F430 or Gallardo?

This question bugs me, because whenever I think I want one I always see something in the other I like. They are both great cars IMO. But I wanted to know your stances. Those who don't have them, which would you want if you could choose one. Those who own one or both, which would you rather drive if you had the choice?

I inch over to the F430's side...

 

Considering I have been discussing this with you, I have the same problem.

From some views, the Gallardo looks very awkward to me. I love the headlights and its sleek profile, but for some reason it just looks a little too boxy from the rear/rear side view. The F430 on the other hand looks brilliant to me from those angles.
Front view: Gallardo
Front & Side view: Can't decide
Side View: Gallardo
Side & Rear view: F430
Rear: F430

As far as the interior goes, the F430 appears to be much more focused, where the Gallardo has the TV, Sat Nav, and various other luxuries.

I'm not sure what it is like to drive these cars, but from other people's experiences, it seems as though the F430 is the most involving, passionate, and favorable to drive. The Gallardo on the other hand seems like Audi has butchered the Lambo ambience, according to opinions such as a few on here and JC, but who knows if he's legit.

For me to make the most valid choice possible, I would need to drive both of them. But as for now, I'm leaning (around 5 degrees) to the F430.

 

As a driver, the 430 goes to the top of the class but in outward aesthetics, the Gallardo is the winner. The 430 does not look much different from a 360.

 

I confess I like the Gallardo a bit more (not an easy or obvious decision). I don't mind the Audi underpinnings on the Lambo, and I've never quite warmed up to the 360/430 styling.

Usually I'm a sucker for the Ferrari engine soundtrack, but there's a Gallardo coupe (JeffSD's car) that sometimes goes with us on FOC drives and it sounds incredible.

In general I would take Ferrari over Lambo (Boxer easily over the disco-trashy Countach, TR over skanky melted-doors Diablo, 308 over the what-the-hell-was-that Jalpa, etc.) But I think Pininfarina lost its way after the 355 and 550/575.

 

JC raved about the Gallardo spyder. He said it addresses all his gripes with the coupe, but with all the showmanship involved ... take it as entertainment.

 

Is it me or does this thread have a familiar ring to it

 

Not yet. We are missing some flaming , and some Porsche and Z06 comments !

 

You are right but I bet it wont be long maybe we may even see the " whats the difference in maintainance costs" point.

 

LOL! but I'll bite the hook...

I think the Gallardo looks more raucous. The 430 is classier. Typical of the nameplates.

I haven't spent any significant time driving either (I've only sat in a 430, and I was dealing with an uncomfortable bulge...) Despite its look, driving the Gallardo is a bit civilized. I suspect the 430 is too. It's the usual problem: get rid of the problems and you lose some character. Or to quote another Fchatter after trading a 355 for a 360: "the 360 is the better car, but the 355 feels more special."

 

In my opinion the F430 is wayyy better,the lines of the F430 float while gallardos are broken and overall the gallardo looks boxy,from the side view the f430 is the winner with its agressive low stance and the streached front nose that looks better than gallardo's very short kind of unfinished nose,from the rear the f430 is abviously better. In performance the F430 is as you know alot faster. so the winner is by faaar the F430.

 

ok let me try to express my feelings in some sort of inteligible way. I voted 430 but I should point out that I am a driver first, and the looks come after. my idea of a good car is a car that is generally more harsh ie a car that has good feedback.

now in my humble opinion there is no real contest here its 430 every single time. I am in the near market for a 360/gallardo and I have all but ruled out the gallardo though I have never driven either. the 430 on the on the other hand solves the issues that make me consider it vs the gallardo since the 430 has equal horspower to the gallardo.

now onto the nit picky parts, the gallardo is all wheel drive, and has ESP (traciton control) which is a bosch system that is the same one that mercedes uses. it even has the same name ESP, electronic stability control, and unlike the bmw, and porsche systems at least if it is in any way simialar it is so intrusive as to make the car no fun at all to drive, and the system cannot be turned off all the way I have personal experience with this nightmare system on my mercedes. the ESP system almost cause me to back into a tire all at the track its an ok system if your a greenhorn behind the wheel and it can save you if your not going 100% flat out, but in all other cases it will either be a nusance or a danger to any moderatly compitent driver.

the 430 on the other hand has a simple toggle swtich on the dash that allows you to turn the system to varying ranges, wet, dry, track etc... and in track mode it turns off all the electronig widgets that interfere with driving completetly and allowes you the driver to drive your car. while were talking about it we may as well discuss the all wheel drive aspect of the lamborghini there is no way to fix the fact that the galardo has awd its a problem since being awd, and having esp ruin an otherwise decent car. allwheel drive while its fun once agian if you cant drive you can do nutty things and get away with them but those things while showy are not fast and by no means are they proper driving if you need to showboat spinning the back tires should suffice. all wheel drive adds a ton of rotational mass and your clutch will not thank you for it go visit an evo board and see how fast those clutches are gone, rear wheeld drive is the only configureation that makes sense on a high performance car.

so to recap awd on the lambo is bad, and the esp is worse. both meaning the f430 is the choice to make. get the f430 get a tubi and get on with life I am not sure if ive gotten accross just how bad an awd system is and just how much better rear wheel drive is, were not talking ralleye here where awd, on gravel and snow is an improvement. awd on pavement in 2 cars everything else being equal will be a slower car. and power on oversteer is something you need to be able to do to drive a car fast, rear wheel drive gets you that some awd cars have a rear drive bais but it usually is not enough and pusshing the gas can get your front wheels into trouble, so unless your going to be turnign opposite lock and driving around corners you want rear wheel drive.

ok my rear wheel drive vs awd is over. the 430 is a great looking car, the gallardo is a great looking car too and will get a few more looks probly but the 430 is much more car in every area that counts from a drivers perspective, the lambo is just eye candy and trust me after a few months of ownership the looks wont be enough to keep you happy and you will probably have buyers remorse.

these are actually my feelings expressed how I think I would feel if i bought a gallardo instead of a 430 so if I can I will get me a 430 also this thread is in no way a dig at gallardo owners everyone has different needs in a car as a second exotic for me id pick up a gallardo that way i have a car for driving the ferrari and one for showing off at the beach or other causitic place the lambo.

