4-Wheeled Fun: Gotham Dream Car Tour
Sure, bikes will always have my heart, but on days like today – four wheels just aren’t so bad. For Mother’s Day, I received a gift certificate to partake in the Gotham Dream Car Tour.
The tour puts you behind the wheel of six different exotic cars and then sends you out in a candy-colored convoy of sex on wheels to see what they’re all about.
The cars featured in my tour lineup were:
- Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe
- Aston Martin DB9 Volante
- Lamborghini Gallardo Spider
- Bentley Continental
- Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster
- Ferrari F430 Spyder
Rain, Rain – Go Away
Scheduling anything in advance means that there will always be unknown variables in play. In this case, it was the weather. Here in the northeast we’ve had rain, rain, rain for the last few days and there seems to be no end in sight.
I felt a little twinge of disappointment wondering if my fabulous car day would be hampered by the rain. As it turns out – it was nothing to be concerned about. You CAN and will have a great time driving the tour in the wet.
Ladies and Gentleman, Start Your Engines
After a walk through on the cars and a safety briefing, it was time to hit the road. My first car for the day was the yellow Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. Oh, alright. If I must!
Lamborghini Gallardo
My whole life, I have been fascinated by the raging bull that is Lamborghini. Even as a little girl, I had pictures and posters of the Countach tacked up next to Scott Baio on my wall.
The idea of getting behind the wheel of this mythical brand was really special to me.
Though I found that the car had a strange air of everyday usability, the V10 Gallardo is anything but sensible. It felt like it just wanted to get up and GO!
When you put your foot down, the car responds by pointing it’s finger to your chest and pushing you back against the seat. It says, “sit back, lady. I got this,” and then goes about the business of knocking your socks off.
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
When we made our first driver change, I rotated in to the Aston Martin DB9. Kenny was so excited about this car. This was one that he was so curious about.
When we pulled away and headed back out on to the road, I did not get an immediate connection to the car. Yes, it’s refined and well appointed; a gentleman’s express. But, it was just… nice. It didn’t punch you in the stomach or dazzle the eye like the car I’d just gotten out of.
I could absolutely imagine the DB9 touring along the English countryside effortlessly – but with someone other than me behind the wheel.
The Aston Martin was my least favorite car on the tour. After speaking with some of the other drivers on the tour they also had a similar experience.
Lamborghini Gallardo Spider
How is it possible that 2 of “the same” car could feel so different?
The first thing you noticed was that Gallardo Spider had a sweeter exhaust note than it’s coupe sister. The handling felt quite different as well. It seemed much more tight and responsive, giving a better feel to the road.
With the rain coming down the top stayed up on the car. I would have loved to hear that sound in the open air and feel the wind in my hair. Maybe next time.
Kenny noted that I mostly stayed quite while driving this car. I must’ve been deep in thought about it. Up to this point, this was my favorite car.
Bentley Continental GT
When I saw the Bentley in the lineup when we arrived, my immediate reaction was – “Blah, I don’t want to drive that.”
Boy, was I was completely wrong about this car. Power. On. Demand! I was completely caught off guard with how fast and effortless this car was. I completely misjudged it.
What I thought would be something along the lines of just strictly luxurious comfort was instead a highly responsive monster. It was almost like Jekyll and Hyde. It could be as tame or as nasty as you like.
Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster
This was the car that I most wanted to drive – the one that represented the greatest fantasy in my mind. I was excited and intimidated by it.
Until you stand next to the Murcielago, you don’t really have an understanding of just how long, wide and low-slung the car is. Pulling up it’s scissor door and getting yourself behind the steering wheel feels like you’re just going to sit on the ground.
I clicked the car in to gear and slowly made a left on to the roadway. Pressing on the pedal, “holy shit” escaped from my lips. It felt like a beast. LOUD, fast and violent in the best possible way.
The brakes were startlingly responsive; more so than any other car in the lineup.
As we drove along, the car made that unreachable space between your ear and your jaw tickle with the way it was vibrating.
The Murcielago is a big car. While you’re driving it, you have no sense of how much space it occupies. The rear “window” is useless. You can’t see the end of the nose and the mirrors.. eh, not so much.
The car felt much more raw than I imagined it would. I had assumed it would be more refined or smooth. It doesn’t want to be your friend, it just wants to go fast.
Ferrari F430 Spyder
I rode as a passenger in an F430 hard top, two years ago. That made it all the more exciting to be able to pilot this car myself.
The phrase, “save the best for last” sums up my feeling about the F430.
