5.0 Gallardo Spyder - E-Gear & Cats
Discussion
Sorry folks - I know that the E-gear v F1 comparisons have been done to death over the last couple of decades, but I'm looking for a specific comparison.
My only experience of an automated gearbox is my Ferrari 360. It's an early car with the first generation TCU. I really don't mind it. Reverse is rubbish and it's clunky in traffic, but it's otherwise great when moving.
Has anyone any experience of the early F1 v the first-gen Gallardo Spyders E-gear (2006 car)? If so, how would you compare the two?
Lastly, I note that there were issues with Cats breaking down and the dust being ingested in the earlier cars - was that improved upon any by the time the Spyders arrived?
Thanks in advance.
My only experience of an automated gearbox is my Ferrari 360. It's an early car with the first generation TCU. I really don't mind it. Reverse is rubbish and it's clunky in traffic, but it's otherwise great when moving.
Has anyone any experience of the early F1 v the first-gen Gallardo Spyders E-gear (2006 car)? If so, how would you compare the two?
Lastly, I note that there were issues with Cats breaking down and the dust being ingested in the earlier cars - was that improved upon any by the time the Spyders arrived?
Thanks in advance.
Edited by scogins on Friday 7th January 19:03
It’s the 5.0 litre (pre-LP) engine will suffer from bore scoring as a result of the cats disintegrating. This will affect every 5.0 engine that is still fitted with the OE Lamborghini cats. Nor is it a problem that only affects “some” cars. Don’t let any dealer or owner try to tell you that “their” car is unaffected. That generation of catalytic converters all break down with use and age. It’s just unfortunate that the particular physical geometry of the Gallardo’s exhaust system allows the resulting junk to be sucked back into the engine. Fitting either test pipes (straight through) or the Larini sports cats will prevent any further damage.
The later 5.2 litre engine is totally different, with a completely different header/cat exhaust configuration, and isn’t known to suffer the same problem.
I’m assuming that you’ve read my long (14 page, IIRC) thread here on the rebuild of my own 5.0 engine? Photos there show the extent of the damage. And I was lucky; my engine still ran well where several have been known fail catastrophically!
The later 5.2 litre engine is totally different, with a completely different header/cat exhaust configuration, and isn’t known to suffer the same problem.
I’m assuming that you’ve read my long (14 page, IIRC) thread here on the rebuild of my own 5.0 engine? Photos there show the extent of the damage. And I was lucky; my engine still ran well where several have been known fail catastrophically!
Edited by 4321go on Friday 7th January 22:21
scogins said:
Thanks. No, I haven't read your thread - will pop the kettle on and have a look!
Good luck…….https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
4321go said:
Jolly fine read! Thanks for the heads-up! I do like it when someone goes all-in on an older car. May she give you many more years of reliable service!
I owned an e-gear (2007 car) and I wouldn't recommend the e-gear system to anyone. I loved the car in all other respects, but I wished I'd held out for a manual.
Some people will say that you can adapt your driving style to get round the issues, but you simply can't (the whole thing is you can't finesse the clutch - that's the whole principle of the automated manual).
If you live in an area with tight roads/sharp corners (as I do in the highland of Scotland) it's a horrible system to live with day-to-day. Great when 'on it' on the open road but not the rest of the time. (I haven't driven the F1 transmission so can't comment on comparison)
Some people will say that you can adapt your driving style to get round the issues, but you simply can't (the whole thing is you can't finesse the clutch - that's the whole principle of the automated manual).
If you live in an area with tight roads/sharp corners (as I do in the highland of Scotland) it's a horrible system to live with day-to-day. Great when 'on it' on the open road but not the rest of the time. (I haven't driven the F1 transmission so can't comment on comparison)
monthefish said:
I owned an e-gear (2007 car) and I wouldn't recommend the e-gear system to anyone. I loved the car in all other respects, but I wished I'd held out for a manual.
Some people will say that you can adapt your driving style to get round the issues, but you simply can't (the whole thing is you can't finesse the clutch - that's the whole principle of the automated manual).
If you live in an area with tight roads/sharp corners (as I do in the highland of Scotland) it's a horrible system to live with day-to-day. Great when 'on it' on the open road but not the rest of the time. (I haven't driven the F1 transmission so can't comment on comparison)
2007 e-gear here too, but respectfully i disagree almost entirely Some people will say that you can adapt your driving style to get round the issues, but you simply can't (the whole thing is you can't finesse the clutch - that's the whole principle of the automated manual).
If you live in an area with tight roads/sharp corners (as I do in the highland of Scotland) it's a horrible system to live with day-to-day. Great when 'on it' on the open road but not the rest of the time. (I haven't driven the F1 transmission so can't comment on comparison)
hi,
I have a 2008 SL, with EGear - had it just under three years,
had just prior to it both a 430 scuderia which is F1 and a 2001 F1 360, (with the software update on the ecu)
The egear gets lots of critisim just like the F1 on the ferrari. but as with the F1 on the 360 you have to learn to use it, too make it smooth, or as smooth as an early auto transmission will make it.
the 430 scuderia change was the best by a million miles, but the 360 F1 was good, once you got used to it and never used it in manual. The Egear is I would say just about the same, what is slightly different is the 4 wheel drive on the gallardo makes, turning in tight circles (like tight turn into a driveway or parking space feel more strained, but more on the tyres that any transmission issue)
I understand that the f1 and the Egear both have paramaters that can be set up to adjust when the clutch engages in terms of enginee speed, (i.e how much slip is allowed with the clutch before it full engages drive) on my 360, it slipped quite a bit so I was always on the gas quick to stop it slipping, the Egear is quicker to engage, but that makes creeping forward more tricky as it wants to engage and go quicker.
