F430 or Gallardo
Discussion
Yes, I did look but the responses were very subjective. Then again maybe my question was too open. Looks, inside and out are subjective so thats up to me, so here goes with a few more specifics:
- Which has the better brakes on track? I drove a Gallardo on track and the brakes were juddering, is that common?
- Is one trickier than the other when reaching handling limits? Both are obviously high, but is one more progressive than the other?
- Are there any occasions when one has significantly better performance than the other? Obvious one is 4wd is better in the wet, but is it really?
- Are servicing intervals and costs similar?
- Is reliability similar (my 355 was 100% reliable in 5 years)
- Used to get any number of fingers on many occasions in the 355, does the Gallardo generate similar responses
- Any other objective difference that is worth raising?
One thing I did notice though is that several have gone Gallardo --> F430, couldn't see any in the other direction. Maybe that says it all?
- Which has the better brakes on track? I drove a Gallardo on track and the brakes were juddering, is that common?
- Is one trickier than the other when reaching handling limits? Both are obviously high, but is one more progressive than the other?
- Are there any occasions when one has significantly better performance than the other? Obvious one is 4wd is better in the wet, but is it really?
- Are servicing intervals and costs similar?
- Is reliability similar (my 355 was 100% reliable in 5 years)
- Used to get any number of fingers on many occasions in the 355, does the Gallardo generate similar responses
- Any other objective difference that is worth raising?
One thing I did notice though is that several have gone Gallardo --> F430, couldn't see any in the other direction. Maybe that says it all?
Edited by Englishman on Monday 11th January 21:35
Hi mate,
While not an owner, I had the pleasure of driving both f430 convertible and a Gallardo Superleggera back to back for a full weekend, doing over 500ks. Also had a 360CS along for fun (ignore it unless your going on the track). The key differentiator for me was that the Gallardo was much less refined as a drive, and hence less easy to live with monday to friday. In the wet it wanted to understeer as soon as you touched any paint on the road. The v10 was never as urgent as the v8. The 430 was another level of engineering refinement. It was confidant in every situation, fast or slow, traffic, wet, whatever. Where the gallardo transmission was a bit unsure of itself in traffic. The 430 was a far better engineered car, although the Gallardo turns heads and seems designed to do so - the downshift dials up heaps of revs and sounds great. If I had to choose a single car, then its the F430. But if its a weekend warrior, then the Gallardo would be my choice. Be sure to add the sports or racing exhaust. It makes a huge difference, and adds a feeling of urgency. I drove a standard gallardo with the racing exhaust and because of the sound it felt more urgent (and more fun) for sure.
You lucky man.
W
While not an owner, I had the pleasure of driving both f430 convertible and a Gallardo Superleggera back to back for a full weekend, doing over 500ks. Also had a 360CS along for fun (ignore it unless your going on the track). The key differentiator for me was that the Gallardo was much less refined as a drive, and hence less easy to live with monday to friday. In the wet it wanted to understeer as soon as you touched any paint on the road. The v10 was never as urgent as the v8. The 430 was another level of engineering refinement. It was confidant in every situation, fast or slow, traffic, wet, whatever. Where the gallardo transmission was a bit unsure of itself in traffic. The 430 was a far better engineered car, although the Gallardo turns heads and seems designed to do so - the downshift dials up heaps of revs and sounds great. If I had to choose a single car, then its the F430. But if its a weekend warrior, then the Gallardo would be my choice. Be sure to add the sports or racing exhaust. It makes a huge difference, and adds a feeling of urgency. I drove a standard gallardo with the racing exhaust and because of the sound it felt more urgent (and more fun) for sure.
You lucky man.
W
Heres a pretty good video of the F430 spider v the Gallardo spider by Clarkson. It was filmed last year IIRC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiXrePXftzY
Simple, stop thinking with your head and buy the one that makes your heart skip, at this level it should be an emotional decision. You've driven them both so have a full set of info for your heart to settle on.
Just think walking into a car park and there is a 430 and a Gallardo sat next to each other, without thinking which do you really want to jump into, you must have a heartfelt preference before trying to justify it!
Which ever way you go you'll enjoy it even though they are such different cars to drive!
Just think walking into a car park and there is a 430 and a Gallardo sat next to each other, without thinking which do you really want to jump into, you must have a heartfelt preference before trying to justify it!
