Used Lamborghini Murcielago Coupe 2002 - 2011 review

There aren't too many supercars that can break the 200mph barrier, but the Lamborghini Murcielago is one of this very elite group.

The brutish performance isn't the only thing that's good about it, though. The handling is every bit as awesome, thanks to unfailing four-wheel-drive traction and light, responsive steering. The ride is better than many will expect, too.

The Murcielago's styling has all the in-your-face aggression of Lambos of old, but thanks to parent company Audi, the characteristic squeaks and rattles have been banished from the plush, high-quality cabin. The most important noise remains, however: the outrageous howl of the V12 engine.

Be under no illusion - even as a used car, the Murcielago will be amazingly, jaw-droppingly expensive. When a car looks, sounds and drives this well, though, most petrolheads that have the cash would part with it in a heartbeat.

There aren't many used cars that have the potential to break the bank quite as much as the Lamborghini Murcielago, despite the fact that its residual values aren't all that terrific when compared with those of other supercars.

The Murcielago will be worth only 50% of its original value after three years, but considering the most basic car cost £175,000 in the first place, you'll still be forking out a king's ransom.

Fuel economy is probably the last thing on your mind if you're considering a Murcielago, but the stats are still pretty grim. Lambo's big coupe will return an average of just 13.1mpg, and that's if you treat it carefully.

Insurance costs, obviously, will be astronomical. It's wedged firmly in the most expensive group 20 classification. Servicing will be expensive, too - the car needs attention every 7500 miles.

There's no denying the roadster is a pretty thing, but it'll cost you a lot more than this coupe, not least because it hasn't been out all that long so prices won't have had a chance to come down as much yet.

The basic (if you can call it that) coupe comes with a ballistic 6.2-litre V12 that pushes out a mind-blowing 570bhp, meaning the 0-60mph dash is dispatched in 3.8sec and the car won't top out until you're doing more than 200mph.

There's also an E-Gear version that comes with an automatic gearbox, and an LP640 version that squeezes 631bhp out of a 6.5-litre V12 for even scarier performance. But, the standard car is plenty fast enough for anyone, though.