That was a really good read Paul70
thanks for taking the time to write up your impressions and thoughts now you’ve fully familiarised yourself with the 8R.
My lasting memories of my (much missed) Ed40 are that lightness and nimble feel. The TCR that followed it felt more hunkered down and brawny for some reason despite the chassis being very similar and indeed further developed. Featherweight vs middleweight in feel.
My 8R is on 4K in 5 months but most of the time it’s just pootling around locally, gearbox in D or E.
I find the Race mode settings a bit too jerky and the Soundaktor horrid so almost never use that setting, but the car seems to punch well above its weight in that mode performance wise. Very aggressive! I’m a bit old and spindly for all that now so tend never to hit the R button.
Mine lacks the Special mode as I don’t have either Performance Pack or DCC. Both would be wasted on me so weren’t specced.
I don’t find the 8R any less agile than the mk8 Clubby to be honest which would have surprised me had I not seen so many road tests. The drive mode settings on the R do seem more differentiated than the Clubsport.
The Clubsport had maybe a bit more finesse where the R can be a bit ‘two pints of Stella and pick a fight’ in anything other than the Comfort/Eco setting.