Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2: Spotted
A discreet Lamborghini sounds like an oxymoron but this rare, rear-driven manual Gallardo offers a tempting saving off list
Well, just 24 hours later a press release appears in the PH inbox boasting of strong sales from last year confirming that demand for Aventadors is, as Chris asserted, strong. Overall Lambo sales are up by 30 per cent, American sales by 53 per cent and turnover by 46 per cent. There's no mention of the 'profit' word in the press release but it would seem building Aventadors is doing the coffers well, and Lamborghini boasts that with the introduction of the Roadster version order books are full for the next 15 months.
Compared with the 922 sales for Aventadors, the 1,161 Gallardos Lamborghini shifted ('where to?' is one question worth asking, if the stories of two hangers full of unsold cars Harris mentions are true) is, in its words, "almost stable" compared with 2011, total sales thus far of 13,000 ensuring it's still the most successful Lamborghini ever in sales terms. To put that in context, Audi has sold just over 20,000 examples of its R8, which is based on the same platform.
Anyway. Enough of the business number crunching. Let's look at what you might want to buy. Like this surprisingly stealthy LP550-2. 'Discreet' and 'Lamborghini' aren't two words you'd usually put together but if you're among those rebelling against the relentless march of technology and electronic nannying the fact it's got a manual gearbox and only two driven wheels might tempt you. And if it doesn't, the £20K-plus saving over a new one might, a bare-bones LP550-2 currently listing at just over £140K (£20K less than a pre-facelift MY12 LP560-4). It's not a Balboni in name (or questionable white stripe) but it is in spirit and performance, the 3.9 seconds to 62 and 199mph top speed both being the same. As, indeed, are the rest of the numbers on the spec sheet.
A V10 Audi R8 gets off the line slightly quicker thanks to its four-wheel drive and a new one costs a similar amount but it's down 15hp, around 200kg heftier and, let's face it, which key ring do you want to carry round with you, given the choice? Half this money would get you into an original manual Gallardo in similarly subdued colours and with less than 30K on the clock, too - but there's something about the back to basics combination of a gated stick shift and rear-wheel drive that appeals. That, and another 30hp.
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP550-2
Engine: 5,204cc V10
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@8,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 397@6,500rpm
MPG: 16mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 315g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 6,514
Price new: £141,067 (plus options)
Yours for: £119,850
See original ad here:
On autoscout24.ch [Switzerland], there are 137 Gallardos for sale versus 91 R8's. This represents 40% of the G’s sold in the past 7 years* and 20% of the R8’s sold here in the past 6 years.
'* I don’t have data for the first few years of G sales so this comparison is perhaps a little unfair but it may indicate that used G’s take a while to shift – particularly at this time of year in Switzerland.
Data from this link posted by chandrew,
data here
e.g. Lambo have sold 344 G’s i.e. 50 per year over the past 7 years [2006-2012] whereas Audi have sold 438 R8’s (73 per year) out here
This was strengthened by a great blast back from Spa following a Purple Murci'... looked amazing!
all that said, either would be fine if it was sitting in my garage!
Its simple, neat, and looks very purposeful, without the pseudo halfords wings and fins that seem to be the standard kit to entice footballers these days. In a recent PH thread there was one sitting in amongst a load of ferrari exotica, at an exhibition held at a local exgineering works in the uk. To be honest I would have preferred that Gallardo over any of them. A nice gray one with a hard hat would do me. :~)
Despite the interior, I'd still want one in a way I'll never want an R8.
But I want mine in bright GREEN. So I can tell everybody, in true Clarckson-style: yes, I've bought a green car.
The interior is about as exciting as any Audi
I think the script might be an option as it's not on a car I saw last week.
If it's an option, then I say boo to the owner for paying extra to remind the passenger that they are riding in a Lambo. Surly the passenger would already know what car they are in. I think the car would be classier without that reminder.
When chastised that the performance was what mattered (the Gallardo was probably the quickest/best handling car at the time - this was pre-430) they said that when you're spending 6 figures, performance can't be the only thing you look at.
I thought that was interesting - they went on to say they didn't think Gallardo residuals would be any good either but generally they seem to be doing OK in the scale of things...
Thing is tho - I think both the Gallardo and the R8 are poorer because of the existence of the other. The R8 should really be 'more different' to the TT which most people mistake it for and the Gallardo could use a bit - just a bit - of 'Lamborghini' above and beyond a stripe and a bonkers exhaust noise.
I honestly think that Audi's resurgence as the 'brand to be seen in' has distracted VW from letting Lamborghini get on with what they do. The need for the R8 as the distraction(*) at the top of the range has overridden the need for Lamborghini to make a 458/MP4 competitor.
(*) I think the R8 exists for the same reason that Prada make £10K handbags. They don't sell that many £10K handbags, but their existence makes everything else in the store look cheap. It's the 'three vacuum cleaners' problem in sales psychology
As the rebuttal from Lambo shows, even if he does not like the Gallardo, others prefer it to Porsche.
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