Wow!  That's how I sum up the experience of driving a Lamborghini Gallardo in one word.  This vehicle is unbelievable.  From looks to performance to price, this thing is way over the  top.                                                                                         

      To start with, the Gallardo looks like nothing else on the road.  A beautiful mix of straight lines and sensuous curves, the roof seems to be about three feet off the ground.  If you want to blend in, this is not your car.  It's as conspicuous as a runway model in church.

      Entering the Gallardo is a trick in and of itself.  Though the doors open normally, not up and forward like on the Murcielago, you don't so much get in it as slide down into it and put it on like an expensive suit.  Once in the deeply  bolstered seat, it's almost like you're in the cockpit of a fighter jet.  Full instrumentation is there to help you keep track of all the car's vital functions.  The steering wheel is flat at the bottom like a race care to allow a little extra room for your legs.  Everything in the cockpit is designed for one thing: speed.  I'm sure it has a great radio, but I didn't even turn it on, as the sweet sound of the throaty exhaust was better than any music.

    The Gallardo is built on a structural aluminum spaceframe with an aluminum body. Double wishbones front and rear with anti-roll bars create a suspension so nicely tight and firm that if you roll over a quarter, you could probably tell if it's head or tail.  The steering is superb, with hardly any boost except when you're parking. It's so responsive that in curves, it feels like it's on rails. If you do overdrive it, electronic stability control, traction control and ABS brakes can help save you. Top speed is just under 200 mph.

    The power is unbelievable.  Just  tap on the accelerator and it feels like someone's kicking you in the back.  Its 500-horsepower, 5.0 liter, V-10 engine flings you from a standstill to 60 mph in under four seconds. This pavement-ripping power is transmitted to all four wheels through front and rear limited slip differentials and either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters.  With the paddle shift automatic, there's a little bit of jerking on upshifts, even if you keep your foot on the gas as you're supposed to do, though downshifts were extremely smooth.

    But this car begs for a real manual transmission. I know the arguments about the computer being able to shift quicker than I can and about not having to take your hands off the wheel to shift, but it just isn't the same without a proper clutch.  A certain amount of control is lost, and I don't want a sports car my wife could drive.

    With either the automatic or manual transmission, gas mileage is 11 city, 18 highway and base price is $185,000 with delivery and gas guzzler tax.

    The other Lamborghini model available is the Murcielago.  A friend recently purchased one and loves it. Though he 's owned Vipers, Porsches, Jaguars and Ferraris in the past, he chose a Lamborghini as his latest car for a number of reasons. "I liked the idea of having a Lamborghini dealer in our city," he says. "The Lamborghini has great acceleration and handling, it's very powerful and holds the road better than the Ferrari. The all-wheel drive stabilizes the car and allows for more even tire wear. I got the paddle shifter instead of the manual transmission because it's more convenient and you don't have to take your hands off the wheel to shift. My only complaints are rear visibility and the difficulty of installing and removing the convertible top."

    Bottom line: If you can afford a Lamborghini and have the garage space for it,

get one.