Thursday 24th February 2011

Lamborghini Diablo - General Experiences

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We've tried to compile as accurate an overview of the Lamborgini Diablo as possible, and hopefully fellow PHers will add their own valuable contributions to this guide.

Search for Lamborghini Diablos here

Please add your comments under the different headings as appropriate. The thread attached to this article is for more general feedback - anything from the emotional highs (or lows!) of Diablo ownership, amusing or appropriate anecdotes, and even personal recommendations for suppliers, services or products from more seasoned owners. (However no criticism of individual traders is permitted, as it would fall foul of the PH 'name and shame' ban - imposed so none of us fall foul of those pesky lawyers...)

We'd also like to say a very big thank you to PHer Phil James who kindly provided his Diablo for PHer Steve Hall to photograph. (And yes, that's Phil's garage below...)

1) Introduction
2) Powertrain
3) Body
4) RollingChassis
5) Interior
6) General Experiences (reading now)
7) Insurance quotes

Search for Lamborghini Diablos here

[Justices]

That's simply heroic. It takes some serious stones to park this machine in such a tight space.

The 6.0 is stunning.

[philcray]

presumably you have to use the sunroof to get out of the car?!!

[tony_666]

philcray said:

presumably you have to use the sunroof to get out of the car?!!

....doors go up ....and if like mine, the garage is wider inside than the width of the garage door itself. Garage I use has minimal width clearance to get in the garage, but an extra foot or so of width once inside!!!

Edited by tony_666 on Thursday 24th February 15:23

[philcray]

[quote=tony_666]...doors go up ....and if like mine, the garage is wider inside than the width of the garage door itself. Garage I use has minimal width clearance to get in the garage, but an extra foot or so of width once inside!!!


good point, I had forgotten about the doors going up - it also looks like it is a double garage so probably room for the driver to get out once you have squeezed through the door!

Completely OT, but when they build houses with a double garage, why don't they just put one big door rather than 2 small ones which make access so tricky? (slightly rhetorical question as I am guessing it is down the cost of a larger door and associated operating mechanism....)

[petrolinveins]

Probably has something to do with the structure of the building as well, I'd guess having a huge door that is not structural may compromise the building.

Stunning car anyway, I actually prefer the non pop-up headlight versions, they look alot more up to date. Are they from a 300zx by any chance? Got a feeling I heard that somewhere and they look similar.

[Craig]

petrolinveins said:

I actually prefer the non pop-up headlight versions, they look alot more up to date. Are they from a 300zx by any chance? Got a feeling I heard that somewhere and they look similar.

yes

[Ftumpch]

I've only once seen one of these cars on the road... and that was in a street circuit race! Are there any owners out there who actually use them??

[jdwcd]

Ftumpch said:

I've only once seen one of these cars on the road... and that was in a street circuit race! Are there any owners out there who actually use them??

20k miles in two years in mine

[Truffles]

Ftumpch said:

I've only once seen one of these cars on the road... and that was in a street circuit race! Are there any owners out there who actually use them??

There are only about 20 6.0s in the UK. You may see mine around Berks/Oxon occasionally.

[alisdairsuttie]

Yup, headlights are from the Nissan 300ZX. I borrowed a 6.0 from the press fleet a few years back and returned it to the dealer in London with a stone chip to the front right headlight. Dealer reckoned it would be around £1000 to replace. A call to the local Nissan dealer turned up the same item for about £130, from memory. Luckily, the superb Lamborghini press office swung into action and sorted everything out, so this tight-walleted journo was off the hook.

[bosscerbera]

jdwcd said:

Ftumpch said:

I've only once seen one of these cars on the road... and that was in a street circuit race! Are there any owners out there who actually use them??

20k miles in two years in mine

Another 'user' here.

[bosscerbera]

alisdairsuttie said:

Yup, headlights are from the Nissan 300ZX. I borrowed a 6.0 from the press fleet a few years back and returned it to the dealer in London with a stone chip to the front right headlight. Dealer reckoned it would be around £1000 to replace. A call to the local Nissan dealer turned up the same item for about £130, from memory. Luckily, the superb Lamborghini press office swung into action and sorted everything out, so this tight-walleted journo was off the hook.

There is a salutary lesson here: beware using the "L" word when procuring parts.

Buy tyres "for my kit car"... buy parts by supplier reference if you can find it... I got quoted £1000 per brake disc and several hundred pounds per axle for pads from Lamborghini. I worked with Brembo UK to convert/upgrade my brakes to floating discs and I've tried a variety of pads since, typically for £100-ish per axle. I saved a fortune, and improved the brakes - highly recommended.

[SimonSays]

I took mine to the south of France, they don't melt or something

[richard300]

bosscerbera said:

There is a salutary lesson here: beware using the "L" word when procuring parts.

Buy tyres "for my kit car"... buy parts by supplier reference if you can find it... I got quoted £1000 per brake disc and several hundred pounds per axle for pads from Lamborghini. I worked with Brembo UK to convert/upgrade my brakes to floating discs and I've tried a variety of pads since, typically for £100-ish per axle. I saved a fortune, and improved the brakes - highly recommended.

I am sure i remember reading (or hearing) somewhere that one of the 'replica' builders make bodywork parts (bumpers/sills/spoilers etc) so accuratly that they can be used as direct replacements for OE stuff.....
http://www.paralleldesigns.co.uk/indexframe.html ???

[jdwcd]

bosscerbera said:

There is a salutary lesson here: beware using the "L" word when procuring parts.

Buy tyres "for my kit car"... buy parts by supplier reference if you can find it... I got quoted £1000 per brake disc and several hundred pounds per axle for pads from Lamborghini. I worked with Brembo UK to convert/upgrade my brakes to floating discs and I've tried a variety of pads since, typically for £100-ish per axle. I saved a fortune, and improved the brakes - highly recommended.

I have done the same £1400 for all discs and £300 for pads, stops better and far cheaper than the 5k bill from Lamborghini

[lambok1d]

For anyone contemplating buying a Diablo the above pic showing parking in a single garage takes some doing , the widest part of a Diablo are the wing mirrors and unless you have a companion to tuck the passenger wing mirror in while driving in or out then it's very difficult . For that reason I removed my garage door and frame from the inside of the garage opening and put a new frame on the outside wall giving a few extra inches of clearance . The old up and over doors were knackered anyhow . With a clearance now of 87 inches I can now reverse the SV back into the garage , tuck the drivers mirror in a little as I go and clear the passenger side just . It's tight but can be done . If garage opening is less than 87 inches I would advise having someone on hand to tuck the passenger wing mirror in or modify garage opening .