# Would you use a Lamborghini to run errands?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 11, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674 "2016-07-11T18:27:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/41 "2016-07-12T06:28:53Z")
There is a speed bump _on my block_ and 156 on residential streets in my city. I couldn’t even make it to the corner store in one of those things without scraping the undercarriage.
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### Author:  [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/42 "2016-07-12T06:33:32Z")
> [@mhendo](#):
>
> So i guess it technically qualifies
That’s my favourite kind of “qualify”.
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/43 "2016-07-12T06:40:13Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#):
>
> That’s my favourite kind of “qualify”.
I guess, then, that [McLaren](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-17/why-can-t-you-get-your-300-000-supercar-with-a-stick-shift) also qualifies:
> [@](#):
>
> Which is not to say that if a manual transmission had been requested, McLaren wouldn’t have delivered, but it would take a lot—a lot—of cash to change that.
>
> “If someone did come to us and say, ‘I don’t care what it costs,’ we could look into it for them, but it’s going to be seriously expensive,” Canton said. So far, he added, no one has requested one. “The physical part we can buy, but adapting that into the car, reworking the software, making sure it’ll actually work, you’re talking an absolutely enormous sum of money. That said, we’d certainly research it and implement it if someone is willing to cut a check for it.”
They’ve never once built or delivered a manual transmission road car, but if someone were willing to hand over a massive check on top of the already-massive price of their car, they would do it. I suppose that means that you can get a manual supercar. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/44 "2016-07-12T08:16:25Z")
Nah, that car doesn’t exist, so it’s not the same as a car that does exist. You seem kind of angry about this.
A [manual transmission Pagani Zonda](http://jalopnik.com/5911558/is-this-lewis-hamiltons-new-zonda) exists too.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/45 "2016-07-12T09:17:59Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#):
>
> I would use for anything that doesn’t require publicly parking anywhere. It’s only a matter of time before someone dings your door or just flat-out vandalizes it.
I recently stopped at McDonalds to get a coffee on a highway trip. The parking lot was full of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and the like obviously some car club out for a drive. There was one of [these](http://www.caranddriver.com/mclaren/650s) parked so that it used up two spaces. I stood looking at it and sipped my coffee. I turned to the coffee drinker next to me and said, “Nice car but it has one really obvious fault.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Looks like it’s fucking impossible to park,” I replied. No chuckle was forthcoming and I then immediately realized that it was his car. I remembered then that many owners of expensive cars park like that deliberately to avoid dings.
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/46 "2016-07-12T11:19:35Z")
If I could afford a Lamborghini, I could afford to pay someone else to do boring errands. Guess what I’d do?
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/47 "2016-07-12T11:23:31Z")
> [@mhendo](#):
>
> Not any more. You can’t buy a supercar these days with a left pedal, at least not a new one.
Good grief. I’m not much of a car person, but isn’t the point of having one that it’s high-performance, and part of that is the extra control you get with a manual transmission? Or did I miss something?
Given how few people can drive a standard shift these days, I’ve seriously considered getting a manual transmission just so no one can steal my car. Although the 20-somethings from India who I work with all know how to drive a stick if they learned to drive in India.
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### Author:  [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/48 "2016-07-12T11:25:07Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#):
>
> If I could afford a Lamborghini, I could afford to pay someone else to do boring errands. Guess what I’d do?
Yeah, even though I voted no, it’s kind of a moot question. If you’re rich enough to afford a Lamborghini you’re going to have several personal assistants that will run to the store for you and get milk…
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### Author:  [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/49 "2016-07-12T11:57:38Z")
WHAT? No manual shift? You know, I was thinking of getting a Lamborghini,\* but now I’ll just stay with my 15-year-old Subaru.
\*Right after I get ravished by squealing supermodels.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/50 "2016-07-12T13:25:35Z")
People already collected my thoughts above but it seems like a Lamborghini would be impractical as an “errands” car to the point of being less fun than a traditional automobile. If I was in it and suddenly remembered that I needed crochet hooks then, sure, stop at the craft store. If I was at home and realized I needed crochet hooks, the Lamborghini wouldn’t be my choice to putter along to the strip mall.
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### Author:  [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/51 "2016-07-12T13:56:27Z")
People casually spend this same way, in certain suburbs of DC. I’ve seen Lamborghinis and Ferraris in the Whole Foods parking lot.
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/52 "2016-07-12T14:02:45Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> I drive a Cobra on routine errands around town, and park it anywhere convenient. Never had the slightest issue except attracting a crowd when I’m in a hurry.
Yup. My daily driver is a 31 year old 300ZX turbo. I bought the car to drive, not to mothball. Granted, it ain’t a 6 figure vehicle, but the thought process scales up. If I own it, I’m going to drive it.
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/53 "2016-07-12T14:41:16Z")
> [@don't ask](#):
>
> “Looks like it’s fucking impossible to park,” I replied. No chuckle was forthcoming and I then immediately realized that it was his car. I remembered then that many owners of expensive cars park like that deliberately to avoid dings.
Seems like a good way to attract getting keyed for parking like a douche.
Unless those errands included picking up blow and hookers, I feel the low clearance, small trunk space, risk of damage and inability to maximize performance under normal urban driving conditions would make a Lambo’ an inferior choice to my Porsche 911 Turbo.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/54 "2016-07-12T15:14:18Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#):
>
> People casually spend this same way, in certain suburbs of DC. I’ve seen Lamborghinis and Ferraris in the Whole Foods parking lot.
San Antonio is relatively sedate when it comes to excessive wealth flaunting. Dallas or Houston, however… it’s a Stupid Rich Festival all year long!
