Buying Advice - Gallardo - Parked outside - Advice Appre

[Larry5.2]

I'm with davek on this one - the good Indys are better than the Main Dealers on the older (6+ yrs) cars because they are more familiar with them than the Dealerships who are trained up on the latest models. Also most dealerships are in prime locations with fancy buildings - an overhead the customer pays for - so the Indy is cheaper and better at doing the job, without having to cut any corners.

[sparta6]

davek_964 said:

Having sold a Ferrari a few years back with indy service history - and having had offers on a car since that I decided not to sell - in my experience, it is not an issue.
On a car a few years old, it would put me off too - on a car 10+ years old, it doesn't.

+1

Plenty of Indy mechanics were factory trained when the classics were new. Intimate knowledge is a big advantage

[jilap]

I use super car service who are in North London to look after my 2007 manual gallardo. Give them a call and they can give you some good advice.
https://www.supercarservice.co.uk/ @supercarservice

If you want to meet up and have a look at my 2007 manual PM me. Would be happy to take you for a drive (any excuse for a drive is good!).

[70proof]

rossyl said:

Hi All,

Year 2006+
thats what i was told when buying, including from main dealer master techs, and i think we've discussed this already, my feeling is parts sharing with r8 in particular increased as years went on, maybe that led to more reliable parts, and fragile parts were improved in a continuous improvement programme.... but tbh the gallardo was a pretty reliable beast. eg the clutch constantly evolved from 03 to 06, to reduce wear also

Forums
Yes, this place used to be the best for uk members.... part of it dying was due to rambolambo's constant rants, but PH supercar forums are defo not the same this last few years.... the usa forums lambopower and lamborghinitalk gave good threads that can be found via google to alternate parts and modding options, as they do that so much over there

but a lot of the guys, like me, still lurk hear and will happily advise

Independent Servicing
there are plenty of indies one can use, backdraft motorsport, BHP, grimaldi, Barr Tech, etc that will do a good job.... there arent loads as the gallardo needed a bespoke 'LARA' running computer and cable, theres only so much you can do via the obd port... for an old car defo a good specialist indy is the way to go, there wont be any more software updates from lamborghini so benefits of main dealer deminished.. yes i know there was a recent software recall, but i'm somewhat cynical of that as it'll 'store' more faults, meaning you'll need to get some work done..... hummm

PPI
i reckon i could do a good PPI lol, doesnt have to be main dealer, as long as its not the RAC!

Parking Outside - Corrosion and Battery Life
doesnt seem like corrosion is an issue on the gallardo, well not that ive read about anyways

ive not kept either of my cars on a trickle charger, just used a low current charger every couple of months overnight, Current battery is now 6 years old an absolutely fine. yes, you can change the battery yourself, theres a thread ive done on here about removing the front boot well

Who to buy from - Private vs Dealer
I bought my first car privately, and sold it privately....no reason why you can;t, if the cars good, then who is selling is irrelevant... some dealers only hold the best of cars but obviously price them up

Potential Big Costs
my first MY08 gallardo as far as i know hasnt missed a beat this last 8 years and is over 40k miles, just one clutch change,

Manual car availability
manuals fell out of favour.. the press brainwashed us that flappy paddle cars were the way to go, and we took it hook line and sinker.... the manuals are sweet from what owners tell me, shame that so few got ordered as the years went on, except stateside surprisingly

Lifting Gear
was always an optional extra

Target price - Selling Cost vs Advertised Cost
the spread on trade to sell price is usually about 10k, maybe more if car is bought by dealer outright..... some will SOR for 3-5k....

as prices drop, the potential market enlargens, so prices go up/hold steady.... people aspire to own a lamborghini, so yes, prices do seem firm... fwiw an 04 car was in the 60s in 2011, an 06 car in the 70s then

Meets
i will get back into the meet game next year....

Audio
never turned my radio on.....in 8 years...... that engine, have i ever mentioned the sound......

