Gallardo Convertible - real world practicalities
Discussion
Hi all - long time lurker, finally coming out !
Having my latest mid life crisis and seriously thinking about getting and early 5.0 Gallardo convertible
Looking to spend £75 - £85k, so the 2009 upgrade is definitely out of the question for the foreseeable
However .....
I have read much about clutch usage / wear / type / replacement costs - the consensus is that driven sensibly you can get 10/20/30k miles but I would be grateful of any feedback on reversing and general manoeuvrability in tight spaces
Sanity check required - so all constructive / first hand experience replies gratefully received.
SS
Having my latest mid life crisis and seriously thinking about getting and early 5.0 Gallardo convertible
Looking to spend £75 - £85k, so the 2009 upgrade is definitely out of the question for the foreseeable
However .....
- It will be my only car
- Not garaged - parked on secure communal drive - S. Devon
- Used daily - mostly urban driving round town
- I think I will need the nose lift feature - be really keen to get some real world feedback on the usefulness of this feature
- Independent Servicing
I have read much about clutch usage / wear / type / replacement costs - the consensus is that driven sensibly you can get 10/20/30k miles but I would be grateful of any feedback on reversing and general manoeuvrability in tight spaces
Sanity check required - so all constructive / first hand experience replies gratefully received.
SS
A brave move if it is to be your only car. How would you take stuff to the tip? Where do you put the weekly shop? Where do you park in town? I've not owed a Gallardo so can't really say much about how it would behave doing lots of short, local drives. My GT3 could in theory be used in this way, but I don't, and doubt many do. It is not the sort of journey that it is good at and I suspect the Gallardo would be the same. Could you not put a small second hand hatchback alongside it?
Hi IainF, thanks for the reply
I have owned 2 seater soft tops for the last 20-25 years or so (MR2, Elan Turbo, Boxster etc) so used to reduced storage - appreciate the G is even smaller though !
How would you take stuff to the tip? Not been to a tip in years !!
Where do you put the weekly shop? Online - I hate shopping
Where do you park in town? Only go in once or twice a year (less frquently if I can) - normally walk
Could you not put a small second hand hatchback alongside it? Yes I could do but the G would never get used. I have friends who have decent cars which rarely get used, and that causes them lots of expensive problems.
Rightly or wrongly the G would need to earn is living - is wouldn't be a 'garage queen' (dont sadly have a garage anyway )
SS
I have owned 2 seater soft tops for the last 20-25 years or so (MR2, Elan Turbo, Boxster etc) so used to reduced storage - appreciate the G is even smaller though !
How would you take stuff to the tip? Not been to a tip in years !!
Where do you put the weekly shop? Online - I hate shopping
Where do you park in town? Only go in once or twice a year (less frquently if I can) - normally walk
Could you not put a small second hand hatchback alongside it? Yes I could do but the G would never get used. I have friends who have decent cars which rarely get used, and that causes them lots of expensive problems.
Rightly or wrongly the G would need to earn is living - is wouldn't be a 'garage queen' (dont sadly have a garage anyway
) SS
Firs things first - its a great car, huge fun to drive, wonderful sound, fabulous engine, beautiful design, well-built. You (well, it) will get lots of attention - all friendly and admiring in my experience. People seem to love Lambos.
If you're lucky enough to have access to open roads its a truly brilliant driving experience, even better with roof off. Which is why I never drive with the roof on.
But if you're going to crawl around crowded town streets in it most of the time, I'd think twice. That's not what it was made for. Its not the easiest for close quarters manoeuvres like 3-point turns and parallel parking, but then nor are most exotics. Reversing camera is considered a desirable option but in reality doesn't give you a great view, esp with roof down in the sunshine.
Lifting gear means you should be fine with all but the most mountainous speed humps. You don't even need it for most of them, just take care.
You can get clutch wear measured by a specialist or main dealer. Avoid hill starts and unnecessary reversing, disengage when sitting in traffic, don't drive like its Santa Pod and it should last perfectly well. Given the age you're looking at, many will have had a replacement by now, and the replacements represent an improvement at least on the very early ones.
