“I bought an Audi”

[C8RKH]

So come on @saj reveal all...

[saj]

2 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

So come on @saj reveal all...

Oops sorry totally forgot. Was having too much fun in it ?

It's an Audi R8 V10 RWS (Rear Wheel Series). 540bhp to the rear wheels, 50kg lighter than Quattro models and limited to 999 cars globally. 

 

[CocoPops]

Oh

[Bravo73]

Mwhahaha. The Oodi lover is going to love that!

[CocoPops]

@C8RKH your dream car has arrived

 

[Del Lardo]

Wibble 

[C8RKH]

At least he had the sense to get rid of the 2 back seats.

[Barrykearley]

????

[C8RKH]

As you guessed. Not MY dream cars but certainly Saj's and a nice addition to his garage.

The R8 has a wonderful v10 engine but as a car it does nothing for me. Personally if I was spending over £100k on a car I'd have gone for a GT430 in Ardent Red.

However, I'm sure Saj is delighted and in love. Let's see how he feels after driving it on track.

[Snoopy1969]

@saj congrats! (esp nice Color and rwd-edition)

@C8RKH just a short comment on Lotus pricing: this AUDI is more than € 10.000 c h e a p e r in Germany than the GT 430...........i am not sure if the pricing of the gt 43o in Continental europe is maybe, just maybe, a Little bit too optimistic.....

 

 

[C8RKH]

It is about £10k cheaper in the UK too. But then of course you have the Audi fleeceushitless options list.

You are also  comparing a volume mass producer with a handmade outfit - Lotus does not have the scale to compete.

999 R8 RWS as a limited edition is about half of Lotus full year production so hardly exclusive and it still looks like a TT to most people.  Lol. I'd still have the 430GT instead.

[Snoopy1969]

@C8RKH I would prefer the 430 also, esp because I prefer a Manual (but all a matter of taste...)....oh and I am so tired of these "oh..its a limited Edition, buy now or never....." Marketing activities......... 

but: If you (like Lotus I guess) want to compete than you should calculate Prices that make "sense" relating the competition! If Lotus sells the GT430 / GT 430 Sport more or less "easy" than fine for them (and us, as funds for further development is generated).

[C8RKH]

So how does a manufacturer who sells 2,000 handbuilt cars a year compete with a manufacturer who sells 1.871m cars (2016 global sales figures for Audi)?

The fact that the Lotus is within 10% of the Audi is pretty remarkable if you ask me already.  

The 2017 Audi R8 V10 RWS is 1590kg in weight. 198 mph top speed and 0-62mph in 3.7seconds - 335bhp per ton.

The GT430 is 1258kg in weight. 190 mph top speed and 0-62mph in 3.6seconds - 345bhp per ton.

When you look at the raw figures, I cannot help but feel Lotus is punching weigh, weigh (sic), above its weight when you consider size of companies, scale of companies, revenues of companies etc.

And, the best bit is that the GT430 does not look like an Audi Diseasel TT with a body kit and some fancy paint.

[saj]

I never actually compared the R8 RWS with the GT430, not the same target audience as the GT430 wasn't even a consideration for me, it is aimed at cars like the Porsche GT3. I wanted the R8 for the NA V10 and the fact it was RWD. That V10 really is an experience to drive and when it al goes to the rear the car feels wild and it gives you an unbelievable buzz. Some may say it looks like a TT (I don't think it does) but then the Exige and Elise look much more similar than the R8 does to the TT. The GT430 is a seriously impressive car but I moved away from Lotus because I was tired of waiting weeks and weeks for parts that were always on back order. My car was off the road for a month just becuase one engine mount was n back order, I only managed to get it back on the road after sourcing it from one of the tuners who happened to have one spare other wise I would have been waiting much longer. My steering rack was leaking fluid and I again had to wait 3 weeks for that to come off back order so again my car was off the road for a month. I loved my Evora still do but £120k for the GT430 are an overall package including being able to keep it on the road isn't worth it. Performance wise it is great for the money, but at £120k I want the relevant support to be there too which means not having my car off the road for months at a time because a single part is unavailable.

I am and always will be a Lotus fan but there are areas Lotus can't compete on at the moment one obvious one is the build quality, the R8 compared to the Evora is on another level and at this price point that matters alot. The dealer network for support is significantly better, another reason given how horrendous MMC's service was for a long term customer with no other local offical dealer to work with. With Audi I have a decent choice of where to take my car to whether it is to buy or get it serviced.

[plenty]

No need to defend yourself or your choices, Saj - the reaction to your new car was entirely predictable.

[Snoopy1969]

I think it is very interesting to hear from @saj w h y he has not bought another Lotus - esp the Point that spare part supply a problem and that has been a relevant Point for does not surprise me. No matter if a Lotus costs 50, 70 or 100 k the spare part supply should be better by far! In my 5 years of ownership there were sev occasions in which the spart part supply had been far from "ok / fine"

Also @saj mentions the engine of the R8 that atrracted him - very valid Point in my eyes too, with the 911 gt3 and the R8 there are 2 similar priced cars, both with a very attractive NA engine, comparing these  engines with the Lotus engine I am not convinced that Lotus should have put the 430 in the same (Price) Region (and I am not complaining about the Toyota Basis in General)

[theelanman]

my mate has had a few of these...........he agrees with me that theyre boring.......

but he likes the speed and the fact that the car is 4x4 and does eveything for you........

he likes to go incognito quickly

and in turn Ive driven a couple of them....and yep....theyre boring........

I must also admit that I can usually get them mixed up with a TT........haircut anyone?

[theelanman]

I do have to admit that hes finally come to his senses.......the R8 is that boring he's gone all out for the MacLaren (640? I think)

[saj]

11 minutes ago, theelanman said:

my mate has had a few of these...........he agrees with me that theyre boring.......

but he likes the speed and the fact that the car is 4x4 and does eveything for you........

he likes to go incognito quickly

and in turn Ive driven a couple of them....and yep....theyre boring........

I must also admit that I can usually get them mixed up with a TT........haircut anyone?

It is RWD

7 minutes ago, theelanman said:

I do have to admit that hes finally come to his senses.......the R8 is that boring he's gone all out for the MacLaren (640? I think)

Good job i'm easily pleased

54 minutes ago, plenty said:

No need to defend yourself or your choices, Saj - the reaction to your new car was entirely predictable.

I wasn't really defending the choice, it was more just that the 430GT and any other Lotus wasn't even on the radar for me at this price point.

I'm on a total high with the new car

[plenty]

44 minutes ago, saj said:

I wasn't really defending the choice, it was more just that the 430GT and any other Lotus wasn't even on the radar for me most people at this price point.

FTFY

[NW76]

Not my kind of car... even my AC Schnitzer M4 is at least as fast as it (I had one just recently fall victim to my M4 on the Autobahn - he almost killed himself will trying to get rid of me in his review mirror .... and I am pretty sure he sold it afterwards, because it couldnt even get rid of a simple BMW ;-) )  ... moreover, I must agree it looks pretty boring AND it drives as boring as it looks like...   

[plenty]

Curious as to whether folks who dismiss an R8 also feel the same about a Lambo Huracan.

[Advantage]

That looks really nice. 540bhp naV10 RWD in a striking bodyshape. What's not to like? 

[andyj007]

the back end looks sharp straight on...

partial to a trim back end

[21gg]

Not my cup of tea but a very nice car all the same, and at least you got the rwd! 

Enjoy!