2000 Lamborghini Diablo GT from UK and Ireland - Comments

From purchase, the car was shipped directly back to the factory in Italy for a full service and to be checked over.

The previous owner experienced problems with the throttle linkage, and the factory check revealed that the rear view camera and rear parking sensors were not working.

It failed a recent MOT test due to emissions, but this was expected as the catalytic converter is not fitted.

Have only driven the car 8 miles since acquiring it (to and from the MOT testing station) so these comments will be quite short.

Externally the car seems bigger than my previous Lambo, a Countach, but inside it feels a lot snugger.

Headroom is not great if you are over 6 feet tall, and the racing seats (an optional extra) will not forgive those extra chocolate eclairs you may have eaten.

The engine noise is absolutely glorious, though it does seem a bit quieter than the Countach, which was fitted with a sport exhaust system. This opinion may change however, once I get the car on a decent road and get it above 4000 rpm.

The looks are not to everyone's taste, but love it or loathe it, it does turn heads.

I wonder if you could explain what you mean by "engine noise?"

Perhaps it would be clearer if I said 'exhaust noise'? Basically I was referring to the glorious noise that is emitted by a well fettled, large bore, V12.

Well I've actually had the chance to drive the car now, and put a few more miles on the clock. First impressions are that it's not as loud as the Countach; it's actually possible to hold a normal conversation at cruising speeds without shouting. The vision directly rearwards is marginally better than the Countach, thanks to the rear camera, but the vision to the rear 3/4 is just as bad, and it's easy to lose someone in your blind spot.

Driving position for anyone around 6 feet tall or so is cramped. The pedals are markedly offset towards the centre of the car, and the steering wheel a little less so. What is more noticeable is that your head is VERY close to the frame rail that runs along where the door meets the roof, which could make wearing a helmet very difficult for any tall drivers contemplating taking their GT on a track day.

Despite the negatives, I should balance those comments by saying that the car is still an absolute pleasure to drive. Low speed driving through towns threw up no unexpected surprises, and the car is happy to bimble along at town speeds using second and third gears. Acceleration is rapid when asked for, as you would expect from such a car, and gives a much harder kick in the back than the Countach ever did. As with a lot of earlier model Lambos, the gear change responds better to slow and deliberate changes, which doesn't allow you to make the absolute maximum use of the acceleration available, but perhaps that's a good thing unless you happen to be on a race track. I haven't yet covered enough miles to work out what the fuel consumption is, and a weekend away with that limited luggage space is still to be experienced; I'll report back in due course.

So far I'm really happy with the car. It has delivered all that I expected of it and then some. It has a few niggly aspects, but then what Lambo doesn't? I believe it's called character and as far as I am concerned, any car that doesn't have character isn't worth aspiring to.

Mmmmmmm, very interesting to hear what it's actually like to own and drive such a fast and exotic beastie. I doubt I'll ever have one, or even drive one, but, yes, very interesting.

I look forward, in time, to hearing more.

Well we have now done a few more miles in the car, having just returned from a trip to the Lamborghini factory in Italy. As is already known, there is virtually no luggage space in a GT, but with careful use of soft bags that can be squeezed behind the seats, and a tote bag that sat underneath the passenger's legs, we managed to carry enough for two for the entire 10 day trip.

Fuel consumption for the entire trip worked out at about 12 -13 mpg, which is marginally better than the 10 mpg I thought the car was doing. The car didn't miss a single beat the entire trip, despite having to drive through some torrential downpours which was enough to stop the windscreen wipers on one of the Murcielagos that came along.

Despite the comments I made above about the cockpit being cramped for anyone over 6 feet in height, it wasn't so bad that it would stop me from making a similar trip over a similar sort of distance. I wouldn't say we travelled in comfort, but neither did we get out of the car at the end of each day's journey thinking 'never again.'

So far I still love the car. It has more performance than my limited abilities could ever use, it looks absolutely stunning, makes all the right noises and, as far as I am concerned, ticks all the right boxes. Fuel consumption could be better, but as I don't use the car as a daily driver, it's not really an issue.