Driven - The Audi R8. How does it hold up 19 years later?

The Audi R8 has always been a poster car for me. It launched in 2006 a mere 5 years after me. So how has it faired over the years? 

The example I drove was the 4.2 V8 bolted to an auto gearbox, whilst this isn’t the “most desirable” option the presence this car carried was immense. It sits low, wide & immediately draws your attention. From factory it was specced with tango red & black body trim. To me, this is perfect colour spec. A bold rich colour with black accents to break up the intensity, this also helps draw your eyes to the subtle details of the car which only become apparent the longer you look at it.

As I climbed into the sunken drivers seat it felt like I was seated on the floor. Once in a comfortable position I took in everything, the bonnet gently curves away from your view, the seat hugs you & gives you a reassuring feel in the corners. Visibility for a supercar is generally fair, unlike most big names I didn’t feel like I was limited for daily driving. 

Just like you would expect the car roared into life with ease, 4.2L of burbling V8 gently rumbling behind you. Very quickly you can sense the amount of performance this car is capable of, the sounds, the smells, everything is perfect. The second I pull onto public roads it draws attention. Children, adults & petrol heads alike all turn their heads to catch a glimpse of this piece of art on wheels. Almost immediately I head for some iconic B roads to truly feel what Audi’s legendary supercar can do & boy, did it not disappoint, whilst the V10 would scream the V8 roars, you change gears in an instant & then the brutal acceleration begins again. 

In this moment I felt a part of the car, it knew what I wanted & I listened to what it was telling me it could do. Albeit the car is far more capable than what I was putting it through. At no point did it step out, misbehave or try to find the closest ditch even with it’s 430 prancing horses, which is something we have come to expect from the German giant. Most of their high horsepower petrol guzzlers are extremely methodical & precise pieces of engineering. Savagely fast but forgiving, if you make a small mistake the R8 will smooth it out & forgive you. I believe this is due to the fabled Quattro system.

Produced in secret in 1980 for Audis rally program the Quattro system reshaped the automotive industry forever. We all know the massive advantage Audi had over the rest of the field (apart from the glorious 037) & the spirit of his has not been lost in the last 45 years. Quattro is the best 4WD system on the planet & that is fact.

To sum up, we always are told don’t meet your heroes & for the most part I agree. But in this case my hero has been elevated to an entirely new realm, the V8 R8 was a truly special car to drive, endless hours of fun, plenty of looks & most importantly it’s beauty is still bedroom wall poster worthy. Although it makes me wonder, what will the V10 be like?