About to buy a Gallardo

[kajagoogoo]

Hi there,

Made my decision and am about to buy a new Gallardo. Keen to share some of your recent buying experience before I walk through the dealers door into the lion's den and get ruipped off. If I go in without some prep - I'll walk out with what they want to sell rather than what I want to buy. Grateful if someone could advise:

1. As a cash buyer should I expect a discount?

2. Is it reasonable to ask for something to be thrown in e.g. a free service?

3. Advantages and disadvantages of buying a nearly new very very low mileage against brand new - thinking here of when I come to sell it.

4. What is the lead time for a factory order.

5. Any must have extras without which I won't be able to sell it?

6. Equally, any must not have things (colour)?

7. Any recent good dealer experience - live in London but don't mind travelling.

8. Anything else that might tip the balance in my favour rather than the dealers.

Many thanks.

P

[jonny5]

To be honest I think the most astute way would be to purchase a car 6 months old where someone has blown their brains out on residuals

[isuk]

1. As a cash buyer should I expect a discount? It depends upon stock availability but I'd say yes.

2. Is it reasonable to ask for something to be thrown in e.g. a free service? Yes - I got a car cover.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of buying a nearly new very very low mileage against brand new - thinking here of when I come to sell it. When do you intend to buy? There is a facelift coupe due to be unveiled at Geneva in a few weeks which will start to arrive in the UK from September I believe. The Spyder does not get the facelift until next year I'm told. Probably best therefore to wait until after Geneva to see how different the new car is as it could have an impact on current used prices.

4. What is the lead time for a factory order. It depends upon dealer allocations and if they have any spec changeable cars.

5. Any must have extras without which I won't be able to sell it? Probably nav, callisto wheels, and for London the front lifting system. I'd also say the branding package is worth having but that is personal taste.

6. Equally, any must not have things (colour)? Metallic red, silver and the dark blue do not appear popular on the used market and struggle to sell unless the price is lowered accordingly. Special order colours like verde ithica (bright metallic green) and balloon white are a costly option new and I haven't seen real evidence that they retain this additional value used.

7. Any recent good dealer experience - live in London but don't mind travelling. Lamborghini Birmingham are excellent in my experience.

8. Anything else that might tip the balance in my favour rather than the dealers. Yes, you are a cash buyer in a slow market.

[DELLSMITHUK]

isuk said:

1. As a cash buyer should I expect a discount? It depends upon stock availability but I'd say yes.

2. Is it reasonable to ask for something to be thrown in e.g. a free service? Yes - I got a car cover.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of buying a nearly new very very low mileage against brand new - thinking here of when I come to sell it. When do you intend to buy? There is a facelift coupe due to be unveiled at Geneva in a few weeks which will start to arrive in the UK from September I believe. The Spyder does not get the facelift until next year I'm told. Probably best therefore to wait until after Geneva to see how different the new car is as it could have an impact on current used prices.

4. What is the lead time for a factory order. It depends upon dealer allocations and if they have any spec changeable cars.

5. Any must have extras without which I won't be able to sell it? Probably nav, callisto wheels, and for London the front lifting system. I'd also say the branding package is worth having but that is personal taste.

6. Equally, any must not have things (colour)? Metallic red, silver and the dark blue do not appear popular on the used market and struggle to sell unless the price is lowered accordingly. Special order colours like verde ithica (bright metallic green) and balloon white are a costly option new and I haven't seen real evidence that they retain this additional value used.

7. Any recent good dealer experience - live in London but don't mind travelling. Lamborghini Birmingham are excellent in my experience.

8. Anything else that might tip the balance in my favour rather than the dealers. Yes, you are a cash buyer in a slow market.

Thanks ISUK! That is almost exactly what i was going to say! The only thing i would add is that maybe if your thinking of buying new, why not consider a Superleggera? As long as you don't spec it crazy it isn't that much dearer!! But i think the face lift car will have less impact on it's residuals? Cos when you come to sell in a year or two there will be quite a few standard G's on the market, but i guess very few SL's As for dealers? well having just brought from Dom in Birmingham. i can recommend them. Oh i last thing! THERE ARE VERY GOOD DEALS TO BE DONE OUT THERE AT THE MIN!!! I got an fantastic deal on mine!!
Good luck!
Dell

[mhh]

DELLSMITHUK said:

But i think the face lift car will have less impact on it's residuals? Cos when you come to sell in a year or two there will be quite a few standard G's on the market, but i guess very few SL's [/b] I got an fantastic deal on mine!!

