The 2009 Audi R8. Alternate title: When a Man Loves an Audi.
Beautiful eyes, gorgeous hips, and a stunning profile have me completely in love
No I am not referring to a woman, but to the
2009 Audi R8. It has a polarizing appearance that quite literally causes people to shout nonsense at me when I am driving down the road. They crane their necks, twist their bodies, point at the car … and then turn into incoherent puddles of stupor. It all sounds quite dramatic, but their reactions are nothing compared to my own. I am a drooling, slack-jawed mess adrift in a beautiful sea of carbon-fiber and aluminum.
Since it arrived on the automotive scene in 2008, the Audi R8 has demanded and received lots of attention. In my head, the R8 was designed by someone who was the love child of a German engineer and an Italian artist. A powerful 4.2L V8 is housed behind my head, between a pair of voluptuous rear fenders and a dramatic roofline. The bright-even-during-a-sunny-day LED daytime running lights give the front of the R8 a look that is exotically sinister or beautifully subtle depending on the angle from which the car is viewed. It is a wonderful mash-up of form and function - style and substance - gracefulness and go-fast goodness.
The aforementioned 4.2L V8 produces 420 hp. This power is put to the ground in the best way possible thanks to the intelligent Quattro all-wheel drive system. If the computer deems it necessary to send more power to the rear wheels, it does so quickly without any systems letting you know it is happening. Should the front tires require a bit more traction, the computer diverts some power and I maintain my confidence behind the wheel. Not a little bit of confidence mind you, I feel like the R8 is running Elmer’s Glue 235/35R/19s up front and 305/30R/19 gecko’s paws in the rear. I have yet to review an Amtrak Acela train, but I imagine the handling is comparable to that of the R8.
The one area where I was nervous, with regards to the R8, was on the inside. Was there going to be enough room and is it going to be comfortable at all? With a car like the R8, I am willing to sacrifice some comfort but I need room to move a bit. Thankfully I gave up nothing. There was plenty of legroom and the heated, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat is quite comfortable. In fact, I didn’t even have to move the seat all the way back which is astonishing in a car of this size.
I enjoy the computer telling the car which wheels need power, but I prefer me telling the car which gear I want to be in. Thankfully, this R8 has the six-speed manual. The transmission locks into each gear with a satisfying click. The aluminum shift gate guides the gear lever so each change is precise and fast. The shift knob looks large, but feels great in my hand… until the temperature rises and it turns into an easy-bake oven, human-hand edition. Driving for a few minutes with the AC on, or the windows down however and the heat quickly dissipates.
The R8 never left me bored. Regardless of the task at hand, I was ready to go for a drive. “Sweetie, we need some groceri-“ and before she could finish the sentence, I was out the door. “Hey, do you want get frozen yog-“, yes I did want frozen yogurt and I will be back in 20 minutes. The exhaust note is addicting, the shift action is precise, and the handling is other-worldly. If my wife asked me to go buy feminine products, I would do so with a smile on my face while thinking about the longest route to and from the store.
The 2009 Audi R8 really is an enjoyable motoring experience. It is a complete package if you don’t have kids or golf clubs. I was able to fit three clubs in the front storage compartment, which was perfect since I was going to a pitch & putt course. You don’t need to find a car that matches your lifestyle. Simply buy the R8… and change
Is there a downside to the Audi R8? The only one I can find is the cost. It is expensive to drive a car like this. The base MSRP is $114,200.00. This R8 is heavily optioned thanks to all the carbon fiber, upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system, and the alcantara headliners amongst other things. The cost rises up to $139,100 for an equally well-equipped R8. The Nissan GT-R is more affordable and far out-performs the R8. The Corvette ZR1 is a 600+ hp rocket with a lower base price.
I love the GT-R and the ZR1 is a favorite of many an automotive journalist… but the Audi R8 is rolling art.