The Mathematically Boring Engine

[genna]

I would like to drive an R8 one day. I've heard that with the Lambo V10, that actually became a more interesting car. Although I think they also only sold them with automatics, which makes me sad. And I'm not a huge V10 fan, although I am starting to come around.

I've never driven R8, but i have driven a few laps around the track in a Gallardo. So it's the same V10 engine. Definitely not boring. Even the transmission(SMG) is not boring, though I would prefer MT.

 

[Ted]

I've never driven R8, but i have driven a few laps around the track in a Gallardo. So it's the same V10 engine. Definitely not boring. Even the transmission(SMG) is not boring, though I would prefer MT.

I would never suggest that a Lamborghini would be boring. And I would hope that an R8 wouldn't be, either.

SMGs... personally I want a clutch. But yes, they definitely are better than just a straight slushbox.

One car I'd like someday would be an early 2000s Maserati Quattroporte. They sure are depreciating, and I'd want to put a proper manual transmission in.

 

[jrcox19]

One car I'd like someday would be an early 2000s Maserati Quattroporte. They sure are depreciating, and I'd want to put a proper manual transmission in.

I look at those everytime the itch to upgrade/change comes back. Haven't pulled the trigger, but I suspect I will someday

 

[Ted]

I look at those everytime the itch to upgrade/change comes back. Haven't pulled the trigger, but I suspect I will someday

Those were some of the last cars that came out that I loved when they were new, and have been wanting one ever since. They seem to have more or less stabilized in the $15-20k range. But there's no real hole in the fleet to support one at the moment.

 

[asicer]

They seem to have more or less stabilized in the $15-20k range.

The downside is that being 4 doors, the chances are low that it will go back up in price very much.

 

[Ted]

The downside is that being 4 doors, the chances are low that it will go back up in price very much.

I agree. I don't think they're likely to appreciate much at all. However, I think that they're some of the sexiest cars ever produced - and if anything the 2-door Maseratis of that time period are less attractive to me.

 

[G-Man]

Only slightly off-topic, but if you like engine noise:

The 1965 Honda Formula One car with 1.5liter V-12 engine!

 

[FormerHangie]

I would like to drive an R8 one day. I've heard that with the Lambo V10, that actually became a more interesting car. Although I think they also only sold them with automatics, which makes me sad. And I'm not a huge V10 fan, although I am starting to come around.


Sadly, that's very true.

I saw a quick snippet on Jay Leno's Garage about the Koenigsegg One:1, and Christian von Koenigsegg was telling Jay how with all of the driver aids you didn't even have to be a very good driver to drive it and enjoy it.

That made me sad. I wouldn't ever call any Koenigsegg a boring car (not that I'll ever get to drive one), but all those aids detract from the raw visceral experience of driving a performance car.

I drove an R8 at Atlanta Motorsports Park a few years ago, courtesy of the fine folks at Xtreme Xperience, and my wallet. That was the first time I drove with them. I started out with a ridealong in a Mustang GT, then did a drive in a 911 GT3 RS, then the Audi. The instructor who did the ridealong asked me what cars I was driving, and told me the R8 was a big comfy couch. It's a fast big comfy couch, I will say, I thought it was very confidence inspiring and did everything well. The one I drove is the model previous to the current production, I haven't driven that one. Also, there are some R8s with a six speed manual, but I believe they were all V8 powered. It'd be nice if they depreciated faster, they're still quite pricey.

I've driven the R8, multiple 911 GT3s, the Nissan GTR, a Ferrari 458 Italia, and the C8 Corvette. I haven't driven a McLaren, but I'm scheduled to do so this fall, they have a 570S this year. I'll be driving a GT3 RS as well, and I think that will be the last time I drive with them. Funny thing is, when I originally became interested in doing these drives, was because I wanted to drive a McLaren. Back when I did the first drive, the McLaren cost the most to drive, and the 911 GT3 was one of the less expensive drives. I'd never driven at AMP and hadn't been on track for almost 20 years, so I thought I'd try driving some of the less expensive cars the first time, and go back for the McLaren the next year. It turns out that the McLaren was so unreliable that they removed it from the fleet the first year I drove with them, and they've only recently brought them back. Out of all the the cars I've driven with them, I like the GT3 and GT3RS the best, and every instructor I've talked to there has said it was their favorite as well.