Hi all, a few days age I wrote a post on how I was thinking about trading my 11 Turbo S in on Audi R8 5.2.Alot of you were kind enough to express there opinions, which I really appreciated.Because this is a Porsche forum there may be a little favoritism...maybe not.The difference in speed is not that big of a concern to me but rather the things that I might miss if i do make this trade.Unless someone really had a chance to own both cars for a couple of weeks,it is very hard to make this decision.Can anyone give me help in what I might truly miss in the Porsche other then speed.To me, the cabin features and comfort and exhaust sound are much better on the Audi.I do not track the car.I know it sounds like I have made up my mind but would really like some educated help before I make a mistake or pull the trigger.If anyone understands my desire please feel free to speak up.I cannot be the only one that wanted this change.Thanks in advance for your time and help.I truly appreciate it!!. By the way, it will cost be about 30,000 to move up to the 2012 after trading in my car.Also trunk space is not really an issue for overnite trips because we can always take the wifes car.

 

The turbo S you can upgrade every year (power, suspension etc) and enjoy the car over and over again.
The audi is what it is. When you get used to it (or bored with it) that's it. Not much you can do to revive the spark.
Also there is no other car in the planet that can give you the feeling of acceleration and torque of the 911tt with the traction to go with it. If you like to depress the pedal and feel as if King Kong has kicked you forward then the Porsche is the only option. You just need to spend a bit of $$ to give in 650hp/800nm and you ll get that feeling the audi can never give you.

 

I like you was considering a 5.2 R8 before I bought the turbo. Most important question is are you planning on keeping the car for more than a year? If so then the turbo is your car, compared to the costs to modify the R8 you can get a lot more performance for your money with the turbo. I know I know the exhaust note is intoxicating I still dream about it but then I get in my turbo and I forget about it.

 

I really am not into modding my car or do I really have any desire to really drive faster then these cars can already go.Nobody has mentioned the stereo sysyem in the Audi, which most people probably dont think is very important.During a long cruise it comes in quite handy...I understand this is a Porsche forum so I should probably stop flattering the R8.

 

There is the camaraderie of the P car Faithful which is a little bonus all it's own....

 

If you discount the ease of modding and resulting extra speed I'd say the thing you will most miss is having an understated car versus a car that gets a ton of attention?

 

I love the look of the new R8. IMO it has more of an "exotic" style and I see far fewer on the road.

That being said I wouldn't trade in '11 turbo S + 30k. Wouldn't even consider it. What I would do though since you're considering that type if hit is rent an exotic...e.g. Ferr, Lamb, etc...when you have the burning desire to drive something else. In the end I think you've got one of the best "all around" sports cars made. It's natural to want other cars no matter what it is you own. IMO you'll grow comfortable with the Audi and wish you just kept the S and 30k.

I have thought about upgrading from my 997.1 to an .2 S, GT3RS, etc...but always come back to why? What is it that is so important I get rid of an awesome car for a few tenths of a second, PDK, touch screen, etc...I don't think upgrading will make me smile anymore than my current turbo does. It's not my daily driver and that plays a part too but nonetheless I think it's human nature to always want more and variety...

In the end if money's no object then forget everything I said and just buy and sell/trade cars to your heart's content...

 

Out of curiosity what does the wife prefer?

 

A good friend of mine, who has been driving and racing Porsches for ten years, bought one of the V10 R8's last year and drove it down to my house to visit the family for a weekend. He had just picked it up that Friday. The car was indeed beautiful, and drew plenty of attention. A few days later I asked him how the new car was doing. He said he returned it to the dealer on Monday, and went on to tell me that he hated the way it drove compared to a Porsche. He said it was sickeningly boring, with no feel, in so many words. I was blown away. I did not drive it myself, and I am certainly no expert, but I thought I would pass that story along for what it's worth.

It sounds like you may be more interested in style, sound, conveniences etc. and in that case, maybe it is the car for you. If the extra money is not a deterent, then even more reason. If performance is the order of the day, then you will be taking a decisive step backwards. For me, bang for the buck is always a consideration, and Porsche exceeds most all other exotics is that regard.

 

Wife prefers the Turbo and thinks the R8 is ugly....

 

Seems to be the general consensus of women and the response to the suggestion is also quite passionate. Actually, i've yet to come across a woman that has reacted or said any different. So that said one thing certainly needs consideration. "Happy wife - happy life"..
And 30K is 30K. If you wanted to do that same excecise out here in Aus it would be the other way round (i.e. take a big bath on the Audi for the TTS) except add another 100K on to the 30. I guess one thing's for certain.....your dealer would be verr$y happy to get that one over the line. GL but just remember you are talking about swapping a current TTS for an Audi. Maybe knock the sound issue out of the equation, put on a Europipe and just settle back and relax in the meantime. 991TT is not that far off when you look at how fast time goes these days and that car will be a game changer. I'd just use that 30k to take a European holiday.....and keep the misses off your back. The exercise really isn't worth the trouble.