I have to say, the car is just amazingly gorgeous in person - I hadn't seen an Ibis White R8 before, but I'm glad I picked the color. Most of the car's mechanicals (engine, etc.) follow suit and the engine is simply unreal even though I haven't barely put it through its paces.

The only things that either the dealer or I could determine that are different between the '08 and the new '09 are:
- The DIS, date/time, odometer/tripometer are white LCDs, not red...
- The engine cover doesn't open via a lever by your left leg, rather there's a pull-switch behind the driver seat-belt.

Stats:
- Ibis White / Silver sideblade
- Black (Nappa) interior (PL3) with Alcantara headliner (6NN) / B&O (9VK) / Nav (PND) / Premium pkg (PPD)
- R-tronic
- Allow wheels / performance tires (PQ7)

Questions:
- When I open the driver-side door, there's a distinct (and loud, at least in my garage) hydraulic actuation sound that comes from the engine... What's happening?
- When you open/close either door there's a quick "thunk" sound of something moving. Is it dropping the window and bringing it back up to avoid pressure during the door close?
- The manual mentions it will do it, but what's the specific rationale for sometimes (seems like it does it more when the car is warmed up than if you've just started it) dropping the car into neutral if you're sitting idle with the brake engaged for ~1 min? Simply to help with wear/tear on the transmission?

Thoughts (these tend to be very negative, but on the whole I love the car; these are just the little things that bug me):
- The car is *wide*... Parking has been interesting.
- Shifts seem *very* slow (which in turn really jerks the car)... Changing to sport seems to cut them in half, still somewhat jerky, but then you're not shifting until red-line... I know, I know, that's what the paddles/stick are for, but it seems like there should be two settings - sport for automatic (quick shift, slightly higher revs before shifting), and sport for manual (quick shift, red-line shifting if not shifted by driver).
- The MMI / DIS disconnect really gets to me. There are *NO* settings (other than to get the version of MMI) on the "car" tab of MMI. Instead, they're all on the DIS and you have to use the windshield wiper stalk. Is this simply the split between Audi AG (MMI) and Quattro GMBH (DIS)? As an example, I have 3 ways to set the clock: MMI, DIS, and the pull/twist control that my '99 A4 came with.
- The SD card slots are great, but you would have thought they could support SDHC by now, and more importantly they should support WMA. My '08 A6 Avant supports WMA, can this really not just be firmware?
- And it really is just like everyone says... People just openly stare at the car. While they're driving, while they're standing on the sidewalk, etc. I've had a couple people simply gather around the car in the parking lot (as I was coming to get in) and watch as I started the car and drove off...

I dont own an R8 but have spent a decent ammount of time driving one of the media/press fleet cars....that was R-Tronic equiped.

That said, you cant just bury your foot in the throttle duriing gear shifts...well you can...but you get the nasty feed back your discribing. Your truly have to learn how to drive an Rtronic car to get the most rewarding experence from it...frankly its not that much diffrent then driving a 6MT.

Point being, to smooth out the R-Tronic, you do need to lift just slightly on the throttle during gear shifts. This will dramatically help with the whiplash effect and besides...gives you another excuse to hammer the throttle after the shift =)

I personally after time with an RTronic R8 and EGear in the Gallardo and LP640 am not a huge fan, even more so on the Audi then the Lamborghini. I will admit I am spoiled to death by DSG, or S-Tronic for Audi...but again, massive diffrences between a Dual and Single clutch box.

Just remember it is a manual and it needs to learn to be driven just like the first time you drove a stick. There is a small learning curve, but go try it...you will see what I mean.


....also that clunk...Windows I believe. TT does the same.

even if it is for avoiding wear, they could hide it from the driver and have the car automatically re-engage 1st upon pressing the gas like bmw's smg box does.

agree about the mmi/dis thing - they feel very separat.

you do get used to the r-tronic over time and to be honest I'd still take this warts and all over a manual.

- The hydraulic action is the gas pump. It's normal.
- The thunk is the window going back up. It's normal.
- The car will drop in neutral after 10 seconds of not pressing any pedal. I don't remember the rationale, but sometimes it's annoying. ;)

T.

- R-Tronic Hydraulic Pump is pressurizing.

- Window has to lower from its recess to open.

- To keep the throw out bearing from overheating.

Dealer told my dad that neutral is engaged if while at a stop you lift your foot of the brake pedal and then press it down again...didnt give us a reason but the ones mentioned above seem to make sense. i dont think there is a 10 second counter or anything of sorts (atleast on the 08' we have)... try it out

It's the manual reselect that's the pain, if bmw can mask this from the driver is a painless way in their older smg's then audi has no excuse for such bizarre and unpredictable behavior

Can brake, lift, brake, lift all day long as long as long as the lift is shorter than the cut in.

My Stradale does the same thing. One time I left it in the warehosue for a long time without a trickle charger on it and the battery went "very" dead. So, trying to open the door with the key didn't actuate the window going down. Trying to open the door with the window seated in the rubber was scary... I played with the seal and glass for a long time and got it open, but just jerking the door open (or slamming closed for that matter) would probably have tweaked the window a lot... I'm not sure how flexi these are. Anyhow, once my R8 comes in I'll do some tests... but now whenever I store my CS, I crack the windows down just in case. I'd suspect the R8 would do the same thing and I can't imagine breaking the window or tweaking the rubber would be cheap.

I hope this saves someone some frustration or some cash.

Unfortunately it isn't color -- just a different mono (white) instead of red.

Thanks (everyone) for the thoughtful responses. Lifting the throttle (even slightly) during shifts in auto-mode definitely helps, although it will take repetition to get me to remember to do it.

colored icons for warning lights etc. Would have assumed this would have been what the 09 R8's had as well. guess not. Congrats on the car whatever the DIS is!!

This is the best I've come across.

<img src="http://image6.autorevo.com/1717/pics/424570_481c91d8-4388-4fd0-9d03-9bf367048663.jpg">

arent they" saving it for sportier audi models"...well how much sportier does it get than the R8...imbiciles.

What are you replacing..if anything?

pic #16

ps - getting much action on yours?<ul><li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-R8-LQQK-AT-THIS-2009-AUDI-R8-RED-WITH-RED-SIDE-PANELS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a552Q7c39Q3 a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14Q2e l1308QQhashZitem370074080915QQitemZ370074080915#eb

thats retarted. the S5 and Q7 get a color lcd and they cant put one in the R8?<ul><li><a href="http://www.rs6.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6926&amp;d=1217571000">http://www.rs6.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6926&amp;d=1217571000</a</li></ul>

You can see the warning lights (color) are on the two dials -- the DIS is only white.

<img src="http://rugge.no-ip.com/public/DSC_6736.jpg" BORDER="0">

I'll probably replace the RS4. I am still on top of the list for the V10 R8 if it materializes... but thought the V8 would still be a ton of fun on track and in Truckee, then if the V10 shows up eventually, trade it out or sell it.

Haven't confirmed, but it also looks like they changed the rear tires (at least with the performance option) from 295/30ZR19s to 305/30ZR19s between 2008 and 2009.

I wish I had your car woes...decisions decisions...take the veyron...or the Carrera GT...oh..I just CANT decide.

Signed


Green with envy..oh..and where is my red stapler?