Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2013
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- 2,590
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Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,117
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Lovely.
So initial thoughts....
It is very rapid and far closer to my GT3 in terms of handling than the normal cooking R8's I had driven before but though the steering is really very good by modern standard, it's not in the same league as my old 996 GT3. The suspension on the Plus as has been said needs commitment as it will feel each and every bump and evidence with each mile just how bad the average British road surface is, but for me that is no issue, it's part of the cars character. It also likes to follow each camber and bump like the GT3 but the key difference and just the like the RS4, it has a superb grip/damping mix in that it doesn't get thrown around in the same way as my GT3 did. As a road car it's just faster because of this, much much faster because you don't have to allow (yet) for the car getting thrown across the road so can be more commitment (within reason, I am not an idiot on the road).
It inspires confidence and the way it puts power down is superb and very confidence inspiring and it does flatter the driver. The engine is superb and it just keeps pulling all the way to the red line. In circa 400 miles I have not hit the limiter and probably only been over 7000rpm a few times, it just doesn't need it as you are simply holding on to a gear for no reason and it you are, your speed is frankly to fast for most roads. The gearbox is smooth as silk in the standard mode and becomes more aggressive in sport mode. I find myself using the box myself, I rarely put it into Auto unless on a motorway or around town. In sport the gear change coming down the box can be slightly jerky if you select the wrong gear at the wrong time, best just to let it sort itself out at lights, in auto smooth as silk.
The car has a couple of creeks from what sounds like rubber in need of lubrication, but car is going back in Wednesday for them to have a listen. Only notice it on bump roads at slow speed, nothing serious and nothing I am worried about. As I have said the wrap down looks really good on the grills front and back, but I think it's also a half way house so full carbon grills will be ordered and replace the exiting. **** me that is expensive (circa 4K) but worth doing I feel, gotta to get it spot on and will match the finish to the side panel.
So far very very happy, the car is epic and I can see it going well on track....which I will find out soon as my Anglesey trip in July has now become a Ring trip, so nothing like a baptism of fire but no hero efforts, will take it nice and steady as I will be 'somewhat' annoyed if I bend it. I will add some proper photo's in due course when I have washed it and gone over it with a fine tooth comb.
It is very rapid and far closer to my GT3 in terms of handling than the normal cooking R8's I had driven before but though the steering is really very good by modern standard, it's not in the same league as my old 996 GT3. The suspension on the Plus as has been said needs commitment as it will feel each and every bump and evidence with each mile just how bad the average British road surface is, but for me that is no issue, it's part of the cars character. It also likes to follow each camber and bump like the GT3 but the key difference and just the like the RS4, it has a superb grip/damping mix in that it doesn't get thrown around in the same way as my GT3 did. As a road car it's just faster because of this, much much faster because you don't have to allow (yet) for the car getting thrown across the road so can be more commitment (within reason, I am not an idiot on the road).
It inspires confidence and the way it puts power down is superb and very confidence inspiring and it does flatter the driver. The engine is superb and it just keeps pulling all the way to the red line. In circa 400 miles I have not hit the limiter and probably only been over 7000rpm a few times, it just doesn't need it as you are simply holding on to a gear for no reason and it you are, your speed is frankly to fast for most roads. The gearbox is smooth as silk in the standard mode and becomes more aggressive in sport mode. I find myself using the box myself, I rarely put it into Auto unless on a motorway or around town. In sport the gear change coming down the box can be slightly jerky if you select the wrong gear at the wrong time, best just to let it sort itself out at lights, in auto smooth as silk.
The car has a couple of creeks from what sounds like rubber in need of lubrication, but car is going back in Wednesday for them to have a listen. Only notice it on bump roads at slow speed, nothing serious and nothing I am worried about. As I have said the wrap down looks really good on the grills front and back, but I think it's also a half way house so full carbon grills will be ordered and replace the exiting. **** me that is expensive (circa 4K) but worth doing I feel, gotta to get it spot on and will match the finish to the side panel.