The sound, the feel, the handling, the responsiveness – just stunning. This car begs you to hammer the pedal down.
Where the Lamborghinis had a rawness to them, the Ferrari had an entirely different attitude. It felt fast and ferocious but still had a polish to it.
This car was AMAZING. This was the very type of thing that you would hope to come away with when you’re fulfilling the fantasy of driving an exotic car.
This car was hands down, my favorite car of the day.
My Day Kicked Ass
Being able to experience these fine automobiles really touches a place in you that is reserved for fantasy. Even if just for a few hours, you’re giddy from having the chance to experience something special, something that is normally out of reach. There is a child-like excitement that courses through you with every click of the paddle-shift. Your heart thumps listening to the guttural growl of horsepower at your disposal.
Who knew that there was such joy to be had on four wheels? I want to go again.
Holy crap! This is one of my dreams come true. I have to do this.
And your descriptions are so enticing. Thank you for letting us sit next to you. I love your candid impressions of the cars and their driving-experiences.
And it’s nice to see pictures of you! You’re so darn cute.
hugs to you, Ralph. You’re always so sweet 🙂
I have to tell you – if you are a car enthusiast who doesn’t have deep enough pockets to make one of these machines your own, then you will absolutely love this tour. I highly recommend it.
don’t delay! Only six spots per tour and they fill up fast when the weather gets warm.
Wow! What a great opportunity. Someone must really like you.
Great writeup and pictures.
Thanks, Richard 🙂
Yea, contrary to popular belief – I must be doing something right! :oD
WOOHOO!!! what an awesome day that would have been….love the pics too!!
Thanks, Anthony. It was so much fun. I wish everyone could try it.
Amazing that looks like so much fun to get to drive all of those cars you usually just stare at and dream about.
You’d love it, B.
The sounds that fill the cockpit of the cars while you’re on the gas, or when the car rev matches down a gear – like music. Its a full sensory experience.
Words cannot express how FRIGGIN’ insanely jealous I am of you right now.
I have always said that I would look super hot behind the wheel of one of these sexy cars.
Best.Blog.Post.EVER.
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Twitter: @GlamKitten88
😆 thanks, Bonnie!
I am inclined to agree with Bonnie!!
Insanely jealous, but is super AWESOME that you got to experience this.
What is an amazing day. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures and your day with us so we can all live vicariously through you.
Thanks bunches, Trobairitz
The pleasure was all mine! 🙂
Wow! That was crazy insane awesome! I figured that you were doing something pretty rad based on your Tweets that day.
Great pics … and you really did a super job of describing the experience.
Like everyone else, I’m green with envy; but it couldn’t have happened to a cooler person 🙂
Thanks, Wendy. You always know just the right way to make someone feel like a million bucks 🙂
::hugs::
(Jaw drops to floor)
So, I’m lookin’ through all the photos…cool, cool cars! And holy cow (the nice version of what I said) They let you drive them!! I’m so in for this! Oh yeah!!
“They let you drive them!!”
😆 Can you imagine?! 😆
In all seriousness, it was such a unique experience. I’m so thankful to have been able to go.
Where else can you spend the day driving about a million dollars worth of cars?
Getting back into our little Audi on the way home… not quite as exciting 😆
Wow, nice cars and I’m so jealous 🙂 Glad you had fun. I could have told you the Ferrari was the best 😉
I love Lamborghinis but I would take a Ferrari first.
Ferrari 599FXX is my dream car. I once drove a Ferrari Testarossa, it was amazing. One day I will do this tour.
George-
As such a car lover, you simply have to do the tour. Put it on your Christmas list to Santa.
There was a 458 Italia parked in the garage. When I asked about it, the young man in the lead car kind of chuckled and said that it wouldn’t be available in the tour for like a year and a half. Can’t blame a girl for inquiring. 🙂
In a past lifetime when i got married – instead of a limo I rented a 348 cabrio for 24 hours and drove that to/from my wedding instead. At the time, it felt so amazing and glamorous. You felt every crack in the road, ever groove, the clutch was sooooo hard and you had to “work” to drive the car. And… I loved it. Punching the gas gave you butterflies in your belly. The 430 made that feel like a dinosaur.
Oh man! That looks so fun! I must do that before I die… think they’d add a Cadillac Cien to the roster? 🙂
Even if they never got that Caddy – you could probably make do slumming around in the Ferrari 😀
Its such a neat experience, I totally recommend it. You’ll pull in at the end of the tour and wonder if you can scrape up enough pennies under the couch cushions to go again the next day.