Bitten by Gallardo Bug

I've owned lots of oddball, fun, exotic cars, but never owned a Lamborghini of any type. Having recently sold a 94 512TR (which I loved for 3 1/2 years) a friend suggested a Gallardo. The more I looked, the more I liked.

Have read the threads here. But in my area, no owners or knowledge base to get first-hand info.

Any years to avoid? Options to covet? (love the glass bonnet, but not a deal breaker). Significant problem areas?

Interested in a 6 speed coupe only, want to hang under $100k, so probably an 04, 05. Post here, or PM me if you have or know of one for sale.

Possible trade? If you want to trade up, I've got an 06 Ford GT 'Anniversary' edition, w/32k miles, all 4 options, Tungsten, super clean, needs nothing. (Trade not required to purchase.)

Thanks for any info!

 

Check your PM.

 

oh no...say it aint so?

 

Unless I get talked out of it! Keeping options open, but the Gallardo seems a good one.

 

We take trades..

I have a very nice 05 Black 6 speed for sale on my site currently

Cats Exotics | Exotic Car Dealership specializing in Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Collector Cars

Thanks Roy Cats

 

Indeed it is. Left you a vm. Thanks,

 

Gallardo is a very desirable car but a Ford GT is in another higher league !!! IMO

 

Keep the GT! Or look for 07 n up. I think engine bonnet was offered starting then n a power bump of 20hp as well.

 

Clear engine bonnet came out in very very late 04 cars and was offered as a option from 05 on..and the HP bump was only 17 for USA cars

 

Thought wrong. Havent seen a clear bonnet on earlier ones. Not as popular yet?

 

Roy's 05 indeed nice. We're a long way away from each other (across the entire country, about as far as you can go) so trucking would eat up too much 'fun' money toward the car.

Would trade or purchase a Gallardo outright. Would love to get input on the problem areas with the cars, or worthwhile questions to ask in doing research. ANY resource is appreciated.

Is the Audi tie in enough to consider I could ever get service at an Audi dealer?

Thanks.

 

I'm the third owner of a 2005 Gallardo and I have the service records since the end of 2007 at 5774 miles (car now has 19000 miles). I don't know if an Audi tech could service the Lambo, but since we have one of the best technicians in the Lambo business, here in Dallas, I'm not going to try Audi.

I am not a technician, but here's my list of things that have been normal maintenance and things that have been issues on my car or soon will be issues - such as the clutch:

Exhaust Pressure Tubes - The early Gallardo's ('04-'05) have steel tubes that clog (they have very small inside diameter) and have to be replaced with stainless steel (won't pass state emissions test when clogged). $900 to replace.

Rear View Mirror - The early Gallardo's ('04-'05) have an electrically dimmed mirror. In a warm/hot climate, the mirror delaminates and leaks a corrosive fluid straight onto the center console switches/electronics. Replace with manual mirror (as the factory did from '06 and on). ~$70 fix.

Steering Rack - Leaks and drips on floor ('04-'05 have the problem right now). $1K to rebuild. $2K to replace, but replacement apparently not available now.

Oil Leak on Top Front of Engine - The oil filter is in the valley, on top of the engine (toward rear of car). There is a steel tube that exits that assembly and bolts to the top front of the engine with an o-ring. The $4.00 o-ring failed, causing an oil leak that costs $1.2K to fix ('04-'05 have the problem right now). This leak is very hard to see and find!

Clutch - With e-gear transmission, an 'egear snap' can be performed which reveals how much clutch wear, since new, that there is. When the clutch is either worn too much or the clutch starts slipping and strange things start happening - dropping out of gear, skipping gears, etc - the clutch will need to be replaced. $7K-$8K to replace.

15K Miles - This is a 'major service' interval. Replace all fluids, filters, spark plugs, etc. $3K

A/C System - Replace Air Conditioner Compressor, Accumulator, Filter to Air Conditioner, Refrigerant. $3K

Check Engine Light On - Replaced a 'Sensor' (don't know other name - part#400906206C). $1.5K

Engine Front Main Seal Leak - Remove and Replace seal. $335

Tires - The Pirelli PZero Rosso rears don't last long - max 5,000 miles. $1K+ pair (replacing with Michelin Pilot Super Sports as I write this - they have a higher wear number and should last longer).

Oil Change yearly (since I don't drive enough miles in a year to trigger servicing).

Brake Fluid Flush every two years (unless needed earlier - technician tests the fluid)

Brake Pads and Discs - Still original at this time. I've heard I could buy Audi brake discs to save money. I believe they are the same as what the the R8 has, but they don't need replacing yet.

This is probably more than you wanted, but I hope this helps you and others.
Have fun,
Steve

 

Steve, before another moment passes, let me thank you for the documentation and 'real world' living conditions of your experience. Great job. None of that scares me per se, but gives me reality, for which fear is of little use. (To me, fear is of unknown!)

I've got oddities galore with my Fcars, most known as 'idiosyncrasies' of these lovable cars. They have personalities, character. That's what I tell my wife anyway.

I guess atop your list would be the potential inclusion of the front lifting system, ingenious as it is, though a potential sore spot if it fails.

Thanks again Steve. I see you're in Fort Worth, as is my daughter at TCU. Awesome town you've got! We've visited several times, and feel as welcomed as you've made me feel on G ownership.

 

Buy Roy's car, I will drive it cross country for you no charge I even pay gas and insurance.

Steve spot on with the Michelin Pilot Super Sports I put them on my 599 GTB and have to say they are every bit as sticky at the PZeros but last a heck of a lot longer.
I went through three sets of P's in three weeks sure there was track time but wow

 

Mr Hudson,

You are right, the lift system has the potential to be a problem. I'll have to ask the tech and find out whether they are seeing any problems/trends regarding the lift system, but he hasn't mentioned it. I use mine every time I exit/enter my driveway and it hasn't had a problem yet.

It is pretty hard to get real-world maintenance data about exotic cars and my quest for it, when I was looking to buy one, was not too successful. I only found nibbles of information in various places. I kept coming back to the Gallardo partly because it seemed that it had the potential to be one of the least cost for maintenance. The Gallardo engine would pretty much have to have a catastrophic failure before it would need to be removed, since it has timing chains instead of a belt and the transmission is serviceable without engine removal.

On a more personal note...
Thanks for your kind words. I didn't realize, until this afternoon, that you are the same person who dropped by our 'Cars and Breakfast' event back in August! I have actually seen you, but I don't think that I got to meet you. I have the blue Gallardo. The longer I live here, in the Ft. Worth area (almost 25 years now), the more I realize how unique this place is. People are pretty laid back here. We don't have spectacular scenery, but I like the fairly mild winters (summer can get too hot though). Its nice to have Dallas close by, since there is a Lamborghini dealership!

Thanks again,
Steve

 

Hey Steve, we were at the same event?!? Darn we missed meeting, but I remember it vividly. You may not recall but I was the one in the very sharp Tundra truck loaded to the axles with my daughter's dorm stuff, including roughly 342 pairs of shoes and other less significant items, like furniture.

Anyway, Gallardos seem just funky enough for me to want to pursue, since no Lambo has ever been in my garage. Wanting to try something different.

Have others out there had similar maintenance experience on their Gallardos? I live in a town with no Lambo dealership, hoping this will not be regrettable.