So would you pick it over the GT if both were available today?

I love the LED lights on this car, and on the A4. They are a great option for daytime running lights here in Canada - they last long, use little energy, etc. I hope to see them on more vehicles.
 
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I would definitely choose it over a GT3, if only for vanity. Porsches are everywhere, and most people don't know the difference between a base Carrara and a Turbo or GT3. The Audi definitely stands out more. Saw my first one in person last week and it looked so bad-ass coming at me with those little LED driving lights. It's as good-looking as a Gallardo, if you ask me.
 
I might choose the R8 over the F430 because of the value as you describe. But my latest lustful desktop background, the new Ferrari California, is the best looking Ferrari in a long time, and will be closer to the R8 in price. Close enough, anyway, for a rich guy.

Exotics are interesting to read about but don't seem logical choices for long term testing to me. Why not focus on affordable sports cars like the Corvette and Porsche models that most of us have a real ability to own and operate?

"Exotics are interesting to read about but don't seem logical choices for long term testing to me. Why not focus on affordable sports cars like the Corvette and Porsche models that most of us have a real ability to own and operate?"
 
If Edmunds focused only on cars real people want or need to buy, wouldn't it be a bit boring?

"If Edmunds focused only on cars real people want or need to buy, wouldn't it be a bit boring?"
 
Not really. We can read about the R8 anywhere. its been on the cover of every major auto mag and the topic of significant coverage thus far.
 
Few cars are a bargain at $132k or whatever this car costs. The looks will get stares and the interior is about as good as an A4 but the bottom line is you get base model C6 performance for more than twice the price. I am not a fan of the profile of mid engined cars. I much prefer the short front overhang you get in a a front engined RWD sports car.

"Why not focus on affordable sports cars like the Corvette and Porsche models that most of us have a real ability to own and operate?"
 
Because people like me like reading about ALL cars, especially exotics like the R8. That long term blog is as much about car enthusiasts as it is for car buyers looking to see how many ways a Saturn Aura will break. So I look forward to hearing about living with this thing on a daily basis. And I'm sorry, but I'd rather read about an Audi R-freakin-8 than a Ford Focus or kia Rondo. And if you don't, that's pretty lame.
 
And as for why not a Corvette or Porsche, I'm sure there's politics and budgetary things we don't know about.

"The looks will get stares and the interior is about as good as an A4 but the bottom line is you get base model C6 performance for more than twice the price."
 
So if the R8 has an A4 interior, what does the Corvette have? Aveo? There's a reason that the R8 costs a lot more.

bbechtel16,
Good question. Karl what's your verdict?
 
Based only on looks, I think I'd go GT. But I have only seen pictures of the R8, none on the road.

"If Edmunds focused only on cars real people want or need to buy, wouldn't it be a bit boring?"
 
Exactly. Why NOT have something exotic once in a while? It's not like they've chosen the R8 and forsaken more common things. They also have a Smart, for cryin' out loud. And a Focus. And a little bit of everything in between.
 
"We can read about the R8 anywhere. its been on the cover of every major auto mag and the topic of significant coverage thus far."
 
Yes, but not in this level of detail. Who else has a (semi-)long term R8? You can also read about a Cobalt anywhere. Some folks are awfully critical given the price of admission here...

"If Edmunds focused only on cars real people want or need to buy, wouldn't it be a bit boring?"
 
Plus, some of us here *can* afford an R8 and still consider ourselves a 'real person'.

"And if you don't, that's pretty lame. "
 
So if you arent interested in reading 3 updates a day on low production 6 figure sports cars that 95% of the public cant afford you are lame? Anyone who cant find enough to read about the R8 between all the print and on-line car mags must be illiterate.
 
"Some folks are awfully critical given the price of admission here..."
 
Some folks get the impression the cars selected for long term evaluation are picked for the editor's personal enjoyment as opposed to overwhelming reader interest. I also disagree that 500 posts about the R8 will yield "new" or "exciting" details that we don't already know. Anyone who keeps current with car reviews is up to date on the R8. Those who can afford the car certainly arent going to wait to get the opinion of IL editors before going down to their Audi dealer. Even the print mags that are supposedly geared towards enthusiasts go easy on the long term exotics because they know that reliability really isnt an issue for potential buyers.

