Audi R8 – Overrated
Finally the R8 is here(in India), amidst much fanfare. However, there are those wise folk, like me, who are not all that enthused; for we know that R8 is more or less an over rated piece of metal – actually plastic. One look at it is enough to find it unbalanced and ugly; alright it [...]
Ashwin Mehendale
15.01.2009
Gadgets
Finally the R8 is here(in India), amidst much fanfare. However, there are those wise folk, like me, who are not all that enthused; for we know that R8 is more or less an over rated piece of metal – actually plastic. One look at it is enough to find it unbalanced and ugly; alright it is striking, but then you wouldn’t call the lightning that struck you beautiful would you? And that’s only the tip of the iceberg; the real problem the R8 has, is the Porsche 911 Carrera 2 S. Honestly, why would anyone buy a car made by company which makes cars for salesmen and school-run mommies when one can get a Porsche badge, which is legendary, for less money?
The technical specifications can’t rescue the R8 either; it has a 4.1 liter V8 engine that is the same as the RS4 saloon, only a little tweaked. Producing 420 bhp with 430 Nm of torque, it goes 0 – 100 in 4.6 seconds topping out at 301 kph. Again, the comparison with the 911 C2S is obligatory – C2S has a 3.6 L flat 6 producing 355 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. It may seem as though the C2S is under-powered compared to the R8, but then C2S is lighter and owing to rear wheel drive, as opposed to Audi’s all wheel drive, gets more traction off the line. These two factors came into play when Jeremy Clarckson pitted the R8 against Hammond’s C2S in a quarter mile drag race and lost (obviously!). And then there’s the sound of the engine, C2S has the distinct Porsche note whereas the R8 sounds as if the RS4 has caught flu.
Coming down to prices, you get an R8 for 1.17 crore (ex-Delhi) as opposed to 83.9 lakh of C2S. There again is a catch – almost everything in the R8 is an optional extra; so if you want the rheo-magnetic suspension – you pay more, same for almost everything else. So you get an almost incomplete car for that obnoxious price tag; so to make it complete – you pay more, and more, until you can almost afford the legendary 911 Turbo or the Ferrari F430 if you can shell out some more money.
Then there’s the Audi PR (India), which seriously needs lessons on dealing with the public and the media/press. Firstly, they haven’t the slightest idea as to the nitties and the gritties regarding the piece of engineering and technology sitting right under their noses; also, their countenance is akin to a person who constantly smells something foul. Secondly, they are not afraid of bad publicity, and I call that audacity. Audi is no Ferrari to actually have a reason to be a stuck-up snob. In fact if Audi needs to survive in India, they need to come to terms with the fact that India is not Somali with a bunch of rich and spoilt pirate kids; we Indians know our sports cars, and know that Audi has best stick with making mommy-wagons.
The Audi is not a car you’d be to proud of keeping at garage or even sitting inside when stuck at traffic signal; for your neighbor will have a C2S which not only has the legendary Porsche badge, but will also kick dust in your face when the traffic lights turn green.
Ashwin Mehendale
[ratings]
[image courtesy: http://tinyurl.com/8obzhq]
those buggers didnt even let me enter…and on the day when it came down to the sb road, pune branch…thr were hoards of people at the showroom…never gonna touch an audi…n ashwin…oh ur so ryt…never thot abt it only…now i recall salesmen n mommys driving audi…so true
well, such a good article that I even can’t understand it fully
keep it up! good luck
the brand is clearly over rated and this kind of technique of showing guests the door speaks volumes of the whole brand
Clearly the R8 is a supercar of the day.
Dont forget the Porsche designed for the race track was adapted with minor changes to sell as a high street youppie car. the r8 on the other hand is a faster car than the r8 but a much quieter engine and the interior refinements of any top notch sedan. Satnav, Bang and Olufsen stereo etc etc.
A 4wd that never sends more than a third of its power to the front wheels so no understeer and perfect turning at high speeds…better than the carrera.
70 bhp more than the carrera.
At 100 m/h it will sound just as loud as an e-class on 3rd gear down koregaon park!
the porsche design is more aerodynamic and lighter but its not as plush, quiet and lacks the safety and interior refinements and please dont tell me thats what a race car is all about because you dont drive a car on a race track and should not be treating the urban highways and locale as a race track either!!
the base version r8 costs 60 lakhs in the uk but the india version is the fully loaded version with a 100%+ import duty + dealer margins + ‘premium’ and so is stupidly expensive. the porsche in india on the other hand is the stripped down basic version with no ‘premium’ so it is a lot cheaper.
finally, audi does not focus on consumers who compare prices. the audi style statement has been re-defined over the last decade. Its something like a hugo boss in the designer world – bold, apparent and the snug ‘airline first-class’ feel a millionaire wants while cruising down the western expressway.
And lets not get too hung up on how well we know sports cars – we read about it in magazines and watch it on tv and you tube.
What sports cars are made in or sell in India except for the imported ones?
How many people modify their cars with nitro and sports suspensions – the max ppl do is add koni shocks and air filters!!
Talking about speed – Where in India do you drive at 100 m/h? You dont – not even on the western express is it easy today. So what becomes important is not touching 190 but the commfort you drive in when you are at 50 m/h (which is the fastest that you get to in most places – and dont bring in the 8 minute chance you get on an empty highway to touch 160 m/h as a parameter of superioirty!!)
I must agree with the above Mr. DasGupta in this regard. The Audi R8 is a brilliant car and not being allowed to touch it is not a good enough reason to rubbish it. In case you have failed to notice this car represents the pushing of the outer side of the envelope as far as automobile technologies go. This from the company that owns Lamborghini and doesn’t always only make cars for salesmen and mommies, something else that you missed.
