Gallardo... what's the catch?

Gallardo... what's the catch?

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p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
quotequote all
Be gentle, this is my first foray into the Supercar forums here.

I've been looking at the possibility of getting a pre-LP Gallardo. Budget is about £50-55K so we're looking at the entry level in the market, so my expectations have been adjusted accordingly and I know I'll be looking at a CAT car or 60K+ mileage which I'm OK with. It's an Audi after all.

From doing my research and looking at as many forums and forum posts as I can find I can not find any reason why I shouldn't get one. Clutch is £3K which I'm OK with because it would be that on my Evora anyway, discs are £200 each if you shop about, pads are £50 and the other stuff is able to be sourced from other Audis or the like. Servicing is £485 interim and £895 major service inc spark plugs at Audi which isn't far off what anyone would pay for a 'normal' car anyway.

I'm really wanting to know all the horror stories, awful ownership experiences and the horrific running costs which will ultimately put me off them because at the moment I'm scratching my head trying to understand what the catch is?!

4321go

638 posts

186 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
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Don’t look at it as a “catch”, but do have a read of my (ongoing) “Engine rebuild” thread in the “Supercar general” section. Over six years, I’ve taken a manual, pre-LP car from 42k to 106k miles. Not ALL plain sailing (and one or two hefty bills), but I’d say that you’re probably thinking right and can therefore afford to do it. But, if you’re actually going to use the car (and I do mean USE it!) then it WILL cost.

Be warned, many parts on the pre-LP cars are NOT shared with the R8 (which was based on the later cars). Therefore they’re only available from Lambo. And even then, some of the shared Audi parts are still silly money.

But they’re still a hoot!

Superleg48

1,524 posts

132 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
quotequote all
I was going to suggest you read 4321Go’s thread on his engine rebuild and in particular take note of the key issue...the cats gently disintegrating causing significant internal damage over time. Chances are, if it has decent miles and has NOT had the cats removed, exhaust replaced with aftermarket or replaced with sports cats, then this issue WILL already be a ticking time bomb.

Apart from that, ensure a full and comprehensive service history and get a pre-purchase inspection (HR Owen offer this for around £450, I believe) and you should be fine. Generally, if correctly looked after Gallardos are solid cars. If going for eGear, you need to drive them correctly and the clutches are not as fragile as many would have you believe if you do. A few good YouTube tips on this and plenty of discussion in here and on Lambotalk on this topic. They are not Autos in the conventional sense and so should not be driven like one. It is a manual without a physical clutch pedal.

Good luck in your search, oh, and avoid anything offered by a dealer based in Keighley.

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
quotequote all
Just read it now so thanks for the pointers chaps.

Let's say worst case scenario the engine needed a rebuild, what ballpark figure would we be looking at all in... £15K ish? Considering it's about that for a decent rebuild of a 996 engine it still points to remarkably good value.

Thanks also for the cat problem heads up and I presume someone who knows what they're looking for on an inspection would be able to tell me if there is a problem on the horizon?

markiii

3,565 posts

193 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
quotequote all
Where are you getting the service costs from?

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Wednesday 18th December 2019
quotequote all
markiii said:
Where are you getting the service costs from?
I emailed Audi in Newcastle who said they could do it and quoted me the price for the R8.

There’s no Lamborghini dealership in or around Newcastle

markiii

3,565 posts

193 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
quotequote all
Pre LP has a lot of parts that Audi won't be able to get directly

Pre LP definitely need a lambo specific diagnostic tool Audi won't have

not sure about the post LP

PompeyReece

1,485 posts

88 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
quotequote all
p4cks said:
I emailed Audi in Newcastle who said they could do it and quoted me the price for the R8.

There’s no Lamborghini dealership in or around Newcastle
Surely if you're going to have to spend £15k on a car, location in the UK largely becomes irrelevant? I mean there's a good chance it'll be cheaper to ship it and get it done elsewhere by a good indie miles from you?

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
quotequote all
Not sure what you mean. Why would I take it to somewhere miles away when I can drop it off round the corner at Audi who can do the service?

Spindoctor

781 posts

199 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
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p4cks said:
Not sure what you mean. Why would I take it to somewhere miles away when I can drop it off round the corner at Audi who can do the service?
Crossed wires I think. PompeyReece was talking about an engine rebuild, not a service. But you're not planning to get one that needs an engine rebuild. On servicing costs, the Audi quote sounds quite low and as already said an Audi dealer is unlikely to have Lambo software. No idea what this guy is like but he's close to you: http://www.davewaltoncars.co.uk/

Great cars, happy hunting.

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
quotequote all
Spindoctor said:
p4cks said:
Not sure what you mean. Why would I take it to somewhere miles away when I can drop it off round the corner at Audi who can do the service?
Crossed wires I think. PompeyReece was talking about an engine rebuild, not a service. But you're not planning to get one that needs an engine rebuild. On servicing costs, the Audi quote sounds quite low and as already said an Audi dealer is unlikely to have Lambo software. No idea what this guy is like but he's close to you: http://www.davewaltoncars.co.uk/

Great cars, happy hunting.
Ahhh I see. Yeah, if I did get one and it needed a rebuild it'd go to that fella - certainly not to Audi.

Thanks for the link too, I had no idea there was someone in my area that could work on these cars so I assumed I'd have to travel up to Edinburgh or the like to get it looked at.

Again, I'm not seeing/hearing any catches. In fact it's all helping the cause...

m4tti

5,426 posts

154 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
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I’m not sure who you’re talking to at Audi, but they’re clearly clueless.

The Galardos you will be looking at will run a Campi (Lamborghini specific) ecu. Audi won’t touch it. It’s not an Audi.