Thank you, 7driver.
 
And I'm not sure why some of you are talking like adding an R8 was a poor decision. Didn't this car win one of the "most wanted" awards? Sure, you can read about it everywhere, but for people who like it, that's not a bad thing. And for people like me, who read Edmunds almost exclusively, it's a very good thing.

It seems some people have dificulty reading a simple comment or feel the need to "bend" a comment to their particular desire for vitriole. I mentioned Corvettes and Porsches, that is, true sports cars in the $60+ category. I don't remember mentioning a Focus or a Rondo. I certainly wasn't criticizing Karl or anyone else at Inside Line. I love to read about anything on 4 wheels as much as most here. It's a question of priorities, not preferences. Sorry to see so many people are so thin skinned about a simple comment on what is a blog and is meant to be commented on in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Given the number of vehicles in the long term fleet, having an exotic or 2 is alright with me. It keeps things interesting, and maybe it will result in some new discussions in the comments section.

"So if the R8 has an A4 interior, what does the Corvette have? Aveo? There's a reason that the R8 costs a lot more."
 
No amount of superior plastics is worth an additional $60k. That is one of the dumbest things I have heard. Besides, you can get an upgraded dash with leather wrapping in the vette since last year. If the vette was sold in smaller numbers and didnt have an engine that shared some components with a mass produced V8 it woould be a lot more expensive. Its not cheaper because of its interior materials. Audi MIGHT spend $1K more on the interior of the R8 than GM does on a Vette. And let's not forget about the weak dollar which is making every imported car more expensive.
 
"Sorry to see so many people are so thin skinned about a simple comment on what is a blog and is meant to be commented on in a respectful and thoughtful way."
 
No criticism of any materil posted on IL or Edmunds is tolerated by some folks here. You'll figure it out soon enough.

Karl,
Will we be seeing a Ford GT trade-in for a slightly used R8? ;-)

Better yet, how about a Willow Springs or other Race track comparison between Karl's GT , the R8, and any other players Edmunds thinks suitable (GT-R? Z1? ) ? Let's have a real fantasy-to-reality fest here ;-)

I just can't call the R8 a supercar. To me, a supercar is a vehicle that is purpose built and reigns supreme (or among a very few) at that function. An Atom is a track supercar, a Veyron is a drag supercar, the R8 isn't. It doesn't do anything exceedingly well.

Maybe Edmunds can replace their long-term Ferrari 308 with a used Acura NSX? That was the first (semi-)exotic that was ergonomic and useable everyday. And since it is a Honda, it'd be interesting to see how a 10-15 yr old one would be holding up now.
 
As for the R8, I've said it before but I'll say it again, I think the R8 is the balanced, mid-engined halo car that Porsche could never build for itself, because it would dethrone the King (911).
 
A comparison done by the UK show Fifth Gear has a great clip where the R8 is pulling around a wide sweeping turn, 4 wheels planted, while a 911 comes flying around after the R8, drifting all the way.

The R8 is called a supercar because of its looks and engine layout. In terms of performance and hp its not a supercar. The $60k M3 has almost as much power as this $130k "supercar". Audi gave us supercar looks with regular sports car performance capabilities at a price that splits the difference.

A lot of folks have talked about the GT-R making the 911 obsolete but no one has talked about the GT-R making this car obsolete. If you're into the R8 you arent necessarily into automotive beauty and thus the looks of the GT probably wouldn't turn you off.
 
Any thoughts?

"No amount of superior plastics is worth an additional $60k. That is one of the dumbest things I have heard."
 
Yeah, silly me. I can't believe I actually thought that higher quality equated to a higher price.
 
"A lot of folks have talked about the GT-R making the 911 obsolete"
 
Yes and No. "Yes" because of the performance, but "no" because the Nissan still does not deliver many of the visceral thrills of the Porsche.

I'd say the GT-R is in a slightly different category - sports coupe instead of sports car. It's more like an M6 or an AMG, with the reasonable rear seats and less-sporty exterior that you get in that segment.
 