Indian roads are good enough to take this car and when people still prefer watery diesel to petrol you know what you’ve got- a conspicuous lack of motoring knowledge, the sort displayed by this article.
It would be better if actual research were done before writing such trash and getting accolades from some clearly misinformed people.
Well, my research was complete, look at the stats on the official site! And about “watery diesel”, I’d like to point out to you that the Audi has won LeMans with diesel powered cars against petrol powered Peugots, so now even Peugot has a diesel powered racer,kindly update you auto-knowledge. About owning Lamborghini, well Tata now owns Jag I guess you’ll praise Tata Indica on the basis of that. Besides, what kind of envelope does it push? Neither is it the fastest, fastest acccelerating nor is it most eco-friendly.
What kind of a person does it take to test the maximal performance and the maximal performance differential between an r8 and a carrera?
Have you sat and driven a carrera or an r8?
The answer to the first will prove that the cars true engineering marvel lies on a race track in the hands of a racer and will never be realised by the target segment that can afford either of the two!! They are both fast enough to overtake the auto/sumo/innova/camry/e-class!!
The answer to the second will lead you to believe that the comfort and feel of an r8 is far more refined, plush and snug – for a race with the boys on the western express, for a chilled out drive sipping coffee down koregaon park, alone or with her!
The porsche has crossed its days when brick phones, guns n roses and roaring engines for big empty roads were….today its about refinement – bang and olufsen to play trance/ house or even jazz, bluetooth enabled dashboards for gps and mobile phones, and comfortable seats for rocky pot holed roads.
…..which one would you buy now?
Most buyers are on ‘invitation to buy only’ to retain exclusivity. They dont intend to sell more than 30-40 this year.
Audi does not need PR – those with the money will buy it because one thing is for damn sure – they know engineering damn well and they are the only ones with the balls to chuckle at a porsche in its face and walk away with the prom queen…and they have done it!!
@Samir, maybe that’s why Audi can’t be a stand alone company. It needs blessings of VW to survive, which in turn is now owned by Porsche. If you want comfort why not go for a luxury car?
hey ppl , first of all lets just say ” all that glitters is not gold ” , same can be said for the R8 just cos it was driven in by tony stark (A.K.A iron man ) doesn’t say anything about its supremacy , on the contrary it just gets us to show that its nothing but a toy for the spoiled and even then it cant deliver what a porsche even though i am a Ferrari guy by heart but i respect porsches for what they make they r just those kinda beauties made by gods for those who wanted the man to be enjoying heavens without actually dying , and you people might know when a Ferrari guy says that he actually means it ……. R8 is just not practical guys believe me …… its just like having a cup of tea in 5 star and yet finding the tea to be Luke warm …..
and ya surely that point from ashwin is true audi is at porsche’s disposal now …….. that surely sums up the scenario now isnt it …….. even if they turn up with the next stock of R8′s just remember …… where did the funds came from …….
The wise man once said, “Cabriolets are for playboys and Coupes are for racing drivers”. I can see the same difference between the R8 and the 911 Carrera, although R8 is not a cabriolet. Each car very nearly describes it’s driver.
Surely these two cars will not be taken anywhere near the top-speed in India but where it matters is between 40 and 100 kmph (overtaking quickly in other words). And between these speeds, the 911 with lesser weight and rear engine is quicker than R8.
Beauty? R8 is trying hard whereas the 911 still has it’s ever lasting, time tested aerodynamic design, and so I prefer 911′s classic old looks to R8′s funky-new-kid-on-the-block looks.
And because R8 is luxurious and with it, you’d drive out with the prom queen, and it’s funky looks, it appeals more to the playboy.
Surely the R8, by all means, is a masterpiece with an exquisite engine but logically, practically, economically, technically, on every basis, the 911 is just a little bit better.
And yes, before you ask, I’ve driven a Porsche.
Whoever maintains this website: On Top Gear, Clarkson in an R8 drag races against Hammond in Carrera S, not James.
thanks Ashwin! I’ll fix the error.
Ashwin with reference to your above post – logically, practically, economically, technically – these parameters applies to buyers who evaluate such factors – at 60 lakhs plus the above factors are replaced by the individual buyers perceptions attributed by look, feel and the amount of spunk a brand can spew….something audi has been able to do with renewed and real results.
Audi targets a segment thats already been buying Mercs/ BMWs and are bored of the same old look with marginal upgradation..ppl who have been spending the money all these yrs, can continue to do so but want something sexier, more intense and altogether different.
Samir, in my previous post, I never mentioned which of these two cars will sell better. I wrote what I thought is a better car for me, based on a few parameters important to me. Parameters set to judge a car may be different for different people.
I thought this trail of comments started to debate on which is a better car, but not to predict which sells better or how would other people find it. I’m no astrologer to predict, I haven’t done public surveys to hold any strings on what people like in a car. I don’t want to debate what is ‘in’ or ‘hep’ these days in India because I’m old fashioned and on top of that, I’m not in India anymore, apart from the fact that I don’t understand those words. And I also don’t want to speculate what segment Audi is targeting with R8.
Please don’t misunderstand my message, I definitely agree and I thought I made it clear in my previous post that R8 is a magnificent car, and yes it’s sexier, it ‘looks’ different (but 911 is most different with it’s rear-engine), it has a marvelous engine, a superb AWD system, supremely comfortable and spacious, etc. It was my choice that I’d choose the 911 over the R8 every time.
Agreed!! I think it must have been the Audi fanatic in me talking! Cheers.