Tuesday 19th July 2011

Dancing with the Diablo

Is demand picking-up for 'late classic', pre-Audi Lamborginis?

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A 'Jota' could still set you back £175k...

Following-on from the CPoP Lamborghini Espada with the 'market-leading' price, it occurred to me that, while we've recently touched upon Ferraris, Corvettes, Porsches, and Aston Martins, there has been a criminal lack of Sant'Agata exotica. This will not do.

It's an interesting market too, because prices for good Diablos with low miles range from around £50,000 for examples like this Diablo VT (there are replicas out there for not far off that!), and up to £175,000 and beyond if you want something like one of these vicious 596bhp, SE30 'Jotas'. For those who don't already know, the 'Jota' was a limited edition full-race conversion which was carried out on 15-or-so of the 150 race-inspired 'SE30' 30th anniversary models.

...but more humble Diablos can be £50k

This is one of the few which has had its race-spec exhaust replaced with a 'road' item, been registered and then enjoyed on the road. So, that'll be a 'road' version of a 'race' version of a 'race-inspired' version of a 'road' car then...

There is usually a decent selection on offer as well in the UK, although one dealer I spoke to recently reckoned that interest in the 'late classic' market in the Far-East could change that. He opined that demand for cars in countries like Malaysia, Hong Kong and Japan was on the up and that this could be firming-up the values of right-hand-drive Diablos. There is also the argument that, ironically, the relatively more sober nature of the Volkswagen-influenced Lambos could enhance the values of pre-'98 cars.

An early SV might be a solid bet

Values of later Diablos still probably have some way to drop yet, so it might be possible to acquire something a bit earlier like this SV, keep it for a few years, and not suffer much (if at all...) when you came to move it on.

Mind you, that might not be the case if your Diablo happens to need a new clutch - which will be about £2500 from a specialist, and as much as double that from a dealer. Routine services tend to be the best part of £1000 - probably more - as will a set of tyres, and realistically you're not going to get much more than 10mpg...although with the limited mileage you're likely to be doing that's not terribly relevant.

Is there a special market for 'pre-VW' Lamborghinis? It's possible, because there certainly seems to be a lot of affection for them. But to pick, say, the yellow SV over something like this Gallardo would be folly...wouldn't it?

[GTRene]

ooo thats expensive to run then with those expensive clutch...
I also heard from a UK guy living in the Netherlands with a loud lambo that he needs a new clutch every 2.000<>10.000 miles? you had to tread that clutch with much respect

[Jaykaybi]

The article said:

Is there a special market for 'pre-VW' Lamborghinis? It's possible, because there certainly seems to be a lot of affection for them. But to pick, say, the yellow SV over something like this Gallardo would be folly...wouldn't it?

Not at all. I've driven numerous examples of both. The Diablo SV is much, much more special to drive, sit in, be around etc.

[myhandle]

Jaykaybi said:

Not at all. I've driven numerous examples of both. The Diablo SV is much, much more special to drive, sit in, be around etc.

+1 . The Gallardo is expensive to run, but it's intended for regular use in a way the Diablo was not. The Diablo production figures were also very low compared to the Gallardo (which of course is still in production), so the Diablo will be a much rarer car. They are aimed at very different requirements, and I can readily imagine someone having one of each, for totally different purposes. Gallardo as a very high performance, relatively practical car, and the Diablo for the occasional blast and for its astonishing looks and presence.

[yearoneracing]

Exactly why I just bought an SV...

[Gizmo!]

I think the 6.0 VT is probably the peak for me: faster, noisier, nicer inside and yet still (relatively!) subtle unlike the SV and SV-R. But I'd love any of them, even an early 2WD

Now, where's that video of BossCerbera in the Laerdal Tunnel...

[vetteheadracer]

Sorry but most of this article is utter BS.

10MPG? Really? Obviously the author has never owned or indeed driven a Diablo, try 20MPG and you will be a lot closer.

Servicing is not as expensive as mentioned here either and a lot less frequent than a Ferrari. Gallardo servicing is £1,000 a time from a main dealer and that's just an "A" service.

6.0L VT Diablo with decent electrics and much nicer interior is not as desirable as an early Diablo? C'mon I want some of whatever the author is smoking.....dhead

Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 19th July 13:37

[Boltee101]

vetteheadracer said:

Sorry but most of this article is utter BS.

C'mon I want some of whatever the author is smoking.....dhead

Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 19th July 13:37

Wowww! ur special

[Mac555]

An early SV in orange please, or a LP670-4 SV or a...................any V12 Lambo in orange would do!!!! lol

Last of the proper 'Supercars', temperamental, intimidating and loud!!

