In this thread...

Wow that's a tough one;

Well firstly I wouldn't spend £115k of my own money on either, but in the spirit of the thread ...given the choice of one or the other ...I ...I don't know, I'd actually have to go and drive both to make that decision. Neither are my favourite car at that price point by any means ...but from my chair ...I like them both about equally ...although I favour the engine in the Audi and the looks of the Porsche.
 
I'd choose the Porsche without even having to fuss over the question - it's no contest at all. However, I wouldn't justify why - if I could afford it I'd just do it and ignore the complaints ;)
 
You must be the only person on the planet thinks that.

Congratulations on being in a club of one.
.

Permission to join the club sir? I think the R8 is an ugly car, doesn't flow or look right from lots of angles. The front looks like it was designed by somebody different to the back. Just wrong.

I admire it for it's technical ability, there's no denying that but it's certainly not a good looking car that's for sure. I think that people are getting cloudy vision just because of how good the engine is, just like some people do when it comes to the GTR
 
Permission to join the club sir? I think the R8 is an ugly car, doesn't flow or look right from lots of angles. The front looks like it was designed by somebody different to the back. Just wrong.

I admire it for it's technical ability, there's no denying that but it's certainly not a good looking car that's for sure. I think that people are getting cloudy vision just because of how good the engine is, just like some people do when it comes to the GTR

Yea I agree, so lets make it 3 :p
 
I'd have the Porsche. I've always liked them, and... It's a Porsche 911! There's so much history to the name, so much development behind it, they're beautiful to look at and to drive.

The Audi is nice, but it's an Audi. Which is just a Volkswagen. Which is just a Seat. Which is really just a Skoda ;) :D

Audi R8 = Skoda Felicia.

Porsche 911 = Quality.


Don't get me wrong, I'd love an R8, oh I would. But I'd love a 911 more :)


I'll be quiet now. And yes, the Skoda bit is just me being silly ;)
 
I'd go for the Porsche. Simply down to their abilities being (most probably) way above my own capabilities, so it would be down to sheer preference.

As a young 'un, I loved the 911. The R8 looks and goes great, but it hasn't usurped the 911 in my book.
 
If you can find £115K for one of these, you can probably find the bit extra to get a Ferrari or a Lamborghini.

I would imagine you would choose an Audi R8 or a 911 Turbo over spending a bit extra on something slightly more special perhaps because you'd already owned those marques and just fancied a change.
 
I would get the R8 Spyder, but would test driving both extensively and reading every possible review/press release on each one first!
 
If it were my money, wouldn't buy either, but as per the comments above, in the spirit of the thread:

I have driven a Gallardo, and really did think it was rather good. As the R8 is basically a softened Gallardo, I'd expect it to be pretty good too. However, like others, I find the looks of the R8 to be vomit inducingly bad. It's looks like a really badly proportioned TT.
Having said that, the 911 doesn't really do anything for either, though I just find it a bit boring to look at now, which is at least a step up from the R8.
Still, if being forced, I'd have to base my decision on driving both and basing the choice on that.

Back to "if it were my money". Well personally I'd rather have a front engined, rwd car. The obvious choice is the DB9, but personally I'd rather save a shed load of dosh and go with the XKR, which is massively cheaper, just as fast, IMO just as good looking. The only bad thing I've seen in the XK is the really horrible plastic surrounding the dash LCD screen. Really did seem to be made of recycled 80s Aiwa stereo. I think I'd simply spend some dosh getting a custom made alumium surround. Sorted.
 
Trying to put the subjective issues aside, you'd probably choose the R8 for a few reasons. The V10 is a peachy NA motor, very crisp and linear up to 8k and the package as a whole is probably closer to the supercar experience you imagine than the 911, and has the added benefit of sounding just a bit special as well. The driving position also helps give the R8 more of the "this is a bit of an event" when settling in. The Audi trumps the Porsche inside, I don't think that's an argument even the most ardent Porker fan would try to counter. The V10 is different from the V8 in that it feels that it has a more pronounced *and* predictable RWD bias and would probably be quite happy being provoked if thats your thing. The R-tronic does what it promises, the manual with the snick snack gate suits the car more. Looks-wise, one of the issues is that not very much distinguishes the V8 from the V10 model (Spyder aside) so that dilution sort of spoils the image a bit. But then you could sort of say the same about the Porsche.

If you want to cross the UK in sunshine and rain at a phenomenal rate, you'd take the 911 every single time. It's freakishly good at moving quickly and the R8 is genuinely outclassed on the road if pace is a priority. Everything points to the Audi giving you the confidence to push on but the 911 actually delivers it, just massive grip everywhere, better brakes and brake feel and the PDK box is as fantastic as it should be, perhaps a bit too smooth. It's definitely a more "complete" missile than the R8...extremely competent, well mannered and quick. Like the Audi, it's a bucketful of performance you can live with day in, day out, the R8 being a gentler and more comfortable ride with the MR option in Normal.

Both are cars (not the cabs) that I revisited in the last 6 months and both are extremely impressive bits of kit, you don't really tend to walk away from cars like this massively disappointed. I have issues and reservations with both and my money would go elsewhere, but, *if I had to*, I'd probably plump for the R8...I'd be giving up a quicker and more polished performer in the 997 though for a more sporting, nimbler drive. It's hard not to make a little "o" mouth above 5k with the V10 in a tunnel of trees, but then again it's difficult not to grin catapulting from corner to corner in the Porsche and the mid-range punch would be missed.

Re-reading, I've pretty much ignored the cabriolet issue so bonus points to me but I'm in a rush now...
 
With the exception of a few posters its like a blindman trying to pick out his favorite porno in this thread......

Without driving both its almost impossible to pick one, most people seem to be going on looks (which is understandable since they have no real world information to make an informed choice).

I've got no idea which i'd prefer, from an aesthetic point of view i like them both.
 
Having spent a couple of days shooting an R8, having a test drive (albeit a short one) and being driven as a passenger I would certainly choose the R8. Not that it matters, but Joe Public see the R8 as a more flashy/impressive/cooler car than the 911 - proven by how many people stop and stare at the R8 compared to my Uncle's Carrerra 4S.
 
Back
Top Bottom