I was going to be subtle about this, but then Magrath demanded I admit that "This past weeked I drove a Bentley to Pebble Beach because I'm a stupid spoiled jerk. The Continental was acceptable, I guess, but once in Monterey, I threw the key to some guy in a VW hat and insisted they get me something more befitting my dirigible-sized ego. 'Something with weird doors,' I said, 'And don't you dare get me metallic paint little man!'" There we go, can I begin now?
The Lamborghini Aventador is intimidating. It's not the flat-black paint or the razor-sharp styling. It's not the 690-horsepower V12 behind my shoulder or the Lamborghini lore of punishing overzealous drivers. It's not even the sky-high price. No, it's the indisputably alien nature of the car.
I delicately plop myself around the scissor door into the low-slung cockpit. The windshield seems to start an absolute mile away and then with its extreme rake terminates just above the wheel. The side windows dive down toward tiny quarter mirrors and are dominated by angular, wide mirrors. The view rearward is like spying on someone through an airvent. The starter button hides under a little red panel like it launches a bomb; the paddle shifters look like a ninja weapon. I'm used to driving a car, not an alien spacecraft that should have stars zooming past the windows.
And then there's the size. I know it's enormous, but the cockpit is such that I can't rely on seeing its corners. This makes pulling out of the Quail Lodge parking lot that much trickier, on top of the jerky single-clutch e-gear transmission and the hyper-expensive cars that litter the lot. My first drive in a Lamborghini should be interesting enough without being photographed as the guy who chucked an Aventador into a Veyron.
Heading onto Carmel Valley Road, the Aventador is kept to a puttering clip as I pass through a residential area filled with other cars. Here I notice that the ride borders on intolerable, and the engine emits a rather unimpressive, whiny mechanical drone. Clearly, it doesn't like going slow.
The ubiquitous Prius finally pulls off and the road is mine. I downshift and let the Aventador fly (or is that charge?), its V12 suddenly coming alive with a raucous symphony of a wail that most definitely can't be described as "unimpressive." Shifts are sharp and purposeful; the paddles perfectly placed around the just-right wheel. I dial it back, keeping to sane speeds on an unfamiliar road that's no doubt filled with cops on the prowl for high-priced supercars taking liberties on their county's fine roads -- during Pebble Beach weekend, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
The road begins to strike a perfect blend of corners and all of a sudden I begin to appreciate the Aventador's unbelievable potential. If I were in a mere mortal sports car, I'd be absolutely hauling ass (for lack of a better term) and engaging almost as much physical effort as mental. In the Aventador, my utmost concentration is consistent with the speed in which I'm traveling, but my effort level is not. It's an odd sensation, but I suddenly understand the term "supercar." I really hate to use the beat-to-death, hack journalist cliche of "telepathic," but after a while, the car just seems to do what I'm thinking. The steering is just magnificent.
As my time in the Lamborghini Aventador came to a close, I realized that you don't have to drive like a maniac to enjoy it. Indeed, "hauling ass" for an Aventador would likely result in you landing in either jail or a shrub 135 feet below the road. It's a truly incredible machine, but I honestly can't say that it's my cup of tea. Its ride and utter lack of storage space would prevent me from ever driving it somewhere, meaning it would be forever restricted to short blasts down the canyon road upon which Riswick Manor would no doubt reside. Those blasts would certainly be impressive, but I'm not sure they'd be more fun than a similar trip down in a mere mortal sports car.
Still, there's no denying that the Lamborghini Aventador is an event and without question intimidating. And that I'm a stupid spoiled jerk.
Well, I certainly seem to be happy...
aston_dbs says:
08:16 AM, 08/26/11
Everytime I see the Aventador, I lost my senses...
Everytime...
Gosh, I love this car...
jeepsrt says:
08:31 AM, 08/26/11
"The Continental was acceptable, I guess, but once in Monterey, I threw the key to some guy in a VW hat and insisted they get me something more befitting my dirigible-sized ego. 'Something with weird doors,' I said, 'And don't you dare get me metallic paint little man!'" There we go, can I begin now? "
I hate you, that's all...
cjasis says:
08:48 AM, 08/26/11
Dude... lose the blazer.
kain77 says:
09:13 AM, 08/26/11
@cjasis
+1
Less Lambo and blazer, more Bentley and ascot.
bimmerjay says:
09:31 AM, 08/26/11
If you're at the Concours you wear a blazer.
wtrikerno1 says:
09:33 AM, 08/26/11
Really, the guy drives a Lamborghini, and THIS is what you come up with?
Face palm.
gtrguy2012 says:
09:36 AM, 08/26/11
I hate you. The Aventador is the ultimate of the supercar class. Makes the 458 italia and anything else look like turds.
megatrontype_r says:
11:02 AM, 08/26/11
GT-R is faster.
aston_dbs says:
11:32 AM, 08/26/11
ROTFLMAO @megatrontype_r - "GT-R is faster"
Of course...
Another brilliant statement from another l0ser...
We don't really care about your GT-R.
But enjoy it anyway... Speed up, roll over, drive through a pond, whatever...
Just don't get too close and scratch the Aventador.
Peace!
autoboy1 says:
11:47 AM, 08/26/11
I agree with you James. I see no need for these types of cars. Maybe if I had access to a track...
