for anyone who has driven all three cars and read the test numbers, both the f car and the l car will destroy the sl55 in all aspects of track performance...including acceralation as the sl55 is too heavy ...its more of a nice , fast luxury roadster rather than a true sports car....
i dont think they have a different business model..thats non sense..they are i the business to make money..as much as possible...ferrari sells over 3000 360s a year, lambo cant move 1000 gallardo a year...according to my f car dealer , ferrari will make even more 430s a year, and its still sold out for the next 3years..in fact, with so many used 360s out there, in unprecedented numbers, the prices are still obsurdley high!!!the meaning of all this is that ferrari has a bigger name and is a far more popular car in the general population...that doesnt mean on is better than the other, they are different interpretions of what a exotic sports car should be...both are great!!!
Wow...here we are a year later, albeit with the benefit of hindsight. We now know that Gallardos seem to be appealing to some, and their sales seem to be decent and have helped Lamborghini to have the strongest sales year ever (I believe). For me, I was faced with this quandry too just a month or 2 ago: buy a used 360, a new Gallardo, an SL55 or ??? (having just come off a 996TT). To me, the Gallardo lacked the essence of Lamborghini, namely, the V12 and the scissors doors. The looks are so-so (IMHO) and interior, especially the colors I saw, was disappointing. The racing heritage of Ferrari and what it has done to the brand's name was immensely appealing to me. In the end, it was not enough to overcome my two perceived shortcomings of the car: the modest hp level and the (admittedly subjective) looks of the car's side profile which to me, conjour up Toyota Celica images (admittedly, the Gallardo did this as well). I know a Ferrari is in my future...of that I have no doubt. The 430 is a work of art and it is high up on my list for successors to my new acquisition. But in the end, I chose a Diablo 6.0VT (my second Diablo since 2001), largely because I wanted a Diablo that was done right and because I couldn't get on the list for a 430, nor could I afford a Murcielago. So, long story short, as a person not blinded by allegiance to any brand, I'd offer only that both brands (and indeed others like Porsche and Mercedes) have conspired to make our choices difficult. I haven't even mentioned cars like the Bentley GT. In my book, choice is a good thing.
Facts are facts! Most Lambo dealers are sitting on Gallardos. The Scottsdale, AZ dealer was sitting with 18 of them. THat's right.......18! They couldn't sell them until they discounted them. Symbolic has had the same cars for months...they just don't sell. It's really a shame, because it is a much better car than the 360. It looks better, is faster and handles better. I've spent a fair amount of time with both and that's my take. Two of my 360 owning friends bought them and said that the Gallardo is hands down the better car. Both of these guys bought their cars new and paid under $150K (1 6speed and 1 E-gear). That price point is what the market will bear for that car, and at that price point I will pull the trigger too! Dino, Once you sell your SL 55 to Alex, and buy your new Gallardo, let me know. I want to go for a ride! Jeff AKA AZFerrari
Hey Jeff: I wouldn't buy any of Dino's cars. He has them serviced at Penske's shop and you know what happens there.... My SL55 is a kickass car and for those who think otherwise it tracks pretty well too. Dino will vouch for that. Once you understand where the weight is you can throw it around all you want. As for acceleration, It will eat a 360 especially a manual. Most guys I know with manual ferraris don't really have a smooth shifting action and they lose precious seconds hunting for a slot and even more overrevving and missing the optimum shift point. I enjoy the track and I have several trackable cars. The SL really surprised me however, especially when AMG let us have our way with 30 of THEIR cars (not our own!) at Las Vegas Speedway. Someone else's car is always faster and sturdier than your own. We even ran a very autocross in an SL55 that felt liake a Miata after a few tries. It doesn't change the point though that the Gallardo simply doesn't do it for me. I think it is ugly and without soul, so no matter the numbers and stats, I won't ever be in the market for one, at any price.
It's too bad that the U.S. Gallardo's aren't selling very well, it's such an incredible car that Lambo is continuing to improve on, am I biased? yes, but in Canada you can't find a used one and the new ones are selling well. And those of you who are thinking of "trading up" give the Gallardo a second look. By the way, anyone notice how many Ferrari 360's there are for sale?
Sold my F-40 last month, replaced it with a Gallardo. My last 4 exotics were all Ferraris, I really enjoyed all of them. This is my first Lmborghini and I have to say that I love this car! This is a drivers car, road feel is great and the power band is much broarder and stronger than my 360. The car is much smaller than the 360 and feels like it. It does everything very well and based on feedback from the general public attracts much more positive attention than the F-cars. Not sure why. When I would drive my Cobra I could expect a thumbs up, drive the 360 or the F-40 and you could as easily expect a different finger waving. Looking forward to many happy miles- as for why the Gallardo is not selling I could care less; I paid $155 for a loaded car with a $191 sticker!