I was thinking the same thing. The facelift car won't have carbon fibre everywhere, it won't have the sports seats, it won't have the loud exhaust or lightweight wheels etc. The SL will always be few in number. Whether that means better resale, only time will tell.

[traxx]

mhh said:

DELLSMITHUK said:

But i think the face lift car will have less impact on it's residuals? Cos when you come to sell in a year or two there will be quite a few standard G's on the market, but i guess very few SL's [/b] I got an fantastic deal on mine!!

I was thinking the same thing. The facelift car won't have carbon fibre everywhere, it won't have the sports seats, it won't have the loud exhaust or lightweight wheels etc. The SL will always be few in number. Whether that means better resale, only time will tell.

Why wont it have the sports seats? These can be ordered for the current Gallardo
As for the wheels, Lmabo always offer the "special edition" wheels on the standard car after a year or so

[kajagoogoo]

Many thanks for your prompt and informative responses.

Will look at the SL option. Will let you know how I get on.

P

[DELLSMITHUK]

andrew! said:

don't bother with the boy racer SL version as they're getting far too common, particularly in that dull, dull grey
a

Hmm sounds like a man trying to keep them exclusive!!
Actually on second thoughts i agree!!! just buy a normal Gallardo the SL thing will never catch on!!!!

[mhh]

traxx said:

Why wont it have the sports seats? These can be ordered for the current Gallardo
As for the wheels, Lmabo always offer the "special edition" wheels on the standard car after a year or so

I've no doubt you could spec a current or future stock Gallardo to have most of the equipment of an SL but that won't make it one. I think the SL might hold its value in the future as a hardcore, sportier Gallardo in much the same way as the Challenge Stradale is regarded today. But hell, I'm only guessing.

[Chris355]

New Gallardo's are terribly fast depreciating cars. One guy bought a new spider for £157k and after four months was only offered £120k - £37k loss in four months is awful!!!

I would buy a used one and save myself a fortune!

I agree that there is a better prospect of the SL holding its value (but I wouldnt count on it)!

[DELLSMITHUK]

Chris355 said:

New Gallardo's are terribly fast depreciating cars. One guy bought a new spider for £157k and after four months was only offered £120k - £37k loss in four months is awful!!!

I would buy a used one and save myself a fortune!

I agree that there is a better prospect of the SL holding its value (but I wouldnt count on it)!

What possessed him to pay £157k for a Gallardo i don't know!?
As for the SL thing. It remindes me of a few years ago i was looking to buy an M3 but seeing so many for sale second hand made me realise that it would be tricky when i came to sell! So i found the extra and brought an Ex demo CSL. had the car for a year and did 20K miles in it and still managed to get more back than i paid for it!! Now i know the SL isn't going to do anything like that!! But like the Challenge Stradale i think it's a Slightly better place to put your money!!!
But like Mhh I'm only guessing!! (It's only money after all!!)

[ninja_eli]

DELLSMITHUK said:

What possessed him to pay £157k for a Gallardo i don't know!?
As for the SL thing. It remindes me of a few years ago i was looking to buy an M3 but seeing so many for sale second hand made me realise that it would be tricky when i came to sell! So i found the extra and brought an Ex demo CSL. had the car for a year and did 20K miles in it and still managed to get more back than i paid for it!! Now i know the SL isn't going to do anything like that!! But like the Challenge Stradale i think it's a Slightly better place to put your money!!!
But like Mhh I'm only guessing!! (It's only money after all!!)

I think you're right in that it should hold out better, IIRC the SE did better residual wise than a standard Gallardo, even though most of the changes were carried over to the standard car. Mate of mine got all his money back after 8 months of owning one.

Another mate bought a 1 month old Gallardo spyder with less than 200 miles on the clock and a UK list price of £155k or so for £145k (it's got pretty much all the extras). Trouble is it's an import, and now he's being offered £105k as a straight out buy. The car is a May or June 07 car. Best offer he has got is £120K on SOR. I think EVERYTHING is depreciating heavily at the moment though, so anyone who bought something like this is going to suffer. On the flip side anyone buying now: bargain hard!

