I’ve been fortunate to drive a host of supercars over the past few years. Some supercars have cast a spell on me from the moment I started down the driveway, while others have been rather disappointing. As with all things, liking and disliking a supercar car is very subjective. I would venture to say that of the five cars that disappointed me will have two that will not come as a surprise to car aficionados. The other three will without a doubt cause many a reader to wonder if I am indeed a supercar enthusiast.

Related: The Most Disappointing Supercars Every Year Since 1990

5 Ferrari California T

Ferrari California Turbo
Jason Grunsell

The Ferrari California Turbo rolled out in 2014 as a significant update for the original California introduced back in 2008. The body featured a redesign, but the big change was the engine department. The Ferrari California started with a 4.3L V8 and transitioned to a 3.9L V8 twin turbo. Power output increased from 454 hp to 553 hp. So a new body style, more power, so what was not to love? In a word the Ferrari California T was rather dull, and a dull Ferrari seems a bit of an anathema. I spent four days with a blue California T in 2016 driving around Los Angeles. I drove up the Pacific Coast Highway where I got stuck in traffic. I drove down Rodeo Drive, and yet in all that time I did not feel as I was in a special place. The California T is not a head turner even with the updated styling. The most disappointing aspect of the Ferrari California T was the performance or lack there of. It sounds demented to say that a car capable of doing 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph was not a fast car and yet it did not feel fast. The acceleration did not push me back into my speed, or cause my heart to beat faster with excitement. I was never engaged with the Ferrari California T and that is criminal in a Ferrari.

4 Aston Martin DB11

blue db11 press photo
Via: Aston Martin

Aston Martin has produced many beautiful designs over the decades. The DB5, the Vantage, the DBS and today's crazy Valkyrie hypercar. Then we have the Aston Martin DB11 coupe. I did not understand the design language the first time I saw a DB11. That confusion continued even as I was test-driving the car. I finally saw some design aspects of the Aston Martin One-77 when I was standing on a log looking down at the DB11. My test car was not helped by the champagne livery. The DB11 is more of grand tourer rather a speed chaser, despite having a 5.2L twin turbocharged V12 producing 600 hp. The 0-62 mph time is identical to the Ferrari California T at 3.6 seconds. The interior is a bit dated, but the cabin is airy, and the seats are very comfortable. If you must get a DB11 then get the DB11 Volante, a more appealing car despite having a canvas folding roof. With the roof turned down the Volante sheds its dour DB11 coupe silhouette and emerges as a rather elegant automobile.

3 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Ferrari F12
Jason Grunsell

Disappointing supercar number three is the Ferrari F12 Berlinettta. The first images of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta left me gobsmacked. The F12 debuted at the 2012 Geneva Auto show and racked up honors. In 2013 the 6.3L V12 engine won the 2013 international engine of the year. Top Gear Magazine named the F12 the supercar of the year for 2012. So why was I disappointed in the F12. It started with my test F12’s black livery with black rims which is not my cup of tea. The biggest disappointment was the performance. Jeremy Clarkson warned of the savagery of the F12, he said it had too much power at 730 hp. So I had built up this image in my mind of an untamable monster. Instead, I found an ultra civilized superfast supercar. Without the antics of a fire breathing dragon to tame the F12 lost a great deal of its appeal. I should have known better. Modern Ferrari’s tend to flatter the driver rather than overwhelming them. To be fair I did not try to perform outrageous maneuvers with the F12. I did make it a mission exploring naughty speed figures. Let me be clear the F12 is a gorgeous V12 supercar. I love the aero bridge channeling air from the bonnet along the flanks of the car. I marvel at the active brakes cooling ducts that open to direct cooling when the brakes at hot. And yet I was still left disappointed in my driving experience with Ferrari F12 as it did not give me the fizz.

Related: These Supercars Are Amazing...But We'd Never Want To Own Them

2 Lamborghini Murcielago

Murcielago
Jason Grunsell

The name Lamborghini evokes images of fire breathing V12 engines and outrageous designs. Lamborghini. Driving a Lamborghini is a statement as well as being a magnet for cell videos and pictures. You are a rock star. Unsurprisingly actually driving a Lamborghini does have its downsides. My first Lamborghini experience was behind the wheel of an old school supercar, the Lamborghini Murcielago. Old school means no flappy paddles' gearbox, instead you get a 6-speed manual gearbox. The owner kindly made me aware that breaking the gearbox would come with a $14,000 bill. Scissor doors are another Lamborghini staple of supercar theater. They do come at a price as they demand unseemly body contortions to get into the Murcielago. The greatest liability driving a Murcielago are the terrifying blind spots. I have never been so frightened driving a supercar. Most disturbing is the terror only heightens at night as your world gets very small. I pulled out from a stop sign only to find a huge truck behind me who I had never seen thanks to my massive blind spot. I would sum up my Murcielago experience as a heady tonic of exhilaration, fear and physical exhaustion. I was only too happy to hand the keys back to the owner. I guess old school supercars are not for me. I could not live with this car on a daily basis, then again I suppose that is the whole idea.

1 Lamborghini Aventador Roadster

Aventador Roadster
Jason Grunsell

Finally, we come to the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster. I can hear the howls of protest but hear me out as I have 2 years of driving experience in the Aventador Roadster. It goes without saying the styling is never going to be a disappointment. With the carbon roof panels removed the cool factor increases a thousand fold. Roofless is an even better place to drink in the sound of that monstrous V12. Funny thing about that V12 symphony. Unless you are in corsa mode the sound of the V12 is more of an irritating drone. Corsa mode is the more thrilling mode but comes at the cost of serious decibels that can and will harm your eardrums. By far the worst aspect of the Aventador roadster is the single clutch automated manual Gearbox. Once you have driven the smooth double clutch in a Ferrari or McLaren you can never go back to a single clutch. The shifting is jerky, and you never quite seem to be in the right gear. So driving around town is not as fun. I drove the Aventador Roadster on and off for 2 years and I can say hand on heart I would not buy one. Theatrical styling mated with 700 bhp and open-top driving can only seduce you for so long. The Aventador Roadster wore me out.

One person's turn on in a supercar is another’s turnoff. Driving a supercar is the ultimate red pill, you may not like all the answers you get, but they will be real answers. My next red pill adventure will be in new rosso Imola Ferrari 296 GTB V6 hybrid. Will I love it, or will I add the 296 to my list of disappointing supercars? Either way it will a real adventure.