Which ever way you go you'll enjoy it even though they are such different cars to drive!
NEXT! 
brakes - steel brakes much the same, juddering is not a fault i've heard of, i found it tricky to modulate the lambo ceramics
on the limit - the lambo's tame on snow or when driving around with a puncture ( ! )
performance - similar, whichever one has the noisiest exhaust feels fastest
4wd - the 430 feels light and responsive, the gallardo planted and safe, sl somewhere inbetween
costs - similar but fewer options with lambo
fingers - i even got some hassle on the 430 test drive, nothing but positivity with the lambo in 16k
others - f1 smoother than e-gear, 430 has a sensible boot
on the limit - the lambo's tame on snow or when driving around with a puncture ( ! )
performance - similar, whichever one has the noisiest exhaust feels fastest
4wd - the 430 feels light and responsive, the gallardo planted and safe, sl somewhere inbetween
costs - similar but fewer options with lambo
fingers - i even got some hassle on the 430 test drive, nothing but positivity with the lambo in 16k
others - f1 smoother than e-gear, 430 has a sensible boot
Englishman said:
One thing I did notice though is that several have gone Gallardo --> F430, couldn't see any in the other direction. Maybe that says it all?
i've met quite a number of owners of each, and haven't met one single person whose moved from lambo to ferrariF430 spider any day... previously owned gallardo and loved it to death but have to say the f430 spider is a much better drivers car.. feels faster, steering better, throttle response better and sounds better.. just drive them back to back and you'll see what I'm talking about... either way you will not be dissapointed...
SpeedYellow said:
Simple, stop thinking with your head and buy the one that makes your heart skip, at this level it should be an emotional decision.
Completely agree 100%! Lets be honest both these cars are brilliant, they both have their + and - points but really it should be about how they make you feel. I bought a 355 last year after years of wanting one and even though I've owned better/faster cars before and since it is still my favourite. Not because it's the best, it isn't, but just the way it makes me feel.Anyway I'm going to paste in an answer I gave before on this 430 VS Gallardo topic, don't know if it will help or not.
lambo_xx said:
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As for servicing cost's I can't tell you exact prices for main dealers for either car I'm afraid. This should give you an idea though, it's a price list from a well know specialist.
http://www.verdi-ferrari.com/servicing.htm
Right now on to the cars. The cars are quite different to drive and both have their pluses and minuses. The Gallardo feel more planted thanks to it's 4-wheel drive through the corners than the 430 does, however the 430 does have an amazing traction control system that seriously helps you out. As for power, on a dry road your not going to notice much difference to be honest. The Gallardo does put down the power better in the wet. The boot on the Gallardo is stupidly small, as in if you have any more than some dust to take with you your going to struggle, where as the 430 has a pretty big boot for this type of car, I've done the weekly shop and still had some room left over in it. The ride and suspension feel much harder than in the Gallardo that the 430. Which means a longer drive can be a little uncomfortable, but to be honest it's really not to bad.
I've noticed that the driving position in the Gallardo feels much lower down than the 430, not sure if anybody else has noticed this. All this means is that the Gallardo is a bit more intimidating to drive, so your wife/GF might not want to drive it (which can only be a good thing
)
Also, the steering in the 430 is much nicer than the Gallardo. I find you get much nicer feel and feedback through the steering in the 430 than the Gallardo.
Oh almost forgot to mention gearboxes. I don't know which you were looking at paddles or manual but either way I suggest you try both and see which you prefer. I was the worlds biggest hater of those "stupid flappy paddle boxes" I used to think they were for people who couldn't drive and posers. However, I've just bought a 430 spider last month with the F1 box. It's brilliant absolutely brilliant. It'd different to a manual but in a good way. It's up to which to go for. If you do decide to go the flappy paddle route there is a couple things to bear in mind. The early Gallardos had the earlier software and it's not held in particularly high regard. My father drove one when it first came out and said it was terrible, so if you decide on the e-gear option try and get and 06- onwards car as they upgraded the gearbox and it's supposed to be much better.
It's a difficult one to decide, the 430 is definitely the "better car" technically but the Gallardo is not far behind and for what it doesn't have it makes up in looks fun and sense of occasion. It really is a difficult one to decide. I would recommend getting a test drive on both and seeing which you prefer, one of them will jump out at you. Just make sure you let your heart rule your head, as it's the only way to go!
