Dropped my wife's Audi off for service and sat in the R8. Made me rethink the 911 I have on order. I know this is another post which most would say get what you like the most or why are you asking other people for reassurance, but with that said what's the car enthusiasts verdict on the two cars.

 

Set aside some time and watch this...

 

If you have doubts, buy the R8, the Corvette, the Jag, the McClaren, the Lambo....

It's not my money and I'm not driving your car. They are all fine vehicles and it is a matter of personal preference. I am of the opinion, that whatever other "enthusiasts" believe should not cause you to make any purchase.

It's a great excuse to go and drive them all.

 

I have owned both and both are wonderful. You would love either one. However, you will love driving the 911 more on a regular basis than an r8. Our R8 ended up just sitting in the garage because the 911 is just so much more usable day to day and just so damn EASY. The only real con to the 911 is it does not look as exotic. Otherwise the 911 is superior in most every other category. If you are talking about a weekend only drive then the differences become less important and just get the one your gut wants most.

 

"There are no bad cars over $ 100,000, just different ones"

I made that up.

 

It's a daily driver or will be. Great feedback!!! Love your car, must say way back when I casually lurked your white 991 with aerokit got me hooked on the 991. At least I think it was your car.

 

I've also owned both, V10 manual and now my PDK 991S. You couldn't possibly go wrong in either. The R8 was more fun down low, and you have to spin the 911 up more to get the grins going. The 911 feels faster, maybe because it's lighter, and I prefer the boxer/PSE soundtrack personally. All seat of the pants personal impressions.

My R8 was actually wrecked by a red light runner, and I had every intention of getting another one to replace it, until I saw and drove the 991. If I had to choose again, I'd go Porsche, which in fact I did, when my 911 was stolen. I considered the Audi again, but went back to Porsche.

The R8 was a fun attention getter, but frequently the wrong kind. I am a plain looking whitebread 40-ish old dude, but everywhere I went I had young women (and I mean young enough to be my daughter) asking me for a ride, often in front of my wife. The attention it drew did detract from the experience, but it did feel more exotic to behold and to drive, no question.

The main reason I prefer the Porsche day to day is what others here have said: it's is just plain easier to use and drive, with no real world tradeoffs in the fun or performance department. The R8 just wasn't so easy.

But you won't be missing out either way.

 

I did indeed have the ducktail, and will miss my little white beauty. If we had a 6 car garage, I would have found a way to keep them all.
So, if you are looking at a daily driver, 991 wins hands down.

 

I owned 3 R8's and was one of the more vocal posters about how wonderful the R8 is - and it is. My last R8 was the 2014 v10 Plus with the s-tronic transmission. A really great car. You can't go wrong with a R8.

But now I'm driving a 991TTS. After driving the Porsche, I begrudgingly had to admit that there was very little that the R8 did better than the 991TTS and that led me to get the turbo.

Here is the "lowdown"

PDK > s-tronic
991 handling> R8
991TTS acceleration>R8 V10 Plus
991TTS steering feel<R8V10 Plus
991TTS (ceramics) braking>V10 Plus ceramics
991TTS refinement>V10 Plus
991TTS engine/exhaust sounds<V10 Plus
991TTS electronics>V10 Plus
991TTS Burmester>V10 Plus B&O
991TTS wowee factor<V10 Plus

IMO, if you get the R8, the one to get is the V10 spyder with manual transmission. Someday that car will be a classic. I cannot tell you how much fun the R8 spyder is on a warm spring night with that V10 wailing behind your ears as you run through the gears with the top down.

I liked DrCollie's quote above.

 

The cab versions compared.

 

You forgot being able to see the engine through the glass , that's the coolest R8 feature. I hate the sideburns

 

I've been a longtime Audi fanboi. S4's, variants/Avants, RS4, RS5 and a M3 in the mix. I truely believed Audi was my destination of disposable income forever. By the way, if you havne't watched "Truth in 24", it's free on itunes, excellent use of time. Either way, I lined up a R8 test drive and 991 Carrera test drive at two different dealerships. I went to the Porsche dealership and that was it. Up to that point, my most beloved car was the RS4. It just had a raw, visceral emotion eliciting response. Like you weren't driving...you were F'ING driving. That's exactly how I felt on my first spin with the 991. You're connected and all inclusive of the driving experience. Not saying the R8 doesn't provide that, I mean a V10 spyder, how could it not?

Driving a Porsche is like hearing a band you love for the first time...you just know it's right.

 

I don't get the Audi R8 wow factor, to me, it looks more plain Jane than the 991.

 

Go check Car insurance prices and you'll go to the 911 after. :-)

 

Really? Great point!