Discussion
anyone here owned one for any length of time? Always wanted one as a kid and toying with the idea of one as a second car for a year or 2. The thought of doing the le mans run in one and cruising the Mulsanne with the door up is just too much of a temptation...
Firstly, I am 6'3" and 15 stone, will I fit? I have heard the pedals are extremely offset, is that a problem?
what are they like to drive? (aside from nil rear view) Are they reliable (ish)?
any pointers gratefully received
Firstly, I am 6'3" and 15 stone, will I fit? I have heard the pedals are extremely offset, is that a problem?
what are they like to drive? (aside from nil rear view) Are they reliable (ish)?
any pointers gratefully received
well the guy who got out of one at the AutoItallia day was a 6'4" rugby player and he claimed he was 'fairly comfortable'. Don't know about the pedals, but frankly who cares - it's still the most arresting car on the roads with the ability to stop traffic at 200 yards.
Plus it shouldn't loose a lot of value unless you cane it for many 1000's of k's so it's technically not a bad investment..... (Well I'm convincing myself if nobody else...)
I'm in mind of the same thing having seen a lovely white QV on the road near me a few times this summer, and enjoying the attention by proxy that Tony996's Diablo got at le mans too.
Having trawled the archives here I can't find much to help on the countach.
www.lambocars.com
www.lamborghiniclubuk.com
Are a start though.
If you find anything useful like a buyers guide - let me know...
Plus it shouldn't loose a lot of value unless you cane it for many 1000's of k's so it's technically not a bad investment..... (Well I'm convincing myself if nobody else...)
I'm in mind of the same thing having seen a lovely white QV on the road near me a few times this summer, and enjoying the attention by proxy that Tony996's Diablo got at le mans too.
Having trawled the archives here I can't find much to help on the countach.
www.lambocars.com
www.lamborghiniclubuk.com
Are a start though.
If you find anything useful like a buyers guide - let me know...
cheers rich. you summed up some of the factors why I am toying with the idea. I reckon if I paid a realistic price and kept it a year or 2 without putting big miles on it (probably no more than about 3 - 4k a year) then it should prove pretty much depreciation-proof.
will look further into it and let you know. Its one car that I would actually prefer in white.
will look further into it and let you know. Its one car that I would actually prefer in white.
Marki said:
So what sort of prices are they being offered at , never see any for sale
anywhere between £35k - £50k.
quite a few at this place...
www.saclassics.com/showroom.php?make=Lamborghini
Quite happy with my manual shnozz cheers!
current 'going rate' for a countach is in the 40's - low 40's for high mileage, some 50+ with very low miles. This is for a late 80's car, probably a QV or a 25th anniversary.
Earlier cars are cheaper - I saw an A reg LHD with mileage for 26k at Joe Macari a while back.
An interesting and attractive alternative for similar cash (40+) would be a Ferrari 512TR.
current 'going rate' for a countach is in the 40's - low 40's for high mileage, some 50+ with very low miles. This is for a late 80's car, probably a QV or a 25th anniversary.
Earlier cars are cheaper - I saw an A reg LHD with mileage for 26k at Joe Macari a while back.
An interesting and attractive alternative for similar cash (40+) would be a Ferrari 512TR.
mr_tony said:
Quite happy with my manual shnozz cheers!
current 'going rate' for a countach is in the 40's - low 40's for high mileage, some 50+ with very low miles. This is for a late 80's car, probably a QV or a 25th anniversary.
Earlier cars are cheaper - I saw an A reg LHD with mileage for 26k at Joe Macari a while back.
An interesting and attractive alternative for similar cash (40+) would be a Ferrari 512TR.
was thinking an auto for the caravan on the back mate
yep, £40k's seem about right and the crossover to the price of early diablos just shows the trend the countach is destined for IMO. Its a classic and will always hold that value.
Was never as keen on the testarossa and having recently stumbled across one in a car park next to my office I was surprised at what little impression it made upon me. The boyhood dream was the countach, if I was going to look at other things I guess i would be more sensible and get something more modern such as a 348 or 355 depending on how many £s are available.
fair point, guess the auto would take the strain. Guess it'll have to be a lambo e-gear murci instead then! 512TR is the last of the testarossas, but looks meaner, and inside it's a totally different story to the ropey tesarossas of the 80's. It's a 90s car with recent technology and inside looks like one too.