In the end the comparisons don't matter much, imo. We've each fallen in love with a high-end sports car because of its looks, its history, or its brand... if it's good enough to have bragging rights, that's just icing on the cake. Hence there are people who will spend $80,000 on the ultimate Mustang, $90,000 on the ultimate Honda, $132,000 on the ultimate Audi, etc... we've all succumbed to the marketers!
 
If it was only about how good a car is, the R8 wouldn't exist; the Gallardo would be enough. But they know that some buyers would only buy one if it was an Audi and not a Lamborghini, and they're right.

you know, the r8 came out on top in Top Gear's newest episode... it was the first episode of the new season and the test was trying to find out which supercar was the best in fuel economy (or which would go the farthest) whilst going all-out around a track... the cars used were: a ferrari 599, lamborghini murcielago (i believe an lp640), mercedes slr mclaren, aston martin dbs, and lastly, the audi r8... if the r8 came out on top, who do you guys think came last??? it was abysmal... hahaha...
link: http://video.roadfly.com/action/viewvideo/418/Top_Gear___11x01/

I wouldn't buy an R8 over the Ford GT if both were offered today as new cars, but I'd probably take the R8 on a cross-country drive before I'd take the GT...except I'm still taking the GT to Denver next month...but there are other factors going on there.
 
Anyway, the R8's advantage over the Ford GT (in my opinion) are:
1. Interior quality
2. Comfort
3. Luxury/Technology
 
The Ford GT's advantages over the R8 are:
1. Looks (though this is actually pretty close)
2. Performance
3. Heritage
4. "Unique-ness" (R8=rebodied Gallardo, GT ain't re-made anything)
 
For me the GT's advantages are more important/compelling than the R8s, but the Audi is still one of the most compelling cars on the market today.

"No amount of superior plastics is worth an additional $60k. That is one of the dumbest things I have heard."
  
No, thats one of the dumbest things Ive ever heard. Craftsmanship to me is a priority and if it doesnt feel the part (compared to its price) then Im not buying it. When we people understand that a car of this caliber and price pretty much has to pocess world class build quality, materials and construction?
  
Take the Corvette for example. Its build quality may be on par or below that of a Accord or a Malibu but you have to think of its starting price. $45K and you get the build quality/materials of cars costing almost half of that! The Corvette doesnt feel expensive even if it has that "leather lined" option which to me just proves my point by Chevy even offering it. The craftsmanship (compared to the price) just isnt there and the $103K ZR-1 makes this really evident. Most potential Corvette owners probably wont care though as past Corvettes have never been built to the standard that I speak of.
  
Back to the Audi. The associated costs dont only come from the high quality cabin as you have to consider the car is HAND ASSEMBLED (extremely expensive) and its body panels and chassis are made of aluminum. Thats not cheap. As I say all the time, the beauty is in the DETAILS.
  
Im a part owner of a renovation company and we specialize in old structures and old houses usually between 85-160 years of age. Victorians, Italianettes, Queen Annes..you get the picture. Of course the majority of our clients (who make WAAAAAY over $100K a year) demand and expect the type of craftsmanship and detail that the original builders/architects implemented. Taking that into consideration we have to give the customer what they demand and more. All of our clients so far really havent cared too much about the associated costs that go with this high level of quality and craftsmanship as long as it was within reason. The same could be said for the Audi as this type of craftsmanship is expected in this segment and Audi delivered. I think the price is justifiable once one really considers the DETAILS. Oh... theres that word again.

I think Karl need to file a restraining order on 1482. This is seriously getting out of hand. Next thing you know,1492 will be going through Karl's trash.
 
Uhhhh, and 1456 knows everything about cars!

7driver, I didn't use "real people" in a bad way........it simply meant "most people" with regard to salaries.
 
hondacura4, great point about build quality! Although I'd add that with the Corvette (or a car like the Evo, for example), the buyer is essentially paying for the performance or what it takes to produce a car with that performance. So it's really not a big deal at all if the interior quality is on the same level as an Accord......in fact, it's probably unfair and unrealistic to expect it to have luxury-car levels of build quality.
Obviously, with a car like the R8, one is paying for a lot more than just the performance.

