No real surprise, but Australia's The Age newspaper rates the Gallardo as the best "money no object" car for 2004

If money were no object

Lamborghini Gallardo

Some might say the 911 deserves to be on this list. It costs a lot, but it's not mind-bendingly expensive. And that's what we're looking for.

The big-buck Rolls-Royce Phantom is hard to pass up for its superb combination of old-world luxury, new-age technology and jaw-dropping pose value. Its outrageous dimensions and prominent flying lady on the grille ensure it stands out, even in the luxury-swathed Flemington carpark on Melbourne Cup day. Ultimately, we can't plump for a car that's better from the back seat than the front.

Mercedes-Benz's SL65 AMG also misses the boat, but only just. We haven't driven one yet, but Benz's SL is such an impressive bit of kit that the addition of a toupee-destroying twin-turbo V12 to the sleek shape (tweaked by AMG to pump out a staggering 1000 Nm of torque) is too tempting.

But the car we'd have in a minute is the Lamborghini Gallardo. A steal (by Lamborghini standards) at $400,000, it's shatteringly quick, great to drive and achingly beautiful. Best of all, the impressive tractability and user-friendly all-wheel-drive dynamics mean it's easy to drive. After all, who wants to put the dream on hold just because it's raining?

Runners-up

Rolls-Royce
Mercedes-Benz SL65
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Congratulation! Lamborghini!

I thought the Gallardo was an Audi?



Only kidding.

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Jim Coleman
Countach Nutter

400,000$ They arnt even close to being that much.

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Top 2 Dream Cars:
Yellow Diablo VT 6.0
Orange Diablo VT 6.0

...Dang You Ben!!!!!!

That's Australian $400,000, not U.S. Aussie Govt slaps on import duty, tax, and luxury car tax to the base price.

Hate to say it, owning a G, but my friends SL65 has so much more torque it easily pulls away from the G. Plus you can drive it hard without worrying about frying the clutch

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Ron
Current Sports Cars:
2004 Gallardo
2004 996 GT3
1999 Viper GTS
1997 993TT
1994 965 Turbo 3.6
1978 930
1972 916
1970 914-6

What are the stats on a sl65? I think the Gallardo should still be abl to kill a mercedes

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Top 2 Dream Cars:
Yellow Diablo VT 6.0
Orange Diablo VT 6.0

...Dang You Ben!!!!!!

The SL65 has 604 hp and 738 ft-lbs. In a straight line on dry pavement it pulls away from the G pretty well. Of course, no one notices it when you're cruising in traffic because new SL's, even SL55's, are a dime a dozen here.
Plus the G (with tubi) sounds a million times better. On the twisties or when braking counts I think the G would win- too bad all the roads here are straight and flat, and theres a red light every few hundred yards

__________________
Ron
Current Sports Cars:
2004 Gallardo
2004 996 GT3
1999 Viper GTS
1997 993TT
1994 965 Turbo 3.6
1978 930
1972 916
1970 914-6

SL65 (High out put engine but heavy)

100 km/h in 4.2 seconds
200 km/h in 12.9 seconds

You should be able to live with it in the G. Althought the 7 speed auto definately makes it easier to drive in a drag race. Just slam your foot down and sit back in your air conditioned massage seats.