Anyone driven a Gallardo ?

Borrowed a Murciellago for a week from P1 earlier this month and had such a laugh I thought about a Gallardo.

The guys at P1 were astonished that I would contemplate having a Lambo. They had no end of trouble with their 3 manual Gallardos (OK they get driven like a hire car, which doesn't help) and ultimately did a deal with Lambo UK to swap them for the e-gear. I know one the cars had three clutches in under a year before it went back. So, don't rely on Audi as a shareholder, they are still screwed together by Italians and four wheel drive with a big engine needs care.

If the Gallardo engine management system is anything like the Murciellago, it's a bit of a laugh. The car seems to pick a randon idling speed each time you get in. This is fine as long as you don't get stuck in traffic idling at 3000 rpm (which I did in both Central London and Birmingham) when you attract interesting hand gestures from other drivers.

It also has this software programme that's designed to avoid stalling. It blips the throttle when it thinks it's about to stall. However, it sometimes seems to do it because it just feels like it. Again sitting at a traffic light in Central London and all of a sudden the car revs itself. The taxi in front thinking I was being a boy racer took offence and made more suggestions as to how I might manually relieve any sexual tension I had.

Having said that, it was like driving automotive pornography. Tasteless, loud, brash, appealing only to school boys and tarts. I loved it!

jg

 

A 360 owning mate drove a Gallardo.

Came away saying "great car... but ****e compared to the 360"

The Gallardo is too germanic... its TOO good... has no soul

 

Read my experience at:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35327&highlight=gallardo

Alex

 

Can understand his prejudice, but I think he's probably love-blind. I know it's heresy here, but I don't think the 360 has any soul. Am I alone in thinking that the new Fcars whilst better in many respects are too common, too expensive and too corporate?

 

I drove a Gallardo at Millbrook a few weeks back. I was impressed with the room inside (I was expecting it to be cramped) and thought it was a lovely car to drive, handling very well at high speeds and got the impression that it was very well put together. Thanks Audi.

But, i'd have to agree with the comment above. An exceptional car, but lacking in the true Italian character that other comparable cars have (Maserati, Ferrari etc).

As for prices, I think early buyers will get stung with depreciations - Lamborghini are planning on mass producing the Gallardo which I think will mean there are loads of the about and this will be reflected in the price of the cars. Take a look about and see how many there are for sale - I think the lack of exclusivity will affect the prices on the long run.

 

Ok. My disclosure... I own a Gallardo having come from Porsches through F-cars and ended up here....

A couple of observations... The first is that IMHO the Gallardo could in no way shape or form be described as Germanic - it simply isn't. However, it has benefited from Audi's input and thats what makes it a capable daily driver. Mine is five months old and just shy of 3k miles.

Compared with my 355 (which I loved and swore I would not let go of), the Gallardo feels much more robust (ie fewer rattles, niggles and poorly made switchgear - my 355 had three indicator stalks in two years .... and yes it is right that the switchgear in the Gallardo is from the Audi A8 but I shouldn't need to remind f-car owners of the benefits of sharing parts bins from the owning brand)

It certainly delivers all the fun and the italian flair I experienced with my 355 - the only thing I don't get with it is the same feeling of having to balance the back end as carefully in bad driving conditions.

I drove 360s and 550/575s in pursuit of the replacement for my 355 and I would defy anyone to describe the 360 as a better car. I think the best comparison was the 360cs and will become the 430. The 430 is of course, a better vehicle but given that there is a Gallardo VT (with between an extra 50 and 100hp), a roadster (2005) and maybe even a Diesel (yes I did say that - see below) the competition will (inevitably) continue (surely this can only be a good thing). According to Autocar Magazine:

"Lamborghini could be on the verge of a revolutionary supercar step. The Italian firm is testing a diesel Gallardo, with power coming from the 5.0-litre 309bhp V10 VW engine. According to our sources, Lamborghini engineers are happy with the performance, especially the staggering 553lb ft of torque, but the problem lies with the power delivery, in part due to the narrow rev-range characteristics of a diesel engine.

Lamborghini is not the only company to look into an alternative fuel for a supercar. Toyota has a running prototype for a petrol-electric hybrid supercar, with a view to a launch in 2007."

I was very tempted by the 360cs but at the end of the day I was seduced by the finish and luxury of the Gallardo and didn't want to go down the route of the out and out track car.

