Hey Unregistered it seems that you haven't posted a message in our forums yet. Please join in on the fun and post a message! Click on Forum, then click the name of the appropriate forum such as "Cayman Chat" and then click the New Thread icon (looks like a Cayman door and side grill). Enter your message in the message editor and press submit and you are on your way!
Automotive Off TopicThis is the place for topics that are not Cayman specific but are automotive related in some way. This is not an anything goes forum, Keep it clean!
Your Donation Will Be Used To Pay For our ever increasing bandwidth costs, our hosting Service, domain registration, software licensing fees, maintenance costs and product evaluations Only!
Please enter your donation amount above, and then click on the donate button below.
My brother treated us to the "R8 Experience" today at Infineon. A bit of classroom, a cone slalom and mini AX in the rain, then out on the dry track for most of the day doing lead/follow. Laps around 2:11 pace or so once we got going.
Highs:
Really nice interior, great exhaust note, excellent power, easy to drive quickly, the ASR/ESP + Quattro made for fun in the rain...not too intrusive
Lows:
I didn't like the shift gate in the 6 speed, nor did I like the R-tronic transmission I drove. Maybe you get used to the gate eventually. The Euro-spec R-tronic didn't have the magneto suspension and felt mushy compared to the Euro-spec manual with it.
The R8 is a COMPLETELY different car than a Cayman, so comparisons are a bit silly. We got nowhere near the limits on the track, but the car felt like it sure wanted to go there. There was no drama as speed increased. It felt Cayman-like in that respect. That engine is sweet. Once up into the revs, it clearly pulls harder than my S, but not stunningly so.
I am a bit puzzled by the car since you can buy a 997 Turbo for the same price based upon the MSRP stickers I have seen for $131k.
Getting back in my car made me feel like I was getting into a kid's car after driving an adult's car all day.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I was watching Supercars Exposed on Speedvision with friends yesterday- R8 was featured- One of the Audi guys piped up" There is your 420 hp Cayman on a slightly heavier frame" Everybody looked at him like he was crazy and threw out opinions and insults. But an interesting point. I don't personally like some of the cosmetic features- (front lights and contrasting center side panels) but the car is really growing on me.The car IS very Caymanlike in a high speed drift.Appears to really love the track. Maybe some clues from the Cayman in the handling areas??Cool ride.
I was watching Supercars Exposed on Speedvision with friends yesterday- R8 was featured- One of the Audi guys piped up" There is your 420 hp Cayman on a slightly heavier frame" Everybody looked at him like he was crazy and threw out opinions and insults. But an interesting point. I don't personally like some of the cosmetic features- (front lights and contrasting center side panels) but the car is really growing on me.The car IS very Caymanlike in a high speed drift.Appears to really love the track. Maybe some clues from the Cayman in the handling areas??Cool ride.
The R8 and Cayman are both mid-engined cars that are easy to drive on a track, but that doesn't make it "Cayman-like".
How's THAT for splitting hairs?
They are just different animals. Hopefully Bodii will jump in as he has both.
I can't wait to see where the R8 fits performance-wise as more people get them and hopefully track them. BBC - Top Gear - Power Laps
The R8 is like a cross between a Cayman and an SL500 (I have owned both). It has most of the best of the two. Ignore the convertible part and the fact that an SL weighs 4500 pounds. LOL.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I think I heard about a 500 hp version coming out next year. If that is true- should be a beast. I saw the R8 in traffic the other day. Looks better in the metal than the pics.Lots of TV ads considering the rarity of the car.
I have lusted after this car for a while and was prepared to buy one if I fell in love with it (and assuming I could find one!).
The car looks distinctive. Engine under see-through glass gives it a super-car feel.
Power is very linear, across wide TQ band (up to 8250 redline), but not very torquey. So it doesn't "feel" fast, but it is quick enough.
Car felt good on the track, and we were driving at a decent clip (but not really pushing it).
Net, net: too expensive as a track toy versus a Cayman, and not torquey enough for a "fun" street car versus a Turbo.
I would say: buy one if you like the looks. If you're not into style, I suspect the GT-R (even with premium) may be a better value and a better track/street all-'rounder.
Finally, if you like the looks but don't like compromises, wait for the V-10 or V-12 or whatever they cram into "full power" version of the R-8.
Chris and Dave, I agree with you both in all areas. I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to really push the R8 to the limit on your track. This is where it has repeatedly made the strongest impressions to me with its LSD, super braking and wonderful cornering abilities. Until then the R8 always seems so super sophisticated, luxurious, and effortless... And draws too much attention for me.
Dave, you are 100% correct with awkwardness of the manual gear shift, and the hard metal bracket that frames its working. The whole shifter is too tall, and needs a much shorter shifter option. The bracket thing is Audi's way to be like Ferrari... But not in a good way. For frequent track work, it also needs more support in the seats.
The R8 is, in a strange similar way, like the Porsche CS in its capacity for much more power, and not having it in its current format. The R8 is certainly faster than the CS. But it is no where near the limit of this Audi R8 platform. If I do keep this R8, I know I would opt for the MTM supercharger soon to be released. It will be the same supercharger package that they currently use for the Audi RS4. ( Same engine). I know it is taking a bigger leap with the warranty and such,.. but I am usually much more lucky than smart with such things. And 550 HP in this car would be completely too intoxicating.
I can't argue with you about the GT-R making a better value as a track car. It's an easy no-brainer. But with enough HP, I would easily choose the fantastic mid-engine R8 over the GT-R. I just LUV tracking hi performance mid-engine sportscars!
I am still waiting to get my supercharged CS back, so I can do my head to head showdown with the R8. Been too busy here to go south and get it. But this weekend I do have another track weekend at Miller Motorsprt with this wonderful R8. Life is very good right now!
A limited slip differential (LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational velocity of the output shafts, but does not allow the difference in speed to increase beyond a preset amount. In an automobile, such limited slip differentials are sometimes used in place of a standard differential, where they convey certain dynamic advantages, at the expense of greater complexity.
The main advantage of a limited slip differential is found by considering the case of a standard (or "open") differential where one wheel has no contact with the ground at all. In such a case, the contacting wheel will remain stationary, and the non-contacting wheel will rotate freely– the torque transmitted will be equal at both wheels, but will not exceed the threshold of torque needed to move the vehicle, thus the vehicle will remain stationary. In everyday use on typical roads, such a situation is very unlikely, and so a normal differential suffices. For more demanding use however, such as driving off-road, or for high performance vehicles, such a state of affairs is undesirable, and the LSD can be employed to deal with it. By limiting the velocity difference between a pair of driven wheels, useful torque can be transmitted as long as there is some friction available on at least one of the wheels.
To see the installation of a TBD style unit Click Here
To see the installation of a LSD style unit Click Here -> Article Forthcoming Stay Tuned
__________________
Seat of the pants dyno To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
__________________
Cold Croc
38 years of continuous Porsche ownership
Ride History
1966-1969 ---- 1961 Rambler Classic (Sorry)
1969-1970 ---- 1969 Mustang Mach I (Engine lasted 49K mi... swore I'd never buy another American car)
1970-1972 ---- 1964 356C - Rust Bucket
1972-1976 ---- 1972 914 - Ball Buster
1976-1977 ---- 1973 911T - Was I crazy?
1977-2007 ---- 1963 356SC To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 306K mi
2001-2003 ---- 1984 911 SC Targa - For my son
2000-2005 ---- 1997 Ferrari 355-F To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Brain Fart
2007- ???? ---- 2007 Cayman S To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
2008 ---------- 2008 Audi R8 - Delivery late spring '08
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Until 
How's THAT for splitting hairs?
