How to Drive/Park/Change Gear in a Gallardo - any ideas?

[lordbluf]

I posted earlier in the week, asking whether to sell the Cayenne GTS and buy a Gallardo....the Gallardo won and brought it yesterday

Drove it yesterday for the first time - wow!
-people flashing you (car lights that is), waving (Two 14 yrs old blew me a kiss rather worryingly!), taking pictures from their phones, heads turning - so so strange - I feel like a minor ex-big brother celebrity...

(The only think I got driving the cayenne was two fingers, w**nker signs, and the odd note on the car from anti 4x4 protesters telling me how i'm killing polar bears (seriously).)

On to the serious side, reverse parking this thing on the road breaks me out into significant sweats.
Not only do you have 4 or 5 people gathering around watching you (only increasing your nerves), I have not yet go a feel for distance, and im conscious not to ride the clutch. My old car was tiptronic, had great ride height and parking sensors - i feel naked.
Any tips on how to Park this without excessive clutch wear?

Also, I heard the best thing to do is to flick it on/leave it in neutral as much as possible - at junctions etc- only putting it into gear when its clear to go... good idea?
Is it ever sensible to start/move the car in 2nd (vs 1st)?


Any advice from experience Lambo drivers would be much appreciated. Thanks. Lord.

on a minor point, I left the car parked on the street last night, and returned this morning to find spit on the window and the wipers in the air - nice....

[andrew.]

congratulations !
assuming that you're talking e-gear, there's some advice here

[countachman]

well done you have one now and yes ownership is a bit mad but dont let the 1% put you off...ENJOY IT.....piccy please

[lordbluf]

Thanks - here she is. Its a manual.

[andrew.]

lordbluf said:

Also, I heard the best thing to do is to flick it on/leave it in neutral as much as possible - at junctions etc- only putting it into gear when its clear to go... good idea?

only a good idea for an e-gear : hence i thought that's what you'd got

lordbluf said:

Is it ever sensible to start/move the car in 2nd (vs 1st)?

i can't see any point in that unless you're on snow/ice

[justin220]

Good to see you took the plunge! Hope you enjoy it!

[Gring]

Nice one Tom, shame you got the one I wanted! Massers up for sale now so hopefully I shall be joining the club very soon......

[northo]

To save the clutch when manoevering just steer clear of the throttle - there is more than enough torque to control it with the clutch alone. A Gallardo clutch should be good for over 20,000 miles if given even a modicum of respect.

[al1991]

Nice car!

[lordbluf]

Thanks all.

Anyone know whether is it right/sensible to go from 1st straight into 3rd gear - missing 2nd?

Just because I feel once you have the rev counter high at 1st, it would feel more comfortable putting it into 3rd....


Thanks again - the wife will try to drive it tonight - I ask everyone to vacate the M4 from 6pm onwards for their own safety!!

[iandc]

so no dinner or nookey for you tonight if she reads that! Used to do 1st to 3rd on the 360 as it was always a little difficult into 2nd until it warmed up but never bother on the Gallardo as the change is so easy. I guess it might reduce clutch wear in the long run but as previously said the clutches (certainly on the later models and uprated ones) seem pretty robust.

[Caelum Blue]

lordbluf said:

Thanks all.

Anyone know whether is it right/sensible to go from 1st straight into 3rd gear - missing 2nd?

Just because I feel once you have the rev counter high at 1st, it would feel more comfortable putting it into 3rd....


Thanks again - the wife will try to drive it tonight - I ask everyone to vacate the M4 from 6pm onwards for their own safety!!

I find even after letting the temperature get to normal, the oil temp takes longer the car still doesn't like 1st to 2nd changes, so until I driven a few miles I personally tend to stay away from 2nd gear. When it's all warmed nicely through 2nd is fine.

[andrew.]

iandc said:

I guess it might reduce clutch wear in the long run but as previously said the clutches (certainly on the later models and uprated ones) seem pretty robust.

wouldn't skipping a gear create a greater change in gear speed relative to crank speed and increase clutch wear ?

[ChrisFitz]

I find the reversing camera actually really helpful. initially just thought it was a gimmick but it doesn prove very useful at times.

[SydneyPom]

My most embarassing parking to date was at the Motorway services...

i) all motorway services seem to be completely chav tastic locations so attracted a big crowd

ii) car park is busy, lots of people coming and going so just had to back out into the traffic

iii) i'd parked in an end bay so was paranoid about catching the front on the curb if it swung it around too much reversing out

Queue about a five minute process to get out with a big crowd! Blushing furiously!

[lordbluf]

SydneyPom said:

My most embarassing parking to date was at the Motorway services...

i) all motorway services seem to be completely chav tastic locations so attracted a big crowd

ii) car park is busy, lots of people coming and going so just had to back out into the traffic

iii) i'd parked in an end bay so was paranoid about catching the front on the curb if it swung it around too much reversing out

Queue about a five minute process to get out with a big crowd! Blushing furiously!

Great work. My worst experience to date was last night: going into a private car park up a dropped curb (seriously not that high at all); lots of people watching forgot to turn at a 45 degree angle (didnt think i didnt to), the front crunched on the pavement and I stalled the car....
Then crunching again as I reverse back and do it again.... As usual, sweating like stan collymore in a car park....

[SydneyPom]

lordbluf said:

Great work. My worst experience to date was last night: going into a private car park up a dropped curb (seriously not that high at all); lots of people watching forgot to turn at a 45 degree angle (didnt think i didnt to), the front crunched on the pavement and I stalled the car....
Then crunching again as I reverse back and do it again.... As usual, sweating like stan collymore in a car park....

I got a round of applause for the front lift...