Think of Getting a Gallardo

[gizard]

Hi all,
I'm thinking of getting a 2005 onwards Gallardo. I'm told that the difference between the older and the newer is 'Chalk & Cheese' Having only driven an older e-gear model I have no idea.

Am I correct in thinking the newer model:
- Has closer gear ratios in the E-Gear
- Better Software for the E-gear
- Stickier tyres
- Anything else.

Also I have heard that some cars chew a lot of oil - which is a bit concerning - any views?

Is the Sat Nav a requirement for Resale and is it actually any good - what other options are desirable etc.

Finally am I correct in thinking that there is only a 2 year warranty which is not extendable - like Porsche, if this is correct what do people do for a warranty?

Thanks

G.

[Sarnie]

Don't think about it, do it!! Fantastic cars!!


I sold my 04 recently. As far as mine was concerned it didn't drink a horrendous amount of oil, though others may differ. I'm pretty sure that all of the revisions to the car are from the 06 model onwards, not 05. I'm pretty sure they revised the suspension and e-gear set up as you say. There were also a further list of oprions available such as branding packs and reverse camera's.

With regard to the sat nav, I found mine to be fantastic. Personally I wouldn't buy one without it, the ones without it look very basic and cheap in my opinion. Plus with the Sat nav you get the TV and MP3 facilities too although I never used them! lol

I'd be wary about spending too much on one at the moment as the new model is due out later this year which means residuals will slide on the older models I reckon.

Sarnie

[Charlie360]

Get a 430 - then I can have a go in it!! Think their residuals may be about to take a slide too though!

The mention of oil consumption was in this thread by lamboandy -

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[XXVIII]

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560/4 was launched at Geneva this year, production of the Gallardo Superleggera has now ceased as of a few days ago.

AFAIK, Gallardo Spyder and Gallardo coupé production continues with the existing 5.0 litre engine as well, for now at least.

The production of 2008 Lamborghinis is already sold, according to Lamborghini President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann...

All UK spec. Lamborghinis now have a 3 year warranty although any 'slid-in to Britain sideways' cars may not have.

... and apart from all that, good luck with the hunt for your next Lamborghini!

Why not join LCUK and make it a much better ownership experience as well?

You can join online via our website www.lamborghiniclub.co.uk

[Thorny]

I'm guessing the Nav will be an Audi one so should be pretty good?

[Try5t]

Going back to one of the original issues raised by the OP - What is the score with the Lambo warranty - do they offer an aftersales extension like Porsche? Or is it a case of go and find an independent with as little small print as possible?

[XXVIII]

Thorny said:

I'm guessing the Nav will be an Audi one so should be pretty good?

One of LCUK's number, he's on here sometimes, tried to update the satnav on his Gallardo using a new disc from Audi...

... closely followed by a brief spell of carrying an AA Roadmap book and reacquiring a sense of direction / ability to read roadsigns...

As regards extended warranties and such like, yes, you will probably need a third party supplier.

but, I have a little question for anyone reading this:

Should a persons' enjoyment of a Lamborghini of any age or specification be determined by trivia like extended warranties or by the 'standard' of a bit of satnav kit?

.

[gizard]

XXVIII said:

but, I have a little question for anyone reading this:

Should a persons' enjoyment of a Lamborghini of any age or specification be determined by trivia like extended warranties or by the 'standard' of a bit of satnav kit?

.

Not too fussed about the Satnav but if I buy a car with no warranty left and the engine has a drinking problem and goes bang five minutes later I think I will have a fairly hefty bill to pay....

[v-neo]

Well if it helps I've covered 55K in my 05 with no major issues, largest costs to date are - new clutch and thrust bearing at 50,000 miles and new front disks / pads (£1,100) The clutch actually still have over a 1mm left, but the bearing was worn, not bad since a new clutch is 5.2 or 5.6 mm.