Agree with the + side of the Ford GT, although I didn't realize the R8 was based on the Lambo Gallardo
 
Still the R8 looks so wicked on the street. The LED's are menacing on the nose.
 I've seen one GT on the road and the most stunning thing about it was how low it is... that and it looks so close to the old one from the 60's that the heritage is pretty cool.
 
Now as cool as both look, the TDI R8 concept makes the normal R8 look pedestrian! The TDI has to pique your interest a bit too... though the starting price would give the R8 a serious base price bump.

I wanna add to what I posted about the Vette. Im not bashing the Vette as its a great car . If one wants world class performance and really doesnt give a crap about world class craftsmanship the Corvette is your car. Its fast and cheap...so to speak.
 
Some people actually do value world class build quality and craftsmanship and you cant knock them for that.
 
For $132K I wouldnt pick the R8 Id go with a GT3 and save a few thousand for tires. =).

I don't mean to get off-topic here, but trackwrex, that Top Gear episode was great! I especially like the M3 "beating" the Prius in that funky fuel economy test.
 
And hondacura4, good point regarding the R8 being hand-built. If I'm ever willing to spend that kind of cash on a car, I will expect nothing less.

The R8 is simply installs the RS4's powertrain (backward) and interior and yet somehow commands this ridiculous price... how? Give me a break. The R8's price makes absolutely no sense at all when you consider the GT-R's price and superior performance. In the $100k+ category, this car is a rip off. The ZR1 gives you 218 more horsepower, just as many luxury features, better looks, just as many exotic features (aluminum structure, carbon fiber body panels, ceramic brakes, etc) and MUCH better performance for $117k- sign me up.

"Yeah, silly me. I can't believe I actually thought that higher quality equated to a higher price. "
 
No amount of improved black plastic is worth $60k. To think otherwise is indeed silly.
 
hondaacura,
 
First of all you can get hand crafted surfaces in the Vette and any other GM product with a cut and sew dash. This includes the CTS, SRX, STS-V, XLR, etc. Honestly, "hand crafted" really means little in terms of actual quality since you are much more likely to get consistent quality with automated manufacturing. Hand crafting is slow and thus expensive and thats one reason why high end cars have hand crafted interiors. If you think the corvette uses cheap materials you are obviously more out of touch with non-Honda products than I first thought. The Vette uses fiberglass, aluminum and other high tech, lightweight materials in order to maintain an extremely high power to weight ratio. In fact, the Vette has a better power to weight ratio than the "exotic" R8. The reason why the vette can offer all of this for under $60k is economies of scale.
 
Vehicles and components that are low volume can be hand built. This is why the LS7, supercharged Northstar and LS9 are hand built. The vette as a whole cannot be hand built because unlike the R8 its built to the tune of 30k cars a year which is a high production number for a purpose built sports car with 430hp.
 
You are talking about the vette's poor build quality but you can substantiate that claim. We all know the Vette's interior is lacking compared to a FErrari or 911 Turbo but that is to be expected considering the price difference. The fact that the vette's interior isnt as nice as a $150k European sports car doesn't mean its poorly made. It just means the Vette uses more plebian materials. In terms of features and styling the Vette's interior is pretty nice.
 
"Uhhhh, and 1456 knows everything about cars!"
 
Actually that would be Karl. If you don't know he will remind you repeatedly.

If Audi would install this engine in the S5, I'd be sold. Otherwise, this car is simply a waste of materials. It doesn't the lead the field in any single category and the looks are decidely below par for Audi. Not to mention the competition is shifting to much better double clutch transmissions as opposed to the antiquated automated manual set-up that is going the way of the dodo bird.
 
In terms of "exotic" materials, I'd be willing to say that both the Z06 and ZR1 are composed of a higher percentage (per lbs of vehicle mass) than the R8. So basically, people are saying the R8 cost so much because of slightly superior interior aesthetics. The 911 Turbo is much faster, the Carerra S is cheaper and just as fast, the GT-R will kill it, the Z06 and ZR1 are much better values, the Aston DBS looks better and is more exotic, etc, etc, etc

"Still the R8 looks so wicked on the street. The LED's are menacing on the nose.
 I've seen one GT on the road and the most stunning thing about it was how low it is... that and it looks so close to the old one from the 60's that the heritage is pretty cool."
 
