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Beautiful but Pricey: 2009 Audi R8

                                                         

If I would to describe the new Audi R8  supercar in one word, it would be sexy“. The Audi R8 does not look like any other sports car but rather a unique piece of art. Maybe it’s the relatively scarce mid-engine all-wheel-drive, or simply because of the exotic, sexy, low key design. Whatever it is, the Audi R8 is a beautiful but pricey beast.

If you are looking for a car that stands out from the rest, this is the sports car for you. However, if you are looking for a sports car that is affordable, go ahead and cross out the R8 right off that wish list. With an MSRP starting at $114,200 which is about tens of thousands of dollars more then other high-performance cars such as the BMW M3, Corvette Z06 and the Nissan GT-R.

 Even if paying for the R8’s higher cost, the Audi R8 falls a bit short in performance compare to the GT-R and the Z06. However, the R8 is equipped with one of the world’s favorite choice of engine, the 4.2 L FSI v8. The engine produces 420hp at 7800rpm and 320tq at 4500rpm which makes the R8 a true highreving motor with 100hp per liter. Many drivers have said, in comparison to the GT-R, the R8 is slower in performance but felt a bit more rewarding getting there. Well, it better be considering that the R8 is based on the exclusive Lamborghini Gallardo. I guess the price tag seems a bit more reasonable.

Going with the traditional manual transmission would be the best decision you will make for this car. Considering this is a high revving motor,  having full control of the power band is a necessity. Consumers test shows that the optional automated manual R tronic transmission sucks too much joy out of the driving experience, creating delayed, clunky upshifts.

 Performance figures for the manual transmission is 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, with quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds at 111mph. The R tronic model gets 0-60 in 4.6 and 12.8 seconds at 108.4 mph. Fuel economy estimates at 13mpg city/ 20 highway for the manual transmission while the automatic gets 19mpg for the highway. In the end, the 2009 Audi R8 is a true supercar that can be driven every day. However, if falls short of being a top 5 and the price is a bit steep.

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All info provided by edmunds inc.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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