Ciao everyone, here it's Marchettino and today we cruise through the French Riviera with a nice V8 behind us!
Today I'm driving a sports car that I've been waiting to test since a while, the first generation of Audi R8.
I have to thank Pierre, the owner next to me that is giving me the opportunity to drive it in the splendid French Riviera,
check also his instagram as the link is above.
Many years have passed since the introduction of the first gen of the Audi R8 but if you look at it, it doesn't look that aged
In 2007 it already had a futuristic shape that is still current, just think the concept car
It's tight, this road's tight for an R8 and a SUV!
I'm nervous when these things happen!
I was saying, just think in 2003 Audi presented the LeMans Quattro, a concept of the 2007 road legal R8!
In 2003 it was already the same as the version that went into production so crazy to think this shape was designed by De Silva in 2003!
16 years later, I think the Audi R8 is still current with still respectable performance,
Now it's available just with the V10 so the first generation was avaiable with the V8, V10 came months later
and I think the first generation V8 is yet the R8 with the biggest personality.
Sure, 2 more cylinders ain't bad for anyone but I really like this V8. In terms of performance is very close to my M3 E92
Behind we have a N/A 4.2L V8 that develops 420hp and 430nm.
I like the fact the engine is in the middle, which means in the sports driving it offers lots of satisfactions.
The R8 was available both with the manual and R-Tronic, as you see this is R-Tronic which is a single clutch flappy paddles gearbox.
Shame about the small paddles though
Now we're driving down gently, awaiting for some straight lines but as first impressions, at slow speed the R-Tronic is goofy
let's say it's not designed for the traffic or slow speed, in fact the owner told me to lift a bit the foot off the throttle between every gear change
to save the clutch because being delicate, it's expensive too! A clutch change costs about 5000€
and if you ain't good to handle it, it lasts less than 20.000km.
So if you look for a second hand R8, I recommend you to check the clutch and transmission wear.
The great thing about the first gen R8 is that you find them for accessible prices, they start at 40k € that for a car with a supercar look and these performance, it's not bad!
This one is full stock,
the exhaust doesn't sound bad but I heard a few with a modified exhaust and with an open exhaust, this V8 shouts properly!
I admit if I didn't buy my M3 a few years back, this is a car I considered.
Performance are respectable, 0-100kph in 4.6s with a top speed of 301kph
I heard lots of critics about the V8 but I think they ain't real, or at least the people that criticized it must be used to more powerful cars but
it's not bad! Many people said Audi cheated on the figures of these N/A engines,
because many people dyno'ed the R8 V8 claimed about 400hp,
same story for my M3, also BMW cheated on the figures, I dyno'ed mine and it had 400hp against the 420hp claimed.
Whenever I look through the rear view mirror, I see this huge engine that is not amazing just to look at but also to hear!
I found out there's a Sport mode in the R8, so let's push it
Not bad!
Sport mode makes the gear changes quicker and more rough!
I'm not a big fan of flappy paddles transmissions but the single clutch ones ain't bad because
you feel perfectly the gear change!
These transmissions aren't the best for the traffic but I like them for the sports driving!
The power is unleashed through the Quattro AWD system, it has a sporty setting because up to the 35% of the power goes to the front wheels
which means if you turn the electronics off, you can make the rear slide.
Weird, it doesn't scratch on the speed bumps, it's quite planted to the ground
This engine offers the best from 5000rpm 'till the redline at 8000rpm.
Also the R-Tronic offers the best at high revs, when you get close to the redline and upshift, the gearbox is quite reactive.
And brutal also!
Among the many settings, this one has also the button to stiff the suspensions, it was an option on the R8 V8 and not all of them have it
so if you're looking an R8 V8 and like the sports driving, I recommend you to go for one with the button to make the suspensions softer or stiffer
because as I noticed also on the M3 E92, mine doesn't have it but after having driven a friend's M3 with that setting, it makes a big difference.
Recent news from Audi, rumors will say the R8 won't last that much, after all these years probably it will go full electric or out of production
which is a shame because in terms of quality/features/performance ratio both new and used, the R8 is fabulous.
And see it out of production after such long time, it's a pity, especially for us petrolheads!
If I had to buy an R8, I think I would go for first gen V8 with that beautiful manual gearbox!
If I want the V10, I'd go for the Lamborghini with the pros and cons.
After having driven this, I'm positively impressed by this test.
In a world where most modern Audis, here's one and what an Audi, RS6!
In a world where most Audis look the same and sadly lack of personality, this is an Audi that stands out.
Considering also that N/A engines are disappearing, it's always pleasant to have behind a N/A engine that pulls 'till 8000rpm!
Driving the route of La Turbie is always amazing, look at that view!
Also that guy in the RS3 is having fun!
These seats are good too for the sports driving, not easy to find on the R8 V8 because it's an option
in the sports driving they're marvellous because they hold your back properly and not that uncomfy.
So overal, I like this R8 V8 very much, it's a bit quiet but you can always fix it,
about the performance, despite being a more than 10 years old car, I think performance are still respectable,
quality, the perception of quality is good because it's an Audi and - what's going on here? Car meet!
The perception of quality is very good because after all, it's an Audi and love it or hate it, Audi in terms of quality make good interiors.
As I said about the price, it starts at 40.000€ so it's definitely worth it, maybe the only problem - oh, here's our friends!
So the only problem, especially by living in Italy, problems are related to the maintenance between car tax, additional car tax, Audi services,
maybe under that point of view is pricey but the purchase alone, this starting price of 40.000€ is worth it.
I thank Pierre, the owner that is letting me drive his R8 in the French Riviera, I remind you in the video description you find his instagram where he posts content of his car
and make sure to Like the video if you enjoy it, subscribe to my YouTube if you haven't yet and as always thanks for watching, ciao!