Long Term Gallardo Onwership....What to expect?

Long Term Gallardo Onwership....What to expect?

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Discussion

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

133 months

Thursday 9th August 2018
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I am 2 years and 8000 trouble free miles into LP570-4 Superleggera ownership. No current plans to change, as my car represents something special to me and I just love everything about it, quirks and all.

Would be interested to hear from people that have long term experience of owning and more importantly actually using their Gallardo..ideally the same car, as opposed to those that have had Gallardo for a while but changed their car from time to time.

How resilient are they?
What are the “usual” issues that may crop up?
What should I be specifically ask to be checked out? (mine is going to Pangbourne for its annual service in about 3 weeks and will get a full inspection as normal, but nevertheless any info on what to ask to be checked is appreciated)
Why have you hung onto yours?
What do you love/hate about these cars?

That kind of thing....funny stories welcome, as are nightmare stories - share your pain! Lol. Not interested in any speculative discussion on future values etc, that is not the objective for me.


OLDBENZ

397 posts

136 months

Sunday 12th August 2018
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I owned a new Gallardo for nine years from 2005 to 2014. We covered 36,000 miles together and it was impressively reliable. There was an issue with the lifting system going off line when the car was new and the gubbins was replaced under warranty and towards the end of my ownership the earth strap went bad which caused some electrical gremlins.. That was about it for faults - otherwise just service items and looked after by Lamborghini London ( H R Owen) throughout.

I had the manual transmission and had one new clutch in my time at 12,000 miles. That was not really necessary but I was told that if I wanted the gearbox looked at before the warranty expired to investigate difficult second gear selection when cold the clutch should be replaced to rule that out as the problem. Of course the new clutch made no difference and I was then told that my gearbox issue was characteristic of the model ....

I had the tri-colour yellow paint which survived its time with me without chipping. I have a theory that the paint process for this paint produces a more durable finish.

Beware of accidently turning the headlights off. Rather stupidly the headlight switch is on the switch row next to the driver's window switch. In the middle of the Brecon beacons one night in the pitch black I decided to lower my window to listen to my exhaust, as you do, as I downshifted around a bend. Instead,I turned the lights off by mistake and because you have to do that double tap thing on the switch to turn them back on I could not get them back on until I had gone around the bend based on my memory of where the bend went. Not good.

I rather missed the Gallardo when I sold it and although I am mainly into the classics I bought myself a new Huracan last year to fill the gap.



Edited by OLDBENZ on Sunday 12th August 20:23

Superleg48

Original Poster:

1,524 posts

133 months

Sunday 12th August 2018
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Thank you for sharing! Great story about the lights! I still get confused with the switch in terms of raising or lowering the Windows. It is a bit counter intuitive. My wife's DB9 window switches work exactly the same way, but these are the only cars I have come across so far where down on the switch is window up and up on the switch is window down!

When I first collected mine, I drove all the way from Pangbourne to Maldon in Essex marvelling at the aggressiveness of the car, the brutality of the Gear change (mine is egear) and the sharpness of the throttle, but was slightly concerned as it made for quite an aggressive drive and wasn’t sure if I would be happy with that long term....

Turns out I was in Corsa Mode! Usually stick to Sport these days.

Never you mind

1,507 posts

112 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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Superleg48 said:
Thank you for sharing! Great story about the lights! I still get confused with the switch in terms of raising or lowering the Windows. It is a bit counter intuitive. My wife's DB9 window switches work exactly the same way, but these are the only cars I have come across so far where down on the switch is window up and up on the switch is window down!
Had mine a year and half now and this still gets me every time!

Not had any problems with mine and nothing has fallen off or broken during the 4K miles I've done in it.


Pioneer

1,309 posts

131 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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No issues to report on either of the two I've had. Broken gas stut on the engine cover was the worst (my own fault) on my old Pre-LP 2008 model and cost about £15 (audi part) off ebay. No issues at all on my 2013 50th anni.

NDA

21,573 posts

225 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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OLDBENZ said:
I,I turned the lights off by mistake and because you have to do that double tap thing on the switch to turn them back on I could not get them back on until I had gone around the bend based on my memory of where the bend went. Not good.
Sat here with a coffee mouthing 'Holy SHEEEEEEET'! Hahahaha.

dank

1,154 posts

252 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind, but I have my eye on a Super Leggera, and was wondering if Gallardos in general can be kept outside, as I don't have a garage. Do they need trickle chargers? What's the battery like in terms of going flat with no usage, do you need to drive every week, or couple of weeks? I am really looking at keeping the Gallardo for 2-3 years so this thread is of great interest!

