Any Porsche owners had a Countach!

Any Porsche owners had a Countach!

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gt2-r

Original Poster:

182 posts

253 months

Tuesday 25th November 2014
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Don't shoot me down or send me to the lambo forum, because I'm after the opinion of fellow Porsche owners. I've got 964 and 993 based RS, RSR and GT2 collection, so like them generally hard core, but can't get this hankering out of my mind for a Countach. Specifically I fancy getting the last of the line QV5000 before the anniversary model.

Any views from people who have had one?

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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I haven't owned one but did have the use of one for a few days once. I can tell you they are hard work to drive. Heavy clutch, ridiculously heavy throttle, poor visibilty forwards and zero visibilty rearwards. They look and sound awesome, but there is a lot more user-friendly out there.

Edited by Trev450 on Wednesday 26th November 09:40

Henry-F

4,791 posts

244 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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A very different car in every respect.

In normal use quite hard work. Cramped, visibility is limited - you really do have to perch your bum on the door sill and hang out of the car when reversing and they are in a totally different league when it comes to reliability and running costs. I'm not sure a Countach is ever fully sorted. I wouldn't pop down to the South of France in a Countach, I would in a 964 or a 993 smile

Whilst everything for the Porsche is available off the shelf the Lambo will prove much more of a challenge. Porsche spent more money developing the interior of any of the models mentioned than Lamborghini spent developing the whole of the Countach so it isn't surprising that they are so unreliable and haven't got the engineering finesse of the Porsche.

The one time when the Countach made sense was when you put it on a track. Providing it didn't break down all of a sudden it was like being back at Le Mans. The smell of hot oil, the noise and the car came alive.

Interesting to own form the point of owning a seminal supercar and to say you've done it but don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the relatively free running costs of the 964 and 993 cars you own.

Henry smile

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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AndrewD, your thread is here!

gtsralph

1,186 posts

143 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Harry Metcalf has several videos on line about his ownership experience including this longer trip

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBMo7j5Gtk

Hard-Drive

4,076 posts

228 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Trev450 said:




I haven't owned one but did have the use of one for a few days once. I can tell you they are hard work to drive. Heavy clutch, ridiculously heavy throttle, poor visibilty forwards and zero visibilty rearwards. They look and sound awesome, but there is a lot more user-friendly out there.

Edited by Trev450 on Wednesday 26th November 09:40
Obviously hard to park too... ;-)

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Trev450 said:
zero visibilty rearwards.
Obviously hard to park too... ;-)
Like I said....laugh

Edited by Trev450 on Wednesday 26th November 18:53

gt2-r

Original Poster:

182 posts

253 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the insights guys, and some of it what I'd been expecting. I'd fit electric power steering like Harry M did.

I accept the Early LP models are probably purer, but I'm on the rather tall side and I think the low roof model (relative to standard countach of course) is probably out for me.

Wow Henry, are they honestly usable on a track. I maybe wrongly assumed the brakes wouldn't be up to much.

MogulBoy

2,925 posts

222 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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Sir would like to see a Countach on track video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIOHnEFriQg

goldsbd

134 posts

204 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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I almost bought one of the 25th anniversary editions about 18 years ago, in red, cream leather etc, lovely condition, and as I remember at the time about £35k, it was the pin up car on my bedroom wall for years growing up as a teenager.

It looked and sounded brilliant, however after a 30 min test drive I couldn't wait to get out of it, it was comfortable to sit in, steering was heavy, I didn't mind the lack of visibility, biggest issue was the sports exhaust and even bigger issue was the heat coming from the engine bay through the firewall, if felt like sitting in front of a huge hot radiator and along with the noise gave me a massive headache.

After sitting on a chair looking directly at it for about 30 minutes and deliberating owning the car of my dreams I walked away.

What is it they say, never drive the car of your dreams! You might just be disappointed.

I still love the presence and looking at them though!

graemel

7,017 posts

216 months

Wednesday 26th November 2014
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gt2-r said:
Thanks for the insights guys, and some of it what I'd been expecting. I'd fit electric power steering like Harry M did.

I accept the Early LP models are probably purer, but I'm on the rather tall side and I think the low roof model (relative to standard countach of course) is probably out for me.