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/55 "2016-07-12T15:26:40Z")
Z06/ZR1. The \*driveable \*supercars. That is all. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/56 "2016-07-12T15:50:36Z")
I freak out when someone parks close and looks as if they might ding my (older) BMW. I can’t imagine the stress a hideously expensive car would cause me – I’d have the vapors if I parked it anywhere but my garage.
There’s a woman on campus whose son is closely associated with a certain very popular TV car show. The family practically owns a car for every day of the month and it’s fun to see her “Car of the Day” parked in the lot: one day it’s a Porsche, next is a restored '57 pickup, Wednesday is a Maserati, and so on.
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### Author:  [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/57 "2016-07-12T15:56:30Z")
I would use the Lamborghini to run errands if it was the only car I had, and therefore had no other choice of car.
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/58 "2016-07-12T16:26:32Z")
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#):
>
> Nah, that car doesn’t exist, so it’s not the same as a car that does exist. You seem kind of angry about this.
Not angry at all. But the fact that a car hasn’t been made yet doesn’t mean that it isn’t available. If you can get one, as long as you’re willing to pay the money, then it’s available.
> [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](#):
>
> A [manual transmission Pagani Zonda](http://jalopnik.com/5911558/is-this-lewis-hamiltons-new-zonda) exists too.
Right. And apparently they built [another](http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/videos/a24875/pagani-zonda-manual-transmission/) to special order after the Zonda was officially discontinued. So if you’re willing to pay, it’s available, just like with the McLaren.
> [@GrumpyBunny](#):
>
> Good grief. I’m not much of a car person, but isn’t the point of having one that it’s high-performance, and part of that is the extra control you get with a manual transmission? Or did I miss something?
Yes, that was the point of a manual, but that idea comes from a time when transmissions were far, far less sophisticated than they are now.
A modern, high-end automatic transmission, such as the dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) used in cars like the Ferrari 488GTB and the Lamborghini Huracan, are a world away from the t-shifter in your mother’s ten-year-old Corolla.
These transmissions can be used like a regular automatic, where you just stick it in drive and go. But they also have a manual mode, allowing the driver to choose when to select gears, a process that is generally done using paddle shifters located just behind the steering wheel. Pull the right-hand paddle to change up, and the left-hand paddle to change down. A few cars, like the Porsche 911 GT3 and 911 Turbo, give the option of using paddle shifters or using the center-mounted shifter to change gears. On most supercars, though, there is no longer even a stick in the middle of the car, just some buttons for Park, Drive, Reverse, and Manual mode.
The manual mode of these gearboxes, combined with the fact that the gearboxes themselves and their controlling electronics have been optimized for performance, means that you get basically all of the control that you used to get with an old-fashioned manual gearbox, along with the better performance due to the fact that these transmissions can shift gears faster than any human being can push in a clutch and move a stick from one position to another. Typical shift times for a new DCT in a high-end sports car is around 50-80 milliseconds.
In the old days, the extra control of a manual gearbox, and the more closely-spaced gearing that came with having five or six gears instead of the four that was typical of automatics, meant that manuals had better performance. That just isn’t the case anymore. The modern dual-clutch transmissions used in sports cars have at least seven gears, and in cars where you have a choice between a DCT auto and a proper manual gearbox (e.g., the Porsche 911 Carrera, and the Porsche Cayman/Boxster) the autos nearly always have better 0-60 and quarter-mile acceleration times, even when the manual is in the hands of an expert driver.
Basically, in terms of performance, there is no reason anymore to prefer a manual transmission. That doesn’t mean that there’s no reason to get one. It certainly takes more skill to drive a proper, three-pedal manual car, especially at high speeds, and some people also really like the tactile pleasure of changing gears and the challenge of properly matching engine revs to gear choice and car speed in order to maximize performance.
But even cars sold with manual transmissions are taking some of the old skills out of driving. If you buy a BMW M car with a three-pedal manual, for example, the car’s computer will automatically blip the throttle during downshifting, in order keep engine revs up, thus eliminating the old need to heel-and-toe as you change down through the gears.
Some purists lament the death of the manual. I understand how they feel. My own car has a regular old five-speed manual transmission, and i’ve always liked changing gears on my own. But from a performance and control point of view, there’s really no competition anymore. If you’re trying to drive an incredibly powerful car at high speeds, every moment when you’re not focused on steering and braking detracts from your ability to maximize performance, and every time you take a hand off the wheel to change gears reduces your control over the car. If all you need to do to change gears is flip a little paddle with your left or right hand, while still holding the wheel, then you will find it easier to concentrate on directing the car where it needs to go. There’s a reason that Formula 1 and other racecar classes moved to the new transmissions some years ago.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/59 "2016-07-13T00:36:36Z")
> [@mhendo](#):
>
> A modern, high-end automatic transmission, such as the dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) used in cars like the Ferrari 488GTB and the Lamborghini Huracan, are a world away from the t-shifter in your mother’s ten-year-old Corolla.
>
> These transmissions can be used like a regular automatic, where you just stick it in drive and go. But they also have a manual mode, allowing the driver to choose when to select gears, a process that is generally done using paddle shifters located just behind the steering wheel.
Don’t write off that Toyota either. For a short period of time the fastest car in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania was a Toyota with paddle-shifters.
It was a rental car they handed me.
I drive a rental harder than Jeremy Clarkson.
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### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-use-a-lamborghini-to-run-errands/759674/60 "2016-07-13T00:48:49Z")
I don’t own any car I can’t easily afford, so if I were very rich I would rive my Lamborghini anywhere I wanted to go and not worry about it either way.
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