I am glad you like the R8. It is good looking has ample power and certainly quite rare. BUT, it is not an NSX replacement.
The only NSX replacement will be made by HONDA.
I agree that it seems like we have been waiting for ever for a replacement for the beloved NSX. Finally there is concrete evidence of an extraordinary car due to take the place of the NSX. I have, as have other true HONDA enthusiasts, waited for so long for HONDA to do what they are finally about to do and to give up at this point seems unthinkable, at least to some of us.
A few of us are hung up on a mid engine powerplant as a must for the NSX replacement. It is the performance and handling which matters most, the placement of the engine is not the end all of the concept for a replacement. Face it, is the hands of 99.9% of the drivers who are driving on the public roads, a front engine and four wheel drive car is the best possible set up.
The R8 has its strong points but it also has a few things that ought to be considered in a fair light.
First of all it is an Audi. Not the most reliable cars out there.
Second, while it has great handling, it does not have the best or most powerful Audi powerplant. Amazingly enough that powerplant has found its first use in a four door Audi sedan and a station wagon before the Audi R8
I understand that is to be remedied soon with a diesel and then the more powerful v10 engine finding its way in the engine bay of the R8. An engine bay that is incidentally large enough for a V10. Clearly something Audi was planning from the begining.
Third, much less expensive but almost equally powerful mid engine cars are planned by Audi [?TT replacement] and parent company VW.
Fourth, Audi seems to be using the front design treatment complete with the staring LCD headligths for several of its models. That takes away from the "exotic" looks of the R8.
Fifth, and most importantly [this is after all an Acura/Honda NSX forum:wink:], it is not made by the best automotive company in the world, hands down, HONDA. HONDA's engineering is legend.
What HONDA did almost two decades ago should be some indication of what is about to be unleashed by the very same powerhouse.
But if you just had to purchase a non HONDA product, you could have done a lot worse. So congratulations:smile: