When I first saw the new version of the R8 online, I disliked it alot - it wasn't sexy like the first one was. And the fact that they dropped the manual gearbox made it worse.
Then I saw a grey one at the DC auto show in person and really liked the way it looked.
If I just think of it as an individual sports car and forget that the first generation R8 existed, I like the new one. If given the choice though, I'd take the first gen. with that awesome H-gate shifter.