Another Gallardo Roadtest

Hi Allan,
Would you just buy a Gallardo and then we could go for a drive.
See ya,
Al LaPeter

 

Audis' are awsome these days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

 

I remember reading a Car & Driver test a few months ago, the stickshift broke in the tester's hand. Maybe they are keeping up with the tradition!!!!

 

3650 lbs!!!!!!

I assume that was with driver and fuel, but still! My big 'ol Vipers weigh 3400 (GTS) and 3385 (SRT-10) without driver and I am Confident my 355 is lighter (have not had it on scales, though).

I have a Gallardo on order, but if the thing weighs 3400+ empty, then I really don't want it. It won't run enough (if any) better than my Viper to justify paying over $100K extra for pure poseur factor.

Guess I need to see if the dealer will let me roll the car up on my scales and measure for myself. I had hoped the car would be in the 3200 lb or less area.

I really don't understand why modern supercars are so heavy. The 996TT is somewhere around 3500, as is the M3, The Viper is in the 3400 lb area. the Ford GT is reputed to be over 3400, and even the mighty Carrera GT is well over 3000 lbs with a carbon fiber monocoque. My '72 Pantera was only 3140, with a steel monocoque and cast iron 'Merican V-8.

isn't the 360 around 3000? If the rumors or a 425 hp 360 are true, the track performance of hte Gallardo may not be very dominant - 400 lbs is at least 40-50 hp worth in accelaration alone, not to mention handling.

I know the Corvette is too plebian for this crowd but the ZO6 comes in at a little over 3100 lbs and will have at least 450 hp by this time next year or early '05 and it may be common, but it's performance sure won't be.

And the Elise, if it really comes in under 2000 is gaining some appeal.

 

Just SPELL D.O.T. and you why they are heavy!

 

well the interior is just out of an audi A3 not special at all, not befitting a car of this cost

 

Learn to read......:-Weight with driver and correvit:

 

I guess the concept of OT is lost on some people. Perhaps a "German Cars" section would be better? LOL

Ernesto

The Gallardo weighs 3,660lbs with driver then 3,400 to 3,450 lbs without driver sounds fair.

 

I found the numbers impressive, seems to run close to the Stradale? Has there been a head to head?

kverges - Car and Driver lists the Stradale at 3152 lbs (and 425 bhp, BTW). The Gallardo weight surprised me, too; I thought I had seen a lower number in other tests. Why weigh the car with the driver in it? I guess if you're just buying for performance, you pick your favorite performance measure - 0-60, 0-100, 1/4 mile, skidpad, horsepower to weight, lap times somewhere, whatever - and buy whatever wins. This is just one of those arguments that never ends; for some of us, the "value" is not just in the numbers. I like Vettes, but a Gallardo is worth $100k more - to me.

ILMAESTRO - What's wrong with Audi? The R8 seemed to do just fine.

 

Yeah, I too think the numbers are pretty impressive.

I test drove one not too long ago and the car was a pleasant surprise. I have my list of gripes about the car but none are performance based. The car really really hauls. Marked difference between a 360. The CS is a different beast though. Fun to be had by all is the way I see it!

I personally wouldn't cancel my order based on a weight measure. The road test is the ultimate eliminator. All magazine numbers fall off the charts and your heart will tell you yes or no. The car did not feel heavy to me. Please understand. I'm not a track driver so the handling dynamics are based purely on my own points of view. I do think the car is worth a drive if you are speculative. I don't think it'll be the car that sways you to Lamborghini ownership, a Murcielago is much better suited for that, but it is a top tier mid level exotic.

Cheers

 

425HP 360 is the Challenge Stradale...

 

Will,

Did you get that weight figure for the Stradale from the new (Jan 04, don't have it yet) Car & Driver? If so, it will be a big disappointment to me. That would mean the Stradale is about 120lb. lighter than a Modena, about half of what they claim. Full of gas, I had expected the car to weigh in at 3050lb.

Paul

 

Paul, just received my January C&D today, and that's exactly where I got the weight figure. It was good to see an independently reported 0-60 in 4.0 secs, and the two big complaints, noise and hard ride, are exactly what I was paying for! I still feel great about my order.

Also great article about buying a Ferrari F1 car from the factory - turned to that one first.

 

What happened to Lamborghinichat, looks dead?

 

Hello everyone,

where did you find all this shootout info?

F1

 

Drove the 360 F1 and had a chance to ride along in the Gallardo... I must say that the E-gear is better than F1...it's smoother around town, and in normal mode it sounds like it doesn't eat up the clutch as much as the F1.

Powerwise, the 500 hp really kick ass. The car doesn't feel that heavy, but still the 360 feel really light around the curcuit. On the road, the different isn't that big.

I guess it's up to the buyer to decide. But for me, if I had ordered the Gallardo, I wouldn't cancell it...a lovely car.

 

I sure can't read!

I still don't understand how an aluminum-intensive supercar weighs more than a body-on-frame (steel, no less) car with an 8.3 l pushrod engine comes in at a lower weight. And if the Stradale is really 3150 or so, that's not too hot; I'd rather have a regular 360. You'd have to use everything the Stradale has to outrun a Z06, and you end up with a car tnat is not much fun on the street.
Now don't get me wrong, I have a 355B, which I like much more than I'd have ever dreamed. But it is my slowest sports car (at least in acceleration) and fills my admitted poseur need at a price that has become acceptable. It is very capable on track, too, another very pleasant surprise.
Everyone has their preferences in exotic cars, and one of mine is to see weights come down consistent with the exotic materials and technology.

Sadly the Germans have a problem with this of late.

 

well its unique which the gallardo can never claim to be!! I know where all those controls come from!! directly out of the A3

Its a disgrace!

 

I have to admit. I was not very thrilled with the interior. Cost cutting for sure. At least we know parts are going to be cheap and available!

A disgrace? Hmmm...

Melting gooey plastic trim pieces is what's a disgrace. You get nice gooey gunk all over your hands. Unique for sure, and I'm glad it isn't a trend.

Cheers

 

Lets not forget about the worn looking seat bolsters on most cars with over 4000 miles!