Is driving the R8 and Gallardo same?

[harrison]

People say the R8 V8 /V10 is a Gallardo platform? The R8 wheelbase is 1 inch longer.Gall. has a V10 and slightly heavier over rear wheels giving better traction? So the V10 should snuff a Gall.right? My V8 keeps up with an '06 Gall.

[trincap]

I've been fortunate enough to own both the Gallardo and the v10 R8. They are not similar. Honestly, unless someone told me, I wouldn't have known they were the same engine. They both have the secure "feeling" of four on the floor and handle similar although the R8 is tighter and feels better on the track. That's pretty much where the similarities end. The R8 exhaust is on a completely different scale then the lough BRAUUGH of the gallardo. The gallardo also does this weird thing where it opens up the whatever at 3500 rpm just randomly. As in, you could be there at 3500 on cruise control and it will just randomly go Braaaaugh. R8 pops in at 4k pretty consistently. The sound is more of a whumpf. The Gallardo has one fantastic feature. It can raise the nose by a few inches with the flick of a switch. Life saver when going into driveways/gas station. The electronics are better in the R8 and it is far more comfy. The fit and finish are better in the R8. I always assume this is because of the Italian vs. German thing and have always said that the best car in the world is designed and modelled in Modena but made in Germany (you should see my Ferrari's Jeez). In the end, the R8 is a better every day car and track car but the Lambo is better for flash.

[JBaller]

Hey Harrison,

Having had a 2008 R8 V8 (although I have not driven a Gallardo), I can tell you for certain that, no, an R8 V8 does not keep up with a Gallardo! In fact, I got absolutely smoked (and embarrassed) on the freeway by an 1990's Mustang Cobra in the R8! As nice of a car as it is, it is really not that fast. Ex. 0 - 60 4.3ish, 1/4 mile 12.9!... Shoot, that quarter mile time is barely better than a bone-stock 370Z! (13.0)

The R8 V10, on the other hand, is quite quick. If you look at the numbers (0 - 60 I've seen as low as 3.5, 1/4 mile 11.7 or so). Those numbers are slightly better than the 06-08 Gallardos, but still a bit off the current LP560 and Superleggera numbers (0 - 60 3.2-3.4, 1/4 mile 11.2-11.6). It's not that the R8 couldn't make these numbers, but Audi has "hampered" the R8 V10 with 25 or so less HP, probably for "reliability".

I think the Gallardo is a more "raw" exotic car, and the R8 a more refined, "practical" exotic.

[Davey_Dee]

Saw a video before of a Gallardo and R8 and the R8 was staying well ahead, this was before the V10 first came out so was definitely a V8

[JBaller]

Saw a video before of a Gallardo and R8 and the R8 was staying well ahead, this was before the V10 first came out so was definitely a V8

The numbers don't lie, my friend! R8 V8 - nice care... not Lambo fast! No arguing that point, that's why they came out with the V10.

[Davey_Dee]

Well Harrison says he keeps up with a Gallardo, so the numbers might not lie but I don't believe Harrison does either.

[jacobcohan]

jballer, is that you? the one interested in my alpina wheels?

[kthacher]

Well Harrison says he keeps up with a Gallardo, so the numbers might not lie but I don't believe Harrison does either.

Maybe Harrison is the better, more aggressive driver.

[JBaller]

Maybe Harrison is the better, more aggressive driver.

That may, very well, be the case Maybe Harrison would have had a better showing against the Mustang Cobra than I did! LOL In either case, all things being equal (and stock), the G car wins 10 out of 10 times in a straight line. Might be a different story on the track, with the R8s better handling.

Jacob, sorry, no, I am not the same JBaller who was looking at your wheels. Sorry!

[trincap]

The LP560 would beat it in a 1/4 mile and the R8 V10 would win on a track. However, this would be under controlled environment. The numbers are close enough that it would really depend on the driver. As an addendum, launch control use would also make a difference here. Both are easy to use, although Audi is a one button procedure while the Gallardo is a two button procedure. In the end though if you are looking for just simple brute force numbers, or just track numbers, you are better off with a used GTR. For me, cars are so much more than that. The better "car" in it's most general form is the R8. The flashier car and imho the better "looking" car would be the Gallardo. The Lambo would also be more appealing to the visceral side of driving. It does not make it the better car though. In the end it's really a choice of personal preference.