[silversixx]

Thanks for the kind words and measured criticism.

The claim that you're unlikely to get much more than 10mpg was based upon data for a 1998 car - where an average of 11.3mpg was gathered from 12 cars:
http://www.car-emissions.com/cars/model/LAMBORGHIN...

Servicing costs of course vary hugely depending upon what's required. The price you quoted was for a Gallardo service, whereas the article featured Diablos. Roger Green of Evo reviewed one a couple of years ago and noted:

"A quick rifle through the receipts shows that the third owner spent a fearsome £8800 on a major service (including over £2K in labour charges) last November."

I was trying to make the point that servicing these cars isn't cheap. The statement would seem to back this up.

Oh and by the way I occasionally smoke Marlboro Reds

[BRMMA]

vetteheadracer said:

Sorry but most of this article is utter BS.

10MPG? Really? Obviously the author has never owned or indeed driven a Diablo, try 20MPG and you will be a lot closer.

Servicing is not as expensive as mentioned here either and a lot less frequent than a Ferrari. Gallardo servicing is £1,000 a time from a main dealer and that's just an "A" service.

6.0L VT Diablo with decent electrics and much nicer interior is not as desirable as an early Diablo? C'mon I want some of whatever the author is smoking.....dhead

Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 19th July 13:37

are you ok?

[Truffles]

vetteheadracer said:

.

10MPG? Really? Obviously the author has never owned or indeed driven a Diablo, try 20MPG and you will be a lot closer.
.

I get about 16MPG in my 6.0. Must be driving it too hard, or too softly. or something.....

[Stevie Mojo]

vetteheadracer said:

Sorry but most of this article is utter BS.

10MPG? Really? Obviously the author has never owned or indeed driven a Diablo, try 20MPG and you will be a lot closer.

Servicing is not as expensive as mentioned here either and a lot less frequent than a Ferrari. Gallardo servicing is £1,000 a time from a main dealer and that's just an "A" service.

6.0L VT Diablo with decent electrics and much nicer interior is not as desirable as an early Diablo? C'mon I want some of whatever the author is smoking.....dhead

Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 19th July 13:37

Charming.

[louiebaby]

The advert for the VT seems to show two different cars. There is mention of the spoiler being removed in the advert, but nothing about the different number plates, or the wheels, which to my (untrained) eye, look to be two different styles.

I would be very careful about that, but I'm not lucky enough to be in the market yet.

[tony_666]

GTRene said:

ooo thats expensive to run then with those expensive clutch...
I also heard from a UK guy living in the Netherlands with a loud lambo that he needs a new clutch every 2.000<>10.000 miles? you had to tread that clutch with much respect

...my current clutch on the 6.0L has managed >35k! And had much the same experience on my old 5.7L VT. Guess it's how you use it!!

[vetteheadracer]

tony_666 said:

..my current clutch on the 6.0L has managed >35k! And had much the same experience on my old 5.7L VT. Guess it's how you use it!!

My point exactly Tony, rather than re-hashing other journalists very limited research perhaps the esteemed journalists of PH should try talking to some of the owners of the cars to get a more balanced view of the costs of ownership, fuel consumption etc.

As you can probably tell I get really pissed off with lazy journalism!

[tony_666]

vetteheadracer said:

PH should try talking to some of the owners of the cars to get a more balanced view of the costs of ownership, fuel consumption etc.

....I might have to keep my head down on this point as Garlick did ask me a couple of years ago and not sure I ever got back to him!!!!

[silversixx]

If I may point you towards my earlier reply...

"Thanks for the kind words and measured criticism.

The claim that you're unlikely to get much more than 10mpg was based upon data for a 1998 car - where an average of 11.3mpg was gathered from 12 cars:
http://www.car-emissions.com/cars/model/LAMBORGHIN...

Servicing costs of course vary hugely depending upon what's required. The price you quoted was for a Gallardo service, whereas the article featured Diablos. Roger Green of Evo reviewed one a couple of years ago and noted:

"A quick rifle through the receipts shows that the third owner spent a fearsome £8800 on a major service (including over £2K in labour charges) last November."

I was trying to make the point that servicing these cars isn't cheap. The statement would seem to back this up.

Oh and by the way I occasionally smoke Marlboro Reds rolleyes"

[James Dean]

Just listen to the Diablo GT in this vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvXqp5h-3Gg

[louismchuge]

Not 'everything' has be to in quote marks!

[Jgtv]

every time I see one of these cars it makes me feel like a little kid, they are just designed to make you want them.

Love the blue one and the yellow one was on my mental 161 euromillion winning shopping list.

I want one of these very very badly.