I even had this sensation with my Porsche 911. Most of the time on the road I would have preferred to be in my GTI. I couldn't use the speed, and the heavy steering, low seating position, choppy ride, and low utility for everyday chores lead me to end up selling my 911. It was awesome owning a semi practical Porsche, and I'll probably own another some day, but I no longer lust after supercars since they have even less utility than my 911. I love them and it's fun to see them and even drive one once in awhile, but I don't ever want to own one. Maybe as a rental someday. That Gallardo for $499 a day on Groupon sounded pretty fun.
kryptokat says:
07:02 PM, 08/26/11
" but I no longer lust after supercars "
Well said and I feel the same way about many Luxury Cars. They proclaim to be better at things that don't matter in the daily grind.
Comfortable and reliable wins the daily grind hands down, plus I am willing to test the limits and have fun in my $35K car with reckless abandon and have more fun with it than in my 100K + car.
That said Love the exotics nice to lust after them.
different1 says:
07:50 PM, 08/26/11
just looks amazing...
zr1man says:
08:25 PM, 08/26/11
Well, I wouldn't want to be seen driving this thing. I just looks stupid. Too angular. The Vettes have much better styling. And just for the record the ZR1 is faster that this and the gtr.
Be cool, be fast, drive a ZR1
nickm_gt500 says:
11:23 PM, 08/26/11
"Be Cool, Be Fast, Drive a ZR1" LMAO! i have a lot of love for the ZR1 but pleae to even think your C6 Vette compares to such a car is ludicrous! Again i have a ton of respect for a ZR1, yet they it offers nothing in the for of passion and quality that this or any Lambo brings to the table
peakarach1 says:
02:50 AM, 08/27/11
The whole interior look like piece of CRAPS.
krankshafted says:
10:59 AM, 08/27/11
...the GT-R and ZR1 don't even come CLOSE to the Aventador. What irrelevant comments. That said, I do like both those cars quite a bit, but the Aventador would be far higher up on my list, if I could buy a supercar.
Also, so what? If it's not his thing, it's not his thing. Leave him alone.
kscbruin says:
11:24 AM, 08/27/11
Looks great in person... it was at Irvine Cars/Coffee this morning... Flat Black and a White one...
bestjinjo says:
01:08 PM, 08/27/11
I am pretty sure if you own the Avendator, it's just 1 of many cars you own. It's supposed to be a toy and used on special occasions, such as winding roads, track, putting around on a sunny weekend. People don't buy "supercars" and then complain about their ride quality since a supercar excels on the track where it's meant to live. If you want sporty luxury, you get a Bentley Continental GTC, etc.
This lambo should be tested on a track against the 458 and MP4-12C and 911 GT2/Turbo. :)
teampenske3 says:
04:35 PM, 08/28/11
LOL at the GT-R and ZR1 comments. Obvious troll is obvious. You guys need to come up with better trolling material.
In any case, it sounds like it was a blast. Interesting to hear another viewpoint, as James May said it would make a good GT car.
roscoe108 says:
10:27 AM, 08/29/11
I can see why the ZR1 and GT-R appeal, mainly because they offer supercar-like levels of performance (not in every category, but quite a few) at prices that are realistically attainable by 99% of readers. And yeah, that lets you stick it to the super-wealthy-elite. I get it, okay? But the Aventador does exactly what it was designed to do: impress and intimidate. You got the money to drop on a new Lambo, then you probably can afford regular access to a track, which is the only place you're going to put this thing through its true paces. I don't have that money. I may never. But I'm certainly not going to compare a car that I could feasibly one day afford with one that I can likely never afford. Two different animals, two different buyers. Why all the hate?
wtrikerno1 says:
10:28 AM, 08/29/11
Yeah, nice trolling comments, especially if by "the GTR is faster" and the "ZR1 is faster" they mean the Aventador is a full second quicker to 60 than the Chevy and Nissan, then yes, absolutely correct.
But then, this is like presenting an argument to a brick wall. Wait, no, that's an insult to the wall.
roscoe108 says:
10:35 AM, 08/29/11
@wtrikerno1:
+1 on that. I read this publication and others because I like reading and learning and gawking at awesome cars, SUVs, whatever. If a troll is just going to go on and on about how their vehicle of choice kicks the crap out cars costing three times as much (whether that assertion is true or not), then perhaps they should just hang out at the ZR1 or GTR and commiserate with like-minded folks. Seriously, why even read and comment on an Aventador article if you know you hate it already? I hate brussel sprouts - I don't go to brussel sprout recipe forums and call them a bunch of idiots because broccoli is soooooo much better for soooooo many different reasons.
wikiwiki says:
11:33 AM, 08/29/11
It looks like a super sexy cockroach to me. In a good way. Crazy cool car. I'd be scared to drive one.
brian_k says:
11:45 AM, 08/29/11
ZR1 dude- Really? A ZR1 is better looking and more impressive than this? Really? That car that you can rent at Hertz that comes with a Cobalt steering wheel? The car with the chrome wheels and slushbox transmission with the gold chain Guido behind the wheel? (Don't question my knowledge of gold chain guidos as I live in NJ). Amazing car for the money? Absolutely- maybe the best. But not in the same ballpark as the Lamborghini.
wtrikerno1 says:
01:35 PM, 08/29/11
roscoe108: I hate brussel sprouts - I don't go to brussel sprout recipe forums and call them a bunch of idiots because broccoli is soooooo much better for soooooo many different reasons.
Anyone with half a brain would know that the brussel sprout kicks the ass of broccoli in all measures and looks way better on my plate. To say otherwise is a sign of Italian vegetable bias. You're not welcome on our forums anyway.
jkcar6 says:
02:02 PM, 08/29/11
@zr1 man
you are a disgrace to car enthusiasts and car fans. you write hands down some of the most ignorant comments i have ever read about cars