Saw my first R8 today. HJ's review is at:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=274
Not too sure if I am impressed by the bodywork - looked rather too much like an overgrown TT. Sounded great though.
BIG
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i saw one just the other day in Vienna - looked lovely
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If you are looking to buy a supercar, the R8 is a bargain in every sense of the word compared with what the competition costs.
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They are an absolutely awesome car. I watched one driving on track and it blitzed everything including some 911's.
It will be even better with the V10 engine.
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The list price in Germany works at at 69,500 pounds (taking into account UK VAT) wheras HJ gives a starting price of 76,825. I didn't know that the cross-channel ferries cost that much - must be the cost of putting in RHD! May be I should start saving.
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I understand they are doing an R4 next in conjunction with Porsche's next Boxster.
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Saw my first one last night. Slightly more noticeable than a TT, but not as a bling as a Veyron. A 911 came and parked next to it and it was the R8 for me.
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I've only got the reviews to go on, but the noise of that V8 is worth the £77k on its own.
Someone gave an RS4 full beans off the lights outside the office the other day and it made all the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. What a noise
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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I love the noise the V8 makes but in all honesty it just isn't powerful enough for a car like the R8. Something more exotic like the V10 they are going to slot in there will be just the ticket.
Although the V8 does need revving to get the best out of it I think the even higher revving, higher torque, screaming V10 perhaps with forced induction will suit the R8 even better.
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I've seen a couple now, and whilst initially from photos I thought they were gorgeous, I am now beginning to think that the combination of the long body, small bonnet and Audi signature styling looks a little forced and the overall shape doesn't 'flow' as well as some of the rivals.
No denying its performance, though!
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No denying its performance though!
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True but I'd rather have an estate car. Or to be specific, a M5 Touring.
It beat the R8 (albeit only the V8 version) in a 0-100-0 test - IIRC it something like 15.5 vs 15.8 in this week's Autocar.
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My Autocar hasn't arrived yet, thanks to our wonderful Royal Mail!! Can't wait to read that story - I think I would rather have an M5 Touring too - a mate had one of the earlier model LHD ones - wonderfully understated performance
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Two different things. My RS4 avant is as quick (more or less-in fact faster over some increments) as the R8 but the sense of occasion if I owned the R8 would be much greater. Not to mention the fact it would undoubtedly be more fun to drive and handle better.
M5 tourings are also great cars but face facts- they aren't and will never be 'supercars'. It's about more than speed.
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You don't see one and then you see two in two days! Just seen my second, this time setting off from some lights - great sound. I recognised the passenger as a member of staff from the local Audi dealership and the reg was Oxford area, so they must have taken delivery of a demo car.
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No, of course an RS4 Avant or M5 Touring will never be a supercar nor have their sense of occasion. But in 'normal' road driving, they are arguably far more useable, even before practicalities are considered. I personally like the relative Q-car capacity of an RS4 Avant/M5 Touring vs a supercar.
The R8 I saw this morning (in London) also had an Oxford plate. I could be wrong, but aren't all Audis own cars registered there?
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Certainly the M5 is a bit of a Q-car it could be a kitted up 520 with big wheels. The RS4 on the other hand looks too pumped up to pass for an A4.
To be honest my Audi isn't that practical, the boot is small and because I have the high back sports seats rear passenger space is compromised. It's no family car but is fantastic for taking 2 people and their luggage at speed on long journeys. Apart from the fact you have to stop every 270 miles or so and fill it up with fuel that is.
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>> Apart from the fact you have to stop every 270 miles or so and fill it up with fuel that is.
A couple of months back I was filling up the Mondeo in a local petrol station when a stunning RS4 cabrio burbled in. It was a nice day, the roof was down, and it looked absolutely jaw dropping. I caught the guy's eye as I was looking at it appreciatively, and he smiled, so I said "what a gorgeous car" (or words to that effect).
As he got out, he said "Thanks. Got it last week, but this is already a worryingly frequent occasion".
"Drinks a bit, does it?"
"Well, let's just say it's showing 650 miles now, it was delivered with a full tank, and this is the third time I've seen the low fuel warning!"
Gulp!
Cheers
DP
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04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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"Satnav at a reasonable £1,800 is pretty well essential too."
!!!!
Still I suppose when you're splashing ths cash to that extent it's a drop in the correctly located voice naviguided ocean...
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With single figure fuel consumption easily achievable I'd want satnav just to let me know constantly where the nearest fuel station was!
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M5 ................ never be 'supercars'. It's about more than speed.
Perhaps though as we all know BMWs and others are restricted to 250kph (155mph) however an M5 saloon with the restrictor removed will do about 207mph.
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The M5 could do 250mph and still not be a supercar. My RS4 is supposedly limited to 155mph yet will happily do 170mph- it isn't a supercar either.
The R8 is special in a way these super-saloon/estates never will be. I'd love to drive one, I'm down on a waiting list for a test drive at my local Audi/VW/Porsche dealer for the R8 and 997 Turbo but I'm not holding my breath as they seem more interested in screaming around in the cars themselves.....
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My RS4 is supposedly limited to 155mph yet will happily do 170mph>>
An indicated 170 though probably a real 155, er, um, eh, er 70 officer !
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It reads 290kph when I'm doing a GPS confirmed 275kph.
Luckily that's in a place where it's legal.
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I was in Prague at the beggining of May and driving around the main town road was 7 (seven) R8's all in convoy. Stoopping at the give way's, then tearing off one after the other. Great sounds !
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