Guess you know most of the standard advice, like the later the car the better - eg 06 better than 04.
I don't use mine as a daily, and wouldn't want to. Not because it couldn't cope with that kind of life, it could. Its more to do with my own fussiness. It has to be clean at all times and I like to know its all tucked up when I'm not with it.
If you're lucky enough to have access to open roads its a truly brilliant driving experience, even better with roof off. Which is why I never drive with the roof on.
But if you're going to crawl around crowded town streets in it most of the time, I'd think twice. That's not what it was made for. Its not the easiest for close quarters manoeuvres like 3-point turns and parallel parking, but then nor are most exotics. Reversing camera is considered a desirable option but in reality doesn't give you a great view, esp with roof down in the sunshine.
Lifting gear means you should be fine with all but the most mountainous speed humps. You don't even need it for most of them, just take care.
You can get clutch wear measured by a specialist or main dealer. Avoid hill starts and unnecessary reversing, disengage when sitting in traffic, don't drive like its Santa Pod and it should last perfectly well. Given the age you're looking at, many will have had a replacement by now, and the replacements represent an improvement at least on the very early ones.
Guess you know most of the standard advice, like the later the car the better - eg 06 better than 04.
I don't use mine as a daily, and wouldn't want to. Not because it couldn't cope with that kind of life, it could. Its more to do with my own fussiness. It has to be clean at all times and I like to know its all tucked up when I'm not with it.
used mine as a daily (2006 spyder) for 7 months, 8000 miles put on it and driven hard around country lanes etc almost every other day.
Had no problems with the car at all and was very impressed with it. I did use the lift function quite a bit though over any speed bumps etc and if i bought one again it would have to have it. My car was mint though with only 2 owners and 17000 miles and still looked like new.
I got a grey one so did not stand out too much, especially at night when parked as sometimes I didn't park it in the most safest of area's.
My advice would be look at a few though, did see a few rough examples, bought the 3rd one i looked at pretty much instantly when i looked at the paintwork/mint interior, deal was done pending a service and inspection at lambo sevenoaks, all was ok and was a happy chap.
A good well looked after example can be used as an everyday car no problem, mine was egear also.
Had no problems with the car at all and was very impressed with it. I did use the lift function quite a bit though over any speed bumps etc and if i bought one again it would have to have it. My car was mint though with only 2 owners and 17000 miles and still looked like new.
I got a grey one so did not stand out too much, especially at night when parked as sometimes I didn't park it in the most safest of area's.
My advice would be look at a few though, did see a few rough examples, bought the 3rd one i looked at pretty much instantly when i looked at the paintwork/mint interior, deal was done pending a service and inspection at lambo sevenoaks, all was ok and was a happy chap.
A good well looked after example can be used as an everyday car no problem, mine was egear also.
Yes, I agree probably not best suited for lots of shortish journeys and sitting around in traffic, but on the other hand, bullet proof reliability but you MUST adhere strictly to service schedules and jolly good for you to be thinking about one to actually drive..regularly and presumably not be scared of the rain. (Although do take it easier in the wet).
Those that treat their cars like they're made of paper and let them sit in garages doing nothing for 8 or 9 months of the year, due to the appearance of a cloud are entitled to do so, of course, but seems a colossal waste owning one in the first place.
Those that treat their cars like they're made of paper and let them sit in garages doing nothing for 8 or 9 months of the year, due to the appearance of a cloud are entitled to do so, of course, but seems a colossal waste owning one in the first place.
semisane said:
...MR2, Elan Turbo, Boxster...
i've had four weekend cars : mr2 > elan turbo > 911 > superleggera 
the gallardo's conspicuousness, vulnerability to parking dings, need for big parking spaces, visibility, turning circle etc may annoy after a while
i also have places to go and people to see where a flash car is a bad idea
a sensible second "railway station" car is self-financing in that it reduces the gallardo's consumption/servicing/fixing/depreciation costs
the contrast will also make the gallardo feel even more special
hth
Ignore the naysayers!
