The Lamborghini Aventador is a full-on Italian supercar that has been out since 2011. The model is currently Lamborghini's V12 flagship supercar with a heritage that spans almost 60 years. It is one of the last naturally aspirated supercars on sale today and one of only a handful of naturally aspirated V12 cars currently available. It goes without saying that it's one of the most famous Lamborghinis ever.
However, the Aventador does come with a few issues that will make most people think twice about buying one. It may be warp speed fast, with the looks to match, but there are problems lurking that are bad enough for us to never buy one... then again, it also has some undeniably awesome abilities.
10 We'd Never Buy One: It's Too Wide
The Lamborghini Aventador is far too wide. Of course, in terms of design, that's a brilliant thing. In terms of practicality, not so much. It does struggle immensely around the city, whether trying to find a parking spot, going in and out of traffic, overtaking, etc. It's actually wider than most SUVs. Of course, on the highway, the width is fine as you're only going straight.
It feels traditional like the elder Lamborghinis because it's that wide. Clearly, owning a Lamborghini in the city isn't going to be easy, not to mention that there are even more rules you have to follow when owning a Lamborghini.
9 We Still Want One: The Performance
The performance of the Aventador is absolutely phenomenal. Under the hood is a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12. In 2011, it was the first new V12 in the Lamborghini lineup in almost fifty years. Initially, it produced 690hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, of course, it did not stay like that for long, with the SV model's arrival in 2016 power was bumped up to 740hp. Both of these cars had a top speed of 217 mph and a sub 3 second 0-60 time.
In 2017, the facelift S model came out with 730hp with the same torque figure as previously. The ultimate model was the Aventador SV-J with 759hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, enough to lap the Nürburgring in 6:44:97 back in 2018. It's also brilliant to see Lamborghini keeping the V12 engine alive with the Aventador.
8 We'd Never Buy One: The Gearbox
One of the biggest issues with the Aventador is its gearbox. It is a single-clutch 7-speed automated manual gearbox. Now, this would be fine if we were still living in 2005, but we're not. Even back in 2011, this was seen as quite absurd, considering there were so many double-clutch cars available at the time.
An automated-manual is a very jerky gearbox in traffic and is generally a nightmare at low speeds. At high-speeds it's a beauty, hence why they use it in F1. This may be one of the best supercars of the past decade, but its gearbox is just far too brutal, extremely fragile, and too expensive to fix.
7 We Still Want One: The Looks
This thing looks like a stealth fighter. There is no car that looks remotely similar to the Aventador. It is aggressive, angry, and it attracts attention from everyone. Even if you hate cars you will stare at this thing. It is a crazy supercar and what makes things better is the fact that companies like Liberty Walk have made the Aventador look even more extreme.
Even inside it looks crazy. The fighter-jet style start/stop button was insane when launched, and now it's fitted on all new Lamborghini models.
6 We'd Never Buy One: The Age
This car has been out since 2011. Yes, it has had some updates and power increases, but the majority of the technology is now nine years old. The gearbox is a nine-year-old design. Even the 2020 model feels old as the latest technology just isn't there. It's not as sharp as its McLaren or Ferrari rivals because Lamborghini hasn't completely overhauled the car with new designs and engineering.
The issue with a car now with mostly old technology is that it fails to keep up with its rivals. Expectations have changed over the last decade and whilst the Aventador is still quite a good car today, it is getting overshadowed by its more high tech rivals.
5 We Still Want One: The Noise
Is there anything better than the howl of a naturally aspirated V12? This thing sounds angry even at idle. Rev the engine a little, and the familiar Lamborghini howl threatens to burst the eardrums of those walking past.
It should be on the list of the best sounding cars ever made it sounds that good. It is quite possibly the best sounding car on sale right now.
4 We'd Never Buy One: The Interior
The interior of these cars looks awesome. But the layout isn't so organized. The CD player is next to the driver's legs, it has no Bluetooth media, no touchscreen, it's cramped and the pedals are off-set. Not to mention the engine lid handle is behind the passenger seat.
Quality is great overall though. There are just so many buttons that it somewhat feels dated. The sat-nav is also pretty terrible as it's only possible to enter half a zip code. After this, the full street address must be entered, which is irritating. It's a nice interior but nowhere near as luxurious as these cars.
3 We Still Want One: The Engine
It is phenomenal. The handbuilt 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 is one of the last of its kind. It is a huge engine that needs a lot of air to do its job, hence the two massive side intakes and two smaller upper intakes. Back in the day, the V12 was what you needed if you wanted power and presence, all the top cars had V12 engines. Nowadays, you can get the same power from a 6-cylinder.
This may be the last V12 Lamborghini ever. It will be sad, considering the V12 has been in a Lamborghini since 1963. This engine is also used in the latest hybrid track-only supercar the Essenza which is an absolute beast.
2 We'd Never Buy One: The Price
The Aventador S, the cheapest new model right now, starts at $417,826 which is insane. With a few options onboard, you may be coming close to the $500,000 mark. This thing is very expensive and the depreciation is terrible.
Used cars are available below the $200,000 mark, which is ridiculous for a car that once cost nearly half a million. Deep pockets are needed to buy this thing brand new and just imagine the taxes, insurance, fuel cost, and maintenance on top. There are plenty of cheaper cars that can offer the same performance.
1 We Still Want One: The Experience
Forget the price. Forget the gearbox. Forget the size. The experience this car gives is second to none. You feel like a celebrity in this thing as everyone stares at you. It breaks necks everywhere it goes, and if you don't see it, you'll one hundred percent hear it. This car is every kid's dream, and it always makes everyone happy.
This car wasn't made to be fast around the track (despite its Nürburgring record). It was made for fun. It's made for a laugh and pure enjoyment. Nobody has ever been miserable in an Aventador and the experience is probably why. Would you get sick of scissor doors?