Among the few imperfections on our Audi R8 long-termer, you know other than the garbage gearbox, is the cheap door handle. Yeah, a petty shot, but for a six-figure car it feels ridiculously cheap. I mean like using coupons at Wal-Mart cheap. I even made a video so you can hear the hollow pop it makes every time you let go. Thankfully I only have to use it once per drive.
I'm sick and tired of Edmunds nitpicking the GM cars in the fleet while the imports get free passes on the small stuff. Obviously a sign of bias. To prove it, I'm going to add up all the negative blog posts versus the pos... what's that? Oh, this is the R8... the $100k Audi R8? That's an import, right?
I'd like some comparison videos. How did the 308 sound? The M3? Edmunds complained about the Aura's interior, then compared how things (such as door handles and the console) moved around and showed the other cars in the fleet. Proved that the Aura wasn't quite so solid, rather than making it so objective.
I knew I longed for this stunner, but if this is what it comes to take a jab at it then maybe I don't need my 401K after all.
Rumor has it that Adriana Lima's right baby-toe is 4% bigger than the left one. Steer clear of her, Ed! Get a tissue and a grip.
You are absolutely right. There must be something wrong with that handle. You pull it and it opens the door. If you slip the handle from your hand it does a "dong" sound that resembles a car handle door being released. It sounds as if R8 is a real car with car sounding door handles!
Going back to a previous post of mine, you might be lucky to find the switch of the LEDs that play instrumental Xmas songs whenever the LEDs are on. That might take your mind off the door handle sound.
I can't really comment on the feel, but I think the look of the handle suits the car well. It also sounds like the door has that nicer solid "clunk" which I like to hear in my vehicles.
"As a doorhandle enthusiast, I now know that this car is not for me."
Ok, sounds like crap ... EVERY FREAKING TIME THE PAGE RELOADS. For crying out loud, why does that dumb video player auto-play? I don't need to hear the snapping sound every time I click back from reading one of your posts.
Sorry, that was me, I turned on the auto play so there was no way you could avoid hearing that awful pop, over and over and over again. See, now don't you hate the R8's door handles too?
Actually, I have no idea why it does that, I'm just an editor, not an IT guy.
Everyone is saying that the door handle sounds normal to them and that is the problem, a $100,000 car is not supposed to be "normal". Cars of this caliber typically have a highly refined and damped motion to the door handles. There is no rapid kick-back and hollow pop sound, there is no sound at all. This may work for an A4 and A6, but the R8 deserves something with a little more engineering behind it.
This is certainly not something that would prevent me from buying such a sensational vehicle (that is to say if my wife would let me ;)!), but it is an uncharateristic quality lapse for Audi.
you are so clever. Who said that there are zero complaints about non GM models? It wasnt me but do let me know who did once you find out. If an of the GM models in the fleet cost as much as the R8 I would have a much easier time accepting the nitpicking. Its not rocket science.
The R8 has the type of door handle that you usually find on cheaper cars. Most luxury cars and newer midpriced cars have the grab handle type. My old car had the same kind as the R8.
"The grab handle is a cheaper design, found on the Accent. "
is that why this design is typically found on luxury cars? Myguess is the accent (and cobalt) use this type of handle because it's associated with higher end cars. I dont think MB uses these handles in order to mimmick the Accent. Use common sense.
"it sounds like you were just trying to nitpick a flawless car."
They were attempting to illustrate their objectivity. If you are surprised or outraged about this type of complaint you must be new around here.
Yeah this is a pretty frivolous entry. Whats next, "The tire valve caps are too cheap?" Sure, it may prove you guys have gripes with all cars, not GM, but is it valid and informative to everyday people. Granted, the R8 isn't a car many people go out and are able to buy.
Which brings up another point. I for one am more interested in the long term drives of normal everyday cars; it gives insight as to what to expect with them as you drive it. While long drives of the R8 and GT-R are exciting to watch, they provide very little information to everyday people shopping for cars.
Sounds pretty good to me.
Sounds normal. Sounds like someone's having irritable day.
That door handle is hot!
If this really was a major issue, you could go to the hardware store and buy an adhesive cabinet bumper so the snap won't be as loud.
All handles that are like this sound that way. My Dad's Cadillac have the same type of handles and sound the same.
