2008 Audi R8 Road Test

Test Vehicle: Audi R8 4.2L V8 with 6-speed R-Tronic Automated Manual Gearbox

This car feels to me like its been around forever, and I don't know why that is.  Maybe every magazine extolling its virtues has overloaded my brain with it so much, that it just feels like it.

This isn't the first time I've seen one in the paint, but it is still small.  Wow.  Its a great looking car from the front, and the back, but the side view looks awkward to me, in the same way that the Cayman looks awkward from the side.  I love the sideblades, and wish this one didn't have them the same colour as the rest of the car.  The LEDs around the headlights make a real statement and when this is in your rear mirror, you aren't going to miss it.  I'm a little sad that Audi has extended those across the whole range as I think it makes a great statement for this car, but BMW has the owl eyes, so they had to do something I guess.

Its also a wide car too.  It looks great on the road.  As long as I don't see the side view, I'll be fine.

The interior is another story though.  Audi interiors are always first rate.  This one is no exception.  The seats are firm but not back breaking, and can adjust 300 ways (ish).  The dash is really centered around the driver and they have really made it a great place to be.  This one was the tiptronic, so the wheel had the two small Audi paddles, but the gear stick was a great knurled lump of aluminum that sticks out of the middle of the center console.  Gotta love how that looks.

The 4.2 V8 out of the RS4 sits behind you, and you can't really hear it when the window is down.  Its very civilised with a load of power on tap when you need it.  The thing that lets the car down is the gearbox.  Get a manual one if you are getting an R8.  Changes are pretty jerky, to the point where you feel that the driver is actually hitting the brakes between changes.  I didn't like it at all, and when crawling up to a junction in first, the car was very jerky.  May have been this model, but I'll take mine with the 6 speed manual please.  I know I can do better than that.

Steering was light and direct.  Really easy to put the car exactly where you want it, and the handling was stellar.  The car was planted.  You weren't getting it out of line no matter what you did to it.  Once the window was up, you could hear the V8 working away behind your ears.  That engine is a masterpiece.  I've driven other Audi's with that engine in it, and it really is a work of art.  I can only wonder what the V10 feels like.

This car is quick.  Its not fast, its quick.  Other cars, like the Lamborghini Gallardo are fast, but this just feels quick.  Maybe because its a little more refined (although not much more so) than the Lambo.  Its certainly got the power, the handling, the brakes and the feel.

In the end, it feels a lot like a TT on steroids.  There's more room in here than in a TT, more power than a TT, just more of everything.

There would be no issue in driving this car every day.  I always wonder if there is an everyday exotic car, and I think this is one that fits the bill.  Is it better than the car it was built to compete with, the Porsche?  It's different than that Porsche, lets just leave it at that.

My final verdict? I would buy one, but make sure you avoid the tiptronic. Nobody needs that.

2008 Audi R8

Base Price: $114,200

Body: 2-door CoupeMechanical Orientation: Four Wheel Drive

Engine: 4.2L V8 with DOHC and FSIPower: 420 bhpTorque: 317 lb.ftTransmission: R Tronic automated manual gearbox (6sp)

Weight: 1638 kg (3605 lb)Wheelbase: 26500 mm (104.3 in)Length: 4431mm (174.5 in)Width: 1904mm (75 in)Luggage Capacity: 6.7 cu. ft

0-62 mph (100 km/h): 4.4 secondsTop Speed: 187 mph (301 km/h)

For: Feel, handling, comfort, qualityAgainst: The gearbox and not loud enoughConclusion: An incredible first attempt at a supercar that can be driven every day.