So far very very happy, the car is epic and I can see it going well on track....which I will find out soon as my Anglesey trip in July has now become a Ring trip, so nothing like a baptism of fire but no hero efforts, will take it nice and steady as I will be 'somewhat' annoyed if I bend it. I will add some proper photo's in due course when I have washed it and gone over it with a fine tooth comb.
It's a late 2013, registered in September of that year. The Plus model has 550bhp so more than the normal one (530 I think) and they removed the mag ride and replaced with a fixed set up, which loses some of the road comfort but adds to the 'event' when pushing on and on track. It also comes with a carbon fibre 'pack' and 50kgs weight reduction. It is Audi's attempt at a GT3 really, hence why it's more my preference. They also added Ceramics as standard and the different wheels and the buckets (rare, but in mine) were a no cost option. It is a VERY quick road car that makes overtakes a work of a seconds and makes the car a leap on from most road traffic, where as my 530D and even RS4 were just, quick and a bit quicker than normal stuff, this goes past stuff like they are parked and can carry 140mph on a slip road...I suspect.
The brakes when warmed up and stamped on are also quite phenomenal, just haul the thing up in a split second meaning you need to focus on the rear view mirror a lot should you have to stomp on them as you will out brake most stuff I suspect.
The brakes when warmed up and stamped on are also quite phenomenal, just haul the thing up in a split second meaning you need to focus on the rear view mirror a lot should you have to stomp on them as you will out brake most stuff I suspect.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 7 Feb 2004
- Posts
- 8,242
- Location
- North East
Like the wheel design and colour, something different, very nice!
The only thing I don't like. Too fussy for me.
If given the car, I think I'd manage to tolerate them though
Some interior shots (not mine, but it looks the same)
I like it, good place to be and most of the stuff is where you expect it. Entertainment system is not as good as the BMW, neither is the sat nav but the B&O hifi sounds OK (not as good as I expected, but fine) and the driving position is pretty good, though would prefer to be even lower.
I like it, good place to be and most of the stuff is where you expect it. Entertainment system is not as good as the BMW, neither is the sat nav but the B&O hifi sounds OK (not as good as I expected, but fine) and the driving position is pretty good, though would prefer to be even lower.
Took the R8 on a 300 mile round trip today at normal motorway speeds mostly with the odd opening of the lungs here and there and was amazed to see 27.3mpg for the day! Really impressive consumption for a 5.2L V10 and frankly better than I ever saw in my B7 RS4! I wasn't trying an economy run, just clicked the computer to MPG on the way down and saw that and on the way back. It is however now filthy 
To add car booked in to Stoke Audi on Tuesday for a listen and a couple of small things needing work (new wiper blade, refitting front offside grill which is not quite sitting properly) and a listen to a coupe of sounds that need investigation.
With regards your MPG It's interesting that the bigger engines are not always so disappointing with regards fuel economy. Those figures are superb - I'd imagine probably not a million miles away from something far more tame like an S2000 on a comparable drive. I'll guess you had a *slightly* more entertaining and refined experience....
I like the simplicity of the interior, for me that looks interesting enough, but keeps it 'boring' enough that the entertainment comes from the drive - thats a compliment by the way.
I've always wondered what the situ is with cars that have epic brakes. If I'm sat behind you driving normally at 70mph, and an accident happens ahead. I could be following all the best practice in the world and you'd still outbrake me... I presume the lesson is - don't follow supercars at standard distance !
I see the tach goes up to 10,000 rpm... whats the limiter?
I like the simplicity of the interior, for me that looks interesting enough, but keeps it 'boring' enough that the entertainment comes from the drive - thats a compliment by the way.
I've always wondered what the situ is with cars that have epic brakes. If I'm sat behind you driving normally at 70mph, and an accident happens ahead. I could be following all the best practice in the world and you'd still outbrake me... I presume the lesson is - don't follow supercars at standard distance !
I see the tach goes up to 10,000 rpm... whats the limiter?
I've not found the limiter yet but suspect 9000 is where it lives. The brakes are quite incredible and you can shed speed like no car I've had before and being ceramic you can do that all day without fade, but they need heat to perform at their best.