06 Gallardo v F430
Discussion
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
You should have given the car a bit more time to prove itself.Clearly a man difficult to impress.
I know of at least two former F430 owners who have done the reverse of what you did. In other words, took delivery of a 430 and fairly quickly decided it wasn't a quantum leap over their previous charge (360s in both cases) and are now happy Gallardo owners.
This confirms that it's very much a subjective thing and no amount of advice from us is going to help.
Drive both and pick the one that lights your fire. Good luck.
I know of at least two former F430 owners who have done the reverse of what you did. In other words, took delivery of a 430 and fairly quickly decided it wasn't a quantum leap over their previous charge (360s in both cases) and are now happy Gallardo owners.
This confirms that it's very much a subjective thing and no amount of advice from us is going to help.
Drive both and pick the one that lights your fire. Good luck.
15hn said:
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
What was the main problem with the gallardo then? I fail to see how anyone could be dissapointed with such an awesome machine. To say the car lacks character is just wrong IMO, The gallardo is such a rare car compared to a ferrari (at le-mans last week people were just ignoring my mates 360 and walking past to stop me, to take photo's of the gallardo). I agree with some of the other comments on here that two weeks isn't enough time to get to know the car. The 06 Model is supposed to be a better car then earlier models, but in reality its a more refined version of an already great car. Go for the lambo, as for me exclusivity wins hands down compared to the opposition.
andy.
cummingsa said:
15hn said:
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
What was the main problem with the gallardo then? I fail to see how anyone could be dissapointed with such an awesome machine. To say the car lacks character is just wrong IMO, The gallardo is such a rare car compared to a ferrari (at le-mans last week people were just ignoring my mates 360 and walking past to stop me, to take photo's of the gallardo). I agree with some of the other comments on here that two weeks isn't enough time to get to know the car. The 06 Model is supposed to be a better car then earlier models, but in reality its a more refined version of an already great car. Go for the lambo, as for me exclusivity wins hands down compared to the opposition.
andy.
What would have happened if your friend had been in a F430 though? Stop in the middle and talk to you both. I think his choice is between a Gallardo and an F430 not 360, the Gallardo wins for me all day long over the 360 but not the 430. Thats just MOT.
Edited by bund on Friday 23 June 10:54
bund said:
cummingsa said:
15hn said:
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
What was the main problem with the gallardo then? I fail to see how anyone could be dissapointed with such an awesome machine. To say the car lacks character is just wrong IMO, The gallardo is such a rare car compared to a ferrari (at le-mans last week people were just ignoring my mates 360 and walking past to stop me, to take photo's of the gallardo). I agree with some of the other comments on here that two weeks isn't enough time to get to know the car. The 06 Model is supposed to be a better car then earlier models, but in reality its a more refined version of an already great car. Go for the lambo, as for me exclusivity wins hands down compared to the opposition.
andy.
What would have happened if your friend had been in a F430 though? Stop in the middle and talk to you both.
A fair point Bund and I'm not trying to dis the 360 or the 430, both of which are great cars. I just think from my own experience's that the lambo will get more attention as they are more exclusive than the fezza. At the end of the day it each to his own though.
andy.
cummingsa said:
bund said:
cummingsa said:
15hn said:
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
What was the main problem with the gallardo then? I fail to see how anyone could be dissapointed with such an awesome machine. To say the car lacks character is just wrong IMO, The gallardo is such a rare car compared to a ferrari (at le-mans last week people were just ignoring my mates 360 and walking past to stop me, to take photo's of the gallardo). I agree with some of the other comments on here that two weeks isn't enough time to get to know the car. The 06 Model is supposed to be a better car then earlier models, but in reality its a more refined version of an already great car. Go for the lambo, as for me exclusivity wins hands down compared to the opposition.
andy.
What would have happened if your friend had been in a F430 though? Stop in the middle and talk to you both.
A fair point Bund and I'm not trying to dis the 360 or the 430, both of which are great cars. I just think from my own experience's that the lambo will get more attention as they are more exclusive than the fezza. At the end of the day it each to his own though.
andy.
I agree you may recieve more attention in the lambo over the 360 but i'd say its fairly equal in regards to 430 vs Gall. I havent had either yet but my next car will probably be one or the other before the turbo. Thing for me is the 430 is still a 130k car where a good Gall is now 90k. Big difference. But if money was no problem at all id have to give them both a good drive as looks alone to me are not a deciding factor. I still love the orange one in London at the moment and if i have one more thing go wrong with mine that could be the next one.
