Is Lambo on the way out..?

I smoke Uppman bankers series.
About the best $5 cigar out there.
Eric

 

I don't understand why they didn't beat everybody to the punch with a new Espada, as was discussed so much a few years ago. Now, suddenly everybody has a 4-exotic...except Lamborghini.

Also, I personally believe they should not have made the Gallardo, and stuck rather to the ultra-high-end Murcie (V-12) line of thinking. I've always felt the Gallardo was a compromise, and it has too much association with Audi (especially the mechanicals) and I just don't get it. It's like Rolls or Bentley coming out with an economic alternative. (that may not be the best example, but it immediately springs to mind)

But...that's just me. I'm well aware of the fact certain Gallardos are amazing cars...no problem there.

I just think that Lamborghini might have sort of "lost its way" with it.

Again, just my .02.

Fred

 

Perfect summary Fred.

 

ahhh idiocracy. saw a preview for this new "mcgruber" movie the other day, couldnt help but think of idiocracy. sorry off topic.

 

I agree, and anyone with a liberal sense of humour will have to agree. It's all just good-natured fun and bantering....just to keep things interesting.

Yesterday I had the best Chicken Noodle soup at a restaurant named 'Mothers Day.' I'm hankering for some more now but they're closed for the night.

 

My dad's favorite cigar is Herman Upmann as well. I think the one he liked was the Churchill series, but can't remember as it's been a few years since he's smoked. He would usually have one down in the pub when he lived here in the UK, but claimed he was not a habitual smoker.

So for his 50th birthday, I got him a leather cigar case (that would hold 3 thick cigars), a silver cigar cutter, a silver Zippo lighter, and 6 Herman Upmanns (at the time I knew exactly which H.U. to get, but have since forgotten). He figured if people were buying him cigars for his birthday, he must be a habitual smoker and so he quit - but not before enjoying his last 6 Herman Upmanns.

Really, it ended up being the best birthday present I ever got him.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

That's because your looking at it from a purist point of view without putting any weight on Audi having to maximize their R&D dollars. Cross platforming is inevitable with a company their size, and is why Lamborghini doesn't belong in their hands.

 

Yeah Ferrari doesn't cross-platform anything. Oh wait that's right , their current V8 started life as a Maserati V8 who's not selling many cars right now thus forcing a big slow-down in the Ferrari engine plant. Everyone's into economy of scale.

Bob S.

 

There was a good interview (c1980) with Dallara about this, here's an excerpt:

>>Question: Do you think a company like Lamborghini can make a profit?

Dallara: "Yes I think so because there will always be people who like supercars. Now Ferrari is in the direction of a bigger production - not mass production - but bigger production. For people like you there are too many Ferraris. There will always be a certain number of people that want special cloth, special watches and enjoy a car. Of course you should be able to supply these people a super car. Because if you make a small production car you have to do more than other companies. You have to be more advanced. That means that you have to build what others will have in three or four years. This is the answer in my opinion for a profitable Lamborghini company."

 

Nice story Andrew.
God bless your family.
Eric

 

Fred,

That was 1980. I'm not sure how a small company can realistically follow that formula, actually HAVE the latest cutting edge technology and make a profit. Remember Ferrari linked to Fiat races as well and has access to a lot more stuff than if they were totally independent. I happen to think that they have also gotten themselves in a very unique position. Audi also races a wee bit ... They have even more access to terrific technology so Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini benefit from that as well.

If all Lamborghini models started at $350-$400K would that help? I don't know. Maybe there are just too many cars of the Gallardo type and price level being produced by Ferrari & Lamborghini?

I have a friend who works at McLaren on their new street car and it's interesting to hear about what happens during development that might be avoided when Fiat or Audi are your corporate parent because they design/develop and manufacture a lot of road cars.

Bob S.

 

Oh, I totally agree Bob, and would not have posted had it been anybody but Dallara talking.

But he makes the point that maybe one should focus on a "super car" and not a "bigger market." And -- he knows what he's talking about, I don't :-D

Personally, I like the Murcie because I hear a V-12 behind my head, just the same as with maybe a Miura or lp400. It takes me back to the grand age of these cars, the mid-60s (or mid-70s for the lp400)

I'm not sure I get that same feeling with some of these other offerings.

Anyway, I'm not buying a new Lamborghini either way...got enough other bills to pay

Fred

 

This would never work, and is also why working with Audi could save them. Lamborghini will lose a ton of cache if they make high volume stuff to try to just sell cars. It works for Porsche, but it will never work for Lambo. Let Audi build and sell that stuff.

Unfortunately, subjective opinion on exotic cars is not going to pay the piper.

Sounds like the scenario has already played out.

