 456 was based on a colombo design... thats what i get for believing EVERYTHING i read... or not examining it throughly enough to consider how vague "base on" can actually be.

Yes the injection system is modern and of course newer, as it should be. Coil on plug is great too and is currently the best on the market... however, coil on plug wasn't exactly brand new earth shattering tech in 2002. But to the cars and yours credit it is still the best of what is available.


And I agree completely, Engines were Enzos "thing" aerodynamics brakes and handling played 2nd 3rd and 4th fiddle to the engine. If the car wasn't fast enough... the problem was in the engine department...


Excellent post

 

I have driven an R8 and it is a wonderful car. However, there is still something about driving my 575 (a 6 speed with Fiorano Handling package) which is "glorious" which neither my 911, Z06 or GTR can provide. All excellent cars, but the 575 has soul.

 

I owned air cooled 911s for 20 years- supposidly the air cooled 911s have more pure driver involvement than the new generations of 911. With that as a back drop, I cannot disagree with your comment about pure sports car and pure driver involvement more....the ferrari's I have driven have all been much more involving and more of an experience (348, 360, 599GTB, 458 and Enzo are ferrari's I have been lucky enough to have driven)

The 575 is not as hard edged as the mid-engine V8s, but still is going to have more involvement and experience vs the modern 911 turbo. I'm not trying to knock porshes (heck, look at my user name), just trying to put it into perspective.

That said, the R8 is a beautiful car- you need to figure out what it is YOU want- the R8 looks great and is probably great to drive- the ferrari will have more niggles but be more of an experience to drive than the R8...you need to figure out where you fall on the sprectrum of experience/usability tradeoff.

Once you decide that, I think either car will be a wonderful purchase.

For me, I woke up one day and realized I didn't want to leave this earth without having owned my ultimate dream car, a Ferrari, and I wanted the full experience and sense of occasion when I drove the car. I had zero interest in trying to attract attention or have others look at me- in fact that is probably the only negative. My choice was the 360 coupe- if I could have two the second ferrari at the same time would be a 550/575

 

The essential question is "which kind of car do you find more appealing?" I've had at least five of each and I find it's the Italians I remember with the greatest fondness.

 

I have driven the R8 v8 extensively as my brother has one and I have also driven both the older 490 hp Gallardo and the lp 570 also...there is no comparison...the G car is much faster and handles better, esp the lp 570 but also the older model. The R8 with the v8 is no faster than a carrera s, the v10 brings the r8 into a whole new performance catagory.

 

575 without a doubt. The R8 may be a solid car, but it looks like a baboon's anus. Hate it with a passion.

 

LOL best anology yet! Couldn't agree more! I always called it a hermaphrodite... because it looked like a TT, a gallardo and some other pile smashed together.

 

And if you buy the Ferrari you get to wake up at 4:00 A.M to watch them race at the
formula one grand prix, you get to sleep in with the Audi

 

I didn't realize the baboon rectum was all wheel drive.

 

Think of all the extra grille you get with an R8 compared to the puny one on a 575M.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Don't forget the bright shiny LED daytime running lights you get on the r8 to catch the valet's attention. All (most) 550s have for an LED is an annoying red one on the dash....

 

If that red LED is annoying you when you are driving, something is wrong.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

I have to chuckle at the amount of R8-bashing on this forum....
As I am fortunate enough to have one of each (550 & R8) I can say each has its good and bad points. And each is enjoyable, in its own way. The R8 is unlikely to be a 'classic' in 25 years; the 550 already is. Does not keep the R8 from being enjoyable.

(the baboon reference put me over the edge.....;-)
Enjoy your cars, each of them....

Tritone

PS Curiously, on the R8 forum, there is little to no Ferrari-bashing

 

I'm sure it drives great, I just think it's hideous. Too much going on, not very cohesive.

 

Makes sense. Hard to bash a Ferrari.

 

I bought my TDF 575 13 months ago after owning an 02 Porsche Turbo for three years. The Ferrari is everything I hoped it would be, fast and quick, elegant and maculine, great in the city, on the track, or sweeping roads (Big Sur, Ortega Hwy, Virginia City). There are more looks and thumbs up in this car then ever with the Turbo (and I suspect the R8). The R8 might be less expensive to maintain (as were previous Porsches and BMWs I've owned), but the Ferrari will be more exciting to talk about, look at, get in, start up, and drive, in anger or just Sunday driving. It is a passionate car.
But that's just my opinion...

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/4030974606_d265e30105.jpg

seriously???
Is it even an option??
The R8 is an Audi, albeit an agressive, powerful one, but still, it's "just" an Audi.
The 575..... Magic on wheels!!!

Ferrari always!!

 

LOL! thank you Travis! I knew there was a logical reason. (belt service, parts costs, dealer attitudes, etc. notwithstanding......;-)

 

Sorry but in either form, spider or coupe the R8 is but ugly.

 

I do not think they are ugly and they look better up close than they do in photos. Here is Miguel's photo so the link does not get lost. Pretty spiffy as a DD, providing you can still have a Maranello.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Just a joke about the led running lights on the R8 vs the 550's features, taz...! Maybe just me, but those led running lights are among the most annoying things on the road, up there with coffee can exhausts and giant spoilers.

 

They started putting them on Ferraris with the F430 and some owners are actually making them brighter.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

" Pretty spiffy as a DD, providing you can still have a Maranello."

Taz
Terry Phillips



Precisely!!!

 

I kind of agree about those LED lights. And I have two cars that have them.
Both my 2010 Audi S5 and 2011 458 have those little bright LED lights.

I drove my 458 home one evening and it must look like the Batmobile when I come up behind other drivers at red lights.
The car sits real low and the shape of the LED lights is not a typical one like on an Audi.
Plus they are as bright as aircraft landing lights when you are directly in front of them.

I think the LED light thing is a passing fad.
It will be all the rage for about 4 - 5 years then nobody will do it and it will date the look of a car after that.
Kind of like big rocket fins on the 1950's cars.

Here's a pic of my 458.
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