Audi R8 V10 Roadster test drive

What a day that was... my father calls me around 10am and casually asks "what you are doing?" from which I reply "getting ready to leave work and head to the airport for training in Sydney, why?". "I'll come and get you, we'll put some miles on this R8". Silence for a moment while that sinks in... "Deal!"

I haven't even opened the front door when I hear the unmistakable sound of a V10 roaring up the street. Unusual for my father to be show boating... Turns out he wasn't - it's just that loud all the time!

We pop the front hatch and my small (thankfully!) bag is consumed somewhere deep between the front wheels. I start off as a passenger and while disappointed it gave me a chance to savour the beautifully finished interior - soft leather on just about everything. It's really something very special and yet also very familiar to a VW or Audi fan/owner - my father has a Golf GTi and commented that it's just a posh Golf. I frowned and said nothing...

There a 3 things that hit me as massive positives after only mere minutes.

Firstly the noise, there's lots and lots of it. And that's to my liking! Sounds like a friends Ford XR5 on steroids. Hard edged with serious induction roar until the exhaust butterflies open around 4000rpm and the howl from the exhaust is added. Magic!

Secondly the ride quality is just so damn good. And not just good for a sports car without a roof and 19" wheels but good compared to anything! It rides over bumps without shakes or thumps and cats eyes are barely noticed. Truly remarkable. Yet aim for a corner and the body to controlled so tightly that it feels as if there is no roll at all... How did they get it this good? My poor old R33 Skyline GTR is so far behind the R8 in both comfort and body control it's worthless to compare them. Sigh...

Thirdly the engine pulls cleanly and will real enthusiasm from anywhere in the rev range. The low end and mid range torque available is instant and abundant. This is a very special engine so I can only imagine what it must be like in a higher state of tune and in a body 200+ kgs lighter such as the lightweight Lambo special.

My turn to drive comes and its then that a forth very important point comes to light. This car, this 500hp sports car is so easy to drive. The gear shift action is smooth and effortless, the steering perfectly weighted and the same can be said for the pedals. Only 2 things annoy me, blipped the throttle in 'normal' mode shows the lazy throttle response at low revs but in 'sport' its sharp and instant maybe too instant. And other bugger is that the brakes while mighty and progressive are like all new VW/Audi in that they are over assisted at low speeds. This makes heal and toeing at low speeds where only light brake and throttle applications are needed very tricky.

Anyway it was a pleasure to drive and really an eye opener on how far chassis & engine development has moved on from the sort of cars I have a home.

I arrived at the airport and in full view of about 50 people fumbled around getting the front hatch open and my soft bag out. Still the mild embarrassment was worth the 3 hours of bliss sounds and effortless speed!

I'm back in action and theres lots to come!

What I've driven lately that needs words:

1. Audi R8 V10 Roadster

2. Lotus Evora S

3. Aston Martin Vantage V8

All manuals of course...

And I've decided to discuss my own garage from now on too...

Starting with the cars I've owned over the last 12 or so years.

And then getting into detail on my current toy, an R33 Nissan Skyline GTR built for driving fast and hard!

You can expect more photos and more frequent updates - promise :)

What do I like in a car?

Good looks, yes.

Power, yes however more important is engine response on and lifting off the throttle, character, sound and torque.

Quick steering, yes however more important is steering feel, the way the car reacts to your inputs and the weight and consistency.

Brakes capable of stopping a B-double, yes however more important is brake feel pedal, initial bite, consistency and how the car reacts to having the load shifted to its front wheels.

Lightening bolt gear change and clutch, yes however more important is that the shift feels mechanical and precise and clutch is consistent is feel with a defined pick-up point.

Handling like the car is on rails, yes however more important is ride compliance, spring and damping rates that match, body control not just laterally but also longitudinal.

Balance, yes. No sudden under to over steer action!

And finally, light weight. Yes! Thanks to Mazda for the MX5 (or Miata) and Lotus for the Elise and Exige range.

Driven: 370Z manual

Thanks to the Nissan dealer in Brighton for allowing the test drive!

