RE: PH Buying Guide: Lamborghini Diablo
Discussion
Jon's Yellow car did get a lot of looks and sounded mental on the Alpine tour I did with him a couple of years ago. Not slow, but at 180+ I do wish he'd got out the way! But don't underestimate just how quick they can be in committed hands.
Will dig some pics out.... Got loads but this one reminds me of the trip very well!
Will dig some pics out.... Got loads but this one reminds me of the trip very well!
Jarama79 said:
markbs said:
markbs said:
olly22n said:
markcoznottz said:
Wasnt the esprit the last car on sale with pop up headlamps?.
I thought that too.- standscorrected*
Lotus initially planned to finish production of the Esprit by the end of 2003 but due to problems getting the necessary parts from suppliers the production extended to the beginning of 2004. Officially the very last Esprit left the line on February 20 of 2004. After the celebration the car left for Atlanta, USA. http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EOtherstuff/LastEs...
Almost surely the last C5 was produced later than February 20, 2004.
Dammit.
I,m not so keen on the 6.0 from the side , the front end looks a little thick and I much prefer the spoiler of earlier models . Although love the wheels on the 6.0 not to mention the extra bhp . Overall the open headlamp 99 model for me as below with the wavy dashboard and rear wheel drive a must too , the quality of the cars I think overall are better too in later editions . As for looks it knocks gallardo's and murci's into touch , only the Countach or Muira will drop ya jaw lower than a good Diablo . Great to drive , gets loads of attention . But what I love about the Diablo is the noise . Much prefer poodling down a one way street at 2000/3000 rpm between rows of terrace houses or shops with the windows down listening to that V12 bubble away merrily , echoing and filling the street with it's pornographic grunts and sighs as opposed to screaming down the duel carriageway at 7000 rpm in such a high pitch whine it makes the tips of your ears tingle . But thats good too . 
Stitch said:
Are those insurance quotes for real?
They make my limited mileage policy on my 03 Elise seem very, very expensive!
I was wondering that - 800 quid for a 30 year old Diablo driver in london. I'm 29 and live in London - Flux wanted 700 for the renewal on my 2 and a half grand Alfa Spider on a limited mileage policy. Appreciate the excess is large for the Diablo but even so.......They make my limited mileage policy on my 03 Elise seem very, very expensive!
lambok1d said:
I,m not so keen on the 6.0 from the side , the front end looks a little thick and I much prefer the spoiler of earlier models . Although love the wheels on the 6.0 not to mention the extra bhp . Overall the open headlamp 99 model for me as below with the wavy dashboard and rear wheel drive a must too , the quality of the cars I think overall are better too in later editions . As for looks it knocks gallardo's and murci's into touch , only the Countach or Muira will drop ya jaw lower than a good Diablo . Great to drive , gets loads of attention . But what I love about the Diablo is the noise . Much prefer poodling down a one way street at 2000/3000 rpm between rows of terrace houses or shops with the windows down listening to that V12 bubble away merrily , echoing and filling the street with it's pornographic grunts and sighs as opposed to screaming down the duel carriageway at 7000 rpm in such a high pitch whine it makes the tips of your ears tingle . But thats good too .
I agree with a lot of that but, personally, I think the pre-6.0VT Diablos look a mess! The narrow front end, relative to the rear, reminds me of those gym freaks who can't be bothered to train their legs and end up looking like turkeys. The mess of front/rear lamps through the Diablo's evolution don't help it either and, as can be seen in the photo, the rear wheels don't fill the wheelhouses properly. I swore I'd never buy a Diablo but the 6.0 addressed everything I didn't like: the fussy, challengingly proportioned styling; build quality; kitcar interior and "small Italian horse" power ....and then I saw one for sale in dark purple (Scuro Blue). Above all that though, the 6.0 is simply a stunningly good car to drive and EVO recently 'fessed up that by rights it should have won eCOTY, rather than the 996TT. It's an epic car that I've had an enormous amount of fun with.
A dab of oppo at the Scottish Motor Show, Knockhill
Cannes
Monte Carlo Grand Prix
Nordschliefe
Spa Francorchamps
Sweden
Norway
Donington
At the chippy
Fresh wax
Flat_Steve said:
With regards to the last production car with pop-up headlights, this thread came up with the answer as the DeTomaso Guara, still technically available in 2005.
I think the "last production car with pop-up headlights" is best defined by when it was made, not when it was sold.I cited the February 20, 2004 date for the Esprit above.
I didn't find a date for the C5.
The last Guara was apparently made at sometime in 2004.
The DeTomaso Guara, (an ugly rascal), probably shouldn't count as a production car, though:
1. Very few cars were produced: "Though sources vary, approximately 10 to 12 Barchettas, 5 Spiders and about 50 Coupés were sold." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Tomaso_Guar%C3%A0
2. This is over 12 years--1993 to 2004
3. It wasn't sold in the USA. (Yankee hubris showing : ) )
If it is counted, it's still unclear which car was last produced.
ks, the "old" Diablo is just fine, runs great, and interior quality has been really good for me 
[quote=bosscerbera]
I agree with a lot of that but, personally, I think the pre-6.0VT Diablos look a mess!
True , it's a mess . But it's still Lambo's mess and it's awesome . The 6.0 VT is too Audi , too Gallardo / Murci . This is the precise moment where you can see the Audi boffins taking control of design features instead of sticking to quality control which they are good at . Still a swell car , just in my opinion the 99 Diablo is better looking with the benefit of Audi quality control .
I agree with a lot of that but, personally, I think the pre-6.0VT Diablos look a mess! True , it's a mess . But it's still Lambo's mess and it's awesome . The 6.0 VT is too Audi , too Gallardo / Murci . This is the precise moment where you can see the Audi boffins taking control of design features instead of sticking to quality control which they are good at . Still a swell car , just in my opinion the 99 Diablo is better looking with the benefit of Audi quality control .
bosscerbera said:
I agree with a lot of that but, personally, I think the pre-6.0VT Diablos look a mess! The narrow front end, relative to the rear, reminds me of those gym freaks who can't be bothered to train their legs and end up looking like turkeys. The mess of front/rear lamps through the Diablo's evolution don't help it either and, as can be seen in the photo, the rear wheels don't fill the wheelhouses properly. I swore I'd never buy a Diablo but the 6.0 addressed everything I didn't like: the fussy, challengingly proportioned styling; build quality; kitcar interior and "small Italian horse" power ....and then I saw one for sale in dark purple (Scuro Blue). Above all that though, the 6.0 is simply a stunningly good car to drive and EVO recently 'fessed up that by rights it should have won eCOTY, rather than the 996TT. It's an epic car that I've had an enormous amount of fun with.
What made you decide to keep it in the end? All the above I presume?!
Craig
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