Bought my 55-plate manual coupe in spring '13 at 44,000 miles. It's not the only household car, but as the other is a Westfield Eleven, let us consider it the "sensible" daily driver. Four years later it's sitting on the top floor of a crew-only multi-story at Heathrow with 91,298 on the clocks.
It lives outside, both at home and at work. I have an expensive, tailored, lightweight, US-made cover for when I think it'll rain as, during the exceedingly wet winter of '14/'15 the exposed engine electrics went into total meltdown. Not had a similar problem since I started covering it and it takes about a minute to cover/remove.
The clutch was replaced by the previous owner at 42.000 miles. 50,000 miles later, it still has plenty of life left! I don't rag it off the line, short-shift through second and double de-clutch all of my downshifts. But I DO drive the car!! Pretty hard at times. Manual, remember.
At work it's parked on the top floor of a '70s/'80s multi-story car park. Six steep ramps, very tight turns, narrow spaces. A specialist advised that I wouldn't need the nose lifting system and that it was just another system to go wrong. He was right. The nose gently rub on some of the ramps, but at six up and six down and doing them about three time a week for four years, the unseeable scrapes on the underside are very light indeed. Speed bumps, when I encounter them are never a problem. If you buy a car without the lifting system, you will not notice it's absence.
Similarly, the turning circle copes with just about everything. Our local tip (yes, the Lambo goes to the tip!) has a180° turn that I see C-segment cars take two bites at. Well positioned, the Lambo goes round in one.
I park among the hosties at work, in typically narrow spaces and have had no parking rash in four years. The cover helps there and crushes into its bag, taking up very little of the (admittedly tight) boot space. Similarly, the Tesco car park is fine. The nose holds loads of groceries. I use their folding cardboard bottle carriers and line the boot floor with beer before loading the bags on top. Everything else goes on the passenger seat and footwell.
I live in a village on the outskirts of a rural market town and walk everywhere at home. My car goes into town once in a blue moon. I don't use it for short journeys. I walk. Every now and then I have need for something with a bit more load space so I ask a mate for help.
Running costs? Oh God! Don't ask. If I worked them out, I'd sell it. Massive! But I keep it in absolutely tip-top condition (mechanically) as I frequently drive the socks off of it.
Just do it!!
(All that said.... An e-gear car mostly driven on short journeys in town? Good luck!!!! I'd suggest a Focus, personally.).
|https://thumbsnap.com/QPsTtSAD[/url]
Bought my 55-plate manual coupe in spring '13 at 44,000 miles. It's not the only household car, but as the other is a Westfield Eleven, let us consider it the "sensible" daily driver. Four years later it's sitting on the top floor of a crew-only multi-story at Heathrow with 91,298 on the clocks.
It lives outside, both at home and at work. I have an expensive, tailored, lightweight, US-made cover for when I think it'll rain as, during the exceedingly wet winter of '14/'15 the exposed engine electrics went into total meltdown. Not had a similar problem since I started covering it and it takes about a minute to cover/remove.
The clutch was replaced by the previous owner at 42.000 miles. 50,000 miles later, it still has plenty of life left! I don't rag it off the line, short-shift through second and double de-clutch all of my downshifts. But I DO drive the car!! Pretty hard at times. Manual, remember.
At work it's parked on the top floor of a '70s/'80s multi-story car park. Six steep ramps, very tight turns, narrow spaces. A specialist advised that I wouldn't need the nose lifting system and that it was just another system to go wrong. He was right. The nose gently rub on some of the ramps, but at six up and six down and doing them about three time a week for four years, the unseeable scrapes on the underside are very light indeed. Speed bumps, when I encounter them are never a problem. If you buy a car without the lifting system, you will not notice it's absence.