Other than that, well the tech at lambo says the car still drives like new,

Regards
Simon

[gizard]

v-neo said:

Well if it helps I've covered 55K in my 05 with no major issues, largest costs to date are - new clutch and thrust bearing at 50,000 miles and new front disks / pads (£1,100) The clutch actually still have over a 1mm left, but the bearing was worn, not bad since a new clutch is 5.2 or 5.6 mm.

Other than that, well the tech at lambo says the car still drives like new,

Regards
Simon

Thanks that sounds a little more reasuring - what do you do about warranty?

[gizard]

Oh can anyone tell me what the ground clearance is like compared to a 997 GT3? - Also is cruise control standard? cruise control does make lfe easier when driving into town etc. on the A3 and other similar roads to avoid the dreaded cams.

[Sarnie]

gizard said:

Oh can anyone tell me what the ground clearance is like compared to a 997 GT3? - Also is cruise control standard? cruise control does make lfe easier when driving into town etc. on the A3 and other similar roads to avoid the dreaded cams.

No cruise control on mine.

[Miyagi]

gizard said:

Oh can anyone tell me what the ground clearance is like compared to a 997 GT3? - Also is cruise control standard? cruise control does make lfe easier when driving into town etc. on the A3 and other similar roads to avoid the dreaded cams.

Can't compare to a 997 GT3 but ground clearance isn't a problem. If you are approaching a steep speed ramp or drive just take it at an angle and you will be fine.

[andrew!]

i have to say that personally i wouldn't buy a car without the lifting gear :
councils everywhere are adding ramps and "bumps" with all sorts of profiles
likewise mini roundabouts in sometimes tight junctions ( for all their merits, lambos are neither narrow nor manoeuvrable )
friend's drives, car parks and garage forecourts have all sorts of slopes and lips and such

sat nav, cruise control ( and for that matter radio/cd ) i happily live without

buy the latest car that you can genuinely afford as this is not a mass produced car, and quality is improving all the time, and obviously get it independently inspected

a

[Try5t]

XXVIII said:

Thorny said:

I'm guessing the Nav will be an Audi one so should be pretty good?

One of LCUK's number, he's on here sometimes, tried to update the satnav on his Gallardo using a new disc from Audi...

... closely followed by a brief spell of carrying an AA Roadmap book and reacquiring a sense of direction / ability to read roadsigns...

As regards extended warranties and such like, yes, you will probably need a third party supplier.

but, I have a little question for anyone reading this:

Should a persons' enjoyment of a Lamborghini of any age or specification be determined by trivia like extended warranties or by the 'standard' of a bit of satnav kit?

.

Agree that the car itself should be the determing factor - however, from experience with my ferrari's; where one was exemplary, one went back and forth to Graypaul so often it knew the way; I am a little more cautious and would prefer a warranty on a Lambo. It wouldn`t put me off buying private; but for piece of mind I would probably spend that bit extra and buy a newer version or go to an independent dealer.

Given that most people are swearing by the reliability of their Gallardo's; to me it seemms a bit of a no brainer on the part of the brand not to offer an extended warranty package?? Money in the bank for them?? Just my 2p worth..

[bertie]

The nav system, in fact the whole centre screen is an Audi RNS-E module as used on various Audis.

However, as has been mentioned, When I suggested to Andy that he might be able to use the Audi update disk it did reveal that the software isn't compatible (sorry Andy!)

[octane]

Try5t said:

XXVIII said:

Thorny said:

I'm guessing the Nav will be an Audi one so should be pretty good?

One of LCUK's number, he's on here sometimes, tried to update the satnav on his Gallardo using a new disc from Audi...

... closely followed by a brief spell of carrying an AA Roadmap book and reacquiring a sense of direction / ability to read roadsigns...

As regards extended warranties and such like, yes, you will probably need a third party supplier.

but, I have a little question for anyone reading this:

Should a persons' enjoyment of a Lamborghini of any age or specification be determined by trivia like extended warranties or by the 'standard' of a bit of satnav kit?