[70proof]

NewNameNeeded said:

I'm so sorely tempted to scratch the Gallardo itch but can't get away from the idea it would be a hugely ruinous exercise and not worth the extra drama the Lamborghini brings.

sorry, got to disagree, the extra 'drama' is so worth it, and the lp models can be a in town daily driver.....

[70proof]

Drl22 said:

It basically says it been looked after on a shoestring and no one pays that much for a car that suggests it’s not been looked after the way it should.

disagree, i'd happily buy a car totally looked after by say BHP or backdraft..... my car is not serviced yearly now, it simply hasnt done enough miles to warrant it, and the oils dont degrade that quickly ... really, they dont.... and my cars 1 of 1 (well 100 worldwide, but paint makes it 1 of 1) and i dont care its not got a MDSH stamp for every year..... anyone who comes to buy it will see she's a beaut and know my passion for caring for her,....

Edited by 70proof on Saturday 19th October 18:34

[70proof]

davek_964 said:

That's so not true - you are literally taking it to extremes. There are many very well respected indy's - and the reality is, many of them have mechanics who have spent years working on the older cars and know them better than the main dealer mechanics who are mostly working on the latest and greatest.

Running it on a shoestring is taking it to Kwikfit and saying : Can you do an oil change?

Taking it to a respected well known indy is an entirely different ballgame and is not "running it on a shoestring". I have a few multiple thousand pound service bills with my 360 which would prove that.

As I said earlier, there will always be the minority who will only ever touch cars with FMDSH - I guess you are in that group.

agree, using the guy down the road who generally services fords is cutting costs, grimaldi are only a few pounds cheaper than a main dealer whenever i've asked.....

[355spiderguy]

andrew said:

rossyl said:

Hi

Just wondering about service costs. Not going to a dealer, and only getting things changed that actually need doing, what am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks very much

servicing ( only at main dealers ), consumables and bits dropping off : £336 per month over 12 years and 54k
excludes only rfl, insurance and fuel

Seriously.....over £4k a year? Every year?

[andrew]

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

rossyl said:

Hi

Just wondering about service costs. Not going to a dealer, and only getting things changed that actually need doing, what am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks very much

servicing ( only at main dealers ), consumables and bits dropping off : £336 per month over 12 years and 54k
excludes only rfl, insurance and fuel

Seriously.....over £4k a year? Every year?

unbelievable but true !
i run a lambo for less that the cost of mclaren's warranty/wifey's shoes and handbags/the depreciation on my mini

[355spiderguy]

andrew said:

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

rossyl said:

Hi

Just wondering about service costs. Not going to a dealer, and only getting things changed that actually need doing, what am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks very much

servicing ( only at main dealers ), consumables and bits dropping off : £336 per month over 12 years and 54k
excludes only rfl, insurance and fuel

Seriously.....over £4k a year? Every year?

unbelievable but true !
i run a lambo for less that the cost of mclaren's warranty/wifey's shoes and handbags/the depreciation on my mini

Wow! Thats a ton of cash every year for an old high mileage car...fair play to you though.

[andrew]

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

rossyl said:

Hi

Just wondering about service costs. Not going to a dealer, and only getting things changed that actually need doing, what am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks very much

servicing ( only at main dealers ), consumables and bits dropping off : £336 per month over 12 years and 54k
excludes only rfl, insurance and fuel

Seriously.....over £4k a year? Every year?

unbelievable but true !
i run a lambo for less that the cost of mclaren's warranty/wifey's shoes and handbags/the depreciation on my mini

Wow! Thats a ton of cash every year for an old high mileage car...fair play to you though.

honest question
what did your mclaren cost you last month in depreciation alone ?

[355spiderguy]

andrew said:

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

355spiderguy said:

andrew said:

rossyl said:

Hi

Just wondering about service costs. Not going to a dealer, and only getting things changed that actually need doing, what am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks very much

servicing ( only at main dealers ), consumables and bits dropping off : £336 per month over 12 years and 54k
excludes only rfl, insurance and fuel

Seriously.....over £4k a year? Every year?

unbelievable but true !
i run a lambo for less that the cost of mclaren's warranty/wifey's shoes and handbags/the depreciation on my mini

Wow! Thats a ton of cash every year for an old high mileage car...fair play to you though.

honest question
what did your mclaren cost you last month in depreciation alone ?