Met a guy in the local optimax watering hole with one the other day. I got a look inside and it was beautiful. He's traded to it from a 550M and reckoned that the 512TR was just as good a drive - high praise indeed. (darn wide though, I had to wait for him to move before I could get to the pumps causing total garage chaos!)
Know what you mean about the countach though - it's a bona fide classic and will always stop traffic, and at least hold the value it now has - if not become more sought after / valuable in future..
>> Edited by mr_tony on Wednesday 23 June 12:12
owned a Countach for 4 years
really miss it and will be buying another at some point
highly recommend them - mine was very reliable. All that needed doing was servicing at about £800 per year and the odd ignition pack (£1000 a pop - ouch!). Far more reliable than the F355 I owned (luckily the Countach is fairly basic on the electronic front).
bodywork very delicate and east to dent. Would want to make sure the car can run on unleaded (post QV should be OK).
would also advise getting a LHD if you don't do many miles as they drive better.
there is actually more headroom in a Countach than the Diablo - you can angle the seat. My brother is 6'4" and had no problems.
there is a potential issue sourcing tyres now - they used to make Yokohama's that suited the car well but these are in short supply. The Pirelli P Zeros are the only other option but have higher sidewalls and only suit the Anniversary (they were designed for it).
the other problem is finding someone to service it - there are few decent specialists around. Most will either rip you off or not do a good job.
suggest you have a chat to Mike Pullen at Carrera Sport as he has a lot of knowledge on Countach's and helped source my car.
really miss it and will be buying another at some point
highly recommend them - mine was very reliable. All that needed doing was servicing at about £800 per year and the odd ignition pack (£1000 a pop - ouch!). Far more reliable than the F355 I owned (luckily the Countach is fairly basic on the electronic front).
bodywork very delicate and east to dent. Would want to make sure the car can run on unleaded (post QV should be OK).
would also advise getting a LHD if you don't do many miles as they drive better.
there is actually more headroom in a Countach than the Diablo - you can angle the seat. My brother is 6'4" and had no problems.
there is a potential issue sourcing tyres now - they used to make Yokohama's that suited the car well but these are in short supply. The Pirelli P Zeros are the only other option but have higher sidewalls and only suit the Anniversary (they were designed for it).
the other problem is finding someone to service it - there are few decent specialists around. Most will either rip you off or not do a good job.
suggest you have a chat to Mike Pullen at Carrera Sport as he has a lot of knowledge on Countach's and helped source my car.
Agree - the bodywork is a nightmare - I always found little handspan marks - indented into the body work - as little kids (and their dads) rested against the car to look in - denting the hand beaten ali panels.
Also - engine cover needs constant respraying (particularly around the vents). I also found on mine that where the rear spoiler attached to the rear wings there was crackled paint too.
Mechanically - sorted (engine, gearbox etc.)
Worthwhile checking to see if the aircon was upgraded (to Far East/US spec - almost usable) - otherwise - it's hot in there! Agree with tyre sourcing being difficult - although Sheen Tyres (honest!) sourced my tyres (did the Diablos, 550's, M3, Allroader) - with a couple of days notice. Quite reasonable - not the cheapest - but they did a great job.
Tricky to drive very quick - but what a noise - no euro drive by rubbish (I had a QV). The LP500S is even noisier!
Pick of the lot (IMHO) is the 88.5 (QV with side slats) - 14 RHD in the country (at last count!). Never too keen on the 25th Anv. - Mr Zonda went mad!
The definative SUPERCAR. Buy one.
Also - engine cover needs constant respraying (particularly around the vents). I also found on mine that where the rear spoiler attached to the rear wings there was crackled paint too.
Mechanically - sorted (engine, gearbox etc.)
Worthwhile checking to see if the aircon was upgraded (to Far East/US spec - almost usable) - otherwise - it's hot in there! Agree with tyre sourcing being difficult - although Sheen Tyres (honest!) sourced my tyres (did the Diablos, 550's, M3, Allroader) - with a couple of days notice. Quite reasonable - not the cheapest - but they did a great job.
Tricky to drive very quick - but what a noise - no euro drive by rubbish (I had a QV). The LP500S is even noisier!
Pick of the lot (IMHO) is the 88.5 (QV with side slats) - 14 RHD in the country (at last count!). Never too keen on the 25th Anv. - Mr Zonda went mad!
The definative SUPERCAR. Buy one.
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