7 Reasons Lamborghini’s a Bad Daily Driver (bar 1 Model)
The thrilling ride aside, the low-riding Lamborghini is a terrible and uneconomical daily driver with multiple daily-driving drawbacks that becomes severe and unbearable during long trips.
Lamborghini’s Limitations as a Daily Driver
Unless you’re overwhelmingly in favor of the cool factor – in which case, you have your reason to drive one daily – Lamborghini coupes and convertibles come up short in almost every practical metric.
#1 Challenging Visibility
Newer Lamborghinis like the Huracan have become slightly easier to see out, given the relatively slim windshield pillars. Still, the near-zero rearward visibility with massive blind spots is a huge drawback.
The rearview mirror is practically useless, so the side view mirrors are your only vision of what’s behind you.
Regardless of the level of visibility, these supercars’ low-slung stance exacerbates the limited outward views, becoming a significant safety issue.
The low-riding position means nighttime driving poses the biggest challenge of piloting a Lamborghini.
The light from the cars in the opposite direction beams directly into your eyes, while the ray reflected off the rearview mirror adds to the trying low-light driving condition.
#2 Uncomfortable for Long Journeys
Short daily trips typically mean driving around town in heavy traffic with plenty of stoplights, and Lamborghinis aren’t the best vehicles for such low speeds.
And if your everyday commute involves mid to long-distance driving, the low seating position and difficult visibility in the presence of larger vehicles will eventually wear you down.
Lamborghinis (except the SUV) are so low to the ground that the other vehicles feel like towering giants that could crush you during lane changes.
Some supercars may have become more livable day-to-day. Still, the overall ride quality cannot match the comfort a regular sedan or an SUV can provide.
Even a rugged pickup truck is a comparatively easier daily driver to live with with its high ride height that provides a commanding view of the road.
Focus is essential for safety when driving.
But the excessive demand to keep your eyes on the road and vehicles around you, plus the stiff ride, make driving a regular everyday car a welcome relief.
#3 Expensive to Buy, Run, and Keep in the Garage
It is common knowledge that supercars are extortionate daily drivers.
The high ownership costs include:
- The sticker price.
- Maintenance and repair.
- Premium fuel.
- Low resale value.
The cost per mile of a Lambo part is significantly higher than a regular daily driver, making it prohibitively expensive to rake up the miles.
Plus, mileage has a massive impact on the car’s value; supercars tend to lose their value slowly until they reach 50,000 miles, after which the depreciation accelerates.
If your daily commutes consist of stop-and-go traffic, you may burn the clutch sooner, and a Lambo clutch replacement is costly.
Or drive enthusiastically, and you face a $2,000 bill or higher for two new tires, excluding labor, plus several thousand more for brake pads and ceramic disc replacement.
#4 Weather-Limited Usability
Most Lamborghinis have a rear-wheel-drive system with optional, higher-priced all-wheel-drive trims, so you aren’t grip-limited on sketchy pavement conditions.
AWDs are inevitably the better option in inclement weather.
Still, the limited visibility gets infinitely worse in heavy rain.
If you cannot see well in broad daylight under a crystal clear sky, driving in the pouring rain is a nightmare you’ll want to end at the first opportunity to pull over.
#5 Gas-Guzzling Powertrain
Most Lambo owners will not think twice about the fuel economy, and that’s understandable.
Still, if you want a performance daily driver, plenty of more fuel-efficient sports cars are available for considerably less money without forgoing the fun-to-drive factor.
An Aventador averages a meager 10 to 13 mpg, depending on how much restraint you apply when driving; the smaller Gallardo and Huracan are less thirsty, getting you around 15 mpg combined.
These figures can quickly fall into the single digits when you dip into the car’s considerable power reserve.
(See the Lamborghinis comparison with other sports cars later in the post.)
#6 Not the Easiest to Park
In North America, the standard parking space dimensions range between 8.5 to 9 feet wide by 18 feet long.
Assuming occupied parking spaces on your sides and the cars parked centrally in their boxes, you need at least 3 feet of space on one side to open the door comfortably – half of those 3 feet within your space.
If the parking space is 9 feet across – taking the wider standard – deducting the 3 feet necessary to open the doors on both sides leaves you with 6 feet for the vehicle, translating into 72 inches for your car’s width.
Below are the Lamborghinis’ overall widths without mirrors compared to regular sedans:
| Overall Width w/o Mirrors | |
| Lamborghini Aventador | 82.6 inches |
| Lamborghini Gallardo | 74.8 inches |
| Lamborghini Huracan | 76.1 inches |
| Honda Accord | 73.3 inches |
| Honda Civic | 70.9 inches |
An average-size driver or passenger may only need 2 feet to open the door without hitting the vehicle next to it.
Still, how well the cars next to yours park is outside your control.
Daily visit to the parking lot will mean getting in and out of a Lamborghini supercar an everyday chore.
#7 An Attention Grabber That Leaves You Worried
A Lamborghini supercar turns heads in public – an undeniable truth that’s pleasing and uncomfortable in equal measures.
The Good:
- It attracts stares from both sexes when driven or parked.
- The photo-taking with the car is complimentary.
The Bad:
- It sparks competitive but negative responses from fellow road users – drivers cut in in front of you, try to race you, drive dangerously close to you, etc.
- More attention around the car means a higher likelihood of accidental scratches that require costly paint touch-ups.
- The ever-present risk of theft.
You may have insured your car against loss and damages, but the constant worry while working or running an errand is distressing.
Best Lamborghini Daily Driver: Models Compared
Table Guide:
- Engine: base trim; AWD=all-wheel-drive; RWD=rear-wheel-drive.
