LP vs. Non LP

[edij]

Hi all,

I've been looking at Gallardo's for a while now... keen to get back in one after a couple of years of non Lambo ownership....

The good non-LP's that come up seem to go very quickly and still command ~75-85k for a good low mileage car. I've been thinking about stretching the budget slightly for a 2008 LP560-4, I've found one I like for 95 but I'm slightly unfamiliar with the LP market and what to look for on the later models, and if it's worth the extra?

I've been looking at two cars at either end of what's available within budget and I'm struggling to justify a £30k difference between a yellow £65k e-gear 2004 Gallardo (coupe, no sat nav or lift, 22k miles) and a white 2008 £95k mile LP560-4 (coupe, e-gear, 12k miles)

I'd love the LP - but it's a big gap in current value between those two cars - is the gap in quality worth the extra and is the earlier car a safer bet in depreciation?

Thanks all

[TISPKJ]

Hi, I had the same thoughts buying mine last December, cheapest LP out there then was the blue / blue for 80k.
As you say it looks like a nice non LP is 75k don't forget your looking at circa 4 years newer cars not just the extra power.
If you look at some of my threads around last November you may find useful.
I think and hope the LP cars will always be worth more than non LP.
For the record a gallardo was 50k in 2007/2008 used, they have held there value incredibly well.

[Slickhillsy]

Out of interest (every day is a school day) what is the difference between LP and non LP?

[TISPKJ]

We need an anorak like mohan to answer

Other than the obvious styling changes to front and rear, 5.2 motor as opposed to 5.0, think direct injection as well, different exhaust set up, seem to recall changes to gearbox, im not sure of the other no doubht endless changes.

Is it 30k better ? I really dont know the answer to that, Mohan and others have had both so can answer, to me its a better and more aggresive looking car from the front with the bigger scoops and more like a baby supercar.

It is / was a difficult decision to make, for me 75 for a non LP v say 85 for an LP is a no brainer if you think more in terms of an 04/06 car v 08/09 then it makes more sense, trouble is once you get into LP's you have same justification to make with say 08 v 11 ...... for just a little bit more, worse than drugs I imagine.

Now hows about this one, .... is a Hurracan worth 100k more than a mint LP ?

[70proof]

Slickhillsy said:

Out of interest (every day is a school day) what is the difference between LP and non LP?

quote: auotcar: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lamborghini/ga...

What is it?
The new LP560-4 Gallardo doesn’t look dramatically different from its predecessor. But in reality it’s not far off from being a brand new car, which is extraordinary when you consider how small, relatively, Lamborghini’s budget is compared with its rivals.

The LP560-4 Gallardo boasts, as the name suggests, 560PS (the '4' refers to four-wheel-drive). Translate that figure into regular bhp and the number drops to a rather less catchy-sounding 552.

Either way, the important things to note are that the new 5.2-litre V10 has a completely different firing order from before and therefore sounds even better than ever. It also produces a chunk more power and torque and, according to Lamborghini, is a lot more driveable into the bargain.

The Lamgorghini LP560-4 Gallardo has had a minor cosmetic rethink inside and out, around the nose and tail especially. Aerodynamic upgrades include a new rear diffuser, which improves the car's stability at speed by around 30 per cent.

The nose has been given the Reventon treatment and now features more open, aggressive-looking nostrils while the rear lights have been ‘rationalised’ in an attempt to make the car look lower and wider, although the effect is reminiscent of a big Audi.

What’s it like?
The LP560-4 Gallardo is pretty special, even if the new gearbox isn’t quite all its cracked up to be. Shifts occur more quickly than they did before but not as smoothly as they do in some rivals.

Performance has taken a notable step up - and the previous Gallardo wasn't exactly slow. The handling and ride have also been improved to a point where you wonder what else they could do to improve the Gallardo’s dynamics other than to fit it with a fully functioning time/space bending machine.

The new engine weighs around 10kg more than the old 5.0-litre V10 (simply because it is that much bigger physically) yet overall the LP560-4 weighs some 20kg less than its predecessor.

Once again, Lamborghini has found ways in which to slash all-important kerbweight from the Gallardo, this time without resorting to Clubsport tactics as it did with the Superleggera (and which the 560-4 now beats on overall power-to-weight ratio).