Similarly, the turning circle copes with just about everything. Our local tip (yes, the Lambo goes to the tip!) has a180° turn that I see C-segment cars take two bites at. Well positioned, the Lambo goes round in one.
I park among the hosties at work, in typically narrow spaces and have had no parking rash in four years. The cover helps there and crushes into its bag, taking up very little of the (admittedly tight) boot space. Similarly, the Tesco car park is fine. The nose holds loads of groceries. I use their folding cardboard bottle carriers and line the boot floor with beer before loading the bags on top. Everything else goes on the passenger seat and footwell.
I live in a village on the outskirts of a rural market town and walk everywhere at home. My car goes into town once in a blue moon. I don't use it for short journeys. I walk. Every now and then I have need for something with a bit more load space so I ask a mate for help.
Running costs? Oh God! Don't ask. If I worked them out, I'd sell it. Massive! But I keep it in absolutely tip-top condition (mechanically) as I frequently drive the socks off of it.
Just do it!!
(All that said.... An e-gear car mostly driven on short journeys in town? Good luck!!!! I'd suggest a Focus, personally.).
|https://thumbsnap.com/QPsTtSAD[/url]Edited by 4321go on Saturday 1st July 11:31
Ignore the naysayers!
Bought my 55-plate manual coupe in spring '13 at 44,000 miles. It's not the only household car, but as the other is a Westfield Eleven, let us consider it the "sensible" daily driver. Four years later it's sitting on the top floor of a crew-only multi-story at Heathrow with 91,298 on the clocks.
It lives outside, both at home and at work. I have an expensive, tailored, lightweight, US-made cover for when I think it'll rain as, during the exceedingly wet winter of '14/'15 the exposed engine electrics went into total meltdown. Not had a similar problem since I started covering it and it takes about a minute to cover/remove.
The clutch was replaced by the previous owner at 42.000 miles. 50,000 miles later, it still has plenty of life left! I don't rag it off the line, short-shift through second and double de-clutch all of my downshifts. But I DO drive the car!! Pretty hard at times. Manual, remember.
At work it's parked on the top floor of a '70s/'80s multi-story car park. Six steep ramps, very tight turns, narrow spaces. A specialist advised that I wouldn't need the nose lifting system and that it was just another system to go wrong. He was right. The nose gently rub on some of the ramps, but at six up and six down and doing them about three time a week for four years, the unseeable scrapes on the underside are very light indeed. Speed bumps, when I encounter them are never a problem. If you buy a car without the lifting system, you will not notice it's absence.
Similarly, the turning circle copes with just about everything. Our local tip (yes, the Lambo goes to the tip!) has a180° turn that I see C-segment cars take two bites at. Well positioned, the Lambo goes round in one.
I park among the hosties at work, in typically narrow spaces and have had no parking rash in four years. The cover helps there and crushes into its bag, taking up very little of the (admittedly tight) boot space. Similarly, the Tesco car park is fine. The nose holds loads of groceries. I use their folding cardboard bottle carriers and line the boot floor with beer before loading the bags on top. Everything else goes on the passenger seat and footwell.
I live in a village on the outskirts of a rural market town and walk everywhere at home. My car goes into town once in a blue moon. I don't use it for short journeys. I walk. Every now and then I have need for something with a bit more load space so I ask a mate for help.
Running costs? Oh God! Don't ask. If I worked them out, I'd sell it. Massive! But I keep it in absolutely tip-top condition (mechanically) as I frequently drive the socks off of it.
Just do it!!
(All that said.... An e-gear car mostly driven on short journeys in town? Good luck!!!! I'd suggest a Focus, personally.).|https://thumbsnap.com/QPsTtSAD[/url]
Bought my 55-plate manual coupe in spring '13 at 44,000 miles. It's not the only household car, but as the other is a Westfield Eleven, let us consider it the "sensible" daily driver. Four years later it's sitting on the top floor of a crew-only multi-story at Heathrow with 91,298 on the clocks.
