Starting to consider a manual version of this Coupe (not convertible). Around 2010 model year, 518 BHP

Has anybody ever driven one or got any views?

Bored of the Porsche?

I drove the R8 admittedly at Dunsfold for about 6 miles, but I was very impressed with the power it flew and the road holding (akin to my VX220) and ability to get the power down out of the corners made me laugh out loud, the Gallardo was also very very nice too. Gallardo would swing it for me shelling out that sort of wedge.

Should we assume that the budget is circa £35k? What about a GT-R? Maserati GT? AM Vantage or DB7? Jaguar XK? Bentley Continental? Mustang GT?

V10 looks to be more £65k than £35k...

Hmm, maybe, but you can always get V10 bits to make the V8 look like a V10 for less money, proper V10s seem to range from £50k-75k

True, but after the 911, I'd imagine he's looking for a bit more 'welly' so the 'full fat' version is what he'll be after.

Sorry to have been "absent" from my own post

I was toying with the idea of going for an easy dealer p/exch, either upto a 997 turbo or perhaps the V10 Audi, both ca 500bhp and thinking around £65k, or even just selling the Porsche.

Can't part with the GTV Cup and just not feeling the love for the Porsche. The extra power would give the spaceship feel and thus be a true step up from my modified Coupe and C4S in power terms, but not really sure that is the answer as I never drive anywhere near the potential of the car I have already got and if I did I'd just lose my license

My hankering for the porker came from seeing a yellow one on holiday in Italy. Trouble was trying to find a yellow or bright red 997 is very hard, plenty of Caymen but not the 997. I ended up with a nice safe colour and a great condition car.

Talking it over with my son today I think I have the answer, keep the 997 C4S and wrap it in the colour of my choice; this is what I'll now be investigating

A wallet friendly option.

Yeah, but that 911 Turbo would be some car to drive huh!!!!.......

Yes and Yes to both comments

Get yourself an extended test drive in the new TTRS. I've been out in a roadster version and instantly realised my Fiat Coupé replacement. I've just not managed to get hold of a demonstrator yet, for a longer run. I also don't yet have £50K+ in my pocket to pay for it

Yes I know a TT (Hairdresser car) but for similar money to a used V10 R8 you can get a brand new 400hp (174mph) TT. Ok so it's a 5 cylinder and not a V10. It has a haldex 4wd system rather than full 4wd and it still has some slight chassis issues on the limit - apparently. But my goodness it is one heck of a car and it sounds epic.

I can vouch for them sounding epic. If you can get away from the whole TT image I can imagine these being an absolute blast to own.

I doubt mny hairdressers could afford to buy and run an original TT second hand even now...

The new TT RS is actually faster than the 2010 R8 V10 Manual Even up to 120mph it's still level pegging between 10mph increments. Sure, the V10 will pull away at silly speeds but, after a remap I doubt that would be the case

The two that I know used to run new Ferraris but needed to invest £600k in fitting out their new place so don't any more. They still like their Ducatis though...

Thing is the V10 is N/A so mapping doesn't bring huge performance leaps. This has always been the problem with the RS5 and the S5. A quick re-map on the V6 S5 had it pegging the N/A V8 RS5. Add a different compressor wheel and it was quicker

It will be interesting to see what the tuning chaps can get out of the new all alloy 5 cylinder in the new TTRS. The gains in the old car were impressive but the older car struggled with chassis balance issues, even in standard tune, more power didn't really help.

In case I wasn't clear, I was saying that he V10 probably wouldn't pull away even at silly speeds after the TT was remapped

I don't see the point of high power NA cars. Not being able to unleash extra easy power would be a massive negative for me. The fastest NA car I've driven was a 350Z and it just felt breathless. No mid range grunt and weedy at the top end. Even compared to a high power coop that should probably feel weak at the bottom end, I couldn't feel any noticeable advantage... Just a bit more 'dieselly'??

I remember seeing a meme that said NA = never-ending lag and I would fully subscribe to that!! I have no experience of supercharged cars (though a mate does still have a VXR8 Bathurst S - I probably should scrounge a ride in this) but I'd always gravitate towards FI over NA. Even aside from the rempping 'issue' I prefer the drama from turbos.

High powered NA cars are about response and control. Going fast in a straight line is easy - even the Americans can do it

They have caught my attention, but no manual box so a no no for me

I am a total convert and won't ever go back. By that I mean DSG convert. The flappy paddle Auto in the Aston I drove was horrible, slow to operate easily confused and horrible to reverse. My mates Ferrari 360 F1 box wasn't much better reversing that car into a parking slot was almost impossible

So when I first drove an A5 Auto I expected much of the same. How wrong was I? The thing was epic. The changes were really fast and much smoother. It was even possible to reverse, so I bought one. My second, newer A5 improved the recipe further. The speed and responsiveness of the changes is even better. You can still catch it out. If you are slowing down for a roundabout but then decide to go for a gap the brain has a moment. But that only happens in the Comfort, Eco or Auto mode. If you have it in dynamic / sport mode or manual mode there is no such issue.

The six speed manual gearbox in Mrs BB's TT is fantastic. Direct and precise with the short shift but even she has decided to go with DSG in her next TT.

Don't just take my word for it... WOW

Good to hear that DSG is good and getting better, just not for me.
I just love the total tactile control offered by the manual. They will be forcing us to use driverless cars before I let go of the stick

In modern driving, I can live with full auto with manual paddles if I need them.

Must be the best solution if driving daily in city or M25 jams...

There are so few places that you can properly enjoy driving that I can live with a car that compromises performance for a bit of comfort. Modern auto boxes are also very good so it's a small compromise.

I'm on my second fully auto dual clutch gearbox car now and honestly, I would never go back to manual.
Audis gearboxes are a lightning fast change and you never feel the gearbox is in control of you, you pull the paddle and th gear is there before you've released it!

The R8 is a fantastic car, the V10+ may be my next car, it's a super car you could get away with driving every day, such a forgiving ride compared to the Porsche.