R8 V10 vs Gallardo - how much diff is there really?
Discussion
I've just had a VERY enjoyable test drive in an R8 V10 spider, now my budget of circa 65k would also put me into the territory of the earlier Gallardos (Top Gear for instance have a nice black 2006 model at 64k). But forgetting the Lambo supercar tag/vs mass produced Audi and taking each on it's individual merits how much difference is there between them in the real world in terms of driving, ownership costs, reliability etc? If the Lambo was going to cost 3 times the price to run then I think the R8 would be better for me but are they essentially the same or is it just the engine? If not what are the main differences and downsides to the G in terms of extra expense/potential unreliability?
Appreciate this is likely asked a lot but the search on here is pants
Appreciate this is likely asked a lot but the search on here is pants
I bought my 2006 Gallardo on 7th January 2013, so my experience of the model is somewhat limited, but for what it is worth , here goes.
I went for a 2006 model because from research I had carried out , by that year Audi had ironed out a lot of the niggles which accompanied the earlier models e.g. electrical relay failures etc
2004/2005 models were apparently plagued with clutch failure, 4000 to 5000 miles being the most achievable. This applied to both the manual and e gear gearboxes. The original clutch assembly has now been modified twice which from what I have gathered helped considerably, which is just as well because a new clutch including VAT will set you back £3000.
Servicing costs are not cheap , but then what would anyone expect of a Lamborghini. £700 for a small service and upwards of £1500 for an intermediate . The big service is around £2900, but is not carried out until the car has covered 45000 miles.
Full service history is essential.If any car you view doesn't have it , walk away.
I achieve between 9 and 13 MPG.
I have also had experience of an early Audi R8. A great car, but in my humble opinion not even in the same league as the Gallardo.
If I was going the Gallardo route again, I would search for one with a front lift as they don't go over speed humps very well.
Also look for a switchable sport exhaust.
To conclude , the best advice I can offer is for you to drive both and make up your own mind.
I went for a 2006 model because from research I had carried out , by that year Audi had ironed out a lot of the niggles which accompanied the earlier models e.g. electrical relay failures etc
2004/2005 models were apparently plagued with clutch failure, 4000 to 5000 miles being the most achievable. This applied to both the manual and e gear gearboxes. The original clutch assembly has now been modified twice which from what I have gathered helped considerably, which is just as well because a new clutch including VAT will set you back £3000.
Servicing costs are not cheap , but then what would anyone expect of a Lamborghini. £700 for a small service and upwards of £1500 for an intermediate . The big service is around £2900, but is not carried out until the car has covered 45000 miles.
Full service history is essential.If any car you view doesn't have it , walk away.
I achieve between 9 and 13 MPG.
I have also had experience of an early Audi R8. A great car, but in my humble opinion not even in the same league as the Gallardo.
If I was going the Gallardo route again, I would search for one with a front lift as they don't go over speed humps very well.
Also look for a switchable sport exhaust.
To conclude , the best advice I can offer is for you to drive both and make up your own mind.
Coincidently I have just sold my manual R8V10 and bought a manual LP550-2.
I didn't think the differences would be that great but they are huge (partly due to the 2wd setup of course).
The R8V10 is everything you would expect. Comfortable, easy to drive, looks great and fast. Totally useable. In fact, I used it almost every day for 9 months and enjoyed every minute. And amazing value for money.
The Lambo is raw, twitchy, firm but fast and what fun. Feels much more GT3 like and much much lighter/agile.
They may have the same engine but you wouldn't think so.
The quality of build on both is on a par and the Lambo is pretty civilised on a smooth road with the radio on.
It's the stereotypical cliche. Buy the Audi with your head and the Lambo with your heart. I love it but it will not be for everyone.
Having said that I have 2 years of warranty left and would not have bought a car without one. If your choice is R8 vs a 2006 Gallardo, I would say Audi. If you can stretch to a 2010-2011 car then Lambo.
I didn't think the differences would be that great but they are huge (partly due to the 2wd setup of course).
