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My R8 Experience
As I mentioned in the R8 spotted thread, Glenmore Audi was provided with a single R8 for deposit holders to have a brief drive yesterday. Since my Dad has had his name on that list for many months now, he was given a time slot to view and drive the R8 and I decided to tag along. When I was in Wolfsburg this summer I was able to get up close to an R8 in the Audi pavilion, so this was not my first time seeing one in person, however as good as the car looks in pictures when it is moving it is so, so impressive.
The first thing you notice is the LED day time running lights that line the bottom of the headlights they look menacing and futuristic at the same time, making the car stand out even more. The car was dark grey with silver side blades, not my first choice but the contrast between the paint and blades still gives the car a very unique appearance and helps to fool the eye on the cars length. If you have seen one with the entire car the same colour it tends to look a little on the awkward side.
After a quick inspection, my Dad was situated in the driver’s seat and was pulling out of the parking lot, with a low grumble resonating from the exhaust and a very mean, wide and low rear end disappearing into the distance. A few minutes latter the car returned with my Dad having a very large smile on his face as he slowly maneuvered the car around the lot.
Next came a big surprise for me, I too was given a chance to drive the R8 and I did not hesitate to get into that driver’s seat! The car is a bit of a job to get into as the door sills are fairly wide, the car is low and the seat bolsters large. I think the seats are similar to the new TT and S5 seats but I am not sure if there are any differences or not perhaps more bolstered. However once settled in the seats are fantastic, comfortable yet providing enough stability to keep you in place. The interior is very nice, with the flat bottomed steering wheel, alcantara pillars and headliner, navigation, climate control and all the other bells and whistles we are used to in a new Audi. I was only in the car for a little under ten minutes so I did not spend too much time messing with anything inside, never even got to hear the B&O stereo.
Now comes the driving, firstly the car was equipped with the R-Tronic system, which some people found a little touchy to use, but I actually found it to be similar to my sequential transmission in my Smart. When driving calmly and at low speeds the car was very civil, the ride was firm but not harsh and you could cruise around with no issues and hardly a peep from that V8 sitting behind you. However when you got on the throttle the car was very fast, able to take you up to some very quick speeds before you even know what is happening as you are just enthralled with that V8 growl. The shifting was not as fast as a DSG and not as smooth either but if you let up on the throttle a bit during shifts you could smooth things out during heavy acceleration.
The handling was also very impressive, the car would take corners as fast as I took them with no issues what so ever, no roll, no sliding just flat and controlled, almost asking for more. Over bumps the car still firm but not bone jarring or uncomfortable at all, something I could drive everyday, especially after being used to a lowered car. The braking is another thing the R8 seems to do very well, you do not need a lot of pressure on the pedal to bring you back from high speeds quickly, which I had to test at a crosswalk.
Overall I was overwhelmed by the R8 I have never driven anything close to this kind of car, so it is hard for me to compare it with anything. The car is not cheap and there are lots of choices in the price range, but this car is flirting with supercar status with not quite supercar price, I think it would be a similar experience with a Lamborghini Gallardo. My Dad was also extremely impressed with the car and is keeping his deposit in place with expected arrival to be in first quarter 2008. We were informed that there should only be 14 R8s coming to Calgary over the next two years, so I think it should be a good investment, as far as cars go, and hopefully a joy to drive for many years after.
The first thing you notice is the LED day time running lights that line the bottom of the headlights they look menacing and futuristic at the same time, making the car stand out even more. The car was dark grey with silver side blades, not my first choice but the contrast between the paint and blades still gives the car a very unique appearance and helps to fool the eye on the cars length. If you have seen one with the entire car the same colour it tends to look a little on the awkward side.
After a quick inspection, my Dad was situated in the driver’s seat and was pulling out of the parking lot, with a low grumble resonating from the exhaust and a very mean, wide and low rear end disappearing into the distance. A few minutes latter the car returned with my Dad having a very large smile on his face as he slowly maneuvered the car around the lot.
Next came a big surprise for me, I too was given a chance to drive the R8 and I did not hesitate to get into that driver’s seat! The car is a bit of a job to get into as the door sills are fairly wide, the car is low and the seat bolsters large. I think the seats are similar to the new TT and S5 seats but I am not sure if there are any differences or not perhaps more bolstered. However once settled in the seats are fantastic, comfortable yet providing enough stability to keep you in place. The interior is very nice, with the flat bottomed steering wheel, alcantara pillars and headliner, navigation, climate control and all the other bells and whistles we are used to in a new Audi. I was only in the car for a little under ten minutes so I did not spend too much time messing with anything inside, never even got to hear the B&O stereo.
Now comes the driving, firstly the car was equipped with the R-Tronic system, which some people found a little touchy to use, but I actually found it to be similar to my sequential transmission in my Smart. When driving calmly and at low speeds the car was very civil, the ride was firm but not harsh and you could cruise around with no issues and hardly a peep from that V8 sitting behind you. However when you got on the throttle the car was very fast, able to take you up to some very quick speeds before you even know what is happening as you are just enthralled with that V8 growl. The shifting was not as fast as a DSG and not as smooth either but if you let up on the throttle a bit during shifts you could smooth things out during heavy acceleration.
The handling was also very impressive, the car would take corners as fast as I took them with no issues what so ever, no roll, no sliding just flat and controlled, almost asking for more. Over bumps the car still firm but not bone jarring or uncomfortable at all, something I could drive everyday, especially after being used to a lowered car. The braking is another thing the R8 seems to do very well, you do not need a lot of pressure on the pedal to bring you back from high speeds quickly, which I had to test at a crosswalk.
Overall I was overwhelmed by the R8 I have never driven anything close to this kind of car, so it is hard for me to compare it with anything. The car is not cheap and there are lots of choices in the price range, but this car is flirting with supercar status with not quite supercar price, I think it would be a similar experience with a Lamborghini Gallardo. My Dad was also extremely impressed with the car and is keeping his deposit in place with expected arrival to be in first quarter 2008. We were informed that there should only be 14 R8s coming to Calgary over the next two years, so I think it should be a good investment, as far as cars go, and hopefully a joy to drive for many years after.
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