I'm sick and tired of Edmunds nitpicking the GM cars in the fleet while the imports get free passes on the small stuff. Obviously a sign of bias. To prove it, I'm going to add up all the negative blog posts versus the pos... what's that? Oh, this is the R8... the $100k Audi R8? That's an import, right?
Ok carry on.
^^;)
I can't believe you are bitching about this when you get to DRIVE AN R8 FOR A LIVING.
I'd like some comparison videos. How did the 308 sound? The M3? Edmunds complained about the Aura's interior, then compared how things (such as door handles and the console) moved around and showed the other cars in the fleet. Proved that the Aura wasn't quite so solid, rather than making it so objective.
I knew I longed for this stunner, but if this is what it comes to take a jab at it then maybe I don't need my 401K after all.
Rumor has it that Adriana Lima's right baby-toe is 4% bigger than the left one. Steer clear of her, Ed! Get a tissue and a grip.
it works, don't it? what do you want the handle to do..give you a full hand massage before you get in?
As a doorhandle enthusiast, I now know that this car is not for me.
You are absolutely right. There must be something wrong with that handle. You pull it and it opens the door. If you slip the handle from your hand it does a "dong" sound that resembles a car handle door being released. It sounds as if R8 is a real car with car sounding door handles!
Going back to a previous post of mine, you might be lucky to find the switch of the LEDs that play instrumental Xmas songs whenever the LEDs are on. That might take your mind off the door handle sound.
I can't really comment on the feel, but I think the look of the handle suits the car well. It also sounds like the door has that nicer solid "clunk" which I like to hear in my vehicles.
"As a doorhandle enthusiast, I now know that this car is not for me."
haha gooooood.
Aside from the "hollow pop" sound, does it feel like a door handle that would last the life of the car?
Or, does it have the feel of a cheap plastic handle that could easily be snapped off after a couple years of abuse?
Ok, sounds like crap ... EVERY FREAKING TIME THE PAGE RELOADS. For crying out loud, why does that dumb video player auto-play? I don't need to hear the snapping sound every time I click back from reading one of your posts.
Sorry, that was me, I turned on the auto play so there was no way you could avoid hearing that awful pop, over and over and over again. See, now don't you hate the R8's door handles too?
Actually, I have no idea why it does that, I'm just an editor, not an IT guy.
Ed
Get adblock pro or something.
Everyone is saying that the door handle sounds normal to them and that is the problem, a $100,000 car is not supposed to be "normal". Cars of this caliber typically have a highly refined and damped motion to the door handles. There is no rapid kick-back and hollow pop sound, there is no sound at all. This may work for an A4 and A6, but the R8 deserves something with a little more engineering behind it.
This is certainly not something that would prevent me from buying such a sensational vehicle (that is to say if my wife would let me ;)!), but it is an uncharateristic quality lapse for Audi.
bimmerjay,
you are so clever. Who said that there are zero complaints about non GM models? It wasnt me but do let me know who did once you find out. If an of the GM models in the fleet cost as much as the R8 I would have a much easier time accepting the nitpicking. Its not rocket science.
The R8 has the type of door handle that you usually find on cheaper cars. Most luxury cars and newer midpriced cars have the grab handle type. My old car had the same kind as the R8.
The grab handle is a cheaper design, found on the Accent.
The handles on my A4 are fine and feel very heavy like the rest of the car.
its just a stupid door handle. it sounds like you were just trying to nitpick a flawless car.
"The grab handle is a cheaper design, found on the Accent. "
is that why this design is typically found on luxury cars? Myguess is the accent (and cobalt) use this type of handle because it's associated with higher end cars. I dont think MB uses these handles in order to mimmick the Accent. Use common sense.
"it sounds like you were just trying to nitpick a flawless car."
They were attempting to illustrate their objectivity. If you are surprised or outraged about this type of complaint you must be new around here.
Yeah this is a pretty frivolous entry. Whats next, "The tire valve caps are too cheap?" Sure, it may prove you guys have gripes with all cars, not GM, but is it valid and informative to everyday people. Granted, the R8 isn't a car many people go out and are able to buy.
Which brings up another point. I for one am more interested in the long term drives of normal everyday cars; it gives insight as to what to expect with them as you drive it. While long drives of the R8 and GT-R are exciting to watch, they provide very little information to everyday people shopping for cars.