Very strange question in regards to the actual topic....and the honest answer is i have no idea.

I still havn't seen one advertised at the price i bought it for yet, so perhaps nothing...maybe lots.

I guess you are under the illusion your car is static or increasing in value...you may well be in for a surprise if you decided to try and sell.

For all your goading on the McLaren forum, you seem a tad sensitive with a simple observation about your choice of car...it is usually the case though.

Difference being mines was a genuine observation rather than a snipe.

At that age and miles of car, throwing £4k each year at a main dealer instead of a well known indie is daft...a good, looked after car will sell whether its a main dealer or indie who has done the servicing at the correct intervals carrying out the specified works at that interval.

Your post would imply that £4k is the normal running costs year on year in response to the poster looking to figure out running costs.

I would suspect a lot of owners can run one of these far cheaper going to good indies...hopefully one shall pop up with a more reasonable perspective.

But hey, feel free to turn it into another McLaren depreciation thread as it is one of your favourite subjects for reasons only known to yourself.

[70proof]

The pre lp gallardos had a service schedule like this....

Minor, major, minor, 4yr, minor, 6yr, minor, major, minor, 8yr, et

A minor costs just over 1k at a main dealer, a 4 yr where gearbox fluids are charged iirc etc is about 2500

And main dealers can be bargained with, if you ask

[70proof]

The pre lp gallardos had a service schedule like this....

Minor, major, minor, 4yr, minor, 6yr, minor, major, minor, 8yr, et

A minor costs just over 1k at a main dealer, a 4 yr where gearbox fluids are charged iirc etc is about 2500

And main dealers can be bargained with, if you ask

http://www.backdraftmotorsport.com/gt-car-servicin...

Indie pricing for example

[355spiderguy]

70proof said:

And main dealers can be bargained with, if you ask

http://www.backdraftmotorsport.com/gt-car-servicin...

Indie pricing for example

Whilst i throughly endorse using a good indie, that was the same experience i had with Ferrari.

When i bought my 1st Ferrari, i was recommended to have the timing belts service by an indie up my way on the east coast of scotland that is very well known within the Lambo circles.

amongst other issues, not only was the car in there for double the time, but upon arriving home after the 100 mile journey home i found a 9" tool left lying on the rocker covers...how that never fell down into the engine and possibly the belts i have no idea...when i called to tell him, he just asked me to send the tool back to him..i would never go back there or recommend.

After that i then found out Ferrari at Fort Kinnaird would of done the belt service cheaper and that was with the engine out.

For the next 13 years, my Ferraris went there as they would negotiate and match indie prices.

Main dealers may be glamorous surroundings but they have huge overheads and if you book for the quiet times of the year such as the months before Christmas and January when most cars are in hibernation, you will, in most cases, get a great deal that matches an indie.

At this age and miles, when cars sell, its on condition, price and servicing in that order.

If the car looks great and the price is right, most punters will overlook wether its main dealer serviced or indie..some will even overlook the odd year here and there it hasn't been serviced....if it has only travelled a few hundred miles its acceptable.

The car that has had £4k a year every year spent on it might even dissuade me as potentially being a problematic car hence the yearly spend, rather than being in tip top condition. It could still be susceptible to an internal part failure that lets the engine go just like any other Gallardo.

I would be amazed if you bought a good one of these that you couldn't run it it for around a thousand a year with the odd decent bill thrown in now and again for tyres, a failure, bigger service or aesthetics but excluding tax, fuel and insurance.

[andrew]

part of me says don't feed the troll
but just for the avoidance of doubt
my car's had an oil pump replaced as a precaution, an e-gear potentiometer replaced and an annoying minor coolant leak fixed
that's it in terms of significant issues over 12 years and 54k miles
the 4k includes many tyres, discs, pads and details

the best of luck to you if you try and run a lamborghini on a budget

[NewNameNeeded]

355spiderguy said:

I would be amazed if you bought a good one of these that you couldn't run it it for around a thousand a year with the odd decent bill thrown in now and again for tyres, a failure, bigger service or aesthetics but excluding tax, fuel and insurance.

