in the market for gallardo

There's some expensive stuff in the Gallardo.
Clutch replacement 6k-10k
Egear actuator 20k-25k - b/c they don't sell the pieces (but you can DIY for well under $1000)
Wheels (your choice but daily can lead to much more wear and tear)
Tires (ditto)
Brakes (~2500 aftermarket but they do last a long time)

All of the basic stuff is not expensive. Basically kind and amount of repair items drives the price up (e.g. 10 spark plugs, 10.5L 5W40, etc.).

Service by the book is every 7500 miles. Cost varies depending on what you have/want done. DIY will minimize it DRASTICALLY but you will lose your time.

My advice? Possible worst case year could cost 32k. So if you aren't willing to deal with that, I wouldn't get it. A good year is the cost of an oil/brake fluid change so ~400.

 

Ok, it's not like the ferrari service of old. The only major service that I know of that is possibly required are the chains and guides around 90k miles which I doubt you'd get to daily driving in the summer. I don't know anyone who has had their valves replaced. There have been exceptional engine failures but these seem to be rare.

This is a robust engine.... maybe replace a seal here and there but there isn't any major engine work required.

 

You will feel like you died and went to heaven moving from a 348 to a Gallardo. Cost of ownership can be very low if you buy the right car. In other words, don't go out and buy some POS with 30K plus miles on it that has not been serviced recently because it's the cheapest example you can find.

 

How long have you owned a Gallardo?. Is your cost based on your ownership?. I have to differ with your cost analysis. (Also I am not attacking you). I have owned a Gallardo for 7 years with now 35k miles and my experience is very different from your scary maintenance pricing. I do not have the time to give a line by line breakdown but the Gallardo is probably the cheapest to maintain compared to 360, 430, Diablo and Murcielago. (Now our Coutach sucks).

 

Those maintenance cost are way high, I think its $5k for a clutch and the factory is always giving discounts on top of that. This month its $1,200 off. Find the right car and you won't have many(if any)problems at all, due diligence always pays off when buying a vehicle.

 

fwiw, I don't think a "person" would ever know.

A good, experienced Gallardo mechanic should know. Worth the cost to check it out thoroughly.

And don't be afraid to keep passing on cars until you find a good solid one.

Fred

 

Go for '05, few updates and front lift system which is handy when needed....If possible save up for an '06 or newer which will only be a few bucks difference, no more than $20k difference between the two model years.

 

I was very very lucky in that I purchased my SL from a friend who was the original owner. He took very good care of the car. Also, he had owned a Gallardo (not SL) before this one I bought and he told me that the SL is far better. He told me that he always had some problem with the Gallardo. Whether his was made on a Monday or Friday, who knows.

I think that if you are lucky enough to find someone you know, or a friend of a friend, rather than through a dealer, that is best. With a dealer, who knows how the car was driven. I don't think you would want to get one that was tracked either.

I hope this helps a little.

Wendy

 

Call Roy Cats!!!!

 

I'm the real deal deon. 4 years over 80k miles. I posted the worst case, not the average, not the best, and not the cost of DIY.

Clutch cost is 3-3.5k for the clutch. Throwout bearing is ~800. Labor? If you trust yourself to do it then it's free... except it takes time... and you have other small stuff to replace while you're doing it. Shops will do it for 6k-10k. Show me a place where they do it consistently for 5k. That's like 8 hours of charged labor at the minimum. I don't know of any shop that will charge that low.

You haven't posted any costs but I'd venture a guess that you haven't had any major problems or they occurred under warranty. That's more of the ideal case. And yes, of course it's cheaper to maintain than a 360, Diablo, Murcielago (430 is debatable... in fact I think DIY 430 is probably cheaper - definitely not if you go to a shop).

 

Where are you getting this "discount"? The an e-gear clutch sells for ~3200 US... so 5000-1200=3800... that's not a discount.

 

$1250 off Your Clutch Replacement

The summer heat is no match for the adrenaline-fueled blaze of trails you’ve no doubt forged in your Lamborghini across vibrant cities, lush countryside’s and winding mountain roads this season!

If there’s one thing we know for sure, its how much our Lamborghini clients get a charge out of challenging the status quo and pushing their vehicle’s performance to the limit.



Now, as the weather begins to cool, we are offering your vehicle the opportunity to do the same. Over the next month, bring your qualifying Gallardo model* into (dealership) and we will perform a complimentary clutch inspection to ensure everything is in pristine condition and working order.

Furthermore, we will offer you a very special price on a clutch replacement if the need is determined as a result of the inspection. This is a promotional privilege available exclusively to you, our valued Lamborghini client. This offer is only available for limited time.

For more information or to schedule your appointment, simply contact James Rushing at Lamborghini Houston by phone: 281-248-8400 or by email. We look forward to seeing you soon.

*Includes Gallardo models 2004 – 2008 and Gallardo LP 560 models 2009 - present

Must present a copy of this email promotion to redeem. Please print the first page of this email and bring it to the dealership when you drop your vehicle for service. . *Valid through November 1, 2011*

Get these each month from local dealership, just happens that this month is the Gallardo clutch so its not a $1,250 discount all the time.

