Preface - summary of past experiences

Murcielago Roadster

Big! Everything is big on this car - its impact on everything around it, in it.

The scissor doors are not nearly as unwieldly as others or first impressions would have you think, but a certain limber dexterity is very helpful.

Exhileratingly tiring, even fatiguing - loud.

Easy to drive - is this an absurd idea?

E-gear makes this almost as easy to drive as an auto, yet as engaging as traditional stick and clutch.

The induction roar at full throttle, even at low rpm (3000 rpm) is impressive, but open her up at full throttle and run her through the rev range up to 6000 and even higher...the whole drive train comes on song, the mechanical shriek both mesmerizing and enervating, as speed builds at ungodly speed. The closest thing to sex at speed as you,re likely to experience! Did I mention the sensation of speed?

The cloth top is both a mechanical marvel, and a total joke. Gap between driver door window and top frame seal allows both wind roar and rain to drip down onto the thigh. Aggravating? A mere irritation; does one notice a gnat when hunting a maneating tiger?

Suspension is tight, stiff, rattlely at city speeds. All is forgiven at speed. 100mph+ is as relaxed and tight and "natural" as mere mortal cars at 60 (though E39 M5 and E38 740iL is more comfortable, with less sensation of speed. More on this comparison is worthwhile - same speeds but so very different)

Audis seem to be the most aggressively driven (everything relative of course) '08 M6 passing at 90; MB E classes; Subarus at 100+. At no point was there any hesitation or doubt that dropping it down 2 gears, winding up the revs, there is not a nanoseconds doubt that not only is overtake possible, but inevitable. The sensation of acceleration, even between 90 and 130, is simple, natural, inevitable. Just a matter of fact, with much more to come; just ask.

An interesting assortment of other cars out at the same time...but all with the same reaction - head crane, fingers pointing, nodding smile. I'm surprised how unabashed the recognition is - "Lamborghini!" And the more knowing, Murcielago.

Funny - "Is that a Gallardo?"

"No, that's one there." (15 feet away)

"Oh, I didn't even see that!"

Strange - the Murci is larger than the Gallardo, and I expected it to be much harder to drive, a wild mustang to a city park pony.

In fact I find the Murci easier to drive - keep on track; to adjust to, to reacquaint oneself to, to stay in one's lane.

Irony - both so low, so pulling parking lot tickets is a problem. Gallardo Spyder - open top, reach out and over. 15 seconds. No room to open door (or bang it) Coupe? Problem.

Murci - open scissor door, no problem! (But pull forward or bang your head!

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Day 1 - 320+ miles. Tired, exhausted even, but exhilerated. Loud, but like Arrowsmith or Led Zeppelin to a rocker, music to the soul. Not easy to carry on a conversation, but certainly possible.

Seats are surprisingly comfortable, for a seat that has only one adjustment - forward and back, via manual bar under front thigh bolster. Charming simplistic purity...

Interesting obs

...I hope to hear more from you 'Lambophile'.

With 2 days to digest the experiences of day 1, and epilogue seems to be in order.

DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR IF YOU DON'T LIKE BEING PART OF THE CENTER OF ATTENTION! You quickly learn it's not you (well, there seems to be SOME curiosity who's driving - most assuming some footballer - but even being in or around the car puts one on center stage. A bit embarrassing, really.

When does any sane, normal law abiding citizen NEED 640 horsepower, alomost commensurate amounts of torque, and the ability to accelerate past almost anything else on the road, no matter the speed? Jet lagged left hand drivers taking to UK roads again after 25 years. One takes an exit off a motorway or A road to the left; suddenly one sees a second lane, making it appear as though the single lane has become a dual carriage road. WRONG. It's the access road GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION. Those 640 horses and torque REALLY can be a lifesaver. Not to mention the paddle shifter e-gear.

Hi 'Lambophile' - hmm, I wonder if someone (? ) is taking the mickey.....

....Lambos are always a lot better at breaking the ice with fellow motorists or passers-by than a red car from the house of the startled horse. Good to hear it's getting a spanking - any dabs of oppo needed?

Troy
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There was no "computer approximation" of real world mechanical linkages and air and fluid dynamics based on physics rather than microprocessor "simulations."

The LP-640 engine I know from earlier iterations (pre-Diablo) - I have to admit, it is a monster, if antiquated (in an endearing, good way)

It's strong through 5000 rpm, but at 5000 rpm, it is as though a turbo booster or nitrous was switched on (of course, the engine is normally aspirated, as is my preference) - I have to look at the charts, but my personal seatofthepantssmallofthebackneckmuscle meter tells me it almost goes vertical at 5000 and up through the redline, and it isn't just the mind playing games due to the shriek of the mechanical symphony, though that can be both intoxicating and perhaps a bit hellucination inducing.

The steering is not as precise as that of the Porsche Boxster (gasp!) And though it is tight and "comfortable) at speed,

1. It is too heavy, with too many "ugly noises" at low speeds;

2. It has a bit too much "flabbiness" in both steering feel, response, and the tired and chassis "tracking" to feel really comfortable on some of the tiny, very tight A roads of the Scottish Highlands and B roads of the farm areas of England. Made many time worse due to the virtually complete lack of visibility and sense of the corners and extremities; and its wide, wide body, furniture, and wheels and tires. Very, very wide...

The Murci is WIDE. Keeping it between the lines is not impossible, but definitely one needs to keep on ones toes. The slight "vagueness" and play (see comments above vis a vis Porsche Boxter) adds to the constant "tension"

Could be a function of the wide, wide tires. I didn't experience tramlining, but I could certainly imagine how strong it would be.

Wise words from Dr. V - "be careful of excessive speeds, but there's no laws against accelerating."



Turn signal/light stalk is too close to downshift paddle; could be dangerous in high speed night driving with unplanned unexpected downshift while "flashing" headlights (even in daytime too!)