I think you could run anything on a grand a year if you exclude that lot!

Has anyone else tracked their cost of Gallardo ownership. Would love to know how it stacks up against an R8.

I'm coming up on 2 years ownership of an R8. Dealer bought and serviced. Covered about 20,000 miles in that time. Cost (excluding insurance, fuel and tax) is just under £200 a month. That include annual service, five tyres, a rear brake light and a magride shock replacement. Given some of those bigger items I think that's remarkable value.

[ElanS]

70proof said:

disagree, i'd happily buy a car totally looked after by say BHP or backdraft..... my car is not serviced yearly now, it simply hasnt done enough miles to warrant it, and the oils dont degrade that quickly ... really, they dont.... and my cars 1 of 1 (well 100 worldwide, but paint makes it 1 of 1) and i dont care its not got a MDSH stamp for every year..... anyone who comes to buy it will see she's a beaut and know my passion for caring for her,....

Edited by 70proof on Saturday 19th October 18:34

I would fully agree with this. I use specialists because they will give extra attention to detail and I can speak to the mechanic working on the car. The specialists are not always cheaper than the main dealer prices due to the thorough checks performed.

[355spiderguy]

andrew said:

part of me says don't feed the troll
but just for the avoidance of doubt
my car's had an oil pump replaced as a precaution, an e-gear potentiometer replaced and an annoying minor coolant leak fixed
that's it in terms of significant issues over 12 years and 54k miles
the 4k includes many tyres, discs, pads and details

the best of luck to you if you try and run a lamborghini on a budget

Troll....coming from you that's the winner.

So how many tyres, discs and brakes do you go through each year if its 'many'?

Unless i have the wrong end of the stick and you are either a track monster or do a hard 20k miles a year, what a ludicrous thing to post.

A question has been asked by a potential buyer about yearly running costs and genuine posters such as 70 proof and Larry 5.2 are giving good responses and for whatever reason you aren't.

The very well respected Backdraft are £375+vat for an annual service and inspection.

If staying with main dealer servicing and a small service is say £900, a major service is say £1800, and a 4 yr service is £2300.... excluding the many tyres, discs and brakes nonsense, what else have you been throwing the other £3100, £2200, £1700 respectively leftover from the £4k spend each year at, if by your own above statement its had 2 significant issues and one minor issue in 12 years?

You did state that fuel, road tax and insurance was all above and beyond the £4k you spend every year...didn't you?

Genuinely confused and would be good to clear up for the poster concerned about real running costs of a Gallardo and for any other future potential buyers that come to this thread for clarity on costs.

Edited to add after reflection:

After giving you the benefit of doubt that you were only capable of one sentence snidey remarks on other forums, it now is apparent that you cannot even offer anything of substance on your chosen subject. I think the phrase is 'one trick pony'.

For you to call me a troll for trying to ascertain the genuine yearly costs for running a Gallardo with the comparison between main dealers and great independants is a bit disappointing.

Edited by 355spiderguy on Tuesday 22 October 13:36

[rossyl]

Thanks all for the responses.

I've got to say I'm a little shocked by the stir created by Indie vs Dealership maintenance, but if anything i suppose it is helpful as it shows that the Lambo world is a little different. There will be some that are fine with Indies and others that are not.

With my last two cars (Aston and Maserati) I ended up mainly at AM Works and at a mix of Maranello Egham and an Independent Maserati. It was all dependent on "expertise vs cost". I think I'd continue making decisions based upon that. That said £4k a year as standard seems a bit much and beyond Aston or Ferrari (what i had previously been considering) so i might dig a little deeper on that front.

With regard to cars, I'm yet to find one that ticks all the right boxes and probably might be best to wait and see what happens and if the right car pops up.

Cheers
R