 

That's the Houston dealership. Ask them what the total is for the clutch job with the discount. I bet it's still in the 6k to 10k range.

 

As mentioned I was not trying to attack you. As you mention you are quoting the worst case scenario and you have the miles to prove your comments. Mine is not warranty based. My car has been out of warranty since Sept 2006.

If you do your homework on certain items it is much cheaper. Front rotors and pads from Audi saves you $1500. Cabin filters from VW saves you $89. Plugs from Lamorghini at $59 is a joke. My NGK's cost me $10.11 each. Egear issues is way overated and the problem is normally a fix of less than $500. (If right components are replaced you will never have a failure again). Rear tires are expensive but I have been running Hankook V12's instead of PS2's or Pzero's and they rock. (Read the report by Road and Track comparing 9 tires to PS2). Complete set of tires for less than rear PS2's or Pzeros.

Major 30k service cost me less than $1500. Fuel Filters, Air filters, Cabin filters, OIL and filter, Flush Brake fluid, Front diff flush, Egear flush, New belt and tensioner for Aux components, flush rear transfer case.

Exception: Buy the rearview mirror from Lamborghini for $39 as opposed to the Audi RS4 unit for $155.

I am trying to say do not quote the worst case as these cars are pretty sold and I am a cheap ass.

Why do you not post what it cost you and others to the 32k level.

 

Have you found a source for oil filters?

 

I have been buying them for $55. I can sell you one if you are prepared to pay for shipping.

 

I did. Your egear blows and you replace the clutch at a service center... ~32k.

You might not be attacking but you sure are doubting.

All of the standard 7.5 service intervals are relatively cheap but there's a lot of other stuff that will happen outside of that. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's the cheapest car in it's class to maintain (except the R8) but I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking that it's going to be like a toyota.

I'm "cheap" like you finding all of the equivalent vw/audi etc. parts but there's a big difference between DIY and going to the shop. I gave the shop number b/c most people aren't even going to put air in their tires. Even for DIY-ers who want their car on the road as much as possible, the work involved must be taken into account. Imagine getting paid for the repair time. I'd venture a guess that most G owners would profit over DIY by taking it to the shop - you know, "time is money".

PS I've used Hankook V12's in the past. Not as good as I had hoped. The wet traction is really bad in proportion. But for the difference in price, I don't understand why the majority of owners don't opt for them. Most won't get anywhere near the performance ability of those tires.

 

If I ever need advice on Gallardo repairs or maintenance I am pm'img Deon

Great work on cross referencing all the parts, gonna save alot of people some $$$.

 

I don't know if that was a dig on me but the items that Deon mentioned are posted in multiple forums. There's lots more for alternate part sourcing. I use NGK's and the VW/Audi ignition coils at a fraction of Lamborghini's price as well. Thank goodness for VW.

The oil filter though is not available for $55 but ~$75 from the dealer. There isn't an alternative so I assume Deon is getting close to dealer cost from his dealer. Correct me if I'm wrong Deon.

Respect to Deon.
and to you MurcieMurcie.
good luck on your purchase flyguyskt.

I don't regret it. My reason for giving the feedback I gave is based on your first statement "i know i can afford the purchase of the car but can i afford to drive it daily in the summer time?" Experience tells me that if you got hit with a big repair it could really put you in trouble. I know people who have gotten this car (and others) on a shoe string only to be hit with a major repair without the funding for it. Be prepared b/c if you get it, you won't want to stop driving it.

Good luck with your purchase

 

Nera,
you are right the filters are around dealer cost. I have done research high and low and the oil filters are not interchangeable or UFI will not cross reference it for us.

If you look at the UFI online catalog, part number 25.020.00 is missing. If I take some time and mic the dimensions I am sure I can match it to an UFI number available which we can xref to the more generic makes.

Also one will have to find a supplier for the seal.

I agree with you on the point that if you have some major failure of any sorts it will cost you big. If you do get into that situation there are always alternatives available, do not just take the dealership at their word and pay the price.

For instance when I thought I had a major e-gear failure recently dealer quote was around $5k. I did my research informed my mechanic what I needed done. Repair with labour and parts cost me less than $600.

I did an average cost calculation of what one should budget per year for repairs:
Based on 30k miles with no major failures but including a clutch change,a 30k major service and rotor and pad replacement for all corners.

I never drive the G in the rain so I can not comment on the V12's there. (I still have the original window washer fluid in the car from the factory).

flyguyskt,

I would put $3000 a year aside. Some years you will not use it some years you will. This calculation is based from the date my car came out of warranty till now. 5 years will cost you roughly $15000 to keep the car in very good shape.

Now one problem you will have depending on which year car you want to buy: Most guys upgrade exhaust systems, carbon fibre pieces, wheels and front spoilers. These can run into a chunk od money.

 

Manual clutches last a lot longer. The frequent changes on the E-gear clutch are based on first generation. I am running latest generation now and it looks like it will last 40k+ miles.