Both have fab downshifts to 2nd gear, but I coasting up to lights or roundabouts - defo have to do that in the egear or its a bit clunky, F1 was better .
I am going to change mine to 2wd, as its supposed to make things more smoother,,
on the road after your out of 1st gear, very very little difference in the systems,
would I buy another egear or f1 - yes, will I, probably not, once the SL goes (at some point) I would probably go for a 458 spider,
regards
scott, (glasgow)
I have a 2008 SL, with EGear - had it just under three years,
had just prior to it both a 430 scuderia which is F1 and a 2001 F1 360, (with the software update on the ecu)
The egear gets lots of critisim just like the F1 on the ferrari. but as with the F1 on the 360 you have to learn to use it, too make it smooth, or as smooth as an early auto transmission will make it.
the 430 scuderia change was the best by a million miles, but the 360 F1 was good, once you got used to it and never used it in manual. The Egear is I would say just about the same, what is slightly different is the 4 wheel drive on the gallardo makes, turning in tight circles (like tight turn into a driveway or parking space feel more strained, but more on the tyres that any transmission issue)
I understand that the f1 and the Egear both have paramaters that can be set up to adjust when the clutch engages in terms of enginee speed, (i.e how much slip is allowed with the clutch before it full engages drive) on my 360, it slipped quite a bit so I was always on the gas quick to stop it slipping, the Egear is quicker to engage, but that makes creeping forward more tricky as it wants to engage and go quicker.
Both have fab downshifts to 2nd gear, but I coasting up to lights or roundabouts - defo have to do that in the egear or its a bit clunky, F1 was better .
I am going to change mine to 2wd, as its supposed to make things more smoother,,
on the road after your out of 1st gear, very very little difference in the systems,
would I buy another egear or f1 - yes, will I, probably not, once the SL goes (at some point) I would probably go for a 458 spider,
regards
scott, (glasgow)
Scott Laurie said:
I understand that the f1 and the Egear both have paramaters that can be set up to adjust when the clutch engages in terms of enginee speed, (i.e how much slip is allowed with the clutch before it full engages drive)
indeedon my car, from new the clutch was fully engaged at 1300 rpm, giving you only a 300 rpm window to play with from idle, which took a little practice
i've just had the clutch rep;aced ( 58k, 70%, but that's another story )
it now fully engages at 1800 rpm, giving 800 rpm
creeping around is easier ( if noisier ! ) - too early to tell if clutch life is compromised...
Scott Laurie said:
hi,
I have a 2008 SL, with EGear - had it just under three years,
had just prior to it both a 430 scuderia which is F1 and a 2001 F1 360, (with the software update on the ecu)
The egear gets lots of critisim just like the F1 on the ferrari. but as with the F1 on the 360 you have to learn to use it, too make it smooth, or as smooth as an early auto transmission will make it.
the 430 scuderia change was the best by a million miles, but the 360 F1 was good, once you got used to it and never used it in manual. The Egear is I would say just about the same, what is slightly different is the 4 wheel drive on the gallardo makes, turning in tight circles (like tight turn into a driveway or parking space feel more strained, but more on the tyres that any transmission issue)
I understand that the f1 and the Egear both have paramaters that can be set up to adjust when the clutch engages in terms of enginee speed, (i.e how much slip is allowed with the clutch before it full engages drive) on my 360, it slipped quite a bit so I was always on the gas quick to stop it slipping, the Egear is quicker to engage, but that makes creeping forward more tricky as it wants to engage and go quicker.
Both have fab downshifts to 2nd gear, but I coasting up to lights or roundabouts - defo have to do that in the egear or its a bit clunky, F1 was better .
I am going to change mine to 2wd, as its supposed to make things more smoother,,
on the road after your out of 1st gear, very very little difference in the systems,
would I buy another egear or f1 - yes, will I, probably not, once the SL goes (at some point) I would probably go for a 458 spider,
regards
scott, (glasgow)
Just the sort of review I was looking for. Cheers.I have a 2008 SL, with EGear - had it just under three years,
had just prior to it both a 430 scuderia which is F1 and a 2001 F1 360, (with the software update on the ecu)
The egear gets lots of critisim just like the F1 on the ferrari. but as with the F1 on the 360 you have to learn to use it, too make it smooth, or as smooth as an early auto transmission will make it.
the 430 scuderia change was the best by a million miles, but the 360 F1 was good, once you got used to it and never used it in manual. The Egear is I would say just about the same, what is slightly different is the 4 wheel drive on the gallardo makes, turning in tight circles (like tight turn into a driveway or parking space feel more strained, but more on the tyres that any transmission issue)
I understand that the f1 and the Egear both have paramaters that can be set up to adjust when the clutch engages in terms of enginee speed, (i.e how much slip is allowed with the clutch before it full engages drive) on my 360, it slipped quite a bit so I was always on the gas quick to stop it slipping, the Egear is quicker to engage, but that makes creeping forward more tricky as it wants to engage and go quicker.
Both have fab downshifts to 2nd gear, but I coasting up to lights or roundabouts - defo have to do that in the egear or its a bit clunky, F1 was better .
I am going to change mine to 2wd, as its supposed to make things more smoother,,
on the road after your out of 1st gear, very very little difference in the systems,
would I buy another egear or f1 - yes, will I, probably not, once the SL goes (at some point) I would probably go for a 458 spider,
regards
scott, (glasgow)
monthefish said:
Slightly off topic, but did you used to be heavily involved in the Porsche Club GB Scotland division?
(I was a member for a while and attended a few events!)
yes, that was me, still have a porsche, now just assistant for Region 1, but still running some events, (I was a member for a while and attended a few events!)
regards
Scott.
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