Imhotep Evil

This is weird. I can accept beating the F430 (sport auto hockenheim supertest), even the Turbo, and definately the CS/C4S.

But the GT3 ?!

Isn't this over streched ?!

Merc1

Everyday Supercars: Audi knocks on the door of a very exclusive club.


We have here a trio of extraordinary automobiles that defy convenient semantic packaging. Sports cars? Yes, but that’s pretty tame. After all, a Mazda Miata is a sports car, too, and we’re obviously way beyond Miatas here. Supercars? That doesn’t really work, either, because what about genuine supercars—the Koenigsegg CCX, for example, or the Ferrari Enzo. If we call the Audi R8 a supercar, what do we call them? Superdupercars? Same problem with the word exotic. If a Bugatti Veyron is an exotic—and who would argue otherwise?—then an Aston Martin is a subexotic? What would James Bond have to say about that? Not that his opinion counts, since the last movie made it clear he shouldn’t drive anything faster than a Toyota Prius.

But if this threesome resists handy one-word descriptors, it’s clear that these are rare rides, far enough beyond the ordinary to stimulate the envy glands of just about anyone who sees them. Cars for the fortunate few, but for all that, just close enough to the realm of mortals to be reasonable candidates for everyday transportation. Well, almost reasonable. Reasonable if you happen to have a mid-six-figure income and live in a two-season climate.

Let us scrutinize the players.

The rear-wheel-drive V-8 Vantage combines traditional Aston Martin virtues—elegantly swoopy sheetmetal and an isn’t-that-James-Bond persona—with dynamic elements that are wholly contemporary, yielding the first Aston in recent memory that seems capable of competing with the perennial benchmark of the supercar-wannabe class, the Porsche 911.

C/D regulars will recall that in three recent comparo appearances, Porsche 911s have been found wanting in one way or another, first against the V-8 Vantage [“Working Exotics,” March 2006], then against a Corvette Z06 and Ferrari F430 [“The Sports-Car World Cup,” September 2006], and finally versus the R8 [“Incestuous Infighting,” April 2007].

For this confrontation, we altered the mix. The all-wheel-drive Turbo is the largest-caliber weapon in the 911 armory (at least until the brutish GT2 makes its appearance this fall) and more luxurious than the GT3, which seemed to make it a more appropriate opponent for the R8, which also has all-wheel drive.


1st Place: 2008 Audi R8

Highs: Ballet-dancer balance and grace, eager responses, telepathic steering, internal combustion rarely sounds better.

Lows: Proportions awkward from some angles, uncomfortable dead-pedal height, blind in the rear quarters.

The Verdict: Sports-car perfection from an unexpected source.



2nd Place: 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo

Highs: Omigawd thrust, never-fade brakes, limpet grip, gorgeous interior treatment, maximum Porsche mystique.

Lows: Spooky at the limits of adhesion, high interior noise levels, Prussian ride quality, snoot scrapes on driveway ramps.

The Verdict: For 911 addicts who have no wish to be cured, Porsche Sturm und Drang just doesn’t get any better than this.



3rd Place: 2007 Aston Martin V-8 Vantage

Highs: Appealingly edgy update on classic GT-coupe shape, smooth operator on rough pavement, irresistible V-8 growl.

Lows: A bit too much body roll, nervous under hard braking, short on muscle among these heavy lifters.

The Verdict: A stylish GT sophisticate that’s a little out of its depth among these thoroughbreds.



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M

martinbo

That R8 looks infinitely better with those aluminium sideblades. Still doesn't detract from the fact that it's an odd looking thing.

Every publication out there mind you is going bananas for the R8. Heck even EVO rates it above the C4S, Prodrive Vantage and M6. Good car it seems, very very good car!

ree

The R8 is the most balanced car...the design of the Aston is great, but I don't like the interior of it, the Porsches interior is great, but the outside design is a question of taste - so the R8 offers the best compromise - great design, great engine and handling! But I wouldn't buy one anyway... You get a lot of other great cars for 100.000 €...CLK 63, M6, SL 350 etc!

SDNR

This is fantastic for Audi -- they are really blitzing everything. Seldom do you hear so much unanimous praise from the world's motoring press.

The R8 is finally the car Audi needed to convince America to take the brand seriously as one of the Big Boys. I just can't wait for the new A8.

ree

Audi is definitely on the fast lane! Especially here in germany, my personal feeling is, that every second car is an Audi - when I think back (10 years or so) Audi build boring cars for extremely individual persons...

Just_me

Have you seen the car IRL?
When I saw the R8 on photos I was like "Oh my god,the car looks weird" but after my visit to an Audi dealer I saw the car IRL, I even had the chance to sit in the car. I'm no longer having anything against the R8, fine vechicle and I would pick it over a 997S.

bmwrules

Hmmm...I've seen this somewhere before.

http://www.germancarzone.com/interna...tml#post190579

SDNR

Maybe the threads could be merged. Andreas, are you still a moderator?

Centurion

I thought so. I got a dejavu feeling when I read the verdict for all three cars.