Evo review the LP700

[AndrewD]

It's only an initial review, and as you'd expect good things said about how quick it is and the improved cabin, but doesn't sound as perfect as I was expecting (4.5 stars, question over brakes, "no disguising weight and girth" even with all that CF and pushrod suspension, gearchange too brutal in corsa mode). 20% better than the Murcielago.

What are others saying?

[tomtom]

4.5 stars is a bit of a shock... Rare to see an Italian supercar that they don't give 5.

[Streetrod]

Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar today had a very interesting comment to make at the end of his review. He stated that some of the thrill had gone because the car was too good. He said the Murcielago captures your attention more because it has warts and demands more of the driver.

These views very much mirror my own.

The head long march towards even higher performance has forced the manufactures to produce cars that are so good they are leaving the driver out of the equation to some extent for his own good. The fact that most of us do not have the skills of an F1 driver means that these cars have to compensate for our cack handiness.

I found this out first hand when I drove a 458 on the track at the back end of last year. With all the gizmos turned on I was able to slam the throttle to the floor in all the wrong places safe in the knowledge that the computers would only translate my instructions at a time they felt appropriate. As a result anyone could drive one of these cars quickly.

Gizmos off on the other hand and the car was a complete animal and ditch magnet. If reports are to be believed the MP4-12C could be the same.

Great as these cars are I think we are losing driver involvement in these new cars which in the long run is a real shame. Just my opinion by the way

[simonspider]

And thats why I prefer my Murcielago to my LP640. The LP is noticably easier to drive for longer - the Murcie more of a challenge and consequently more rewarding.

The Aventador just takes it to another level

[AA121]

That's why I sold my F430 and bought a Murcie and why I spend more time thinking about other "older" cars I'd like to own rather than modern ones.

[132]

AA121 said:

That's why I sold my F430 and bought a Murcie and why I spend more time thinking about other "older" cars I'd like to own rather than modern ones.

Me, too. I have a Murci and am not at all interested in owning anything that feels more modern or is less challenging to drive. Consequently, I now spend an increasing amount of time pondering older cars...

[AndrewD]

It isn't just the older cars that are interesting to drive.

I would say this wouldn't I but the 599 GTO is not a car that "suffers fools" (cue Marcus/Andrew.). It's a great mix of technology and driving passion IMO

[Don1]

The way this thread is going is very interesting - I much prefer cars that need to be driven (TVR etc), rather than cars that can just poodle around (911, 430).

Given that the manufacturers are producing more and more of the latter, why are the enthusiasts being ignored?

[andrew]

AndrewD said:

It isn't just the older cars that are interesting to drive.

I would say this wouldn't I but the 599 GTO is not a car that "suffers fools" (cue Marcus/Andrew.). It's a great mix of technology and driving passion IMO

i quite like the 'gto

[LamboBrum]

Streetrod said:

Steve Sutcliffe in Autocar today had a very interesting comment to make at the end of his review. He stated that some of the thrill had gone because the car was too good. He said the Murcielago captures your attention more because it has warts

I can't disagree with him, you won't get near it's limits unless you drive like an absolute twonk.

My overall impression is that the car is epic in terms of performance yet incredibly polished compared to it's contemporaries and certainly no comparison to Lambo of old. Apart from the NOISE! The brand is definitely changing but with majority of Murci-type cars doing next to zero miles, it's quite a refreshing take on the genre. I think people will use this car A LOT, because you can, and I think that offers value somehow. If all people wanted was a faster / lighter / stronger LP670 then where is the progress in that? All being well you'll be able to try it yourselves in a couple of months and make your own minds up.

The bit I don't know about is on the road - on the track you can do what you like and the car is ultra-smooth and forgiving. On the road I expect the technology and drivetrain can't see the surface / direction changes / other road users and that may just be a little more exciting, given the performance!

Not long now chaps....

[Wanta996Gotta]

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

[Davey S2]

Don1 said:

The way this thread is going is very interesting - I much prefer cars that need to be driven (TVR etc), rather than cars that can just poodle around (911, 430).