It has achieved this by changing several key components in several key areas. The 4WD system has been completely revised and features new, lighter driveshafts and a brand new gearbox that weighs 10kg less.

The suspension has also been rethought, not only to give the Gallardo sharper responses, but also to make it lighter and stiffer at each corner.

The tyres have been designed in conjunction with Pirelli, not merely to offer better grip than before across all conditions, but also less rolling resistance at any speed. Result? Overall the LP560-4, says Lamborghini, is a whopping 18 per cent less polluting and significantly more economical – to a point where it beats virtually all its competition on emissions. Not bad considering the 0-62mph time has dropped to a scant 3.7sec, while the top speed has risen past the magic 200mph barrier – to 202mph officially.

Despite the more refined ride and significantly improved refinement, the LP560-4 still feels every inch like a Lamborghini. The noise made by the new V10 is utterly delicious, yet it has a broader, more sophisticated voice than before.

The steering is sharper but less prone to kickback over rough surfaces as well. Steel brakes come as standard, unfortunately. Buyers will have to fork out a sizeable supplement for ceramic stoppers.

That means the LP560-4 is a fair bit closer on price to the Ferrari F430 Scuderia (which has ceramic stoppers as standard) than it first appears.

Should I buy one?
If you've ever lusted after a Gallardo then this is the best yet - and not merely because it's also the fastest. It's good to see that Lamborghini is taking its future seriously and fronting up to green issues - without diluting the basic appeal of its cars in the process.

Steve Sutcliffe

[70proof]

edij said:

Hi all,
I've been looking at two cars at either end of what's available within budget and I'm struggling to justify a £30k difference between a yellow £65k e-gear 2004 Gallardo (coupe, no sat nav or lift, 22k miles) and a white 2008 £95k mile LP560-4 (coupe, e-gear, 12k miles)

I'd love the LP - but it's a big gap in current value between those two cars - is the gap in quality worth the extra and is the earlier car a safer bet in depreciation?

is 30k worth it, only you can answer that one......
defo the cars became more reliable as the years went on, that is true for every car, as parts are updated with experience and knowledge, the clutch was updated upteen times
the lp cars have better clutch wear, in part due to the gearbox changes, in part due to a sintered clutch
the early cars had awful gear ratios, making low speed driving and parking a right pain, the LP cars are very driveable in town

so, if you want to use it a lot, LP for sure, if you want a sunday toy, and are happy to risk more repair bills, note risk, then the non LP and 30k in the bank.

btw, i was told to buy a post 06 car (520hp) not 04 and having sold my 07 car I had no hesitation spending an extra 55k getting my perfect spec LP car....

[TimboL]

When I had an old skool Gallardo, there were lots of things (big and small) that I thought they could have done a bit better. When I got an LP, I found they had done pretty much all of those things a bit better: most notably the engine, clutch and e-gear gearshift; and the absence of the fairly frequent breakdowns and recalls. But also small things, for example: the gas pedal does not seem to be made out of a piece of an old farm gate in the LP.

The silver coloured plastic rocker switches in the LP are naff, bling and revolting in appearance, compared with the black rubber ones in the old skool car, but I have come to terms with them in the overall scheme of things.

[70proof]

funny as I like those bling rockers in the lp.....

[sa_20v]

70proof said:

funny as I like those bling rockers in the lp.....

That's because you're obsessed, not objective!

70proof said:

the early cars had awful gear ratios, making low speed driving and parking a right pain, the LP cars are very driveable in town

Let us be clear here. The first Gallardo had longer lower gears. From 2006 onwards (still non-LP) this issue wasn't a factor.

70proof said:

so, if you want to use it a lot, LP for sure

And yet...

MotorAuthority said:

The LP560-4 takes Lamborghini's biggest success and changes the formula - as a driver's car, it is devastatingly quick and a delight to throw around a track but as just a car, a daily driver, the old Gallardo made more sense. Then again, when did buying a Lamborghini ever make sense?

