DRIVEN: Is Audi's R8 Spyder The Best Audi Yet?

Oh-kay, let's be real. What's better than an Audi R8? Duh! A Lexus LFA. "Pft!" to the naysayers. But since that costs double the price, let's back to the subject at hand.

An R8 Spyder is better than a standard R8.

And in this hilarious read, Scott Burgess pens about traveling to New Jersey to go to his high school reunion. Slick planning, sir. But the best part about this whole ordeal is that he gets to drive the car on the Turnpike in his home state. Now before you all start trashing my home state, realize one thing: the Turnpike is the closest thing to the American autobahn. If you're going to cane any car and hit top speed, this is the place to do it. It's wide open, straight and it is smoothly paved -- in most parts.

Personally, I have found the highway's best spot right when it runs alongside Newark Airport. Yes that region does have its own unique smell, I will admit, but it is perfectly straight and has an ungodly number of lanes. I don't suggest you go there at 3:00 a.m. and push your car to its limit. That's just illegal.


If you're going to drive down memory lane, do it in a 2011 Audi R8 Spyder.

I was trying to explain just that to an Elizabeth, N.J., police officer who was standing next to the driver's door, his hand casually placed on his pistol while examining my driver's license under the glare of red and blue flashing lights.

"Honest officer, it's my 25th high school reunion in a couple of days," I said.

"And why do you have this car...

[Source: The Detroit News]








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Agent63 - 11/6/2010 10:43:53 PM

+2 Boost

I tried driving the R8 Spyder and when I compared it to my previous car the 'regular R8' it wasn't as rigid. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to drive it to my reunion. However, I did get to drive my S-Class which was equally as respectable. I get this guys idea of showing up in an expensive sports car but in reality, staying humble in a Civic may be better sometimes. Less people talk about you behind your back.

The R8 Spyder is a head turner just like the other variant. It's a monumental car for the market. It looks different and it's made with world class materials like most luxury brands these days.

As far as saying it's the best Audi yet we have to wait and see. It's not ground breaking but it's the sportiest Audi yet I must say.

pcar4evr - 11/7/2010 3:45:17 AM

+2 Boost

Agent OOR, as a fellow NJ inmate, I would like to contest your comments about the Jersey Turnpike. It is the closest thing to the US Autobahn as long as you don't mind the NJ State Troopers hidden all over the place and in unmarked cars. You trying to help Gov. Christie balance the budget with speeding fines from the unwashed masses (ie., all the readers of Autospies except me!)??

The R8 spyder is the worse possible car to drive in NJ. Dude - you wanna get jacked? Turbo S is the way to go, no one gives a Porsche a second glance.

PUGPROUD - 11/7/2010 6:04:54 AM

+1 Boost

The way to get out of a ticket on the NJ Turnpike is to say in a polite
way as cars are zooming past within feet of the officer standing next to your car "I never realized officer how dangerous it is for you to be standing next to my car." Its true and it works every time.

Steve - 11/7/2010 10:39:32 AM

+2 Boost

With the Exotic-Appeal of a Ferrari, and the (hopefully strong) engineering and reliability of German manufacture, this car may have strong appeal for a certain market. I certainly like it a lot, without getting into the "best" pissing match.

quizz - 11/7/2010 11:38:40 PM

+1 Boost

I'd like to see how the entry level R8 Spyder handles with the V8, RWD, lightened with no mechanical top, just a manual pull up. I imagine a great handling driver's car with less HP but loads of fun.

Neverfollow - 11/8/2010 3:27:37 PM

+1 Boost

The "best" version of the R8 is yet to come to the US. Get your order in now for the GT before they are all gone!

ds_seven - 11/8/2010 7:18:06 PM

+1 Boost

according to some publicatons they already sold out.