Audi R8 the spiritual successor to the NSX?

[overst33r]

Yeah their prices don't line up too evenly. Although someone who could buy a 911 Carrera could probably afford a 4.2 R8 as well, and those who could afford the 4.2 R8 could afford the 911T, beyond that it starts getting to real exotic pricing.

The R8 looks a lot more exotic, the 911 is a better value for performance. Of course it's all relative. The Z06 is kind of the elephant in the room when price/performance starts to enter the conversation, but the people who buy those are much more concerned with performance than badge/appearance.

I just felt like this needed to be posted

 

[JulesMaximus]

Too bad Acura couldn't keep up with their mythos. Honda for that matter. They lost their touch. In fact, it's like they are in their own little world.
BTW - That Honda Accord you pictured, is one of my favorite designs. Those were a joy to drive.

My sister had a 1989 Honda Accord. It was a great car. Much better than anything America was producing at the time.

 

[JulesMaximus]

OK, compare the Fox mustang to the current one. For $22k you can get a 300hp car that does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds.

In 1990 you paid $23k (2010 dollars) for a Mustang GT with 225hp that took 6.4 seconds to get to 60mph, had crappy build quality, an awful interior (probably in some burgundy color), much worse gas mileage, and was a deathtrap by modern standards (the current Mustang gets 5 star ratings).

The new Mustangs can stop and go around corners too.

 

[amdhunter]

I just felt like this needed to be posted

:awe:

 

[Dari]

Audi R8?
Porsche 911 turbo?

I'll pass on the comparisons considering they are both owned by the same company so there is no real competition between the two. Also, I think the Nissan GT-R is the true spiritual successor. A cheap, powerful supercar that can be used as a DD. It may not be light but it sure as hell gets more powerful every year.

 

[Arkaign]

Audi R8?
Porsche 911 turbo?

I'll pass on the comparisons considering they are both owned by the same company so there is no real competition between the two. Also, I think the Nissan GT-R is the true spiritual successor. A cheap, powerful supercar that can be used as a DD. It may not be light but it sure as hell gets more powerful every year.

This is why I think there really is no true successor. The recipe was unique :

Light
Exotic styling (for the time)
Mid-engine
RWD
Simple design even though the materials were expensive (ie; naturally aspirated, no complex AWD, no active aero/suspension, etc)
Reliable as a flathead screwdriver

...

Name almost any car, and it fits only about half of those or less. I would have a blast in a GT-R and think it's an iconic supercar all it's own, but it's :

Heavy
Semi-exotic styling
Front Engine
AWD
Super complex design at almost every level
Fairly reliable for something that has it's kind of stats, but I'd be shocked to see them hold up nearly as easily as the NSX or rival Vettes in the long haul on the original drivetrains or without expensive maintenance along the way. Probably not a problem for most of the owners anyway, but that's a difference.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Reliable as a flathead screwdriver

Flathead screwdrivers are a horrible invention. Every time I have to use one I am completely amazed as to why they still exist. And yes I have broken more Flathead screwdrivers than a Phillips or the square head.

 

[Pariah]

I've always thought that about the R8, it was the next NSX, a supercar but not really a supercar because someone out there can still swing one if they put the effort into it.

Maybe if you live in the Hamptons out on Long Island. Median income in the US is around $26,000. Picking up a second job is not going to allow you to afford a $115,000 car even if you decided to be homeless so you wouldn't have to pay rent to help you save up.

 

[Arkaign]

Flathead screwdrivers are a horrible invention. Every time I have to use one I am completely amazed as to why they still exist. And yes I have broken more Flathead screwdrivers than a Phillips or the square head.

Hahah what are you doing to them? I have one from about 25 years ago that I use constantly, but it was made by a quality company from Portland, Oregon. Still looks relatively new, though it's been through the wringer. One of the knives broke off though.

(leatherman)

 

[Zenmervolt]

That is exactly my point. You spend the same amount now, and get a better vehicle in every way. Yes they're heavier, but they're also more efficient, safer, and faster.

There's more to a car than efficiency, safety, and speed.

I wouldn't trade my 26-year-old 951 (or my 36-year-old 914) for any modern car. No matter how much tech you throw into a car, it's not going to feel the same as a lighter old car. Besides, the visibility in modern cars is terrible. The beltlines are far too high; I miss the low cowl of older cars.

ZV

 

[Safeway]

A good friend of mine has an Audi R8. Unfortunately, it is the V8 gas and not the V10 diesel. Either way, he has extended an open test drive invitation.

Should I take him up on the offer and report back?

 

[coldmeat]

A good friend of mine has an Audi R8. Unfortunately, it is the V8 gas and not the V10 diesel. Either way, he has extended an open test drive invitation.

Should I take him up on the offer and report back?

No, I don't think so. You should just stay home.

