Lamborghini Gallardo and 360 - I now have both - some thoughts

I enjoyed reading your impressions. I have similar feelings about later Gallardos and the F430. I don't own a Gallardo but have driven several examples over long distances. My sense is that every time I get in a newer version, the car feels more refined, has better ergonomics, is quicker and handles better. The older ones seemed a bit raucous for my taste, bordering on uncivilized. I don't know whether this is the Audi/VW influence coming in but it is definitely there.

I agree with you about the fun-to-drive factor. Torque is definitely not everything, and these Italian cars excel at providing an exciting driving experience. Even my little Abarth, which is used only for scooting around the city, makes such driving a hoot.

 

VW bought Lamborghini in 1998, a full 6 years before the Gallardo came out.....so it had lots of German engineering from day 1.

I think VW/Lambo is more responsive to customer and industry comments than Fiat/Ferrari. So they made positive changes from year 2 on.

 

Great post thanks for sharing your driving impressions!

 

Nice comparisons. I've thought about a G for a while...but also was wondering what year to get.

 

Great honest write up.
I have to agree about the 20K per year aside though. Had I listened I would still have my bullet proof 993TT and not this 360.
Sure things might happen, who knows, but the sheer pleasure I will have in the mean time kind of makes it worth it.

These cars are just so much fun and we are all so damn lucky.

 

You said you have only spent 300 dollars on maintenance for the gallardo. You've had 5 years of ownership, do you not change your engine oil at least once a year? Cabin filters, brake pads, tires, etc.

 

You mean you didn't bring it to the dealership and let them charge you $2000 to diagnose a sound or respray the entire hood because of a scratch that needed buffing.. ;(

I found the Gallardo wasn't as "nimble" at lower speeds (<60-70) as the 360, but became more so at higher speeds. There's a lot of Audi in that interior... Felt like. Solid DD kind of car.

I'm going to go out in my slow 360 now and see if I can beat an Accord off the line. It'll be close..

 

Enjoy reading posts like this as a soon to be 360 owner. Thank you

 

+1. Fluids alone would exceed that in one year. That's a well neglected car.

 

Completely agree...Nice to see that an attitude of gratitude.

I had a Gallardo last summer for 2 weeks and felt like like a moviestar w everyone taking vids and pics. The G had paddles and just did noit feel as raw as my 3 pedal 360. Would like to try a 3 pedal G.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Gallardo.

In our markets, depreciation on Lambo's is just scary, you buy one today (2nd hand) for 150K, you sell it 2 years later for 50K, and you're lucky to find a buyer.

 

No G is selling for 50k...not in the US anyway. The occasional floater 04 with tons of hard miles may drop for 70s-80s, but even those are pretty darn rare. You buy an 08 G for 130k and, depending on use, it may drop for 110 if you drive it a ton. It was a 210-250k car...sounds pretty close to Ferrari territory to me. They drop more than the Fcar for sure, but not in the range of what your describing. And concurring with the OP - my 08 Gallardo had almost zero issues. It was a great car. Nowhere close to as wonderful of a car all-around as my Scuderia, but a great car still.

 

how many times are you changing your oil? And how much are you driving it

there are methods to the madness

 

I agree that the type of driving dictates the maintenance.. If you track it, as the manufacturer anticipates, the change schedule should be intensive. My Boxster because of IMS issues and city driving gets new oil every 6 months. The 360, every year.. Just because. Could it safely get by every other year with the driving I do? Sure. Will the car die if it doesn't? No.

Do many owners on this site over maintain their cars IMHO beyond the yearly oil change.. perhaps. He is right.. what is so different than a regular high output aluminum engine car like a Honda? Less robust lifter design? Crank oiling?

 

I would never go 3 years without an oil change. All my cars get it changed at least once per year, regardless of mileage. Even the Honda CR-V. An oil change is cheap insurance.

 

Well for one, in the 360/430 we are talking about a V8 that revs to 8K+. I typically shift between 5 and 7K. Generally speaking, I would not even consider a 360/430 that has not had yearly oil changes.

 

Absolutely!!!

 

It's all about preventive maintenance... Engine oil breaks down after a while and for what it costs, the minimum to do is to at least change it every year. I do a complete fluid change in my 360 and the car runs great for it ! Different strokes for different folks I guess...
Not to detract from the OP, it's great to hear a comparison from an owner who tells it like it is. Great thread!

 

Wery nice to read, and same here
Im 18 years old, got 2 cars a SAAB 900 SE and a Mercedes 500SEL

And i been saying i want to buy a 360, the sad thing with people is, they think just beacuase im 18, i cant drive, im broke and dont know crap about cars.. its the exact oposit

I have Saved up money (45,000 euro) which will do just fine to buy a 360 Modena F1 that i want
I make 20,000 a year, which is great money for all service and still have plenty left for gas, tyres

Im thinking i should save 5,000 euro a year for if the transmission or the motor would go on me

 

I usually go on the lower end with brief interludes of higher RPM.. I didn't say it should be done.. it could be done...

So if there were a 360 on the market for $30,000 that didn't have the oil changed in 3 years.. you wouldn't buy it? Even the rattiest examples can be priced accordingly.

Christopher.. if 360's are approx 70,000 swedish Kronar ($10-12,000 USD) per online listings with high milage, why not get one! I'm not sure how much insurance and taxes are, but that's a bargain. 20,000 euro is a bit on the light side.. 26,000 USD (before or after taxes..?). Only issue would be parts prices and shipping that I could see...

 

No no, im thinking of going down to germany, but there they go for 45,000 euro (if im lucky i might go down in price) so thats 370,000 swedish kronor

i read about 20,000 swedish kronor for insurence, aprox 2,500 eur

 

I agree that the Ferrari is a drivers car, feels like a go kart is how many describe it. They are meant for fun, spirited drives in dry weather on long empty roads.

The Lambo Gallardo is a fancy Audi R8. An AWD car is going to be easier to drive at the limits, but less rewarding too.

I agree that the Lambo is much better looking than a 360 spider, it just has better lines. Now a 360 coupe is different and has absolutely classic lines. ;-) But Lambos are reknown for their striking exterior lines and ultra modern interiors, while Ferrari interiors are known for being minimalist. I wouldn't say cheap, but minimalist so the driver isn't distracted by anything going on inside the car, like a race car should be. Heck, the Lamborghini criticism of the minimalist Ferrari interior is supposedly the genesis of the Ferrari vs Lamborghini rivalry.

As you say, why not just get both?! The Lambo is indeed the best 'look at me' cruising car for Saturday night and the Ferrari is absolutely the best when you just want to drive and have no destination in mind. Two great options for the weekend.

 

A 360 for 30K? You find them for me, and as long as all 4 wheels roll the in the same direction, I will buy them.=)

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