Dont quite follow your analogy here.

You can stuck a Chimera in 4th and pootle around all day to your hearts content.

Likewise you can turn off all electronics in a GT3RS or 430 which then really need to be driven.

[StuartMcKay]

Wanta996Gotta said:

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

Great review until he starts comparing the gear changes with the 458!! Completely different cars in every way so no need to compare the two imo.

[Fipster]

StuartMcKay said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

Great review until he starts comparing the gear changes with the 458!! Completely different cars in every way so no need to compare the two imo.

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

[StuartMcKay]

Fipster said:

StuartMcKay said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

Great review until he starts comparing the gear changes with the 458!! Completely different cars in every way so no need to compare the two imo.

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

I disagree. The gearbox in the LP700 has to deal with a hell of a lot more power then the 458 so it is hardly a fair comparison.

As I said, great review other than that part.

[iandc]

Fipster said:

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

I may be wrong but I thought they used DIFFERENT Technology. The Lambo using pre-select shafts whereas the 458 is double clutch.

[AndrewD]

iandc said:

Fipster said:

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

I may be wrong but I thought they used DIFFERENT Technology. The Lambo using pre-select shafts whereas the 458 is double clutch.

You're correct. The ISR shift in the Lambo is single clutch. Lighter and more 'emotional' they say. The 458 is dual clutch. I've not yet found a dct box that is anything other than efficient but slightly 'dull'.

Box tech aside, if the Lambo doesn't make hugely noisy whipcrack downshifts then I'm not that interested

[Caelum Blue]

Streetrod said:

I found this out first hand when I drove a 458 on the track at the back end of last year. With all the gizmos turned on I was able to slam the throttle to the floor in all the wrong places safe in the knowledge that the computers would only translate my instructions at a time they felt appropriate. As a result anyone could drive one of these cars quickly.

Gizmos off on the other hand and the car was a complete animal and ditch magnet. If reports are to be believed the MP4-12C could be the same.

Great as these cars are I think we are losing driver involvement in these new cars which in the long run is a real shame. Just my opinion by the way

Using your post and experience as an example, I think the new cars have so much power that you are a twonk if you take the driver aids off on the road.
To experience the car properly the ONLY place to take it to, is a track and then have a go with the driver aids switched off.

[Fipster]

StuartMcKay said:

Fipster said:

StuartMcKay said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

Great review until he starts comparing the gear changes with the 458!! Completely different cars in every way so no need to compare the two imo.

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

I disagree. The gearbox in the LP700 has to deal with a hell of a lot more power then the 458 so it is hardly a fair comparison.

As I said, great review other than that part.

He is just saying that he thinks the 458 box feels better, that's all. It's no different to him saying that the Lambo has better seats or climate control or whatever!

[SonnyM]

Fipster said:

StuartMcKay said:

Fipster said:

StuartMcKay said:

Wanta996Gotta said:

Looks great on the move, i take back my initial negative comments on its looks - http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/lamborghini-ave...

Great review until he starts comparing the gear changes with the 458!! Completely different cars in every way so no need to compare the two imo.

It's totally relevant to compare the gearchanges with other cars which use the same technology; it shows what the yardstick is in that department. It would only be wrong to compare the whole car v a 458.

I disagree. The gearbox in the LP700 has to deal with a hell of a lot more power then the 458 so it is hardly a fair comparison.

As I said, great review other than that part.

He is just saying that he thinks the 458 box feels better, that's all. It's no different to him saying that the Lambo has better seats or climate control or whatever!

Ferrari mastered the road-going F1 box with the F430 in 2005 IMO, the Murcie E Gear I drove in 2003 was not as exciting. If the Aventador box is closer to the F1 box in terms of "enhancing" the driving experience rather than detracting from it, then Lambo could be onto a winner.

I'll never forget the intoxicating engine of the Murcie back in 2003 - can't wait to drive the Aventador!

Edited by SonnyM on Friday 6th May 22:16