Edited by m4tti on Thursday 19th December 19:47

Superleg48

1,524 posts

132 months

Thursday 19th December 2019
quotequote all
You should not get your Gallardo serviced by Audi. It is more than an R8 with different clothes on. They will not know what they are doing. They barely know what they are doing with Audi’s.

Find an Indie Specialist or use a Main Dealer. I live in North Norfolk and take my car to Pangbourne every year. That is around 180 miles each way x 4 (they have it for a couple of days and I take a courtesy car) and I treat it like a road trip.

The only way to check for cat related engine damage is to put a scope down into the cylinder bore. So you will need to specifically ask for that check...or smoke from the exhaust suggesting excessive oil burning from scored bores.

I think you will find that 4321Go’s rebuild will cost significantly more than £15k.

Stretch the budget for an early LP to avoid the Cat issue altogether, plus significant improvements on day to day drive ability and clutch for eGear. I concede however, that the LP engine in standard form does not have quite the tone of the 5.0 lump - although with my Super Trofeo exhaust, it is good enough for me.

PompeyReece

1,485 posts

88 months

Friday 20th December 2019
quotequote all
Spindoctor said:
p4cks said:
Not sure what you mean. Why would I take it to somewhere miles away when I can drop it off round the corner at Audi who can do the service?
Crossed wires I think. PompeyReece was talking about an engine rebuild, not a service. But you're not planning to get one that needs an engine rebuild. On servicing costs, the Audi quote sounds quite low and as already said an Audi dealer is unlikely to have Lambo software. No idea what this guy is like but he's close to you: http://www.davewaltoncars.co.uk/

Great cars, happy hunting.
Thanks and yes, apologies! Unless Lambo service pricing has rocketed to £15k, I was talking about the engine rebuild!

johnnyreggae

2,930 posts

159 months

Friday 20th December 2019
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andrew said:
i've never heard of davewaltoncars, but even a quick google shows him to apparently be trading with 2k of assets...
My understanding is that he's effectively a sole trader which would explain the assets who has been working on cars of this type (Ferrari Lambo etc) for at least twenty years so at the very least would appear to be worth a quick visit to check out if relevant

BlackR8

459 posts

76 months

Friday 20th December 2019
quotequote all
p4cks said:
Be gentle, this is my first foray into the Supercar forums here.

I've been looking at the possibility of getting a pre-LP Gallardo. Budget is about £50-55K so we're looking at the entry level in the market, so my expectations have been adjusted accordingly and I know I'll be looking at a CAT car or 60K+ mileage which I'm OK with. It's an Audi after all.

From doing my research and looking at as many forums and forum posts as I can find I can not find any reason why I shouldn't get one. Clutch is £3K which I'm OK with because it would be that on my Evora anyway, discs are £200 each if you shop about, pads are £50 and the other stuff is able to be sourced from other Audis or the like. Servicing is £485 interim and £895 major service inc spark plugs at Audi which isn't far off what anyone would pay for a 'normal' car anyway.

I'm really wanting to know all the horror stories, awful ownership experiences and the horrific running costs which will ultimately put me off them because at the moment I'm scratching my head trying to understand what the catch is?!
There seems to be a very clean looking Gallardo on autotrader at £49k and thats without any negotiation.

I fhave always kept a eye the Gallardo's market over the years and its very rare to see one so cheap that isn't a CAT car and one that looks as smartly presented as this one so might be worth a look

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Friday 20th December 2019
quotequote all
Fair comment about the Audi vs Lamborghini servicing, I'd be looking at a decent indy anyway as they're always my preference over a main dealer.

I've emailed Dave and will see what he says. Also for me, the assets of a mechanic aren't a measure of their competence so I'll keep an open mind in that regard.

Once my situation changes (I stop contracting and get a FT perm job) then the Evora and Clio V6 will both be making way for a Gallardo and it'll be pre-LP but I'll be looking at getting an HR Owen assessment before any purchase. The cat issue is a new one to me so I'll be doing more research regarding that too.

I really appreciate all of these comments chaps, I'm learning all of the time.

4321go

638 posts

186 months

Friday 20th December 2019
quotequote all
Not an Evora, but I owned two late-model Esprits. A ‘99 GT3, the very last one built, hence the very last 4-cylinder Esprit built, and the only car that I’ve ever bought new. And then a ‘99 V8GT. Both were daily drivers, clocking over 1000 miles per month. Then came a F355 for five years; an absolute money pit as a daily driver. Then an Aventime for about 18 months. And then....... my last car before the Gallardo..... a Clio V6 (phase 2, Liquid Gold with the cream exception pack interior)!!

So, great taste in cars!

Yes, it’s going to be a little more than £15k. The gearbox costs are mounting...... And then there’s the new (pattern) windscreen that’s awaiting fitting....... And the new (second hand, but immaculate and already the correct colour) glass tailgate....... And..... Oops!!

To borescope the cylinders requires the plenums to be removed. It’s not a quick or simple job. Nor cheap. Frankly not the sort of thing that any seller would agree to. Basically, watch a startup from cold and if it doesn’t smoke, have the car de-catted as soon as possible after purchase.

p4cks

Original Poster:

6,885 posts

198 months

Saturday 21st December 2019
quotequote all
Wow that’s some history, and you also have great taste in cars. Mines a phase 2 too, although sadly never gets used.

So if I’m reading that correctly, I want to see smoke on a cold start up?

Larry5.2

496 posts

107 months

Saturday 21st December 2019
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4321go said:
To borescope the cylinders requires the plenums to be removed. It’s not a quick or simple job. Nor cheap. Frankly not the sort of thing that any seller would agree to. Basically, watch a startup from cold and if it doesn’t smoke, have the car de-catted as soon as possible after purchase.
Boroscope is done through spark plug holes.... so providing it's not diesel, it's quite easy...