woodranch

Has anyone driven both cars to give a good comparison. I know there is a huge dollar difference but is the Audi worth the extra cash?

RFE-57

I have an '07 Z06 and have made extended drives with a friends V10 R8...

Depends on what you're looking for. I think they are two very different cars. With respect to speed and performance the Z will win but it has a more crude brutal horsepower, the R8 and more smooth refined power. The R8 moves pretty good but you can feel the extra 400ish lbs. The suspension on the Z is a tad harsh while the R8 is softer almost bordering on sedan like relatively speaking.

Can't beat the Lamborghini exhaust note though....

Styling is pretty subjective so you're pretty much on your own there.

I love em both, if I had the cash I'd have one of each in the stable,

Any other specific questions, let me know.
B

RedZ4me

they finally have a dual clutch tranny this year, for that reason, all other years I'd pass

Bill Dearborn

I instructed in an R8 last month. It was a base level car. It seemed to handle fine and the ride was smoother than the Zs. HP was down. The seats had more lateral support by cupping around a person's back and sides like the C7 seat does. It had the old Ferrari style gated shifter (the shifter moved in slots placed on the console) which I have always hated.

Bill

GMuffley

Ben01C5

I drove a paddle shift R8 v-10 at the exotic experience in Disney. I loved the way the car felt and the all-wheel drive is a very nice feeling when you are in the banking of the corner. I can't give a solid comparison as I didn't get to put my car on the track for an exact comparison. I also wouldn't drive my car that hard since I have to pay for the repairs tires etc on my own car. The look and sound of the Audi would make me want one for sure if it was in the budget.

Honestly, if you have the money to buy an exotic, I would pay the money to do the disney experience to get a real feel for the car. I also drove a Porshce 997 the same day and the Audi was way more comfortable and refined to me.
They had an LP-640, Superleggera, Italia and I believe another Ferrari.

GR8-LIFE

I drove an R8 2011 v10 a couple of years ago and wow, that was the coolest car I have ever driven. It was a stick but it was also at a time where I was physically losing the ability to drive stick. So I also drove a white R-Tronic spyder and although I still loved the car and that cool road sensation that you get with an R8, I thought the r-tronic tranny was quirky. It was several months later when I drove another 2011 rtronic in a coupe v10 version. I concluded that the r-tronic was a tranny that I did not like. Knowing that AUDI was coming out with the DCT in 2104 (Audi for some reason skipped the 2013 in U.S. models) I eagerly awaited for it.

The '14 R9 DCT's began rolling in around May this year. But very few dealers will allow you to test drive one. I finally saw a michigan 2014 v10 car in June at the dealership I service my A8 but by the next day, the car was gone. I have an exec contact at AoA in michigan and I inquired as to when a Michigan car would be available again in south fl for a test drive. Fortunately That same car returned to the same dealership in Sept and AoA arranged a 2 hour time slot for me on Sep 14.

This was truly an awesome experience and kudos to AoA and AUDI Coral springs for allowing me 2 thrilling hours in this bad azz. We drove the car in many areas that allowed me to open it up and it wasnt long before I knew how WELL the S-TRONIC performed.

But the most amazing experience was in sport mode. I dont know how AUDI Does it but when in sport mode, the engine behaves like a stick as it slows and downshifts. Its so friggin cool. You really feel the engine slowing you down and the sound is amazing. To be honest, Words cant describe it. You have to experience this thing in sport mode to understand it. I was very very impressed. Whats amazing is how much of a DD it feels like. I cant get over it. I was in a 2011 Gallardo, which is basically built on the same platform as the R8 but evenm the 2011 R8 is 10 times more of a DD. I would also have to say its more of a DD than any corvette I have driven, yet, the performance doesnt sufer one bit. Its also more of a DD than a 911 (997) Turbo (which IMO rides a bit rough)

One thing I will say, I would never ever get an R8 V8. The V8 may be lighter but that V10 sound is orgasmic.

Only drawback of the V10 is the price. Its way up there. I dont know if the price justifies it. IMO, the R8 V10 should probably be like $15K-20K less. Even the 911 Turbo is priced much less.

If HP is all you are looking for then get a ZR1. But if you are looking for a great balanced car that delivers (IMO) much more joy than any corvette (and ofcourse if money isnt a factor) then an R8 is a no brainer. For right now I am waiting. But if I could land an R8 V10 at close to an invoice price and a manufacturer loyalty incentive (which AA normally does not do with R8's) then I could see myself possibly having one. Ofcourse I am dreaming about all these ifs and and butts But hey, its not like its impossible. But the planets do need to align is all I am saying. Its one helluva ride though, thats for sure. This was the car I drove

youzzi714

Not a Z06 but it should do...

valet_devil

Just look up Road and Track's Best Driver's cars in the last few years for some Randy Pobst objective evidence.

wolf8218

Top Gear comparos are such substance-less fluff.

The fact that they actually use Jeremy Clarkson's skill-less driving as a basis for comparing performance is just stupid beyond belief.

GMuffley

I would not be so dismissive of Clarkson's driving skills. The show is auto themed entertainment--they are going for ratings and the show is extraordinarily popular worldwide. Part of the schtick is bashing American cars, anything French and the British politicians.

0Rob@TSM

We happen to have both an Audi R8 V10 6MT, and 2009 Z06 as shop cars. Having driven both extensively, they are very different cars.

The R8 is mechanically stock with our in house tune, which yielded 515whp over the 461 it produced in stock form (they are very detuned from the factory). The R8's power delivery is in my opinion similar to that of a centrifugal supercharger, it feels like you have to rev it out to get the car moving.

The Z06 until recently was completely stock, and even in stock form the Z06's power delivery is much more aggressive than the R8. And it is significantly quicker in a straight line, however the R8 lapped Road Atlanta quicker than most stock

04_Z06_CE

R8 is pretty bad *** , but kinda looking old now .
By the way the V8 version is dog **** slow .
V10 or bust .

wolf8218

That's a good comparison of the performance if you ask me. I would expect the Z06 to be a little bit quicker around Road Atlanta with most dash cams that I've seen run at 1:32 or 1:34 stock. You said it yourself, both cars needed at least a tune and other light mods to bring out their potential. Stock tires too? How does a tune affect an Audi's powertrain warranty? With that being said both cars are good performers, but for me the V10R8 is unobtanium due to the price.

Although it's not hard for me to imagine a rich doctor with ***** envy spending 70 grand on upgrading his R8 to compete with a lightly track modded ZR1 or Z06 that has 10-15 grand in it.

0Rob@TSM

The R8 was on stock tires, and I haven't personally seen a stock C6Z go sub 1:37 on factory tires at Road ATL, however that doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

70k invested into an R8 would yield significantly higher performance than a slightly modded C6Z. From a road racing perspective, we will soon have proof of this As far a straight line performance, about half of that price invested into an R8 V10 with our in house custom twin turbo kits will yield right around 800whp which is very reliable and runs 10.1@142 1/4, 4.9 60-130mph, and 175mph in a standing halfmile.

wolf8218

Or go to ECS, spend 10k, and run 9's?

0Rob@TSM

I should have noted, all the times/speeds I mentioned were on street tires of course on more of a drag setup they are capable of mid 9's. The bottom line is, they are two very different but incredible cars.

Would a stock internal SC'ed Z06 still lap Road ATL at ~1:34? I highly doubt it, and if so it wouldn't hold up for long.

wolf8218

?? Probably would do it even faster. LOL