 

buy both.. or go somewhere and rent one for a day.

 

*** NOTE *** I have never driven a Ferrari or Lamborghini. The following is based on numerous owners' accounts I have read.



Many people have the ideas that these two cars are highly interchangeable, so to speak, and what it comes down to is a matter of preference based on style due to their similar performance, similar price and similar exclusivity & heritage.


I would disagree with this. They are completely different machines. Ferraris are regarded as more focused, fun-to-drive, track-ready, driver-connected, street legal race cars. They want to be taken to their full potential.




I'VE GATHERED that Lamborghinis aren't so much like this. Fun? I'm sure. Thrilling? Likely. Fully-fledged race car with formula 1 technology over-flowing out the sides? I don't think so.



For most, either car would be great, but for those few, I think the Ferrari edges out just in pure driving dynamics.




You might say the Lambo is 95% of the F-car. Still pretty good, in my book.



Feel free to tell me I'm an idiot, to STFU, to go away, etc.

 

I would make a final decission only after I drove both. But having driven none of them and only have other peoples opinion and my "eye of the behoder"-view on the looks I would choose the Lambo.

 

Everybody bashes AWD. I have seen professionals park very expensive cars in tire walls. I am not a professional driver. I like to drive my cars on the track. I can drive my Audi 10/10 on the track with a fat poo-eating grin, 4 wheel slides - there is no chance of throttle induced oversteer. Without any ESP, the AWD alone gives a safety net that is fun for someone who wants to take the car home at the end of the day.

I have had both my Ferrari's on track. Neither has any electronic nanny. There is always a little voice in your head telling you to be carefull. It is an important voice to listen to. I don't have to listen to it so much with AWD. I watch those videos of Top Gear hangin the tail out and think damn, that must be fun. But those guys are on a runway, with nothing to hit. I don't see guys hanging the tail out in their Ferraris at the track. Everybody talks about the fun, but when it's your car... AWD is very nice.

 

Having never driven both your comments have very little weight.

 

there is a light years difference between a 430 (and gallardo) and an actual race car


And JC has a G spyder, I think that says it all...

 

Have you driven both of these cars (stock configuration), on an extended drive, on fast back roads ?

I understand everyone has different opinions about how a car looks. However the car has much more to offer, than just the scoops and wings. Wings ? I am not a wing enthusiast. Thankfully most of the cars in Europe, were ordered without a wing.

 

If I am to only look at them from the outside then it's a wash.
If I am to own one of them ,drive and enjoy it then it's a 430 with no hesitation.

 

lol


The gentlemen's racer, ended with the 275GTB/C.


Do you really think a valeo equipped Mondial Conv, is a street legal race car ? You better watch in your rear view mirror, for a hot 29 year old girl, driving a Boxster S roadster.


What about the 308GT4, Boxer, 612, 550, Testarossa, and 412 etc....? - They are all pure GT cars. Pure GT cars are NOT race cars.

 

I haven't. The OP was asking for opinions about which one non-owners would rather have/drive.

To be honest, the 355 and 360 are both more car than I could ever use on public roads. A Gallardo and 430 are about as useful as a space shuttle to me. Looks/style would play a big role in my answer to the OP's question, and if you dangled both sets of keys in front of me I'd reluctantly grab the ones with the bull on them.

 

Being a Ferrari forum I am sure most prefer the 430, I have limited seat time in the 430 but ample in a Gallardo. Two totally different driving impressions imo, eaither way you have a winner

Personally I love them both in their own special way

 

Well since I don't live on the west coast (idaho instead) I'd probably go for the audi with its awd system an automanual trans probably a coupe and in either a really dark or a really bright color. Or hell maybe balloon white. The V10 helps to!

If I lived elsewhere I would have a convertible 430

 

the rear tail lights on a Gallardo are really bad, so bad it ruins the entire car.

 

I hemmed and hawed, but I'm gonna respond to this one.

I haven't driven a 430, but I have been in one, and I have driven a 360, 355, TR... However, I have driven and been driven in the Gallardo so I have some sort of justifications for my opinions.

- If you want looks, I like the Gallaro better, and if we're talking spyders, I DEFINITELY like the Gallardo better.

- If you want a car you are going to drive often, I would get the Gallardo, because it is much more comfortable and user friendly in many ways.

- If you want a car you are going to or want to use year-round, especially in NY, get the Gallardo.

- If you want to track your car and only use it on sunny days, and you like involved, sporty driving, DEFINITELY get the 430 - its a winner hands down.

- If you care about resale, get the 430.

Well, thats my opinion, but if I were choosing for me, I would get a Gallardo, but then again, I already have 2 Ferraris (that spend most of their time in the shop).