And as far as slumming it at the Audi dealership, first off, I don't really want to hang out at ANY dealership. I want to be enjoying my car! I don't care how posh the waiting room is, or if they have free espresso. I want them to finish the service correctly and quickly so I can move on. And second: I get a loaner from Audi, even if it is for weeks (I had a clutch done in a used allroad that I didn't even buy at that dealer and had a loaner car for 10 days). No one gets that from Ferrari or Lambo. I'd rather have a loaner than a coffee. Let them get a small fleet of A3s that say "my other car is a Lamborghini".

Many people miss that fact. Lambo is supposed to be the ultimate ROAD car. Ferraris as Enzo wanted them shouldn't even be street legal. Ferruccio wanted his cars to WORK. Ferrari didn't give a happy crap what the road cars did, so long as they made money. Audi has made Lambo MORE of what it is supposed to be. How can you not say the M-SV is not the most over-the-top, best sounding, most radical-looking supercar on the road today, and yet it is a road car first that could be driven every day if you were so inclined? That IS what Lamborghini is all about.

 

Thats where Lambo misses the point. They should limit production on cars like the Murcielago. Many guys I know and speak with 50 & up with money to use as toliet paper simply DO NOT want an over the top radical looking car like the Murcielago. Its too outrageous to drive daily & too many are produced to be something really special. A Carrera GT owner told me once, the Murcielago is a 4x4 for "attention whores." Its an oxymoron......... A car with the looks of the M or Gallardo is not something you'd drive daily. They should keep cars like the M & G but cut their production. Yet produce something stylish but more practical like the Muira. Lamborghini needs to give up the "ultimate over the top road car" montra. They've boxed their brand into a corner & thats why they are struggling now & will continue to struggle for the forseeable future.

Like Ferrari's formula, produce an ultra exotic every 8 years 288, F40 50, Enzo & let customers fight over them. Yet produce practical beautiful head turning exotics like the 550, 430 & 599 in higher volume. Lamborghini could do the same with an SUV, front engine model & keep their flagship like the M in production just in fewer #s.

 

I don't think you'll get a response. But his cost a lot more.

 

I actually don't like the looks of the Murcie -- but I really do admire the mechanicals, the engineering. It's like a Miura (or lp400) with all the bugs out.

;^D

Fred

 

Lamborghini just needs to have a front engine coupe or 4 seater like Ferrari but not as boring like their 599 or 512 or California. Keep the over the top design language on those cars like the estoque and people will buy. There are just too many people in countries who want an outrageous looking car with the practicality of a normal car. People there want that exclusivity and be able to stow golf bags too. Especially when many people spend crazy amounts of money on bmw, mercedes to have more power and more outrageous looks, why not have a car that has all of that , have the brand equity, and come like that out from the factory ?

 

Are you trying to say his question was rhetorical?
I didn't want to dignify his comments, so i tried to find some redeeming value.
JK
Eric

 

I do agree with you on the Murci being over the top (although, that is the point...) I test drove one and felt so conspicuous at the gas station with the doors open that I don't think I could do it. My wife though, she loves them

I don't think the Gallardo is over the top though. Maybe in Verde, but I looked at a white spider, and my friend and I were convinced I could probably drive it to work and most people would not know it from any other sports car. It's also much more compact than the Murci, which is gargantuan.

Lambo does have a history of making other cars than just super exotics, but the image has become synonymous with over the top since the Countach in my opinion.

 

Dear Lamborghinisti,

...so you ask 50 year old men for their opinions on what qualifies as "over the top" ?

Most people can't handle a Lamborghini....it's not for them.

You keep posting in a "text book" fashion with NO personal experience. You have your opinion...that's OK....but you keep quoting other's opinon...as if it matters here.

You like Ferrari's better....that's fine. But you keep adding "people with money agree with me"....it carries no weight here....


...and a murci is not as radical and over the top as a Monterrey blue Diablo VT Roadster....that's over the top...and I like it that way!




Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Precisely as the Carrera GT owners that always has the wing up in slow traffic, attention whores ;-)

 

Sorry, I couldn't find one of a bull.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I cant wait for Ferrari to produce an SUV. It looks sunny today but I'm going to bring my umbrella as apparently it is raining Murcielagos and now they are even on fire lol. Tell your 50 and over friends with money there is a perfect car out there for their souless existance. Its called a Lexus. Are they offended by the over the top-ness of your FXX when you pay your weekly visit to the Retirement Home?

 

The "Miura" more practical than the Murciélago and Gallardo ??

Philippe
7987

 

The luxurious Miura, has a lot of interior space and headroom with a booming stereo - an every day car.

It is a typical grocery getter.