seems like the real base price with the mandatory options:

$114.5 for the 6 speed
$123.5 for the R-tronic

At these prices, still wondering why Audi thinks they're competition is the Porsche C4S and not the turbo or GT3

oh well, I guess I won't ever get lost (nav) and I won't back into soccermom's SUV (park alert and camera).

FACT: no matter what anyone tells you, the current order guide is for dealer demo cars only. in 4 months the dealer WILL be allowed by AOA to sell it. the new order guide will have no mandatory options.

you have to compare the C4S with the power package option (X50), which retails at 16K over the ~90K base price, with the R8 and NOT the base C4S. the X50 pack gives the C4S 380 hp. at ~4K less and 45hp fewer horses than the R8 there is no competition.

My dealer asked me to come in and spec out "my car" (even though I'm #6 on the list and they're only getting five cars over the next 12-15 months)- when I told her I didn't need nav or back up cameras, I was handed the order guide and told that I had to order them. But, she also said that there's alot of confusion about ordering R8's right now and she wasn't sure where things would end up.

so - I hope you're right - would rather save that 5.5K and put it towards the V10

and I'm sure that a R8 will be faster than a stock C4S, but very few people opt for the X50 package (because as with all Porsche options, it is silly priced). If you add the X50 package to a C4S, you being to enter the pricing realm of turbos and GT3's. And that was my original point - if there are really mandatory options on a the R8, than the price also enters the Porsche "super-911" range. But not to be misunderstood - I think the R8 is a unique beast in its own right - it appears to be a more refined car than any Porsche and if refinement is what you want in a sports car, the R8 may be in a class of one

Power to weight ratio still slightly in favour of R8. In the end, the driver will dictate which car ends up performing better on a track.

early R8 reviews.

Mid engine weight balance FTW.
RB

best done over beers!

Mid engine handling v. rear engine handling - the mid engine Porsche guys have been arguing that forever. Here's the synopsis - the mid engine Porsches feel fabulous entering a turn, very planted and secure, but if you cook 'em too hard in the turn, they snap on you without huge warning. The rear engine Porsches feel a little less planted going into the turn but if you brake late, set up the turn and then nail it through the corner, it's all bliss. However, if you lift in the turn in a 911 (even with everything Porsche has done to dial out the rear bias) the rear engine car tries to be a front engine car. Bottom line - the mid engine Porsches are better handling (more intuitive, easier to finesse) than the 911s, but if you know how to drive the 911's correctly, they are very hard to beat through the corners - it isn't about the handling finesse as much as the grip created by that heavy rear end and those wide sticky tires.

Based on my experience (having owned a bunch of rear engine and mid engine Porsches), if the R8 is like a Boxster with balls, there are going to be alot of smiling R8 drivers.<ul><li><a href="http://rea">http://rea</a</li></ul>

i know these are race prepped cars that are on the edge, but to me- it always seems like those guys are constantly in fear of the tail 'comin round'!

Alan, i so wish i had a Porsche driving background like you- it would make my time behind the wheel of the R8 much more instructive.
i'm sure i'll come away from R8 training ready to rave about the car all the same tho!

RB

my neighbor is an AoA exec who claims that I will be given a R8 to drive for a week to give somebody (don't know who) feedback on my experiences. Supposedly, I'm to drive it anywhere I want and then return it with some sort of survey. This is supposed to happen this month.

I don't really believe it, but then again my neighbor isn't an alcoholic, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

RXBG: How reliable is your source? My dealer came back indicating I needed to order the mandatory options.

My dealer came back indicating I needed to order the mandatory options.