not the same exp as a ferrari

[mdwfa2001]

even though there is alot of hype with audi r8 now, when i look at it, there is just no wow factor for me. At the end of the day its still an audi. I heard the experience does not compare to ferrari as well. True it might be more updated and handle better, but i don't think it matches the ferrari exp. I have heard that people get bored of the audi r8 after about 6 months. Now with that said there is still a chance i might consider this to replace my daily driver. I will not pay more then 100K for this. I believe they will depreciate quick when the hype is gone. The sticker is 116, but two yr old cars are still going for around 110K. That seems like manipulation, just like the markets. Just like the markets i think it will come crashing down quick. With that said i would not mind picking one up for around 75-80K, if this car is really worth it. I would like to hear some honest opinions about this from people who have exp with both cars.

[HovyR8]

Did you join the forum just to tell us this? Which Ferrari are you referring to, the F430?

Welcome anyway!

My next car will be a SL63 or SL65 Black Edition (an addition, not a replacement to the R8)

ps: Ask ShelbyGirl1, they have both a R8 and a F430.

[R8 England]

even though there is alot of hype with audi r8 now, when i look at it, there is just no wow factor for me. At the end of the day its still an audi. I heard the experience does not compare to ferrari as well.

If you don't have a personal "wow factor" and think its "just" an Audi, then you are obviously looking for a car that presents a different image. If so, the R8 is NOT for you.

[AnOutsider]

If you don't have a personal "wow factor" and think its "just" an Audi, then you are obviously looking for a car that presents a different image. If so, the R8 is NOT for you.

Exactly. I say the same about ferraris. Never appealed to me... seem like cars for old guys and posers while the R8 is for a newer generation.

[Jeff]

A distant friend had a Ferrari several years ago and said it was very harsh driving. Has that changed?

I find the R8 supremely comfortable as a daily driver (shocks in normal mode).

[Mike]

What hype are you referring to?? Most people don't know what it is. I must have been asked that question about a dozen times on the street. People know what Ferrari's look like. And I agree with R8 England, if you think it's just an Audi don't buy it. I think you have a couple more years before your able to touch one for $75K. Maybe the R8s value has something to do with quality and quantity.

[Davey_Dee]

I'm not really a car person, or wasn't until i saw an R8 at a football match earlier this year. I have to agree with Mike about most people not knowing what it is because until i saw one i never knew about it, if im correct this was over a year after it was first released. From what i've read (because i havent driven a car before) the R8 is a great day-to-day road car so would say it was worth it.

[willyjp]

It's a little hard to define what the "Ferrari experience" might be, since that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

As far as the subjective experience behind the wheel, different preferences in that area are a given and that's what gives us the wonderful diversity of sporting automobiles. You drive what you like and I drive what I like and we both have a satisfying motoring experience. And some of us like to experience a variety of driving sensations in a variety of very different machines, counting all of them as worthwhile to have on on our lifetime log book, so to speak.

When you've been driving sports cars for over 50 years, as I have, you will have a hard time attaching the kind of relative value to your driving experiences that perhaps you are implying in your question. It's rare that I have driven a Ferrari that I didn't think provided an exciting experience behind the wheel, a few times TOO exciting! And some can be said to be exciting but DIFFICULT!

Also, remember that to some folks: "A Ferrari is a 12 cylinder automobile." That was said by Enzo Ferrari himself, though he certainly was referring to road cars at the time because he was just finishing an era of astounding success with extremely fine 4 cylinder race cars (the Monzas and the original Testa Rossa).

So it's hard to attach a relative value to the "experience" of an R8 compared to that. Certainly the R8 is a Grand Touring car with capabilities at least equal to the finest of Ferraris of the classic era. And yet it has the most modern, smooth and "driver friendly" character of present day high tech autos...as do the new touring Ferraris.

If on the other hand, you are thinking of the IMAGE people have of the BRAND, and how that might be projected on you, the driver, well that is a different matter. The biggest problem in assessing that is, most people who see you driving either marque, won't have the foggiest of ideas what kind of racing history, tradition, technology, engineering or craftsmanship went into the car. So to the bulk of the public, the only thing that matters is what MARKETING has reached them. As far as HYPE, Ferrari takes no back seat to ANY manufacturer of autos. Most of the hype of the R8 has come from independent opinions. Admittedly, Ferrari never ran a super bowl add, but if you consider their F1 program as marketing for their cars, Audi's budget wouldn't hold a candle.

If you're taliking about impressing well informed "car people" who really know the racing history and engineering evolution of the two marques, well neither one need be ashamed on those scores.

In the end it comes down to different strokes for different blokes, really.

PS: for example, watch this video and the following 3 on the Motor Trend video site; if you want to drive a high performance car in conditons like this, you'll probably be happier in an R8 than a Ferrari! (happens to be where I live)
http://www.motortrend.com/av/feature...t_1/index.html

[LoresonDE]

Well i think the original poster has already convinced him/herself. Go buy a ferrari! Your brain is telling you too...

Just like the man before me said...different strokes...

[MotherTucker]

I've taken the R8 to lots of gatherings of sports cars (track events, coffee and cars in the local mall parking lot, etc), and the R8 attracted a huge crowd compared to almost no one around the Ferraris. So right now, the R8 has a much bigger wow factor. Ferrari's are old hat while relatively few people have seen an R8 in person. I've also been told many times that the R8 is prettier then F360s and F430s among others. I strongly agree with that. I've had several people frantically motion to me to roll down my window, so they could tell me it is the most beautiful car they've ever seen in their life!

I also dislike the finicky service needs and expense and reported longevity problems with Ferrari's. How many do you know of with 100,000 miles? We haven't been there yet, but I fully expect the R8 to last as long as other Audi's, well into 100K territory. And you can take it to a local Audi dealer for service.

The performance of high-end Ferrari's is very good of course - if you can pay for it and pay for servicing it, and not drive it much. Actually I had always wanted a Ferrari - but now that I have an R8, frankly I'm not so sure.

mt