Gallardo Owner Test Drives F430 | FerrariChat

Gallardo Owner Test Drives F430

Discussion in '360/430' started by W. MITTY, Jan 19, 2006.

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  1. W. MITTY

    W. MITTY Formula Junior

    Oct 18, 2005
    297
    I had the opportunity, through a good friend, to test drive his 430 Spyder (F1) yesterday. We swapped cars and he drove my 05 Gallardo 6 Speed. Our drive was on a rural mountain road, about thirty miles in length. What follows is my analysis of the experience.

    DISCLAIMER: I have no agenda here; I consider myself to be a car guy first, and a Lamborghini zealot somewhere further down the list. Indeed, the reason I was keen to test the 430 is because I am considering a Coupe. I will do my best to be objective. It was a short drive, about 45 minutes. I am by no means an expert, but I own or have owned a few great cars, including the Gallardo, a Ford GT, two Porsches, two NSXs, a 427 Cobra, an S2000, etc. I've also had some seat time in a 360. Lots of seat time in a Kart, but that doesn't count. Okay, end of the weasling.

    INTERIOR: I was immediatley inspired by the F car's interior. The pie plate sized tach, in all of its yellow glory, front and center and in your face, is cool beyond description. The general feel and quality of the interior, as well as its design, is beyond reproach. Oh, the sheer PASSION of it all! The seats are comfortable and easily adjusted. The 430 interior makes the G car's feel like a funeral. On a cloudy day. ADVANTAGE: 430

    ENGINE: The engines of the two cars could not be more different in both sound and feel. I have a Tubi on the G, so its sounds a bit more rowdy than the 430. The 430 has a smaller, higher pitched engine note, especially as it goes up through the revs, while the G is more gutteral, but still very italian. Its all a matter of taste, but I liked the sound of the 430 better, at least from inside the car. Its got this cool little warble just after a shift that makes the hairs on your arms stand up.

    The 430 loves to rev, and is quick to do so. Several times during the drive, I noted, to my surprise, that I was driving the 430 at least 1500 rpm over where I would have held the G in a similar road environment. The 430 just seems to want to dance around the tach, while the G is certainly a bit more deliberate in its rev behavior.

    However, the 430 cannot match the sheer thrust of G, and both my friend and me seemed to agree on this point. We were both surprised by this, having seen the magazine numbers on both cars. It was as simple as this: pick a gear, any gear while the car is rolling, and mash the throttle; the G just rockets away, on afterburner. The 430 is a real screamer, but it can't match the torque of the G. Even the throttle response felt sharper in the G, unless it was way, way up in the rev range, where I don't like to drive. In a real world passing situation with oncoming traffic bearing down, I would much rather be in the G. Some have called the G V-10 one of the greatest engines ever built. It showed its flexibility when compared with the 430. ADVANTAGE: G.

    HANDLING: The 430 feels like its hardwired to your brain -- you think it and the car does it. It's like a scalpel for the road, vibrant, alive, light on its feet and keen to bust its next dazzling move. Because it was a spyder, the 430 had a bit of cowl shake/chassis flex, but very little. The steering is communicative, and the chassis tells you what's happening down there. The G, by comparison, is super precise and germanic in its road feel, like it was carved out of one monoblock of titanium. The G's steering is a bit heavier but granite steady, and feels somehow more isolated, but by no means numb. Both cars grip like crazy, way beyond my other cars (with the exception of the Ford GT). Not surprisingly, the G felt much more comfortable at higher speeds (140) than the 430. (Maybe because of the wind noise of the spyder with the top up). The best way I can sum it up is as follows: Handling feedback and sharpness: 430 scores 10. G car scores 9. Stability and drive-it-all-day fast through Nevada: G car scores 10, 430 9.

