By Christopher Tan

What is better than making whoopee? Some women swear it is chocolate, legions of men vote for football, Madonna said a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels and Lewis Hamilton blurted that it was securing his first pole position.

Pole position. Indeed.

I say, it all depends. But right now, having just driven the LP560-4 Spyder, I am inclined to say the rag-top Lambo comes close.

If the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe is endorphin on wheels, its convertible twin leaves you light-headed and absolutely weak in the knees.

The bark of the V10, which churns out 560bhp at a goosebump-inducing 8,000rpm, becomes so much more immediate and so much louder when the canvas canopy is folded.

It is as if a manic rottweiler is yanking its chain and coming within 5cm of your ear. The sound alone takes you to an altered state.

The speed is another thing altogether. With the roof down, you feel the blind fury of the Italian supercar in every pore. It is as eye-watering an experience as riding a bike without a helmet.

You also feel every twitch of its chassis, wrapped in lightweight aluminium.

If Lamborghini is the rawer, edgier choice preferred by driving purists, the Gallardo Spyder makes you understand exactly why. The sound, the speed and the storm within the cabin as you hurtle to your destination verily drives the sermon home.

There is the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, of course. But it is an unwieldy machine, with a hopelessly manual canopy and a turning circle of the Titanic. Besides, it costs well over a million bucks.

The Ferrari California, you say? Modern design, foldable hard top, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and good fit and finish. And relatively affordable. Tempting but not quite the same kettle of fish.

The open-top Gallardo is a mid-engined car and the engine in question is an aluminium alloy V10 with direct injection. The configuration makes for creditable dynamic balance.

And nothing quite sounds like a V10. Especially when it is placed just behind your seat.

Channelling rocket bursts of power to the wheels, 70 per cent rear and 30 per cent front, is a six-speed robotised manual.

Lamborghini is resisting the global trend towards dual-clutch transmissions, saying that it robs its cars of their unique character.

I used to think that was hogwash. But after driving the LP560-4 Spyder, I have to agree. Cars from the house of the Raging Bull must convey some semblance of insanity and brute force - something a seamless DSG might mask.

It is easy to live with the Gallardo's mechanised manual. You might even say it is smooth when it is left in Auto mode.

Punch the Sport button and you will get sharper shifts, each punctuated by redline-hitting revs.

In Corsa mode, the car goes into manual stance and you will have to shift up using the paddles on the steering column. In this mode, the car's traction control does not intervene as much, allowing for more aggressive driving.

Like the coupe, the Spyder has a mechanical differential on the rear axle and an electronic differential lock at the front.

But the car is more than the sum of its parts. It is gorgeous, from every angle. With the top up or down. And despite its reputation, it is very usable on a day-to-day basis.

To me, it is definitely far better than football.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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