Character's not about how many people stop you in the street to talk about the car. It's about the way it goes, sounds, smells, behaves (and looks of course). It's also about something that bit more than that which is always impossible to define.
I also think it has something to do with flaws and compromises. Look at the people you'd regard as having character, and without exception there'll be some flaw in their.
With run of the mill BMWs, Audis, Fords etc all able to perform way above and beyond what's usable on the road, there has to be some other essence involved. If it were possible to drive blindfolded, I wonder if driving a Gallardo would feel significantly different to driving a Porsche 997TT etc (I've driven neither hence the question).
End of the day, most of these things are subjective. To my eyes, in standard trim, the interior and noise of the 430 would sway me that way. Outside, there's not much between them. Nor will there be performance wise.
With a more "individual" interior and a different rear end treatment, I'd probably go the lambo route.
The Gallardo's an excellent "every day" Lambo. But the more I think about it, should Lambos (etc) be every day cars? Does that take away from the character/special nature? There have always been people who use supercars every day, but they're usually a bit eccentric and simply add to the legend
I also think it has something to do with flaws and compromises. Look at the people you'd regard as having character, and without exception there'll be some flaw in their.
With run of the mill BMWs, Audis, Fords etc all able to perform way above and beyond what's usable on the road, there has to be some other essence involved. If it were possible to drive blindfolded, I wonder if driving a Gallardo would feel significantly different to driving a Porsche 997TT etc (I've driven neither hence the question).
End of the day, most of these things are subjective. To my eyes, in standard trim, the interior and noise of the 430 would sway me that way. Outside, there's not much between them. Nor will there be performance wise.
With a more "individual" interior and a different rear end treatment, I'd probably go the lambo route.
The Gallardo's an excellent "every day" Lambo. But the more I think about it, should Lambos (etc) be every day cars? Does that take away from the character/special nature? There have always been people who use supercars every day, but they're usually a bit eccentric and simply add to the legend
murph7355 said:
The Gallardo's an excellent "every day" Lambo. But the more I think about it, should Lambos (etc) be every day cars? Does that take away from the character/special nature? There have always been people who use supercars every day, but they're usually a bit eccentric and simply add to the legend
All I can say is that IF the Gallardo was not such an "every day" car (is it really??) then I would not be contemplating one so for the marque that has to be a good thing and for me it's a must!! I would only live the dream on this basis as I cannot afford to have a car that would not be useable when I needed it to be.
The G can be driven every day, unlike (IMHO) a 430, the fact I’ve just hit 15,000 miles should prove that, I've driven in snow, ice you name it without drama. But it's not just the drive, i just wouldn’t have the faith in a 430 (great car that it is) to drive it every day.
But that depends on how much excitement you like, and if you can handle the poor service for Ferrari dealers.
However, if all you are interested in is the feel/thrill from driving, then even as a Lambo owner, I'd have to say the 430 is more if a drivers car - you feel more involved driving a rear wheel drive car, feeding on the power, turning with the throttle etc. While in the G, it's so different, takes some getting use to. You have a mixture of front and rear wheel drive cars characteristics. ie - changing gear affects the steering, like in a front wheel drive car, because the power to the front wheels makes them want to pull in a straight line, but when really pushing it, you can feel the backend been push round the corner by the power. At first I found the different way the G changes it's centre of gravity, and the effect of drive though the front wheels hard to adjust to, but after several months, I’m getting the hang of it, and rather than finding it disconcerting, I am starting to understand it's just a different way the car talks to you when use to a rear wheel drive motor.
Simon
But that depends on how much excitement you like, and if you can handle the poor service for Ferrari dealers.
However, if all you are interested in is the feel/thrill from driving, then even as a Lambo owner, I'd have to say the 430 is more if a drivers car - you feel more involved driving a rear wheel drive car, feeding on the power, turning with the throttle etc. While in the G, it's so different, takes some getting use to. You have a mixture of front and rear wheel drive cars characteristics. ie - changing gear affects the steering, like in a front wheel drive car, because the power to the front wheels makes them want to pull in a straight line, but when really pushing it, you can feel the backend been push round the corner by the power. At first I found the different way the G changes it's centre of gravity, and the effect of drive though the front wheels hard to adjust to, but after several months, I’m getting the hang of it, and rather than finding it disconcerting, I am starting to understand it's just a different way the car talks to you when use to a rear wheel drive motor.