The R8V10 is everything you would expect. Comfortable, easy to drive, looks great and fast. Totally useable. In fact, I used it almost every day for 9 months and enjoyed every minute. And amazing value for money.
The Lambo is raw, twitchy, firm but fast and what fun. Feels much more GT3 like and much much lighter/agile.
They may have the same engine but you wouldn't think so.
The quality of build on both is on a par and the Lambo is pretty civilised on a smooth road with the radio on.
It's the stereotypical cliche. Buy the Audi with your head and the Lambo with your heart. I love it but it will not be for everyone.
Having said that I have 2 years of warranty left and would not have bought a car without one. If your choice is R8 vs a 2006 Gallardo, I would say Audi. If you can stretch to a 2010-2011 car then Lambo.
Speaking from personal experience, I had my R8 (v8) for a year while also owning my 2006 Gallardo SE.
In summary, the R8 was a great car that flattered the driver and you always pushed it, because you could. Massively dependable with cheap parts and services.
The Lambo on the other hand is plain bonkers. It always makes you laugh and you end up not minding the bills as when you drive it back from the dealer's you get "that grin" again.
It's that eternal brain vs heart thing.
In summary, the R8 was a great car that flattered the driver and you always pushed it, because you could. Massively dependable with cheap parts and services.
The Lambo on the other hand is plain bonkers. It always makes you laugh and you end up not minding the bills as when you drive it back from the dealer's you get "that grin" again.
It's that eternal brain vs heart thing.
Like mohans, but had mine 4 years this month, warranty also ran out when i bought it and it has been faultless, no problems at all. I use an independent for servicing, reasonable prices and great service from them. They are not as expensive as people make them out to be its just preventative maintenence that counts.
Had my 2005 Gallardo for 3 years and it's been 100% reliable - been on a number of long trips including a 2500 mile trip to the factory.
Don't believe the stories about pre-06 cars being unreliable - yes the early clutches are cr*p but these will have been replaced by now so not an issue (obviously check it is a later spec one if buying).
Sadly mine is up for sale due to impending fatherhood
and it will be sorely missed
Don't believe the stories about pre-06 cars being unreliable - yes the early clutches are cr*p but these will have been replaced by now so not an issue (obviously check it is a later spec one if buying).
Sadly mine is up for sale due to impending fatherhood
and it will be sorely missedHey Tony, sure u would prefer this and some change left over
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
I took the Fcar plunge
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
I took the Fcar plunge
Zippee said:
I've just had a VERY enjoyable test drive in an R8 V10 spider, now my budget of circa 65k would also put me into the territory of the earlier Gallardos (Top Gear for instance have a nice black 2006 model at 64k). But forgetting the Lambo supercar tag/vs mass produced Audi and taking each on it's individual merits how much difference is there between them in the real world in terms of driving, ownership costs, reliability etc? If the Lambo was going to cost 3 times the price to run then I think the R8 would be better for me but are they essentially the same or is it just the engine? If not what are the main differences and downsides to the G in terms of extra expense/potential unreliability?
Appreciate this is likely asked a lot but the search on here is pants
I've driven an R8 V10 cab, and I own an LP550, so I can give you a pretty good insight of the differences between the R8 and LP gallardo's.Appreciate this is likely asked a lot but the search on here is pants
The R8 was a brilliant car. As a day to day car, it's exceptional. It sounded pretty good, was pretty comfy, was crazy fast when you wanted it to be, and everything is put together well.
The LP550 on the other hand, does honestly feel like a different car. I'm not sure how much of this is down to 2wd vs. 4wd however I'd say these are the main differences:
- LP is a bit faster (but how fast can you really drive on most roads?)
- LP is significantly louder and imho sounds nicer
- LP feels more cramped inside, and suspension is significantly harsher. It'll bash you about more than the R8
- You will get 10x the attention (all positive) in the Lambo vs. R8
- The LP is more lairy - whereas the R8 is more secure. If you were driving fast in the rain, you'd feel more comfy in the R8, but the LP is much more exciting, and you really have to be awake at least in the 550, as it'll kick it's tail out very easily when provoked, however this is very managable and can be fun. It's a lairy car but one that's easy to control as it's so small and only 1380kg.