.

Agree that the car itself should be the determing factor - however, from experience with my ferrari's; where one was exemplary, one went back and forth to Graypaul so often it knew the way; I am a little more cautious and would prefer a warranty on a Lambo. It wouldn`t put me off buying private; but for piece of mind I would probably spend that bit extra and buy a newer version or go to an independent dealer.

Given that most people are swearing by the reliability of their Gallardo's; to me it seemms a bit of a no brainer on the part of the brand not to offer an extended warranty package?? Money in the bank for them?? Just my 2p worth..

Well the experience of my associate and I who both purchased late 04 cars im afraid was far from good. Having had F cars before- which had a fair share of problems, albeit minor- the lambo was not consistently reliable in anyway and indeed other posters have written about this previously.

In my opinion the only way is to take a chance and buy one privately, hence saving £15K and that mitigates the losses when you come to sell the vehicle- I suggest you contact a lambo dealer and see what they will offer for an 05 car!

You ask a very inteersting question- if its that good why dont lambo extend the warranty? my dealership was always packed out with warranty issues and took weeks to book in the car- If your Ferrari knew the way back to Graypaul the lambo certinaly will to- and by the way thats another dealer that low balls on these cars

Edited by octane on Monday 7th April 14:23

[gizard]

Hmm, interesting comments. I see that some cars are advertised - with 'extended warranties' which are presumably third party and therefore probably fairly useless. I was thinking of a 430 - but with so many more of those on the Market they are must be due a drop in price soon. I think ideally I would like an '06 car although there seem to be a fair few 04 & 05 cars and then a fair amount of 07 cars but very few 06 cars... wonder what this means.

[Try5t]

Agree that the car itself should be the determing factor - however, from experience with my ferrari's; where one was exemplary, one went back and forth to Graypaul so often it knew the way; I am a little more cautious and would prefer a warranty on a Lambo. It wouldn`t put me off buying private; but for piece of mind I would probably spend that bit extra and buy a newer version or go to an independent dealer.

Given that most people are swearing by the reliability of their Gallardo's; to me it seemms a bit of a no brainer on the part of the brand not to offer an extended warranty package?? Money in the bank for them?? Just my 2p worth..

[/quote]

Well the experience of my associate and I who both purchased late 04 cars im afraid was far from good. Having had F cars before- which had a fair share of problems, albeit minor- the lambo was not consistently reliable in anyway and indeed other posters have written about this previously.

In my opinion the only way is to take a chance and buy one privately, hence saving £15K and that mitigates the losses when you come to sell the vehicle- I suggest you contact a lambo dealer and see what they will offer for an 05 car!

You ask a very inteersting question- if its that good why dont lambo extend the warranty? my dealership was always packed out with warranty issues and took weeks to book in the car- If your Ferrari knew the way back to Graypaul the lambo certinaly will to- and by the way thats another dealer that low balls on these cars

Edited by octane on Monday 7th April 14:23

[/quote]


I have read such a mix of posts about reliability on the Gallardo that it just strikes me as a 50/50 car. Friend of mine has an 07 plate spider - been nothing but a headache from day one - but he loves the car; and won`t get rid of it - that's fine for him, but i`m a little less forgiving and need a reliable sports car. Been through all that before and don`t need another experience; especially one where I will be footing the bill!
I loved my 355 - but it was a pain the backbox!! The best bit was selling it back to Graypaul for a £1k more than it was bought for. The heart misses it - but the stress levels don`t!

Given the technology that Lamborghini now share with Audi and the lack of Lamborghini dealerships in the South West; perhaps Lamborghini could let or authorise Audi dealerships to do maintenance jobs on the car?

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

I am also currrently contemplating a 430 or gallardo spyder and am looking at an 07 gallardo this week.

whats the overall view on the 430 V gallardo debate ( im looking at e gear) and coming out of an E60 M5.
O