    TRANSMISSION. F1 lovers: skip this paragraph. Okay, there is no easy way to say it; I did not like the F1 and would not buy one. Ever. Mind you, this was my first ever ride in a paddle car. I was surprised at the harshness of the F1, in all modes. When I first got in the car, my friend was driving. He accelerated, rolling start, wide open throttle. The first gear change, was quick but brutal. My first thought was "I would never change gears that roughly with a manual". The next gear was the same way, whomp! and so on through the revs. That poor drivetrain. I did not like the way it sounded or the way it felt in the seat of the pants. Now, it was much gentler at less than wide open throttle. And I should hasten add this: the F1 is brilliant on downshifts, perfectly smooth with rev matching only a computer could do. However, I found myself bored with it after about twenty minutes of driving. I am willing to concede that I need to drive the paddle shift more before I give up on it forever. But not in a car I own. It was so nice to get back in my G and feel that cool, deadly shift knob in my right hand, and that third peddle under my foot. ADVANTAGE: 6 Speed, in any car.

    STYLING: Sorry guys, I may be dumb, but not that dumb. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, I've never had a car that attracts as much crowd attention as the Gallardo. I'm not sure what that means...

    OVERALL IMPRESSION. On the drive home, reflecting on my experience, I was amazed at how different two cars could be, and yet both spectacular in their own way. The 430: Assuming it was a 6 speed, the 430 seems to me like a 360 made in heaven, improved in every way, by a large margin. It may be the greatest driving tool yet devised. At msrp, assuming you could ever find one, it would be a no brainer for any true enthusiast. Its deserves its reputation as one of the most desireable cars on the planet.

    The G is totally unique and so very special. It goes about its business with an almost deadly calm -- like a hit man in an Armani suit. It covers ground at warp speed and will flatten your eyeballs under acceleration. The four wheel drive pulls off the apex like nothing else I ever driven.

    To call one better than the other is truly dangerous ground, when they both do so well, but in such different ways. Let the owners decide, but let them be honest in their assesments.

    I was impressed with the 430. The emporer does indeed wear fine clothes, just not as fine as I had imagined, at least in not in f1 guise. I have, after the drive, decided that I like the 430 but that I would not pay over msrp for it. Which means I will never have the pleasure of owning one. Now, I just need to call my dealer and talk to him about upgrading to an '06 G. Faster steering, more HP, new suspension settings. Mmm. Then I'll take the premium I would have paid for the 430 and go buy an Elise with it. I wonder what my wife will say...
     
  2. mahwon

    mahwon Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2005
    489
    NYC-Shanghai
    question:
    if you were given the cars for free, a F430 coupe 6 speed, or a Gallardo coupe 6 sp. you do not need to worry about purchase price, or maintainess, or insurance or resale or etc.
    you are free to pick one and keep.

    which would you choose?
     
  3. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
    11,294
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Dave
    You should know that the list price for a 430 is actually a little less than a Gallardo. Of course, the market prices do differ as you noted.

    Dave
     
  4. yellow 355

    yellow 355 Formula Junior

    Mar 25, 2005
    503
    ocean city,nj
    Full Name:
    Ben Murphy
    Great job on explaining the differences so clearly and completly!!!
     
  5. Demigod555

    Demigod555 Formula Junior

    Nov 28, 2005
    261
    SF
    Well written, thanks for not making a fanboy mess of such a good experience.
     
  6. GSpyder

    GSpyder Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Jan 10, 2006
    421
    Maui, Az, FL
    Full Name:
    Allan-Lambo
    Nice write up, I agree with alot of what you said. It is interesting to note your accelration observations. Even though my experience was with a F1 Coupe, the Spider cannot be that much slower. I have heard, and have also felt, that the Gallardo 6 speed is much quicker than the Egear. As much as I hate to say it, in my experience with an Egear Gallardo, the 430F1 would just walk away.
     
  7. patpong

    patpong Formula 3

    Jul 6, 2004
    2,274
    Bangkok, Thailand
    Full Name:
    Patpong Thanavisuth
    At the end of the day, it's truely a matter of taste and style. Here in Thailand, there were a few used Gallardos traded in for the 430 at the Ferrari Dealer. Then, a few 360 and a CS traded for the Gallardo or Murci at the Lambo Dealer... One friend of mine went from a Porsche GT2 to a CS then to Murcilago, now switched to Gallardos... and planning for the Gallardo convertible.... As for me, quick pulling is fun for a while but the classic styling is truely timeless.
     
  8. ELIM

    ELIM Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2005
    2,055
    OC, CA
    Full Name:
    Elliot
    Great write-up of your experience!
     
  9. Piton

    Piton Karting

    Sep 11, 2005
    117
    Last paragraph says it all. 100% on target and clearly not wearing the Rossa-colored glasses that most here do.

