Gallardo

[Jas667]

Hey all, Im thinking of dipping my toe into Gallardo ownership and was looking for anyone on here who has one for some info. I am going for the current Gallardo rather than the new Lp560 as I cant quite stretch my budget to one of them. I was just looking for general info like service intervals and costs, if you have experienced any problems or anything you dont like about the car.
Cheers in advance for any help guys

[imclueless]

Many people here would have looked at a G but went with a R8 so it might not be the best forum for the answers you seek.

[R8 England]

I have to echo the previous post.

However, a friend has one, and I have driven it on various occassions. Cannot comment on servicing and pricing, but I did not like to dash layout and switches. Central dashboard switches are from an A6 or A8 and are cheap and outdated. The R8 has a more user friendly and superior control gear.

The Lambo is lower off the ground, the cabin less roomy........

As to outright performance, it handles and performs better than the R8, but, in my opionion, the gap is not that great.

The main difference is that it is not great in traffic. It needs to be driven hard to get the best from it, whereas the R8 is a true all rounder. It is just as happy in traffic as it is on the track.

[Jas667]

Cheers guys, I was looking for someone who has either owned one or has one as well as the R8 but doesnt look like there is anyone. R8 England that is helpful thanks, I was worried about it around town and I have heard horror stories of the engine bursting into flames!

[Gr8R8]

I think that I can help you with your question. I've had my Gallardo for almost 2 years and it has been a fantastic car. The car has been solid throughout it's entire 20,000 mile life. I am still on my first clutch (Egear) and have about 40% clutch life remaining. I took the car to the Gumball Rally and encountered no issues whatsoever.

The R8 arrived less than 2 weeks ago. It is absolutely spectacular. It has the convenience of an everyday car with the performance of a supercar. The steering in the R8 instills significant confidence, as the ride is incredibly flat. The limits of the car are far superior to any car that I've ever driven, including the Gallardo.

Thus, I love both cars. The Gallardo still gets more attention and has more power; the R8 is much smoother and is more usable.

[wolfie]

Gr8R8 very nice garage. Is the porsche a 997 tt? How would you rate your other car experiences against the R8?

[Gr8R8]

Gr8R8 very nice garage. Is the porsche a 997 tt? How would you rate your other car experiences against the R8?

Close, it's a 996tt w X50. I've always loved Porsches and the 996 drives exceptionally well. However, it is much trickier driving the 996 at speed than it is driving the R8. I feel that any Joe off the street could drive the R8 fast, whereas with the Porsche, you really need to watch your rear end.

With regard to the drive, the R8 power is immediate, whereas, there is a slight lag in the twin turbo. The gearbox in the R8 is also a big plus. The reassuring click of the gated shifter is so much more satisfying the click of the twin turbo. The Porsche makes a great daily driver, whereas the R8 catches too much attention.

[Jas667]

Thanks Gr8R8, that is very helpful

[Jas667]

Also Gr8r8, what are the service intervals + average costs?

[wolfie]

Jas667 I cannot speak as to the Gallardo services, but as you may already know with the Audi in the US you can pre-purchase all regular services for $650. The first service at 5,000 miles is included with the purchase price.