Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2008 Audi R8 VS 2008 Porsche 911 Near Phoenix, AZ

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All Wheel Drive is standard on the R8. But it costs extra on the 911.

Both the R8 and the 911 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The R8’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 911’s (12 vs. 10 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the R8 for 1 year and 5000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Porsche doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 911.

There are over 35 percent more Audi dealers than there are Porsche dealers, which makes it easier to get service under the R8’s warranty.

The R8’s 4.2 DOHC V8 produces 95 more horsepower (420 vs. 325) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 273) than the 911’s standard 3.6 DOHC 6 cyl. The R8’s 4.2 DOHC V8 produces 65 more horsepower (420 vs. 355) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 295) than the 911 S’ standard 3.8 DOHC 6 cyl. The R8’s 4.2 DOHC V8 produces 5 more horsepower (420 vs. 415) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 300) than the 911 GT3’s standard 3.6 GT3 6 cyl.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi R8 is faster than the Porsche 911 (manual transmissions tested):

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Audi R8 was clocked 2.77 seconds faster than the Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe Carrera 4 (95.76 sec. vs. 98.53 sec.) at an average lap speed 2.7 MPH faster (94 MPH vs. 91.3 MPH).

The R8 has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the 911 RWD’s standard fuel tank (23.8 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the R8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 911:

The R8 stops much shorter than the 911:

For better traction and acceleration, the R8 has larger rear tires than the 911 (295/30R19 vs. 265/40R18).

The R8’s 235/35R19 front and 295/30R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) which provides a stiffer sidewall than the 911’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the R8 has standard 19 inch wheels. Smaller 18 inch wheels are standard on the 911.

The R8 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The 911 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the R8’s wheelbase is 11.8 inches longer than on the 911 (104.3 inches vs. 92.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the R8 is 5.7 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 911.

The R8’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (44% to 56%) than the 911’s (39.1% to 60.9%). This gives the R8 more stable handling and braking.

The R8 handles at .99 G’s, while the 911 Coupe Carrera 4 pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The R8 goes through Road & Track’s slalom 4.6 MPH faster than the 911 Turbo Coupe Carrera 4 (71.1 vs. 66.5 MPH).

As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the R8 is quieter than the 911 GT3:

Wireless connectivity is optional on the R8, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Porsche doesn’t offer wireless connectivity on the 911.