Audi R8
The Supercar Club Member's Blog
Thoughts, photos and feedback from Club Members...
Submit any new content to jw@supercarclub.com.au
-----
How does she go? The name of this model is very apt, for the car is a GT rather than a sportscar. It glides on grounded feet rather than digging in heels. It accelerates rather than blasts. It sings rather than roars. And for this honesty in concept/product fit, it delivers well.
That didn't happen. As soon as you get into the car you are in a good place. There's nothing weird or gimmicky about the interior, and it's only after time that you come to realise how exquisitely designed it is. It's very pleasing to the eye and achieves unity of design. It does have a lot of buttons, but they are all very much where you'd expect them to be, you can see the labels on them and quickly learn what each one does.
As an ex-E46 M3 owner, I was eager to try the new V8 iteration. Overall, I walked away impressed. It is a very efficient machine in true Teutonic style. It's comfy, quick, safe.
The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
What an introduction to the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale! The anticipation was running high. Ian from The Supercar Club had arrived at Star City in the gorgeous, futuristic Audi R8 I had driven the previous week so I thought my first drive of a Ferrari may be postponed due to some unforseen circumstance. I was promptly informed all was well and the prancing horse was on its way. As we were chatting away I heard something in the distance. Ian casually remarked “That’d be Richard.” The sound turned into an almighty shriek as the high revving silver bullet flew down the concrete canyon of Pyrmont Street below us. The noise reverberating off the buildings was like nothing I had ever heard before. My mouth was still open as Richard turned into the Casino and parked the beast in front of us with a huge grin on his face. This thing was beautiful but could it really be road legal? Barely, I suspected.
Last week I was the very lucky recipient of a day at Mt Panorama care of Mercedes AMG where 60 revheads drove the best Merc has to offer after the press and dealers had warmed them up at the beginning of the week. Our favourite was the C63 AMG, a slightly detuned version of the C63 "Black Series" like the one we all see as the F1 pacecar during the safety periods following racing incidents.
Club Members are able to store their personal cars at the showroom whilst using a club car. We see lots of Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Porsches - but occasionally we see something a bit different...
Lotus Exige 'S' Targa – driving and nothing but driving…at its purest!
I’ve always liked cars that are a bit different and hard edged so I was looking forward to a drive in the Lotus. I originally booked it for one day with the option for two and when I spoke to James he said that the roof had been removed and did I want it refitted. When I went to pick it up I had a look. It looks great without it and the forecast was for fine weather so I left it off.
My destination was a winding mountain road which happened to be Colac to Apollo Bay over the Otway Ranges...
I have driven the Commodore SSV and was similarly impressed with its performance. I also drove the 307kw HSV Senator and despite the classier interior, hardly noticed any difference in performance. In fact, I actually felt the SSV was quicker. However, for the money I still reckon nothing beats a WRX STi or Mitsubishi Evo.
Regarding the R8 - I had the pleasure on the weekend.
I had a buddy visiting from Texas and took down the Great Ocean Road and home over the Otway Ranges – just fabulous
The Ferrari performed brilliantly for a week away on the Apple Isle...
Click to see some more great photos!
Mid-engined supercars? They're usually the work of Ferrari and Lamborghini, Lotus or Porsche. You don't expect an extreme car like this to come from a premium German marque like Audi, which mostly specialises in classy, well-made and rather grown-up saloons, with odd indulgences like the TT. Apart from being the most expensive model Audi makes - as well as the fastest - the R8 is all about the thrill of driving for the sake of it, and it's a high-end thrill at that.
Shortly after driving this car away from Reg, a young surfer dude shouted out "F - ing awesome Man !"
I wasn't too sure if he was referring to the gearbox or the car...
Yes, it’s a GT rather than a sports car but lopes along the motorway like a limo.
I first developed the desire to drive a Lotus way back in the 1960s in black-and-white, watching the gorgeous Emma Peel chasing baddies in her equally gorgeous Elan. At various times since I have lusted after the Elan, the Europa, the Lotus/Cateram 7, and over the past 20 years or so, the Esprit.
Being a practical family sort of bloke, I have (almost) always owned sensible cars, and I could never bring myself to take the plunge and acquire a Lotus. But then, along came The Supercar Club...