CAR WARS! Another Nissan GT-R Comparison — Audi's R8 V10 Plus Enlists

It's a funny thing how the automotive business works. First, everyone dropped their supercars and publications were in awe. Then, Nissan unleashed the GT-R to essentially be the less expensive and more performing Buzz Killington of the party.

Now everyone is trying to prove themselves against the likes of the GT-R.

Though fanbois will cry themselves to sleep on their ideal manufacturer's pillow it seems that some folks are starting to come around and square up with the GT-R. Though it is highly unlikely that the competition will outperform the Nissan, there are other qualitative data points that make the options better vehicles, overall. Take, for example, the Audi R8.

The R8 is more fun to drive and demands more driving engagement. But at the end of the day, even though its new dual-clutch 'box and V10 are a stellar combination, it just can't hang with the GT-R. However, better understand why the R8 **may** be the better pick of the two...

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Carlos Lago pits the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Pack against the 2014 Audi R8 V-10 Plus. Performance wise, both these all-wheel drive monsters represent the cream of the crop from their respective manufacturers. Nissan's GT-R comes out of the gate swinging with it's track pack, but the R8 packs a twin-clutch transmission as well as more power than previous R8's. In between some dynamic testing & canyon carving, Randy Pobst weighs in with his two cents as he joins Carlos at the Streets of Willow racetrack. Does Audi's V-10 goliath have what it takes to topple the legendary "Godzilla"?

Lexus - 5/26/2013 4:59:37 PM

+3 Boost

The Nissan GT-R again beat it competitor in a straight line, 0-60, 1/4 mile, braking test and around the track as well. I LOVE both cars but if I have to choose one over the other I think I would choose the Nissan GT-R because I read to many stories about the Audi R8 burst into flame for no reason.

pcar4evr - 5/26/2013 7:29:27 PM

0 Boost

You're kidding, right. You think that R8's burst into flames? Well, I have it on good authority that the cause of all these R8's bursting into flames is because their owners ate too many beans and suffer from human combustion - it's not the cars' fault. There is an official notice warning R8 drivers not to drive within a half hour of eating baked beans.

Satriani1 - 5/26/2013 11:48:23 PM

0 Boost

Lexus: You must be confused. It was really a Lexus that burst into flames...

On May 7. the Duluth Fire Department responded to a fire in UMD’s library parking lot. "After arriving on the scene, the fire department found a 1999 Lexus ES 300 with flames and smoke coming out from under its hood." The car was parked between two other cars near the middle section of the lot. According to the department’s acting captain Jason Siegle, Siegle "said the fire probably started from an electric issue under the hood, but the department is still investigating."
https://umdstatesman.wp.d.umn.edu/2013/05/07/parked-car-catches-on-fire-in-umds-library-parking-lot/

TheSteve - 5/26/2013 5:07:13 PM

0 Boost

If I was a racer who competed on the track, then this would matter to me.
If I cared what others thought of me, needing to prove that I'm "better" because of the car I drive or like, then this would matter to me.

But I fit in neither category. I like the Audi R8 Spyder V8 because of its styling and decent performance and handling. What someone else has, or likes, or thinks, is none of my business.

Satriani1 - 5/26/2013 6:38:25 PM

-1 Boost

I beleieve this is a repeat of the same comparison recently posted by German Nut.

It's the automotive writers who are choosing the cars for comparison, not the manufacturers.

And the moron auto writers can't even choose the right cars to compare apples against apples.

The Nissan GTR Track Pack is the top GT-R track car.
http://www.nissanusa.com/sportscars/gt-r/?next=header.vehicles.postcard.vlp.button

The Audi R8 V10 Plus is not the top R8 track car. (But the reviewers admitted that they chose the R8 to win because they "all wanted to keep driving it" rather than the Nissan GT-R).

The top R8 track car is the R8 GT coupe, which should have been the test car.
- The R8 GT is 560 HP, which is 10 HP more than the R8 V10 Plus.
- The R8 GT is 3,362 lbs, which is 316 lbs lighter than the R8 V10 Plus's 3,678 lbs.
http://models.audiusa.com/r8-gt
http://models.audiusa.com/r8-gt/detailed-specifications?engine=33

The following German articles will help explain the diferences between the two cars. Click on the tabs in the top-left area (below the picture gallery) to go to the four pages of the article (page 2 shows how the cars performed at two tracks Nurburgring and Hockenheim, while page 3 is the conclusion). Note that the individual tests were done one year apart, and that the R8 GT was built one year before the GT-R.

- Audi R8 GT, July 2012 supertest: Score 69 out of 70 points. The R8 GT was built in 4/2009.
http://tinyurl.com/ccxeaeh

- Nissan GT-R, July 2011 Supertest: Score 67 out of 70 points. This 530 GT-R was built in 4/2010.
http://tinyurl.com/pqpcpey
http://tinyurl.com/prq7olu

- 2012 GT-R test (not a supertest): this 550 HP GT-R was built in March 2012, but the reviewer von Sauma did not find much differences with the 2011 car despite the slight changes.
http://tinyurl.com/nreocn5

German car reviewer Horst von Sauma understands why the R8 is the better car of the two. He is the former editor of Sport Auto mag, is one of the most respected car reviewers renown for his 'supertests' where part of his test involves driving a car at its limits on two well-known Greman tracks -- Nurburgring and Hockenheim. von Sauma is one of the most experienced Nurburgring drivers: in past years, he set several records at Nurburgring for fastest production car.

Apparently Audi has been testing an even faster, more powerful R8 GT to be introduced later this year.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/go/future-cars/spy-shots/caught-testing-2013-audi-r8-gt

pcar4evr - 5/26/2013 7:23:26 PM

+1 Boost

Having owned 2 R8 v10 spyders, a sepang blue 2011 and now a suzuka grey 2102, it's hard to express how much enjoyment this car brings me and how impressive it is to drive. I really should change me name on this site. As far as the GTR vs. whomever - GTR puts up incredible numbers and is an icon for that. If that is one's primary objective, then the GTR is for you.

iamdabest1 - 5/26/2013 11:02:13 PM

+1 Boost

different cars for different people, the gtr is pure performance and has a lot of respect from only people who like cars. the Audi is loved by everyone. the r8 is way better looking and fast enough for most drivers.