Wow Henry, are they honestly usable on a track. I maybe wrongly assumed the brakes wouldn't be up to much.
Mate. Not often I would say this but Henry F is talking an absolute load of rubbish, well bks to be frank.
I am a Porsche man through and through. But I have a number of very good friends that are Lamborghini enthusiasts. I have driven LP400s, LP5000S, Anniversary, Jalpa, Urraco, Silhouette, Diablo's and the Murcielago. Some on track and some down to Le Mans, some just on local runs. In several years of going to Le Mans with quite a few Lamborghini's in toe not one has ever broken down. If well maintained no different to a Porsche they are bullet proof reliable. Not something I would have said 15 years ago but having had first hand experience they are as reliable as an air cooled Porsche. A very heavy clutch can mean it is on the way out. Heavy controls are not the norm. Yep no power steering until the mid 90's Diablo's but no heavier than a 3.2 Carrera. I have weedy arms but manage just fine.
Rear view is fine. Just adjust the door mirrors accordingly. I mean oh my god how do lorries ever manage to reverse. Use the f'ing mirrors. Yes you can pop the door and sit on the cill but that is more for show than necessity.
I'm 6'2" and fit just fine. Even with a helmet on in an anniversary. Brakes. That is the only thing that lets the car down. OK on the road but they did not fit decent size calipers until they made the Diablo SV.
A few years back a mate was asked for the kids programme no girls aloud to pit his anniversary countach against a testarossa. Filmed at Rockingham he asked me to drive the car. On the day he was not very happy. The testarossa turned up on a trailer. The chap was racing it in the Ferrari Classic Championship. Stripped out, big ap brakes and sticky tyres. Danny's anniversary a boggo standard yellow anniversary countach. The race was one flying lap each. I beat him by 1.5 seconds. But I had no brakes. By no brakes I mean I had to kill the motor in gear to stop it. Track stuff forget it with its BMW E24 6 series brakes.
My verdict. Go buy one. They are by modern standards hard work, so is a 3.2 Carrera, but they are an event to drive and the V12 sound track is just glorious.

sportsandclassic

3,774 posts

217 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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graemel said:
If well maintained no different to a Porsche they are bullet proof reliable. very unlikely from what I have seen and heard

Not something I would have said 15 years ago but having had first hand experience they are as reliable as an air cooled Porsche. Are you for real ?
A very heavy clutch can mean it is on the way out. Heavy controls are not the norm. Yep no power steering until the mid 90's Diablo's but no heavier than a 3.2 Carrera. I have weedy arms but manage just fine. Clutches are heavy when new on those cars, they have massive pressure plates and take some pressing
Rear view is fine. it's like looking through a letterbox flap!Just adjust the door mirrors accordingly. I mean oh my god how do lorries ever manage to reverse. With the use of cameras and 6 mirrors and sometimes a banksmanUse the f'ing mirrors. Yes you can pop the door and sit on the cill but that is more for show than necessity.
I'm 6'2" and fit just fine. Even with a helmet on in an anniversary. Brakes. That is the only thing that lets the car down. OK on the road but they did not fit decent size calipers until they made the Diablo SV.
A few years back a mate was asked for the kids programme no girls aloud to pit his anniversary countach against a testarossa. Filmed at Rockingham he asked me to drive the car. On the day he was not very happy. The testarossa turned up on a trailer. The chap was racing it in the Ferrari Classic Championship. Stripped out, big ap brakes and sticky tyres. Danny's anniversary a boggo standard yellow anniversary countach. The race was one flying lap each. I beat him by 1.5 seconds. But I had no brakes. By no brakes I mean I had to kill the motor in gear to stop it. Track stuff forget it with its BMW E24 6 series brakes.
My verdict. Go buy one. They are by modern standards hard work, so is a 3.2 Carrera not sure which 3.2 you are comparing this to but you are clearly wrong, a 3.2 is nimble, light and a pleasure to drive. , but they are an event to drive and the V12 sound track is just glorious.
Edited by sportsandclassic on Thursday 27th November 07:04

Martian O

2,734 posts

161 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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The Countach, it still looks amazing after 40 years, an icon.

I had my first erection when I saw this car back in the 70s! biggrin

3black

714 posts

180 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Martian O said:
The Countach, it still looks amazing after 40 years, an icon.

I had my first erection when I saw this car back in the 70s! biggrin
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2792621/man-sex-cars-describes-lost-virginity-neighbour-s-volkswagen-beetle.html


Henry-F

4,791 posts

244 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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graemel said:
Mate. Not often I would say this but Henry F is talking an absolute load of rubbish, well bks to be frank.
One man's meat........

I struggled without a helmet in the LP500S.



Henry smile

AndrewD

7,527 posts

283 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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Magic919 said:
AndrewD, your thread is here!
Hello! smile

Yes I own a RHD LP5000S, virtually as new with less than 3,000 miles. Sits alongside my other cars - Porsches being CGT and 991 GT3. I took this gentleman along to inspect it, and he rather liked it:



I've not had the car long so I can't really say a lot yet. You can't get the original Pirelli P7's but otherwise I understand you can get parts. I don't imagine it will be as reliable or as cheap to run as a Porsche from the era but, and excuse me here, that's because its a bloody Lamborghini. A poster pin up Lamborghini and a totally different league imo. Possibly THE definitive supercar ever. Yes the steering and clutch are heavy, yes visibility is rubbish. But the noise, and the feeling of being 8 years old again is without parallel. Wonderful machines!

keep it lit

3,388 posts

166 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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The greatest wall car of all time....


Crimp

909 posts

186 months

Thursday 27th November 2014
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keep it lit said:
The greatest wall car of all time....
Here here
Bloody lovely

graemel

7,017 posts

216 months

Friday 28th November 2014
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Henry-F said:
One man's meat........
I struggled without a helmet in the LP500S.
Henry smile
I scratched my head on this and then remembered. Non power seats, no problem. Power seats yes for tall people.

belleair302

6,835 posts

206 months

Friday 28th November 2014
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The bearded chap in the gillet looks like the guy who washes cars, wink wink.