Who owns the r8? I always thought about adding that to my stable... Worth it?
Well for me it's worth it. Purely personal. I have sort of planned my stable by engine type and experience. I have the FGT with the super charger, a 911 turbo, a 427 cobra replica, and a V10 R8. All very differennt cars with super different personalities. A car with massive supercharger torque, a twin turbo with lag and super top end boost hit, a big old fashioned V8, and an exotic high rev (8850 redline) V10. I love them all for different reasons.
The R8 is the most refined luxurious car I have. It oozes quality and finesse. It's the easiest car to drive at the limit. Getting 10/10ths is easy and secure. I've never been a car so easy to drive fast. My 911 at the limit is scary above 7/10ths, but very rewarding when you can get it higher. I have the R-tronic which in my mind is one of the best transmissions made. It's a manual that shifts with the right foot. When you accelerate it waits for a pause or gentle lift and then shifts. The driver shifts the automatic with the throttle. If you ignore it and drive it like an autobox it's jerky and feels like riding with a kid learning to drive a stick. It lifts the throttle and shifts when it wants to.
The AWD is calibrated 80/20 rear bias. Mine is the spyder so it's not a track machine. The fit and finish is typical Audi very neat and tidy. No creaks or rattles and very tight. The v10 is amazing low torque is decent, but get above 4000 rpms and the noise is intoxicating. Sophisticated symphony of valves, chains, and gears right behind your head. With the spyder the rear window can be lowered while you drive allowing you to listen to the motor. Think if you could lower the rear window of the FGT and you will understand what I mean. I love the car. It's more subdued than it's sister the Lamborghini, but that's why I like it. It's flashed with the stasis chip to bring it back to 575HP like the Gallardo. Little softer suspension with the magnetic ride, but firm with the sport button and still acceptable ride quality. In my mind nothing not to like unless the lambo is more your style.
Rob