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

The 911 has standard head airbag curtains which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and front passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. The R8 doesn't offer side airbag protection for the head.

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

The 911 Turbo’s standard 3.6 turbo 6 cyl. produces 60 more horsepower (480 vs. 420) and 143 lbs.-ft. more torque (460 vs. 317) than the R8’s 4.2 DOHC V8.

As tested in Road & Track the Porsche 911 is faster than the Audi R8 (manual transmissions tested):

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the 911’s engines produce their peak torque and horsepower at lower RPM’s than the R8:

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The R8 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the 911 Turbo gets better fuel mileage than the R8:

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The R8 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the R8:

The 911 GT3 handles at 1.05 G’s, while the R8 pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 goes through Road & Track’s slalom 3 MPH faster than the R8 (73.2 vs. 70.2 MPH).

For better maneuverability, the 911’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the R8’s (36 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 500 pounds less than the Audi R8.

As tested by AutoWeek while under full throttle, the interior of the 911 Turbo Carrera 4 is quieter than the R8 (79 vs. 81 dB).

The 911 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the R8 can only carry 2.

The 911 Coupe has a much larger trunk (front and rear combined) than the R8 (11.7 vs. 6.7 cubic feet).

The 911’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The R8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The 911’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The R8’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 911 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The R8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 offers an optional rear wiper. The R8 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.