I have to start by saying the new 370z looks magic! Its low slung, wide and muscular! Pity that the Zeds in Australia do not get the 19" wheels that the Americans get (albeit an optional extra).

The interior is light years ahead of the 350Z - the feel of the various surfaces is vastly improved. The seat, positioning of the pedals, steering wheel and gear knob are all familiar and that's no bad thing. You sit very low and thus the dashboard seems high and the view out the front wind screen is almost along the bonnet. Again no bad thing...

The entire key fob slots into a cavity beside the steering wheel and the engine starts at the press of a button - not the first but a neat feature because unlike some the button only requires one touch with the clutch depressed and the computer wizardry determines how long the starter motor is required for.

The engine is muted at idle and a little characterless. Depress the 'springy' clutch and engaging first requires strength. Both are heavy and bulky and later very very short in throw. Honestly, why have the throw so short and the movement between ratios so heavy? I would much rather a longer throw and light mechanical feel such that found in a Honda DC2 Integra Type R. Clutch engaged and we are away. Into second you realise that the revs linger for some time meaning little to no throttle is required to match the next gear. Same thing into third and fourth. I see whats happening here, the Engineers at Nissan have decided that rev matching on the way up through the gears is also too difficult for the average Joe. Coming to a set of lights and down shifting sees the tacho flaring to match revs. Again no effort required and I’m feeling left out.

The rev-matching system does work and work well, however, it’s boring! The only flaw i saw was when decelerating to approach say a speed bump and clutching from 3rd to neutral the engines revs flared for several seconds before its computers determined that I wasn’t going for a gear yet.

I turned it off and found that initial throttle response is dull and that is a complaint i have with of cars fitted with electronic throttle bodies! Heel and toeing was easy and no flaring revs when going into neutral. However, the engine is a little slower to respond to the throttle being lifted in the lower revs - this may be to make the driving experience smoother...

The engine is awesomely powerful and makes plenty of noisy on the way to the redline but that is all it is, noise. The engine sounds coarse and brassy as opposed to the raw and metallic note emitted from BMW's E46 M3 and certainly not sweet and smooth like another one of BMW's straight sixes found in the 130.

The steering is meaty and steering wheel well matched and I have never seen so many functions crammed onto steering wheel real-estate. The wheel weights up around corners and has decent feedback - nothing to get overly excited by.

Compliance and ride quality are very good. The chassis feels very stiff and suspension takes advantage of that. So the ride is firm to say the least - and the pay off - awesome body control in the twisty stuff. I didn’t experience any bumps mid-corner so I can’t comment how all of this works on rough surfaces. Grip levels were high but with this much power over coming the back tyres is only a sudden ankle moment away.

Not a lot pressure on the middle pedal is required to bring the Zed to a standstill. Pedal feel is a little over sensitive at first but a few applications later and modulating pedal is no problem.

Would I buy one? Only a longer test drive could see me answer that. The car feels heavy and powerful with strong brakes and enough grip to entertain. The ride is firm and steering is pretty good. Clutch and gearbox action are a let down but 370z isn’t alone in that department!

Introduction... the why?

I have decided to start this blog for those that really enjoy driving cars, not just enjoy cars. There is a difference you see - 1 likes the 'look' and the other the 'feel'. That said i do have a shallow side that comes out on occasions and when necessary (i.e. the bug eyed rex is not blessed with good looks!)

I have over the last 10 years been fortunate enough to have driven and owned a stack or cars that helped me determine what i like and dont like about a car. I think i'm easy to please and I know that there are others like me that really do get kicks from driving brilliantly balanced, sharp steerers that are more than just the ability to lay rubber exiting round-a-abouts.

My backgroud is simple - Mechincal Engineer with Automotive experience (seemed an obvious choise post Uni). Track days and drives in the hills are must as is test driving new cars on the market and classics that are pure and honest.

Oh... and the why? I wanted to share my experiences with others and maybe even help those that are looking to get a good fun car!

And one more thing, grammar and spelling are not my strong points so go easy on me!