2004 Ford Racing Focus RS8 vs. 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo - Interior & Ride Quality - Road Test & Comparison

Outhustling a pedigreed supercar in an undermutt like the RS8--especially one that's this easy to drive hard--is immensely satisfying. Round One: Focus. There is one big caveat, however: Rerun the test on Willow's big track, or run the Lambo on the same sticky Pilot Cup tires, and the results would likely be reversed.

During our mountain run back into the L.A. basin, the FrankenFocus felt rough around the edges, with a busy ride that, while not exactly harsh, delivers microscopic detail of the road's surface quality. Something clunks in high-g corners, the dead pedal is way too far aft, and the short-short gearing makes for frenetic highway cruising.

The Gallardo is a grand tourer that only approaches the RS8's jittery ride when the suspension is set to sport mode. Its seats feel just as granite-firm as the body structure, which is only okay for those whose body contours they happen to match. There are a few ergonomic quirks, like the button for reverse being positioned by the driver's left knee, but the Audi-sourced climate and radio controls are easy to reach and operate. We were somewhat dismayed by the lack of cruise control and the infinitesimal four-cubic-foot trunk up front that won't even accept one carry-on roller bag.

Sorry, strike most of that last 'graph. We slipped back into practicality mode, when what really matters in this round is how these things make us feel. And here again, it's tough to call. Wheel around L.A. in the Lambo, and reverential deference is accorded in most driving and valet parking situations. Such respect isn't easily purchased elsewhere. A Gallardo pilot is presumed famous until proven otherwise. For anyone with a fragile ego, the cost of this car and a celebrity makeover might obviate the need for months of psychotherapy.