 

[Safeway]

No, I don't think so. You should just stay home.

The only issue is that it has Mexico plates and registration.

 

[MotF Bane]

The only issue is that it has Mexico plates and registration.

It's for high speed organ donor abduction. Pedal away as fast as your bicycle will go.

 

[Via]

I guess I should look at the potential bright side: with a new NSX coming out maybe it'll drive down the price the original NSX enough to perhaps make it feasible to buy a used one as a toy.

 

[Phanuel]

Unfortunately, it is the V8 gas and not the V10 diesel.

It's a V10 petrol, they don't make a diesel sports car.

I'd love to see all that racing LMP1 diesel tech end up in a car though.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There's more to a car than efficiency, safety, and speed.

I wouldn't trade my 26-year-old 951 (or my 36-year-old 914) for any modern car. No matter how much tech you throw into a car, it's not going to feel the same as a lighter old car. Besides, the visibility in modern cars is terrible. The beltlines are far too high; I miss the low cowl of older cars.

ZV

There is something to be said for that. Older cars can be more engaging to drive even though they aren't as fast or as reliable they are just more visceral.

 

[exar333]

Not sure what all the love is for the NSX; solid car but definitely has not aged too well.

The only real successor I can think of would be the Ford GT. It was a little heavy, but kind of the same car. I would take a GT over a NSX anyway...

 

[exar333]

There's more to a car than efficiency, safety, and speed.

I wouldn't trade my 26-year-old 951 (or my 36-year-old 914) for any modern car. No matter how much tech you throw into a car, it's not going to feel the same as a lighter old car. Besides, the visibility in modern cars is terrible. The beltlines are far too high; I miss the low cowl of older cars.

ZV

This. I hate the tiny windows most newer cars have. One of the reasons I love my WRX is that you have good visibility...

 

[MotF Bane]

There's more to a car than efficiency, safety, and speed.

I wouldn't trade my 26-year-old 951 (or my 36-year-old 914) for any modern car. No matter how much tech you throw into a car, it's not going to feel the same as a lighter old car. Besides, the visibility in modern cars is terrible. The beltlines are far too high; I miss the low cowl of older cars.

ZV

Plus they require all sorts of things; airbags, ABS, TCS, DSC, emissions standards, and tons of other crap. That's fine for econoboxes, but fun to drive is suffering for it.

 

[Safeway]

Bud's R8 in the firm's garage. Paid for his lunch in exchange for driving his car. WOW.

Notice the "Nuevo Leon" license plate registration location.

 

[MotF Bane]

WOW? That's all you're going to tell us from that drive?

 

[Safeway]

WOW? That's all you're going to tell us from that drive?

Isn't there some law against self incrimination?

I picked an upscale lunch spot that my peers frequent. It happened to be several miles away.

I puttered around for a while. Had to get aquatinted. The R8 was equipped with the fool proof R-Tronic auto-manual. I hate driving a manual in traffic. I am always in traffic, so I was happy. The steering was so sharp, it took a few turns and curves to get used to. A few quick starts from lights, but kept it under 50 MPH since there were a lot of cars on the road.

I had to get the car warmed up so I would be able to do a proper highway merge. I floored it on the entrance ramp and quickly hit 110 MPH. I immediately exited. He asked me why, but he received an answer when I hit 130+ MPH on the next entrance ramp.

He told me I owed him about $5 for the gas I wasted.

The rest of the drive was rather docile. I cruised at 80 to 90 MPH in the far left lane. Did some quick lane changes around a guy doing 45 MPH. Idiot.

Ate steak. Drank scotch.

The ride back to the office was roughly the same, but I held back a bit more. I wanted to see how the car would function as a daily driver. This is my bud's daily driver. I took the entrance ramp at around 70 MPH and, once merged in, floored it to get to the left lane. The pick-up from 70 MPH to 100+ MPH was flawless.

This is going to be a weekly thing. I think.

Now I want an R8. My wife is making me get a sedan. At least she's letting me get the best beast of a sedan in the world. I shouldn't complain. I am definitely trying to sell her on the R8, though.

 

[MotF Bane]

Heh, that's an excellent expansion. As for a law against self incrimination, well, you'd know better than me.

130 on a ramp, that's amazing. Good luck selling the wife on it, that'd be a monster DD.

 

[sjwaste]

You definitely get a lot more for your money today. I still have the original window sticker from my 1991 Toyota Supra Turbo. $31k or so (with all options) got you 232/250 in something that weighed about 3800 lbs. That's 50k today.

It was state of the art at the time, too. 3 channel ABS, 4 wheel coil over shock suspension, LSD, distributorless ignition, FMIC. Interior was mostly normal colors (mine is blue) with digital climate control, 8-way power seats. Impressive in 91, but in today's money we expect a whole lot more for 50k.