[octane]

ninja_eli said:

DELLSMITHUK said:

What possessed him to pay £157k for a Gallardo i don't know!?
As for the SL thing. It remindes me of a few years ago i was looking to buy an M3 but seeing so many for sale second hand made me realise that it would be tricky when i came to sell! So i found the extra and brought an Ex demo CSL. had the car for a year and did 20K miles in it and still managed to get more back than i paid for it!! Now i know the SL isn't going to do anything like that!! But like the Challenge Stradale i think it's a Slightly better place to put your money!!!
But like Mhh I'm only guessing!! (It's only money after all!!)

I think you're right in that it should hold out better, IIRC the SE did better residual wise than a standard Gallardo, even though most of the changes were carried over to the standard car. Mate of mine got all his money back after 8 months of owning one.

Another mate bought a 1 month old Gallardo spyder with less than 200 miles on the clock and a UK list price of £155k or so for £145k (it's got pretty much all the extras). Trouble is it's an import, and now he's being offered £105k as a straight out buy. The car is a May or June 07 car. Best offer he has got is £120K on SOR. I think EVERYTHING is depreciating heavily at the moment though, so anyone who bought something like this is going to suffer. On the flip side anyone buying now: bargain hard!

The gallardo is and always was a residual disaster as my expereinces confirm.
We know that all supercars lose money but in the trade these are bad news- no one wants them even at trade price.

As for any one buying one now getting a bargain- i suspect that the same situation or worse in 12 months time.

[mhh]

octane said:

The gallardo is and always was a residual disaster as my expereinces confirm.
We know that all supercars lose money but in the trade these are bad news- no one wants them even at trade price.

As for any one buying one now getting a bargain- i suspect that the same situation or worse in 12 months time.

octane, I see you are drawn back here despite your experiences. Are you missing the car perhaps? Or do you just enjoy spoiling the fun of others?

I think that some people who do badly on resale haven't taken enough care when buying or owing the car. Getting the right total cost of ownership is more than getting the right price at sale time.

Examples of buying mistakes include not negotiating the price well enough, choosing an unpopular colour, buying a car just before a model change, and buying the wrong options. Ownership mistakes include not getting main dealer servicing, not caring for the car and getting paint chips, kerbed alloys or grubby trim and not garaging the car properly. Selling mistakes include not negotiating the price well, selling at the wrong time of year or to the wrong dealer (or behaving like a prat to the right dealer).

All the above can affect "resale". And anyway, if the resale is so bad I guess this is a bargain opportunity for someone looking at a used example.

[octane]

mhh said:

octane said:

The gallardo is and always was a residual disaster as my expereinces confirm.
We know that all supercars lose money but in the trade these are bad news- no one wants them even at trade price.

As for any one buying one now getting a bargain- i suspect that the same situation or worse in 12 months time.

octane, I see you are drawn back here despite your experiences. Are you missing the car perhaps? Or do you just enjoy spoiling the fun of others?

I think that some people who do badly on resale haven't taken enough care when buying or owing the car. Getting the right total cost of ownership is more than getting the right price at sale time.

Examples of buying mistakes include not negotiating the price well enough, choosing an unpopular colour, buying a car just before a model change, and buying the wrong options. Ownership mistakes include not getting main dealer servicing, not caring for the car and getting paint chips, kerbed alloys or grubby trim and not garaging the car properly. Selling mistakes include not negotiating the price well, selling at the wrong time of year or to the wrong dealer (or behaving like a prat to the right dealer).

All the above can affect "resale". And anyway, if the resale is so bad I guess this is a bargain opportunity for someone looking at a used example.

With respect this forum is about a variety of views and I have many negative ones on the brand which it is only correct to air to add balance to some statements.
I certainly dont miss the car!

I have owned many of these kind of vehicles over the years but your'supercar buying guide' was most useful- I really never thought of any of the points you raised in your informative article- now i know why i lost a packet on the car! its really got nothing to do with some more fundametal issues after all!
Now you have shown me the way i wont 'spoil the fun of others'

Edited by octane on Friday 15th February 09:40

[AndrewD]

octane said:

Now you have shown me the way i wont 'spoil the fun of others'

Allelujah!

[baptist]

Ive sold my 911, and was on the verge of buying a Gallardo. I have decided to get something cheaper for a year, and just see what happens with the new model, and the market. I will own one at some point, and will probably go for it next year in Spring. No confidence in anything car wise at the minute!
I usually live for the moment and just buy cars, but for once im gonna sit tight.