Audi R8 (42) parking brake how-to: gated manual vs R tronic

Audi R8: mechanical breakdown

A 2010 R8 parking brake demo

Thirteen seconds on how to operate the parking brake, also called the emergency brake, of a 2010 Audi R8. The caption names no events and no modified parts, so there is nothing further to report from the clip itself.

Open gate or R tronic: two 6-speeds

Behind the 5.2 FSI V10 (518 hp, 530 Nm) the 42 R8 came with a choice of two 6-speed gearboxes. One is a manual with an open metal gate, and owners prize it for the metallic click of the shifter. The other is R tronic, an automated manual with a single clutch. That design is the source of its reputation: it wears clutches quickly and shifts roughly. A used car with R tronic therefore needs its clutch wear checked first. The gated manual has no equivalent complaint on the list, which is much of why it commands the premium.

Exhaust changes and the turbo option

Aftermarket exhausts and X-pipes lead the list. On an even-firing, naturally aspirated V10 they turn the high-pitched howl louder and more aggressive. Drone is the cost, and noise limits can become a problem. A twin-turbo kit sits at the other end: it adds a very large amount of power over the stock 518 hp, but at high cost and with reduced reliability. Both changes act on the 5.2 V10 rather than the gearbox, and the clip itself names no parts.