V12 or V8? Aston Martin DB9 v Audi R8 V8 SHOOTOUT

[@oggie1967]

Good review, i have a DB9 coupe and love the experience of driving it! Have modified the exhaust valves so i can open or close them at will! I mostly just cruise around in mine but have to say that i find the flappy paddles quite responsive for an old school auto box when i want to get a move on! It even double de clutches on the shifts! Never driven an R8 so cant compare but i wonder how it would compare against a manual DB9? Food for thought eh? Enjoyed the video tho!👍♥️

[@harveyshearer6264]

There was a seat upgrade in the DB9 from 2007 onwards. A great improvement.

[@harveyshearer6264]

You forgot to mention pulling fuse 22 out of the boot of the DB9. Pull that fuse and the valves open in the exhaust... listen to it growl!

[@oggie1967]

@@harveyshearer6264 mine has been fitted with a modifying kit that replaces fuse 22 with an electronic gizmo that lets you open & close the valves with a Bluetooth fob on demand! Cool eh!

[@mruepp]

You dont get better weight distribution than with the DB9s transaxle 50:50

[@nigel.w]

As more of a GT guy, and with a bigger build, I'd also choose the R8 over the DB9.

[@wasimakujee5627]

crazy to say this but the r8 has aged even better has moer road presence just looks and sounds fantastic

[@notabovebutequal]

Great review and must have been tough to compare because this isn't an apples to apples comparison. Reason being: -R8 is a manual vs DB9 is a automatic. I do wonder how the driving experience would differ with the manual DB9. Also, what was your take on the paddle shifters reaction time? -R8 has the after market exhaust vs the DB9 is standard. That R8 sounds amazing! I wonder if you used sports mode in both cars and if that changed the exhaust sound at all? I know it can make a difference in the DB9's sound. R8 V8 base exhaust sound isn't quite loud. V10 has a nice roar. Things I am curious to know: -How did both cars handle? Turning, local drive, long drive, etc. -Do you feel the R8 would need an after market exhaust if it were the V10 engine? -Do you feel the review would have been closer if the DB9 was a manual? Also the coupe as opposed to the Volante? Regardless, great review. Two of my favorite cars!! Well done and definitely will subscribe

[@FastandFun]

Having both cars manual may have been a fairer comparison, but the vast majority of DB9’s are Auto (due to the GT nature) so doing a comparison test with an Auto R8 may have been fairer too, whether R-T or S-T. I’m not sure whether having the Volante model made any significant difference though. Yes, they’re slightly heavier, but at least you get to listen to the wonderful, vocal V12. I still think £-for-£ they are comparable cars. Noise was always going to cause some issues as the DB9 was standard and the R8 was fitted with the Capristo exhaust. In isolation, the V12 DB9 was great to listen too, but by the time you were climbing the rev range the speed was very fast (due to the gearing). But once I jumped back into the R8 it was on another level. And due to the quite short gearing I was able to use more of the revs more of the time before speeds became too high. There’s no loser here. Both cars offer a unique and wonderful driving experience, whether the FR V12 DB9 or the M4 V8 R8. 👍🏻

[@notabovebutequal]

@@FastandFun Well said! Thank you and great channel.

[@mikeyap4159]

Early Volantes chassis does not have rear anti roll bars and no chassis bracings of the later cars.

[@scottwilliams2870]

R8 all day long

[@Birmingham_racing]

First gen r8 is my favourite r8 but my god that Aston is gorgeous