Gallardo Spyder or V8 Vantage Volante?
Gallardo Spyder or V8 Vantage Volante?
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The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

270 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
pre-560 Gallardos work out at very similar money to a 4.7 Vantage Volante.

Any thoughts or recommendations from people who've ideally driven both would be welcome.

Stuart Dickinson

998 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
The Pits said:
pre-560 Gallardos work out at very similar money to a 4.7 Vantage Volante.

Any thoughts or recommendations from people who've ideally driven both would be welcome.
Put 3,500 miles on our 4.3L Vantage(tastefully modded) taking it from San Diego to Vancouver last year. Have driven a few 4.7's on shorter trips. Also put some miles on the '07 Gallardo but only city miles.

As with anything, depends upon your situation. If its as a daily driver then the AM no questions asked. A weekend toy.... hard pressed not to take the Gallardo. Such a sense of occasion and drama every time you get in, but then, you'd better be prepared for a bit of attention!

Having said that, if you're talking about a car to 'live with', I would probably come back to the Vantage. Such a graceful and classy car, lots of positive attention, the handling is great and the chassis so well engineered that you can have some fun with it and take the car by the scruff of the neck at times without huge fear that it's going to bite you. You'll hear some criticism at its lack of get up and go, but if straight line speed is all you're looking for you'd be shopping for a 'vette right?

cc8s

4,258 posts

233 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
From a spectator's point of view: do you want attention or to be subtle? To be subtle take the V8 Roadster or a dark Gallardo, otherwise the Gallardo.

They both sound great and feel great(I have been in a V8 Vantage and most types of Gallardo). I am sure they both handle very well. What I love about the Roadster especially is how quiet it is at low revs and how it roars if you push the pedal.

Let us know what you decide!

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

270 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
I love the way the Vantage is the discreet option! Maybe only next to a Lamborghini.

that said, for a Lamborghini the Gallardo is bordering on the low key. Certainly it's the sensible one in the family.

Either way both Astons and Lambos seem to generate mostly positive attention and not the sneers and hand gestures Porsches and Ferraris produce.

I had the pleasure of driving an 06 Gallardo last year and it was very impressive. Astonishingly usable and surprisingly practical for a lamborghini. I think it's one of the most usable supercars ever and to my great surprise very capable down british b-roads. Luckily the noise is all Lamborghini. Glorious.

As for the Aston, I have a natural preference for British sports cars where possible and the Aston Martin sits at the pinnacle of the british marques. As has been mentioned it's more classy than flash and it's a desperately cool brand. I've only heard good things about the way they drive too. I drove a DB9 and a DBS and loved them. Brilliant, beautiful cars. But I can only imagine the vantage is that much more 'chuckable' and responsive. So really, I need to drive one asap. I'm sure it will be fabulous which will only make the decision harder!

cc8s

4,258 posts

233 months

Tuesday 12th January 2010
quotequote all
lol to clarify what I mean, in Aberdeen there are so many Astons they rarely get a second look, it is the Lmaborghinis that get all the heads turning! Both cars are beautiful. The Lmabo is raw; the Aston refined.

revrange

1,182 posts

214 months

Wednesday 13th January 2010
quotequote all
I think the lambo is pretty refined acutally and certainly better built.

Lambo will cost more to run, but is a quicker car, and going fast is never cheap!

Lambo is a full breed supercar, the Aston a tourer, so really depends what you want.

I would take the lambo as its in a different league of quick, still special to look at, is useable.

Really does depend on what your after as either are good choices.

Edited by revrange on Wednesday 13th January 22:13

SpeedYellow

2,533 posts

257 months

Tuesday 19th January 2010
quotequote all
Pits, having driven both lots having a couple of people I work with both owning V8's (a 4.3 and 4.7) and having owned a Gallardo and read you comments on your thoughts on the 355 you owned on several threads you'd be nuts to buy the Aston as you'd be back with a car that just doesn't go or handle when pushed to the level I guess you're going to expect.

Having said that the Gallardo isn't a precision tool, it's quick (very at times) and has huge grip but not the last word in steering feel but has some of the best brakes in the business for ultimate stopping power but again not for feel.

The Pits

Original Poster:

4,290 posts

270 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
thanks but I heard the Vantage was tidy in the bends.

However i might be swaying towards the Lambo. The lure of 500+ horsepower is something I don't have at the moment. I agree that steering feel could be better on the gallardo. However i have precision and steering feel to spare with the elise. The main appeal of the lambo is the engine and the noise.

Tassa

50 posts

259 months

Friday 5th February 2010
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what are you talking about.. the new Esprit comes out soon enough??!

mummy can I have one please

Kylie

4,391 posts

287 months

Monday 8th February 2010
quotequote all
The Pits said:
thanks but I heard the Vantage was tidy in the bends.

However i might be swaying towards the Lambo. The lure of 500+ horsepower is something I don't have at the moment. I agree that steering feel could be better on the gallardo. However i have precision and steering feel to spare with the elise. The main appeal of the lambo is the engine and the noise.
Granted but a DB9 V12 with better sports exhaust does it for me as well. Has a lovely feel through the wheel - ok a bit heavy compared to a Lotus/TVR, but more refined. If I were to stick to British id throw my money at that or a DBS.


bertie

8,569 posts

314 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
It's all been said, the Vantage is more comfy GT, the Lambo raw supercar.

Let me summarize like this, when I mentioned Astons, my wife said I wasn't old enough for an Aston, plenty of time for that later in life.

Her words not mine.

steve06

756 posts

228 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
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I wouldn't even consider these cars as a choice between or the other. The Lambo would win every time for me, they're totally different.

andrew.

10,363 posts

222 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
bungee jump or stannah stairlift ?

Nick Beef

389 posts

286 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
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No comparison the Gallardo wins hands down in all departments... I think the Aston should be compared to a 911 or SL63 and can tell you the lambo is just one step up...

kryten22uk

2,350 posts

261 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
andrew. said:
bungee jump
You mean you'll end up stranded like a lemon, in the middle of nowhere, waiting for someone to tow you back again? Sounds like a Lambo to me! biggrin

kickass

150 posts

269 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
Go for the Lambo! Has better performance, build quality and road presence are in a differant league too! had a vantage a couple of years ago and have to say spent most of the time back at the dealership!

Callughan

6,313 posts

222 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
andrew. said:
bungee jump or stannah stairlift ?
+1