If you have any questions feel free to email me. Hope this helps
As for servicing cost's I can't tell you exact prices for main dealers for either car I'm afraid. This should give you an idea though, it's a price list from a well know specialist.
http://www.verdi-ferrari.com/servicing.htm
Right now on to the cars. The cars are quite different to drive and both have their pluses and minuses. The Gallardo feel more planted thanks to it's 4-wheel drive through the corners than the 430 does, however the 430 does have an amazing traction control system that seriously helps you out. As for power, on a dry road your not going to notice much difference to be honest. The Gallardo does put down the power better in the wet. The boot on the Gallardo is stupidly small, as in if you have any more than some dust to take with you your going to struggle, where as the 430 has a pretty big boot for this type of car, I've done the weekly shop and still had some room left over in it. The ride and suspension feel much harder than in the Gallardo that the 430. Which means a longer drive can be a little uncomfortable, but to be honest it's really not to bad.
I've noticed that the driving position in the Gallardo feels much lower down than the 430, not sure if anybody else has noticed this. All this means is that the Gallardo is a bit more intimidating to drive, so your wife/GF might not want to drive it (which can only be a good thing
)Also, the steering in the 430 is much nicer than the Gallardo. I find you get much nicer feel and feedback through the steering in the 430 than the Gallardo.
Oh almost forgot to mention gearboxes. I don't know which you were looking at paddles or manual but either way I suggest you try both and see which you prefer. I was the worlds biggest hater of those "stupid flappy paddle boxes" I used to think they were for people who couldn't drive and posers. However, I've just bought a 430 spider last month with the F1 box. It's brilliant absolutely brilliant. It'd different to a manual but in a good way. It's up to which to go for. If you do decide to go the flappy paddle route there is a couple things to bear in mind. The early Gallardos had the earlier software and it's not held in particularly high regard. My father drove one when it first came out and said it was terrible, so if you decide on the e-gear option try and get and 06- onwards car as they upgraded the gearbox and it's supposed to be much better.
It's a difficult one to decide, the 430 is definitely the "better car" technically but the Gallardo is not far behind and for what it doesn't have it makes up in looks fun and sense of occasion. It really is a difficult one to decide. I would recommend getting a test drive on both and seeing which you prefer, one of them will jump out at you. Just make sure you let your heart rule your head, as it's the only way to go!
If you have any questions feel free to email me. Hope this helps
I tried both and went 430 spider, didn't feel the 'sense of occasion' in the lambo and it didn't feel quite as special to be sat in. For that reason I agree it has to be a heart over head decision.
I actually have found the look of the lambo has really grown on me whilst I still find the 430 is not as pleasing on the eye. Both are great to drive and as I am no professional, top ends and points of a second have no bearing on my enjoyment.
I've had no reliability problems BUT whilst i've had some positivity its not the easiest car to use these days and im increasingly careful when and where I use it, which really annoys me. At the time I was thinking of re-sale going for red and now wish id gone for a darker colour as I think it looks so much more understated.
I actually have found the look of the lambo has really grown on me whilst I still find the 430 is not as pleasing on the eye. Both are great to drive and as I am no professional, top ends and points of a second have no bearing on my enjoyment.
I've had no reliability problems BUT whilst i've had some positivity its not the easiest car to use these days and im increasingly careful when and where I use it, which really annoys me. At the time I was thinking of re-sale going for red and now wish id gone for a darker colour as I think it looks so much more understated.
Lambomartin said:
isuk said:
andrew. said:
i've met quite a number of owners of each, and haven't met one single person whose moved from lambo to ferrari
I went from Ferrari to Lambo (had two) then went back again Nearly did a few months back but your former colleagues didn't seem interested in trying to sell cars when I dropped by there to have a look at a couple they had on site. Changed days to when you and Dom were there.Edited by isuk on Wednesday 13th January 14:43
isuk said:
Lambomartin said:
isuk said:
andrew. said:
i've met quite a number of owners of each, and haven't met one single person whose moved from lambo to ferrari
I went from Ferrari to Lambo (had two) then went back again Nearly did a few months back but your former colleagues didn't seem interested in trying to sell cars when I dropped by there to have a look at a couple they had on site. Changed days to when you and Dom were there.Edited by isuk on Wednesday 13th January 14:43
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