Aside from that, they're both stunningly well built and will both be reliable.
In terms of the earlier pre-2008 G's, I hear the engines use more oil (1ltr every 1000 miles), and are more prone to issues, but still reliable for cars of this ilk. It was still a "post-Audi" issue Lambo even in 2004 afterall. The earlier G's I think sound a little better than the LP's, and the LP's I think sound a bit better than the R8's.
Oh, in terms of your cost of ownership.... bear in mind depreciation. There are only 140 lambo's sold per year in the UK and many get exported. That means it's a limited marketplace, and the earliest G's are still £60k+ for a good one, and have been for the past 4yrs I think.... They WILL keep their value better than the R8. A V10 R8 looks like a V8 R8.... so I expect they'll both end up around £40-50k in time. The G's will never go below £60k unless you've knackered it, and I expect the LP's to settle around £80k in the long run. There's just not many of them about (400 Ferrari's are sold a year in the UK).
Ernesto said:
Coincidently I have just sold my manual R8V10 and bought a manual LP550-2
Good man Same spec as mine, and from the sounds of it around the same age too. Totally agree on what you've said - they're much more lairy, and you really need to be awake. You can crack a remarkable pace along some of the country roads, and it feels so light and controllable, but you do have to be awake. Personally I think they'll end up being future classics as they're pretty much the last of the "lairy manual supercar" generation.Thanks all for your inputs. I agree with the comments around depreciation, the G will be pretty safe in terms of risk of losing money.
The main instigator for my move from the TVR is that I want a car thats fun, quick, ballsy when I want but at the same time something my wife will feel comfortable driving - she likes to have fun but I'm not sure how she'd like a car she'd feel on edge driving (she won't drive the TVR and that means weekends away are done in her car rather than mine).
I test drove the V8 R8 last week and I liked it, a lot, but on reflection it didn't have 'that' special feel that I need to make ownership something enjoyable - the V10 I feel may be a great compromise between the 2. Think I may need to try the G along with my wife to see if it's something we would both be comfortable and happy with - needs to be dual purpose almost like Jeckyl and Hyde to satisfy both types of requirements.
Other option is a 360/430 but I'm just not sure they're a car I could love.... Decisions decisions
The main instigator for my move from the TVR is that I want a car thats fun, quick, ballsy when I want but at the same time something my wife will feel comfortable driving - she likes to have fun but I'm not sure how she'd like a car she'd feel on edge driving (she won't drive the TVR and that means weekends away are done in her car rather than mine).
I test drove the V8 R8 last week and I liked it, a lot, but on reflection it didn't have 'that' special feel that I need to make ownership something enjoyable - the V10 I feel may be a great compromise between the 2. Think I may need to try the G along with my wife to see if it's something we would both be comfortable and happy with - needs to be dual purpose almost like Jeckyl and Hyde to satisfy both types of requirements.
Other option is a 360/430 but I'm just not sure they're a car I could love.... Decisions decisions
kbf1981 - is yours a manual too. What colour/year? Great minds and all that.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
kbf1981 - is yours a manual too. What colour/year? Great minds and all that.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
kbf1981 - is yours a manual too. What colour/year? Great minds and all that.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
I have had my 550 for a week only - took my 2 year old to waitrose in it today and parked in family parking bay. She loved it. Confused everyone else who thought I was just some idiot trying to protect his doors. Until they saw the baby seat.
Shmee said:
Unless I've missed something, £65k won't get you a V10 Spyder! The cheapest out there are 2 40,000 mile cars at £70k and those aren't necessarily the best places to put your money, realistically it would be mid £70s at least to get a good one.
(I've just done this and I LOVE it!)
Wasn't necessarily the spider but the V10 which is in at 65, just so happened that the car I drove yesterday was a spider (I've just done this and I LOVE it!)
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