Simon
v-neo said:
At first I found the different way the G changes it's centre of gravity, and the effect of drive though the front wheels hard to adjust to, but after several months, I’m getting the hang of it, and rather than finding it disconcerting, I am starting to understand it's just a different way the car talks to you when use to a rear wheel drive motor.
Simon
Simon
Precisely the same way lots of people misunderstood the F1 gearboxes in the short test drive scenario, not realising that there is a lot more to them, and learning something new always has a slightly steeper curve at first. Not to say I like F1 boxes, I actually don't, but I now appreciate much more what they are about and how to work them.
Personally I think the F430, great as some insist it is to drive, looks too much like a 360. There'll be shed loads made, plus the 360's already out there, and your car will be as common as a silver mercedes (or a silver 996TT
). I think if you are considering the 430 as a better proposition resale wise too, I don't think it will pull off the phenomenon that the 360 did resale wise. At £132K, its an expensive car. IMHO. I dont think you'll enjoy the Gallardo, nor the 430, as both are quite comfy whereas your stradale is more raw.
My neighbour has a 95 Gallardo and a F430. He is replacing the Gallardo for a new one.
Without any doubt, the high number of 360/430 on the roads means that the Gallardo turns far more heads.
As a driving machine, if you are an average driver the Gallardo is easier. If you are track experienced, you'll get much more from the 430.
Me, I'd like one of each But if I could only have one it would be the 430, but even then, I'd hang on for a 430 CS or whatever it will be called.
Without any doubt, the high number of 360/430 on the roads means that the Gallardo turns far more heads.
As a driving machine, if you are an average driver the Gallardo is easier. If you are track experienced, you'll get much more from the 430.
Me, I'd like one of each
But if I could only have one it would be the 430, but even then, I'd hang on for a 430 CS or whatever it will be called.15hn said:
Has anyone had a chance to drive an 06 Gallardo and the F430? I have a choice between the two ( Gallardo Spyder and a F430 Coupe) and am leaning towards the F430. I purchased a new 04 Gallardo but was hugely dissapointed. I felt the car was sterile and lacked character. I sold the car after 2 weeks ownership. I am aware that the 06 car is an improvement but is it as good as the Ferrari?
I bought one of the first 04 Gallardos and recently updated it for an 06. The new car is better, but if you hated the Gallardo so much back in 04, why even bother again? The f430 Coupe is hard to find - if you have one lined up, grab it. I haven't driven one, but I'm told they are very good.
mhh said:
I bought one of the first 04 Gallardos and recently updated it for an 06. The new car is better, but if you hated the Gallardo so much back in 04, why even bother again? The f430 Coupe is hard to find - if you have one lined up, grab it. I haven't driven one, but I'm told they are very good.
I didnt hate the Gallardo. I just felt it did nothing for me. Yes it was fast, very pretty, did everything it said on the tin except it delivered it without any emotion/feedback. The salesman said the tweaks are as dramatic a change as going from 360 to a 430. Whilst this may be an exageration I know the tweaks were made in part to address the criticisms I mentioned. Question is whether or not they have worked.
The only option is to drive both, yourself.
If you had a 360CS previously I'm guessing you did a lot of track work, because the CS is not a very good road car (or rather, IMHO, the one I drove wasn't, I found the standard car far better on the road and I actually preferred the 355 over that!). I'm told it's an excellent track tool, though.
So, if you're after something that's more track focussed I think murcielagoboy is right. You're going to be dissappointed with a road car. Any road car. Especially one that weighs 1.5 tons, with 4 wheel drive.
If, on the other hand, you're after a something more track focussed, what about a Noble M400?
If you had a 360CS previously I'm guessing you did a lot of track work, because the CS is not a very good road car (or rather, IMHO, the one I drove wasn't, I found the standard car far better on the road and I actually preferred the 355 over that!). I'm told it's an excellent track tool, though.
So, if you're after something that's more track focussed I think murcielagoboy is right. You're going to be dissappointed with a road car. Any road car. Especially one that weighs 1.5 tons, with 4 wheel drive.
If, on the other hand, you're after a something more track focussed, what about a Noble M400?
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