- Fuel Economy: mpg combined (base trim).
- Fuel Type: Prem=premium; ReQ=required; ReC=recommended.
- Visibility: excellent, good, average, poor.
- Ride Comfort: excellent, good, average, poor.
| Engine | Horsepower | Fuel Econ./Range | Fuel Type | Visibility | Ride Comfort | |
| Lamborghini Aventador | 6.5L-V12-AWD (2021) 6.5L-V12-AWD (2019-2020) 6.5L-V12-AWD (2012-2017) | 759-hp (2021) 729-730-hp (2019-2020) 700-hp (2012-2017) | 10-mpg (2021) 11-mpg (2019-2020) 13 mpg (2012-2017) | Prem-ReQ | Poor | Poor |
| Lamborghini Gallardo | 5.2L-V10-AWD (2009-2014) 5.0L-V10-AWD (2004-2008) | 550-562hp (2009-2014) 494-512-hp (2004-2008) | 15-16-mpg (2009-2014) 10-13-mpg (2004-2008) | Prem-ReQ | Poor | Average |
| Lamborghini Huracan | 5.2L-V10-RWD (2021-present) 5.2L-V10-AWD (2020-present) 5.2L-V10-RWD (2016-2019) 5.2L-V10-AWD (2015-2018) | 601-hp (2021-present) 630-hp (2020-present) 571-580-hp (2016-2019) 601-610-hp (2015-2018) | 15-mpg (2021-present) 15-mpg (2020-present) 15-17-mpg (2016-2019) 16-17-mpg (2015-2018) | Prem-ReQ | Poor | Average |
| Lamborghini Urus | 4.0L-V8-AWD (2019-present) | 641-650-hp (2019-present) | 14-mpg (2019-present) | Prem-ReQ | Good | Good |
The Urus is easily the best Lamborghini for daily driving, with the elevated ride height of an SUV and generous-sized windows affording good exterior visibility.
Riding in a Urus is remarkably comfortable despite its extreme performance capabilities.
Daily Driving a Lamborghini Aventador
The Aventador is the worst among the Lamborghinis as a daily driver with a potent but super-thirsty V12, terrible visibility, and a jarring ride.
Further, it is an extremely low-riding car with a relatively large turning circle (41 ft), making it difficult to drive.
Expect its fuel economy figures to plunge below 10 mpg in urban traffic.
Daily Driving a Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo had a decade run in the US market, bowing out in 2014 to make way for the Huracan.
Compared to the Aventador, the Gallardo is an easier supercar to live with daily – relatively higher fuel efficiency from its V10; smaller and more agile around town, although the ride quality isn’t perceptibly better.
Daily Driving a Lamborghini Huracan
If you have to choose a better daily driver among the Lamborghini coupes or convertibles, the Huracan is the right pick.
Although storage capacity and everyday practicality for such a low-slung supercar inevitably suffer, its impressive performance levels come with a composed and comfortable ride at considerably less money than an Aventador.
Its compact size and relatively small turning radius will at least make it a slightly easier car to drive than its larger supercar sibling.
Lamborghini Models vs. Other Daily Drivers
Table Guide:
- Horsepower: base trim.
- Fuel Economy: mpg combined (base trim).
- Maintenance Costs: per year avg. (RepairPal).
- Visibility: excellent, good, average, poor.
- Ride Comfort: excellent, good, average, poor.
| Horsepower | Fuel Econ. | Maint. Costs | Visibility | Ride Comfort | |
| Lamborghini Aventador | 700-759-hp | 13 | NA | Poor | Poor |
| Lamborghini Urus | 641-650-hp | 14 | NA | Good | Good |
| Lamborghini Gallardo | 494-562-hp | 16 | NA | Poor | Average |
| Lamborghini Huracan | 601-630-hp | 17 | NA | Poor | Average |
| Audi R8 | 420-562-hp | 17 | $1,123 | Average | Average |
| Nissan GT-R | 480-565-hp | 19 | $920 | Average | Average |
| Chevy Corvette | 245-490 hp | 19 | $737 | Average | Good |
| Porsche Cayenne | 247-420-hp | 21 | $1,231 | Good | Good |
| Porsche Macan | 248-348-hp | 21 | $1,265 | Good | Good |
| Nissan 370z | 332 hp | 22 | $504 | Poor | Poor |
| Porsche 911 | 247-379-hp | 23 | $1,072 | Good | Good |
| Subaru BRZ | 205-228-hp | 24 | $672 | Good | Average |
| Mazda Miata | 116-181-hp | 29 | $429 | Average | Average |
More affordable sports cars than the Lamborghinis but with performance metrics in the supercar territory includes:
- Audi R8 (V8 and V10 available)
- Nissan GT-R (V6)
- Chevy Corvette (V8 and supercharged V8)
Compared to the Lamborghini coupes with submarine-like visibility, they are relatively livable everyday cars.
Plus, their base trim models carry a sub-$150k price tag; the Corvette is an absolute bang for your money with impressive power and handling below $100k.
The Porsche 911 is an utterly compelling option if you want a high-performance daily driver that’s easy to live with:
- Powerful yet economical flat-six engine (including turbocharged ones).
- Rewarding driving dynamics.
- Comfortable and practical.
Progressing further down the price scale, entry-level sports cars like the Mazda Miata and Subaru BRZ are worth considering.
They are fun and engaging to drive at a fraction of a Lamborghini’s price.
The Miata is also one of the most fuel-efficient sports cars.
References:
https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/models
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Aventador
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Gallardo