Agreed on both comments. I think the R8 is one of the best looking cars out there -its a shame the LED novelty will wear off as soon as Audi's other vehicles, and maybe vehicles from some other companies, follow step.
 
I don't generally thing of the Corvette as having cheap interiors - that honor goes to the Viper. I would never want to spend Viper amounts of money, only to get the same stereo as in an old Dodge Neon.
 
I find the Corvette a comfortable and attractive car, but there are just too many of them around - well, fewer of the top end ones, but they all look the same. I'm guessing there will never be a lot of R8s on the road, so the added appeal of being one of the few, as opposed to one of the many, its a real bonus for me. Shame I can't afford either :P

I actually dont see many Vettes and I rarely see Z06s. The 3 series, M3, 5 series, A4, S550, etc. are all far more common than Vettes in my area. I probably see twice as many M3s as C6 vettes. I have only seen 3 or 4 current generation Z06s on the streets.

"I actually dont see many Vettes and I rarely see Z06s. The 3 series, M3, 5 series, A4, S550, etc. are all far more common than Vettes in my area. I probably see twice as many M3s as C6 vettes. I have only seen 3 or 4 current generation Z06s on the streets."
 
It could just be that I have an excellent Chevy dealership in my are, who knows, haha.

doug and 1487, where do you live? My guesses would be 1487 lives on the east or west coast in around a big city, while doug further away from the coasts.

Very accurate. I live in Phila where sports cars arent all that common. Luxury cars and SUVs are very common and image enhancing sporty cars are relatively common. I am more likely to see an M3, Q7, CL500/550 or AMG Benz than a vette because European cars come with more cache for image conscious buyers and those are the kind people buying $50K+ cars in this area. I don't even see one C6 in the average month. I dont know if Vettes are more common in NASCAR country but Vette's and NASCAR fans are in short supply here.

Yeah I can't disagree with 1487's assessment here. I moved to King of Prussia (suburb 30 minutes outside of downtown Philly and home of the 2nd largest mall in the US, well actually I live in Bridgeport but no one knows where that is) six months ago and I have a hard time recalling any Vette sightings in the area specifically. It's hard for me to judge though because I spend so much time in my hometown area of Harrisburg (Central PA, NASCAR country indeed). However, I see late 90s/early 2000s muscle all the time cruising US-202 here. Excess for status is all the rage in these parts...

"You are talking about the vette's poor build quality but you can substantiate that claim."
 
I never said the Vette was poorly made I said it really didnt feel like its asking price. The Vette is a very nice looking car but upon looking at the details.....it just doesnt have that.....whats the word Im looking for....."finished" expensive look. If you dont know what I mean think of a VW Passat 3.6 as the paint, plastics, leather, all those things look and feel better than average. In my eyes a halo vehicle should have top notch everything.
 
"First of all you can get hand crafted surfaces in the Vette and any other GM product with a cut and sew dash. This includes the CTS, SRX, STS-V, XLR, etc"
 
I knew that but for the asking price of the Vette (which of course isnt expensive for the performance it offers) it shouldnt be an option. Good craftsmanship should be standard!

"I knew that but for the asking price of the Vette (which of course isnt expensive for the performance it offers) it shouldnt be an option. Good craftsmanship should be standard!"
 
Craftsmanship and quality of materials are not the same thing. You dont get better build quality by going with the stitched dash on the vette, you just get softer and supposedly richer materials to rub with your fingers. I have only been in the C6 once or twice but nothing about the interior suggested it was poorly assembled. Some of the plastics are not MB quality but that is hardly a primary concern for me when you consider the car's performance. The vette's ergomics and technology are top notch. I think it has one of the best gauge clusters found on any performance car.
 
When you consider the fact that a loaded Pilot is $40k and a loaded Tahoe, Enclave or Expedition is way more than that I think the Vette's interior is just fine for its price point. $45k isnt exactly rarified luxury territory in 2008. A loaded C class will run you $50k these days.