And almost 500 lbs heavier. Funny, I have NEVER gotten any reaction like that. That's a heck of a buy, I'm impressed. But your F40 is gone! That would devastate me. Gary
Congratulations johnbob. Just to clarity on pricing, I assumed this is for a low-mileage, 1-owner vehicle. If so, could you clarify what the mileage was. If not, and this was in fact the price paid for a new, untitled vehicle, all I can say is HOLY **** - send me the name of your dealer!
400 miles 4 months old. Had opportunity to buy new 2004 car for sticker minus $20K. My decision was based on the combo of options I was looking for as well as price. advertised Gallardo curb weight is approximately 3200lbs, my 360 spider was closer to 3300lbs... where did Gary get the 500 lb heavier figure? F-40 was a very fun car to drive but not every day... Gallardo is just as much fun without the negatives that make an F-40 not practical for daily use.
The 360 Spider is several hundred lbs heavier than the coupe, which is the direct comparison, and the R&T figure for the Gallardo curb weight was 3560, test weight 3740. Gary
You traded an iconic car (F40) for one that was more drivable. You may as well as have bought a Honda Accord. It would have cost much less and would do 90% of what the Gallardo would do on public roads in Canada certainly.
Have to disagree. The Gallardo leaves 360's in the twisties` as well as in a straight line. I've done it more than once and I'm not Mario Andretti!
Maybe the other guy was even worse! Actually I have no idea which car is superior, which is why I qualified the statement by saying "subjectively". And I stand by that, to me the 360 is more responsive, alive, and fun in the twisties than the Gallardo, even if it is slower. I think with equal drivers there would be little to choose in lap times between the two, but I've never seen a Gallardo at the many track days I've been to. It would be fun to compare...any G-car drivers going to Thunderhill on 4/15? Gary
Not sure what Canada has to do with anything, as far as drivability not the ony reason for selling the F-40, just not a fit for me. What does a Honda Accord have in common with any exoctic? Having owned and driven lots of "iconic" cars have never been too attached to any of them, nor have I regretted buying or selling any of them. Had a 427 cobra as a daily driver for over a year in Oklahoma, only other transportation was a single seat motorcycle; little older now and for me having more fun with the Gallardo than I did with the F-40. Sorry if that offends you.
R&T curb weight on the 360 was 3065 lbs, curb weght for the Gallardo is advertised at 3195, I will verify that with my scales and let you know. Seat of the pants feel says to me that the 3195 is much closer than the 3740- will know for sure next week.
Check R&T online site for the road test data panel, that's not what it says. I think the intro article they had quoted a lower weight, but when they tested the car and actually weighed it they showed the higher numbers. Gary
The 360's weight of 3065 was an estimate denoted by the e. On my 360 CS, Ferrari claimed that it weighed around 2900 lbs but by the time the US car showed up, it was around 3150 and it is suppose to be 150 lbs lighter than a 360. I think if you weighed a 360, it would come up around 3250-3300lbs. So much for mfg claims.
Never was offended, simply surprised. A Honda measured against an exotic is clearly different, as is a Gallardo (nice exotic) measured against an F40 (genuine supercar). As for Canada, the weather can be difficult for driving anything sometimes let alone an exotic on slippery tires.
In many respects you are right; the F-40 is often considered the first supercar. In many ways it will always be one of a kind, personnaly it has been my dreamcar for over 20 years... In regards to comparison having owned both the F-40 and now the Gallardo I am having a ton of fun with the Gallardo; for me, for now, the choice is the Gallardo.
Bashing the Gallardo like little kids, I hope you all are having fun. I have my fun driving mine. It is a fact that I owned Ferraris since '91 and it took less than a month for me to know that I just found the car I rather own and drive. Only if the Gallardo was a Ferrari then all of you would be sucking up to it, the fact is that the Gallardo is one of the worlds best sport cars, it was design to be just that. It is better than a 360 but I don't care about that, my ex 996TT was faster and better than any current Ferrari except the Enzo, the 996TT maybe even better than the Gallardo, but thats not the only reason to own a car. The Gallardo does for me what I didn't find in the 360 or 996TT, and thats what really counts for the owner. Bashing high end cars is really idiotic, really.
I haven't actually weighed my car. Is the 3150 an actual weight? I can't tell from your post. I was always under the impression that R&T actually weighs the cars they test and by that measure the Gallardo is on the order of 400 - 500 lbs heavier than the 360. I wouldn't consider this a deal-breaker if I loved the car by any means, I am just pointing out what it is I like about the 360...the lively, responsive feel, particularly compared to the Gallardo, much of which I put down to the weight advantage. Other drivers certainly may not value that characteristic as I do; it's a free country, take your hard-earned dollars and buy what you like. If there were no 360 available I'm sure I would love the Gallardo. Gary
Strange comment! You could say that about the Accord vis a vis the F40 as well! And, btw, the Honda Accord is also an iconic car.