EpsomJames

790 posts

246 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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dank said:
Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind, but I have my eye on a Super Leggera, and was wondering if Gallardos in general can be kept outside, as I don't have a garage. Do they need trickle chargers? What's the battery like in terms of going flat with no usage, do you need to drive every week, or couple of weeks? I am really looking at keeping the Gallardo for 2-3 years so this thread is of great interest!
An orange SL1 down the road from me is kept outside. I can’t see why it would be an issue as it’s not like they don’t work in the rain or cold, but I guess you are more susceptible to corrosion.

I had mine off the battery conditioner for 5 weeks and it started up fine after that period, but based on experience, start and run the car every couple of weeks would be better.

dank

1,154 posts

252 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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EpsomJames said:
An orange SL1 down the road from me is kept outside. I can’t see why it would be an issue as it’s not like they don’t work in the rain or cold, but I guess you are more susceptible to corrosion.

I had mine off the battery conditioner for 5 weeks and it started up fine after that period, but based on experience, start and run the car every couple of weeks would be better.
thanks for the information! I am really thinking the Gen 1 SL is going to be my next car!! smile

andrew

9,969 posts

192 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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EpsomJames said:
dank said:
Slightly off topic and I hope you don't mind, but I have my eye on a Super Leggera, and was wondering if Gallardos in general can be kept outside, as I don't have a garage. Do they need trickle chargers? What's the battery like in terms of going flat with no usage, do you need to drive every week, or couple of weeks? I am really looking at keeping the Gallardo for 2-3 years so this thread is of great interest!
An orange SL1 down the road from me is kept outside. I can’t see why it would be an issue as it’s not like they don’t work in the rain or cold, but I guess you are more susceptible to corrosion.

I had mine off the battery conditioner for 5 weeks and it started up fine after that period, but based on experience, start and run the car every couple of weeks would be better.
there are six weekends in the last eleven years when i haven't run mine
i'm convinced that the car's all the better for being regularly used

EpsomJames

790 posts

246 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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dank said:
thanks for the information! I am really thinking the Gen 1 SL is going to be my next car!! smile
I do know of an excellent example for sale if you want details biggrin

But any general advice on the SL1 just post as a lot of owners frequent this forum.

yellowtr

1,188 posts

226 months

Saturday 1st September 2018
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I have left mine unstarted for 6 weeks or so when I was travelling with work and it started no problem at all.

What sort of SL1 you after? Colour, etc?

todea20

131 posts

133 months

Sunday 2nd September 2018
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I've had mine for nearly 2 years now and has been absolutely fine.Funny enough yesterday when moving the driver seats the airbag light has come on! Anyone has experienced this?I have looked under the seat and the switches seems to be in place?!
For under 100k there's nothing better on the market like looks,sound and more important soul! I've had an 12c for 3 days and it just didn't do it for me!
Anyway...would any of you guys be interested in making a gallardo meeting somewhere in the country before the winter hibernation?

Larry5.2

496 posts

108 months

Sunday 2nd September 2018
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todea20 said:
Anyway...would any of you guys be interested in making a gallardo meeting somewhere in the country before the winter hibernation?
Yes, count me in... I'm in the SE but could travel.

markiii

3,609 posts

194 months

Sunday 2nd September 2018
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Larry5.2 said:
Yes, count me in... I'm in the SE but could travel.
x 2


todea20

131 posts

133 months

Monday 3rd September 2018
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If we can get couple more cars i think we should do it! So let your gallardo friends know about our meetingsmile
Any dates or location?
I can suggest this place as it has a big parking lot with a nice view and it's near m25 so quite easy for everyone.It gets very busy at the weekends so probably better is we can do it weekdays?
https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/oldorchard/

markiii

3,609 posts

194 months

Monday 3rd September 2018
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I know another one in Bishops Stortford who I reckon would be up for a meet. Speaking personally. Would need to be very late Sept at the earliest as I'm just about to depart for the Alps and Italy.

vernz

179 posts

130 months

Monday 3rd September 2018
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markiii said:
I know another one in Bishops Stortford who I reckon would be up for a meet. Speaking personally. Would need to be very late Sept at the earliest as I'm just about to depart for the Alps and Italy.
I'm not psychic, but at a rough guess........are you on the supercars and superpasses trip leaving on Sunday?

Edited by vernz on Monday 3rd September 13:54

markiii

3,609 posts

194 months

Monday 3rd September 2018
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sure your not Psychic? Yep thats the one

why do you ask?

markiii

3,609 posts

194 months

Monday 3rd September 2018
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ah let me guess you own an Evora?