The 1990s was an excellent era for fast supercars. Two of the fastest cars in the world at the time were the Lamborghini Diablo and the Ferrari 512 Testarossa. These two cars were made by two of the biggest companies and the fiercest rivals in the supercar world.
Both wanted to earn the top spot for building the ultimate 90s supercar and both cars came with their own wild and unique features. These two mid-engined V12 monsters came with traditional manual gearboxes and delivered insane performance figures. Though which car was better? Was it the raging bull or the prancing horse? Today we are going to find out.
10 The Diablo Was The Ultimate 90s Supercar: Scissor Doors
The Diablo featured the scissor doors that were made famous by its predecessor, the Countach. Lamborghini was the brand that made the door of a car interesting. The doors on a Diablo are just so iconic and so cool. Every time you open those doors it's an occasion, a proper entrance, like a spaceship.
At the time of its launch in 1991, no other car had the same doors as the Diablo. This made it just that extra bit unique. It's a ridiculously expensive 90s car that's completely worth every penny.
9 The Ferrari 512 Was Actually Better: Build Quality
The Ferrari 512 was built far better than the Diablo. It had better materials inside and out and the reason for that is because Ferrari was actually somewhat a stable company when the 512 was being made, unlike Lamborghini who was being passed from one owner to the next, and they were essentially bankrupt, so the Diablo was nowhere near as well-built as the 512.
The 512 was built with more attention to detail. It felt nicer and it felt more expensive. It was such an icon back in the day that it's almost strange that people have somewhat forgotten about it.
8 The Diablo Was The Ultimate 90s Supercar: Engine
The 512 does have a great engine. But the 5.7 and 6.0 liter V12 used in the Diablo are just far better. They're louder, more powerful, and just sound so much more sinister. It's more exciting and more engaging. It's a lot rawer, as it is essentially an old engine that dates back to the days of the 350GT.
It's not as smooth as the flat-12 used in the 512. It's also a lot more unreliable, which says a lot. The Lamborghini V12 though just feels so much more old-school much like a 1960s V12. It's not without reason that there are some rules you must follow when owning a Lamborghini.
7 The Ferrari 512 Was Actually Better: Easier To Drive
The Ferrari 512 may be stupidly wide, but it's far easier to drive than the Diablo. It has better visibility which is crucial in such an expensive car. It has proper doors, the steering isn't as heavy and the pedals are not as off-set. Plus the air conditioning is actually somewhat effective.
The 512 though still isn't a breeze to drive. It's wider than an SUV, and it also is quite low. Furthermore, the parts for this car are ludicrously expensive. The pre-facelift 512 was also far better looking.
6 The Diablo Was The Ultimate 90s Supercar: Attention
The Ferrari 512 really does not get the same levels of attention as the Diablo despite its history coming from Miami Vice with the old Testarossa. The 512 looks too sharp and classy compared to the wild Diablo. The 512 wants to look grown-up and serious. The Diablo wants to look like something that would make a 9-year-old smile.
The Diablo is a poster car much like its predecessor the Countach was. It's a spaceship with wheels basically, completely out of this world with its extraordinary design.
5 The Ferrari 512 Was Actually Better: Practicality
The Ferrari 512 was a lot more practical than the Diablo. The interior was a lot more spacious, the trunk was a lot bigger, and you could actually store your personal belongings in the car quite easily. Plus, the headroom was a lot better, and getting out of it was a lot easier.
Everything about the 512 was just so much easier and convenient. It's a supercar that you can actually drive in peace and comfort. It still feels somewhat modern today.
4 The Diablo Was The Ultimate 90s Supercar: Performance
The Lamborghini Diablo is faster than the 512, period. The original Diablo had 485hp and 428 lb-ft of torque whereas the original 512 Testarossa had 422hp and 362 lb-ft of torque. The Diablo also managed a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds whilst the 512 needed 4.8 seconds to pull off its 0-60 run. The Diablo also broke the magic 200 mph barrier with a top speed of 202 mph. The Testarossa only managed a top speed of 195 mph.
The Diablo is stupidly fast even by today's standards. Back then those figures were magical. They were the performance figures of spaceships, not cars.
3 The Ferrari 512 Was Actually Better: Comfort
The Ferrari 512 was somewhat a comfortable supercar for its time. The seats felt nice and supportive, unlike the ones in the Diablo which feel horrid. The suspension isn't too hard and the electronics aren't too complex. The interior was somewhat organized, unlike what we'd find in the Diablo.
The Testarossa is an evolution of the Berlinetta, which was essentially a GT car, and despite the 512s aggressive looks, it is made to eat the miles when crossing continents. The Diablo, on the other hand, is a car you don't even want to drive to the local shops.
2 The Diablo Was The Ultimate 90s Supercar: Experience
Just like any other Lamborghini, the Diablo provides a driving experience that no other car provides. Despite it being ridiculously noisy, you do feel like a superstar. The acceleration is brutal, and it feels like an untamed savage animal at full chat. Even when idling, these cars sound quite scary.
Everyone will stare at the Diablo wherever it goes. This thing causes a riot and breaks necks everywhere. Is there any other car as exciting as this? It sounds crazy, it looks insane, and it has so many weird features. By far one of the best Lamborghini's ever made.
1 The Ferrari 512 Was Actually Better: Pedigree
Ferrari win when it comes to pedigree. They have so much more motorsport history. They won F1 many times, won many other races such as the GT series, entered Group B rallying, etc. Ferrari is practically the lords of motorsport and car pedigree, therefore, they do know a thing or two about building a fast car.
Furthermore, the 12-cylinder for Ferrari is like what wine is for Italy, it's their signature product. The 512 may not have an engine as exciting as the Diablo, but it's made by the same people who made the 12-cylinder engines that won F1 championships, and telling people that, well, it is quite a statement!