Having had a look for articles on the LP560-4 many are neither overly positive or negative over the classic shaped Gallardo. The article above by SS though is a shocker - more gush than reality. The fact he states the lack of CCBs as standard is unfortunate is just sloppy journalism (a Marmite subject if ever there was one - see other, better, reviews where this is discussed). Almost completely new car it is not...

70proof said:

if you want a sunday toy, and are happy to risk more repair bills, note risk, then the non LP and 30k in the bank.

Risk is unfair. There are a lot of Gallardos out there - some see regular servicing, fastidious oil checks and regular use - the rest are a genuine gamble old or new. That said, major failures are rare for both LP or non-LP although they both catch fire from time to time. All things being equal (which they never are) depreciation on newer cars will be higher. Parts replacement (70p used the term 'repair') is surely down to how the car has been used, serviced or stored? Also, and I'm not disputing clutch life may be extended in the LP, but how many miles has Andrew done on his first clutch (30k, 40k?) - I believe the last mileage figure was significantly higher than most of these cars will ever see and this is in a completely raw 08 SL!

If I were looking for a non-special edition Gallardo now I'd consider both models - with the right history they are all fantastic cars and their performance, interiors and, to a point, exteriors are all very similar.

Best of luck to the OP in his search.

[andrew]

car's a 2007, and the clutch is either 40% or 50% to recommended replacement ( it depends whom you believe ! ) at just over 40k miles

[70proof]

sa_20v, totally agree with you that the Gallardo in any iteration in any guise is a great car and worthy of ownership..... it beat the 360 and 430 hands down, and I would say is still more analogue than the 458/12c..

yes, the gearing was changed for the 06 cars, along with other things, but the op asked 04 vs LP.... but there were further changes going to the LP, not just ratios, and having had both the LP is far more refined in town, less 'get me out of here'..

the LP won sportscar of the year 2008 with autobild and performance car of the year with car magazine, and came second to the gtr in ECOTY.... I would say it was what the 488 is to the 458 now...

ultimately, it comes down to affordability... if you can afford it, then buy the most expensive car you can, simples, if the car is newer, better spec, lower miles, better condition and history....

Edited by 70proof on Wednesday 11th March 19:21

[andrew]

70proof said:

if you can afford it, then buy the most expensive car you can

respectfully, bks !
hth

[polar8]

I've had both versions - an 08 Gallardo 5.0 coupe eGear, and currently driving a 2010 LP560-4 Spyder eGear. I drive the current car every day, and the two cars really are quite different in feel. Far better steering in the later car (the biggest take away for me) - better engine, sound, gearbox. Maybe not 30k's worth difference, but certainly enough to warrant doing what you can to get a good early LP560.

(ps I had a 550-2 RWD with manual box and that's the sweetest of the lot!)

[TISPKJ]

polar8 said:

(ps I had a 550-2 RWD with manual box and that's the sweetest of the lot!)

Well said that man ...... with the exception of the e-gear which is obviously even better

[baptist]

Only problem with the LP is that compared to the 5.0 engine, they sound very dull.
No matter what you do with the exhaust, they will never have the same scream.
Definitely a better built car though, quality is improved on the LP cars, but in my experience quality on the pre LP cars is pretty damn good anyway.

[TISPKJ]

I thought one of the mods on an early car was to fit the later LP exhaust ?
I have no complaints with mine although I would like to be able to switch into the start up mode whenever I like and also change the default setting to sport.

[70proof]

agree with Baptist, sound on preLP is different and better, like a angry v8 between 3-4k revs under load and then V10 F1 car after.... LP louder at lower revs incl idle, but different, and v8 burble much more restrained.. effect of direct injection and changing of timings/fire order I think.

[Josewick]

Been in the exact situation since December. Ended up with an LP and 40k over budget lol

But loved it tho.

[edij]

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies and the information. The LP won and I picked it up on Friday, an LP560 coupe in Balloon White. Stunning car to drive... it might be because I've been out of a Gallardo for a couple of years but it does seem quicker than the last one.

Downside is that it's a little quieter as above, but in Sport mode it does come to life a little more (I'm hoping that doesn't eat up the clutch too much?).

Thanks again!

[nigelonich]

Nice one. The Huracan makes the LP look a bargain too.