It lives outside, both at home and at work. I have an expensive, tailored, lightweight, US-made cover for when I think it'll rain as, during the exceedingly wet winter of '14/'15 the exposed engine electrics went into total meltdown. Not had a similar problem since I started covering it and it takes about a minute to cover/remove.
The clutch was replaced by the previous owner at 42.000 miles. 50,000 miles later, it still has plenty of life left! I don't rag it off the line, short-shift through second and double de-clutch all of my downshifts. But I DO drive the car!! Pretty hard at times. Manual, remember.
At work it's parked on the top floor of a '70s/'80s multi-story car park. Six steep ramps, very tight turns, narrow spaces. A specialist advised that I wouldn't need the nose lifting system and that it was just another system to go wrong. He was right. The nose gently rub on some of the ramps, but at six up and six down and doing them about three time a week for four years, the unseeable scrapes on the underside are very light indeed. Speed bumps, when I encounter them are never a problem. If you buy a car without the lifting system, you will not notice it's absence.
Similarly, the turning circle copes with just about everything. Our local tip (yes, the Lambo goes to the tip!) has a180° turn that I see C-segment cars take two bites at. Well positioned, the Lambo goes round in one.
I park among the hosties at work, in typically narrow spaces and have had no parking rash in four years. The cover helps there and crushes into its bag, taking up very little of the (admittedly tight) boot space. Similarly, the Tesco car park is fine. The nose holds loads of groceries. I use their folding cardboard bottle carriers and line the boot floor with beer before loading the bags on top. Everything else goes on the passenger seat and footwell.
I live in a village on the outskirts of a rural market town and walk everywhere at home. My car goes into town once in a blue moon. I don't use it for short journeys. I walk. Every now and then I have need for something with a bit more load space so I ask a mate for help.
Running costs? Oh God! Don't ask. If I worked them out, I'd sell it. Massive! But I keep it in absolutely tip-top condition (mechanically) as I frequently drive the socks off of it.
Just do it!!
(All that said.... An e-gear car mostly driven on short journeys in town? Good luck!!!! I'd suggest a Focus, personally.).
|https://thumbsnap.com/QPsTtSAD[/url]Edited by 4321go on Saturday 1st July 13:40
Buy a £1k Honda beater for the daily. The G for the evenings and weekends.
Get noselift. Better to be safe than sorry.
Check and top up oil every 500-1000 miles. They are very reliable engines, but do not like low or high oil.
Don't reverse up hills, if possible. Place in neutral at lights. Saves the clutch.
Repeat -- check oil every 500-1000 miles.
Get noselift. Better to be safe than sorry.
Check and top up oil every 500-1000 miles. They are very reliable engines, but do not like low or high oil.
Don't reverse up hills, if possible. Place in neutral at lights. Saves the clutch.
Repeat -- check oil every 500-1000 miles.
Hi thanks for all the replies to date - seems we have a few :-
Manoeuvrability - I don't know if anyone has run the G and Vantage and can contrast - certainly I struggle at times in the V - rear quarter in particular, and rear visibility.
Not completely put off the idea yet - my circumstances are the way they are - but I remain to be convinced that the G wouldn't be 'do-able', but with compromises.
4321 GO - I appreciate you don't want to think about the running costs but presumably, as most people regard them as well built / bulletproof, and that you put reasonable miles on it, your costs are wear and tear consumables such as discs pads servicing etc ?
SS
- No !!
- Ok, but second car required
- Yes go for it
Manoeuvrability - I don't know if anyone has run the G and Vantage and can contrast - certainly I struggle at times in the V - rear quarter in particular, and rear visibility.
Not completely put off the idea yet - my circumstances are the way they are - but I remain to be convinced that the G wouldn't be 'do-able', but with compromises.
4321 GO - I appreciate you don't want to think about the running costs but presumably, as most people regard them as well built / bulletproof, and that you put reasonable miles on it, your costs are wear and tear consumables such as discs pads servicing etc ?
SS
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