    Good review.
     
  10. Scotty

    Scotty F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    10,491
    Oregon
    Full Name:
    Scotty Ferrari
    Great write up! I agree with what most of what has been said. Thanks.
     
  11. 4RE Bob

    4RE Bob Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2004
    567
    Muskoka, Ontario
    Full Name:
    Bob
    Great post. I would love to know where you feel the Ford GT fits into your evaluation.
     
  12. XSSSIVE

    XSSSIVE Formula Junior

    Dec 7, 2003
    705
    Reno & Lake Tahoe
    Full Name:
    Mike S.
    Great post. I am in the process of selling my 360 and 550 for my April delivery F430. I have also thought of adding an '04 Gallardo to the collection. I think you can pick up an '04 G for about $135m-$145m. Still don't know about the E-Gear or the 6 speed manual. I love the F1 on my 360 and will also have the F1 on the F430.
     
  13. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,189
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Anthony T
    Fantastic writeup. Personally I would take the Gallardo in a 6 Speed and the 430 as F1 (best F1 yet). Very well stated on all points.
     
  14. arnaget

    arnaget Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2003
    553
    New York
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Mitty -- are you sure you don't moonlight as an automotive journalist? That was a spectacular write-up. thanks.. it would be nice to see you add color commentary on how the cars compare to the Ford GT.
     
  15. ghost

    ghost F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Dec 10, 2003
    10,046
    Singapore
    Great write-up WM>
     
  16. nberry

    nberry Formula Junior

    Nov 1, 2003
    714
    Though I am a 430 Spider owner and a Ferrari fan, I found your analysis thoughtful, objective and worthwhile. Well done!

    However, (I can't exactly point out as to why) I would never own a Gallardo.
     
  17. amenasce

    amenasce Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2001
    34,432
    Full Name:
    Joe Mansion
    I agree , a comparo with the FOrd GT would be welcome !

    Very well written.
     
  18. Cavallini

    Cavallini Formula 3

    Nov 2, 2003
    1,835
    Excellent review. You should post a few pics of your G.



    Forza,


    Cavallini
     
  19. kimoSabe

    kimoSabe Karting

    Dec 7, 2003
    191
    No CA
    Full Name:
    Ray C.
    Very nice write-up. Could have been out of any car mag. Pics would have been the iceing on top. Thanks
     
  20. Tipo815

    Tipo815 F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    3,565
    Newport Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Jeffrey
    Agree with the consensus! Well written!
     
  21. spdrcr

    spdrcr Formula Junior

    Aug 2, 2004
    318
    San Jose, CA
    Full Name:
    Matt
    As others have said, wonderful writeup. I found it very informative, especially your remarks with regards to the shift firmness of the 430F1 under hard acceleration. Not something I was aware of having not ridden in an F1 car.
     
  22. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    you should be writing for a car mag...great job and good job being objective, which often is not easy....i am suprised that either car would be noticeably quicker than the other, and i wonder if the added 150lbs of the spider slowed it down slightly...also, keep in mind that the spider does have slightly softer suspension settings due to its less ridgid structure......if someone likes the gallardo, this is the current exotic steal of the century, a used 6 speed can be had for 130-145k $$ ...a total bargin, as is the 430 at msrp, in 6 speed with out too many bs options to raise the price...
     
  23. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    i also agree with the 6 speed assesment...i have driven 355 and 360 f1s, lambo gallardo e gear and bmw m3 smg, i didnt care for anyone of them...give me a good old fashion 6 speed manual any day!!!!!
     
  24. opus10583

    opus10583 Formula 3

    Dec 3, 2003
    1,779
    Westchester, NY
    Full Name:
    Mark
    Which is very strange as the Gallardo engine was designed and engineered by Volkswagen and is built in Hungary.
     
  25. Caghan

    Caghan Karting

    Jan 2, 2006
    198
    Istanbul

    Good experience with F430 and Gallardo ok but but doesnt the Gallardo feel like a little bit Audi anybody explain without being a G or F car fanatic??? Especially E-gear

    http://media.putfile.com/M5-vs-Gallrado

    This is the M5 - Gallardo 80-250 accceleration video for G owners...
    It takes a few min be patient it wil download...
     

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