I may have considered a 430 but didn't want to wait and as far as price and getting stung on depreciation - if that really is keeping you awake at night - you are looking at the wrong type of car full stop. Spending north of £100k on a car is something you do only if you are mad OR can afford it. In either case, depreciation doesn't factor in your purchase decision.

I drive it and enjoy it with all its italian flair. It turns heads more than the ferrari did and with only 155 of the buggers in the UK (RHD models) its still a rare enough sight on the roads.

My preference was the manual but I have a lot of friends who reckon the e-gear is the best way to go (I love the manual box - very quick and pistive shift and the clutch is very well balanced) - try both would be my advice.

Further advice - buy the car that feels best for you and your wallet don't rely on what others say.

And... If you think I am biased, you are wrong... I am currently looking for a Carrera GT ;-)

 

Regarding your comments on the Murcielago idling speeds, the 02 & 03 cars were well known for this problem, and its to do with the throttle bodies which need resetting to correct it. The ECU does'nt process the info from the exhaust lambda sensors correctly but it is very easily fixed. Mine has a Tubi and idles at an uneven 1000/1200rpm even though it has no lambda sensors.
Regarding your comments on it attracting tarts I totally agree. Sensible girls steer well clear but younger girls who would'nt win the £100 question on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' it attracts in droves.. Yep I love it

 

Sounds like my kinda car - I really must get one

 

Saw an Orange one in Angel today. SWEET. No tubi tho, it really needed a tubi.

 

I've got a G aswell.

Ended up opting for the e-gear because of the offset position of the clutch on the manual.

Had it 3 months now, without any problems.

 

AARRRRRGH! NOOOOOOOO! Diesel is fine in ferries, taxis, buses, and Vectroids which do lots of miles. It has no place in a Lamborghini (except for the tractor of the same name) Yes, yes, it has lots of torque, but then so does a 6 litre V12.

I grudgingly admit that the V10 Tdi as fitted to the Toerag and the A8 is jolly good, and maybe it would work well in the Bentley Conti GT if they want to give the devil's fuel a halo effect. But buyers will hardly care about the economy, so what's the point? You want more torque? Then supercharge the V12. But PLEASE don't fit a diesel in a Lambo.

To put it another way, can you imagine nailing a diesel Gallardo through a tunnel??

Robert.

 

I have moved over from a 360 to a Gallardo. This was a decision that i felt was made not just comparing proformance ( although if you did IMO the Gallardo is in a different league ) as this is unfair ie the 360 was designed 6 years ago and was at the top then, but the Gallardo is 5 years younger, it is purely evolusionary just as the 430 proformance wise should be better than a Gallardo, even if in the looks dept. it looses out, but it is also about the service from the manufacturer and dealer inc. service. Here Lamborghini wipe the floor with Ferrari and for me this was the clincher, if a company wants my hard earned then they have to give me more than just heritage and F1 results, SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE that is what i expect and i have to say after 5 years of Ferrari ownership this was not what you got. I greatly enjoyed both my Ferraris but the pleasure of ownership will always be overshadowed by the main dealers service and attitudes.
Just to add the Gallardo with a Tubi fitted by Manu at Suderia Systems goes like hell and wakes the dead

 

I've passengered in a Gallardo (hard track laps), but not one, but have owned a F355.. From what I can tell, the Gallardo is much more usable, and a practical everyday car proposition. The build quality appears to be leaps and bounds better than Lamborghinis of old.

Performance wise, the Gallardo is a good measure faster.. and if I wasn't enchanted by the faster-still Ford GT I would get a Gallardo.

 

Regarding your comments on it attracting tarts I totally agree. Sensible girls steer well clear but younger girls who would'nt win the £100 question on 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' it attracts in droves.. Yep I love it[/QUOTE]

Do you have any spare phone numbers / addresses for us humble Fcar owners?

 

Do you have any spare phone numbers / addresses for us humble Fcar owners? [/QUOTE]

No, I want them all! Anyway, I still think i'm driving a Ferrari cos I still flash everyone coming the other way and none have ever failed to flash back. Black Gallardo coming the other way last week nearly blinded me he was flashing that much, could'nt stop - too much traffic.

 

Yep, and now I'm looking for my next Ford GT !