CAR WARS! The NEW Audi R8 V8 Get Put To The Test On The TRACK With The Porsche Carrera 4S

Porsche, its better looking imo with a timeless design. It is faster with less power, and costs less.

I'd probably go with the 991 as well but there's something to be said for the R8's road presence and cutting-edge design that's still great to look at.

You can hardly call someone interested in an all-wheel drive 911 a "purist."

the 911 has been available with all wheel drive since the 1980s. what's your point?

I still wouldn't call AWD the "purist's" choice when talking about a Porsche model that has a rear-drive version. Would you? I guess I just didn't understand what "purist" meant in the phrase "clearly the choice for purists." Normally, when people say that in a comparison to an Audi, they are referring to the "purist's" love of rear-wheel drive dynamics.

For some of us that are into cars, the Porsche has a "timeless design" but for the average joe it doesn't. I like both cars but here in Jacksonville, specially in the Ponte Vedra area 911s are quite common. If you are spending over $120K probably you want to be noticed (even though not everyone likes to).
My wife cannot tell the difference from this 911 to our neighbours which is 2 years old.

I think one has to assume that as a track car, the 911 is superior to the R8. How can it not be given that it is a brand new car with all of Porsches state-of-the-art electronic aids, whereas the R8 is several years old? The R8's new dual clutch transmission clearly improves its track performance and the fact that it is a toss up in this test shows how well the R8 platform has aged. But if I was buying a car for the track it wouldn't be either of these.

As a street car, it depends on what you need and how visible you want to be. Both are luxury sports cars, both are really comfortable and reliable, both have the performance envelope that is superior to 95% of other cars on the road. The difference is that one is a mass produced sports car, whereas the other is built in far smaller numbers and is much rarer. One question is whether you want to be "seen", or not. There is really only one important, fundamental difference between these cars - the Porsche has 2 back seats. For people with young families, this means that they can go for the Sunday drive with their two little kids and wife in the back. Can't do that with the R8.

For people who are interested in buying an R8, this is the best time ever. The 991's introduction coupled with the refresh 2014 R8 which will be hitting the dealers within a month, has driven huge discounts on the car. People are getting easily getting $25K off MSRP on leftover 2012's V10's and if you can find a manual transmission car, especially a spyder, you will have a reliable exotic that costs about the same as a well equipped Porsche C4S cab. Other than new front and rear lighting, there is no difference between a leftover 2012 manual V10 R8 and the upcoming 2014.

both beautiful, phenomenal performance machines. but 911 without a doubt. better power band, better grip, better braking and brake feel, better handling and, i think, better looking.

I'd take the R8 because I am not the track type. Who wouldn't want an exotic super car for the driveway and a cruise around town!!!

Lol, audis aren't exotic. Porsches arguably are, plus more practice, faster, cost less... Ect.

Owned both. The Audi R8 is just simply better in all areas. Looks, performance and drivability. Be safe.