Gallardo initial impressions

Just got a 4000 mile ’04 Gallardo with a Larini exhaust. It’s fun to compare the car to Pcar and Ferrari’s I’ve either driven or owned. I’ll set context by saying that I pretty much like anything that goes fast with and on/off switch so I don’t have a religious fever about any car. I tend to like them all and I think any higher end car has compromises.

I am more than pleased with the Gallardo. My thoughts on some of the elements:

The engine with the exhaust sounds great. It doesn’t rev like a 355/360 or have the raw torque of a 550 but it’s a really nice piece. It comes on the cams at about 4K and you get a nice whoosh to redline. It about 50% of the turbo push you feel from a 996TT but the engine has more torque below. It feels about halfway between having to be on the revs like a 360 and the linear pull of a 550. Nice and involving.

The transmission is a 6 speed and it about the same as a good Ferrari gear box. A little notch when it’s cold going into 2nd but smooth as silk after that. A solid mechanical feel without being clunky.

Steering and suspension. The AWD takes some crispness off to be sure and the car is pretty soft compared to something like a GT3. That said, I am really surprised how well it sets in a turn with just a touch of trail brake. The chassis is really stiff and it clearly helps the suspension work. I’ve only had the car up to about 150 but it is stable, stable, stable. No jitters, no trolley tracking, nada. I love stiff coupes.

Interior. I like it. The materials are nice and everything feels like it will hold up well. I love Ferrari’s but some of the interior rubber BS and fragile leather crosses a line with me. While some think it’s character I think it can be bad manners. The stereo is even decent.

Drivability. Very easy to live with. About like a 550. The engine is a little higher strung than a V12 but not much. While the car is low it’s much easier to deal with around town than a 355/360 or my GT3. The overhangs are so short the clearance is much less of an issue. The GT3 takes a huge amount of caution.

I don’t know what it is but every 911 and Ferrari I’ve every driven I can immediately tell where every wheel is and feel like I could nip an apex. That feel just comes so easy. I’ve driven a Z06 a fair amount on the track and a Viper a little. I never could tell where they were. I know it’s me. The Gallardo feels like you are “on the tip of an arrow” and I can’t tell where the wheels are either. I doing a poor job of describing this trait but maybe you catch my drift. Maybe it will come with time but it’s not automatic for me in this car.

Mine has a clear engine bonnet and as I was warned you have to be careful with well intended people leaning in to see “what’s in there”. The 360 has bigger opening so it doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue. Watch those belt buckles.

Overall, it does not have the passion of a 355/360 but it doesn’t have some bad issues either and it’s just more interesting to me than a TT right now although I think those are great performance cars. It’s a perfect balance to the GT3 I have which is very edgy on the street when you’re in the mood.

I bought the car from a friend but I’d like to add thanks to Kevin at Roy’s place. He did a good initial search for me but in the end the friend thing trumped.

Net, net, I’d do it again.'

 

Or I could have said that if a 360, 550 and a tt had sex the offspring might be like a Gallardo. Pics on the way.

 

I am finishing out a pretty hot track car that has temporarily used up my zest for complex projects. On the other hand, if a little Gallardo "go" is good, too much like you have might be just right.....
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