OK, time for a little more information.
The most disappointing car was the M5. All of the cars were equipped with "automatics" - meaning no clutches, since they never know the capability of the customer. All had their respective form of paddle shifting. In the M5, I found the automatic mode to be very "unsmooth" - there would be lurches, surges during shifts, just not what I expected. In the manual mode, there was annoying lag between the time the paddle was used and the transmission responded. I was told that the previous version was much better - but that the only way to go now is the 6-speed.
The most surprising car was the SL65. I considered this to be the most dangerous of the group. The Lambos and Ferrari were stunning performers, but they looked the part. The SL65 was awesomely powerful - and, I believe, the fastest of all. But it doesn't look like it should be that fast, and it doesn't feel it when you drive it. "Raw" is a word that can be applied to the Lambos and, to a degree, the Ferrari, but you'd never put that word with the SL65 - except for, possibly, "raw" power and torque. At one point while driving the SL65, I entered a highway at about 50 mph, made a wide swing to move from the entry ramp to the left lane, and stepped on the gas - nowhere near flooring it - and the power was so much that the rear twitched left and right, even with traction control engaged.
During the course of the day, and to have some fun, we'd let space develop between cars so that you had room to see what the car you were driving could do. At one point, I was following the Murcielago - and when the driver downshifted and took off, I had no problem keeping up with him. Another time, on a highway, I stepped on the "go" pedal at 60 mph, chirped the tires, got pressed back in the seat, and was at 100 in what felt like no time. But, because the car is so well fitted, as a luxury GT, the staggering performance is unexpected.
The Gallardo Spyder was a blast. Apparently there are flaps or something in the exhaust that, when you step on the throttle past a certain point, open up and transform the sound of the car. GREAT fun, more so than any of the others. It felt fast, but there's no doubt that the SL was faster. Both of the Lambos were extremely responsive to throttle and steering input - the steering on the Ferrari was surprising loose in comparison.
What can one say about the Bentley? Plush, powerful, certainly not the handler that the others were, but a wonderful South Beach ride. This car was a sky blue convertible, and there's no doubt you could just get in and drive comfortably forever.
The Murcielago was, by far, the most outrageous in terms of look and sound. The headers were stock, but the rest of the exhaust system had been removed, so it was LOUD. It is WIIIIDE. It is an attention getter. This was the only car in which a staff member from the organizing company had to accompany each driver. It's just that much different - and that much more expensive - that they wanted to have the little extra assurance that the driver wouldn't make a mistake.
So - M5 at the bottom of the list; SL65 (for overall comfort and overwhelming power) and Gallardo (for great topless fun) tied for first; next the Ferrari (which might have scored higher if it had been a convertible - personal taste enters into the equation here), although the Murcielago could easily be tied with the Ferrari. Then, in a class by itself, the Bentley.
I have photos if anyone is interested in visuals.
Oh, I forgot to comment about the paddle manuals. The Lambos and the Ferrari are that type of transmission - unlike the SL65, the Bentley, and the M5, which are automatics. On the Lambos and the Ferrari, downshifts were incredible, as the computer makes sure the engine is "blipped" perfectly. I'm no longer jealous of those perfect shifts, now that I know they are computer-controlled. Certainly takes away the challenge of the third pedal. In that regard, the three with the "manuals" were much more fun than the automatics - but I still can't denegrate the SL65. However, the experience of flooring the Gallardo in, say, second, and then hitting the paddle to go to third - with the pedal still on the floor - is nothing less than exhilarating.
