I have had 2 Audi A4 Quattros- 2004.. and now an 05 Ultrasport- certainly no Gallardo, but I must say my 05Quattro has been a terrific joy to own. IT handles like nothing I have ever driven.. better even than my once owned and hated Roush 3/ Saleen-like jobber- what a pile of crap that was, But never mind.

I understand though.. Old meets the New..Old has to learn new tricks.. and so on. Nostalgia gone? Hwritage Gone? NO, just re-invented and refined if you ask me... But I have never owned a Lambo.. (want a Gallardo.. and wanted a Countach when I was 7). I dont believe in paying for anything that doesn't get you from point A.. to point B reliably / if you cant count on it, its useless. IF Lambo can pull it off with Audi influence, which it appears that they have-- All the Better for Everyone involved- the manufactuers and the owners. IF This means Lambo Lives on to build more stunning cars- rather than becoming extinct, More Power in the Bull's corner!

Now, if Lambo was being influenced by Honda..or Nissan, I'd throw up into tomorrow.

Also, I dont believe in taking an Exotic.. or niche.. and making it mainstream.. or mass-produced, since I do believe in Quality over Quantity. As A Ducati owner with the last of the Cagiva produced 916's, and Former Ducati Employee, I understand what happens when Big Company (ex:Texas Pacific Group) takes over the craft shop on the corner... they start Bean-Counting.. and what was a nice Swiss watch.... becomes a $10 Timex in Walmart, with 500 of them just the same....sitting right next to it. There is a Happy medium- Niche.. but perfected... and perfected still.

Money no concern, I still pick the Gallardo over the Ferrari. Gallardo over Aston Martin, Gallardo... over Pigani.. hmm, dont know. But Definately Gallardo over Countach. I want a car I can travel in. A Car I burn the rubber off day after day. As a wanna-be Gallardo/Lambo owner, I am nervous about such fantasies .. that might not materialize to be as stable as I hope... But Lambo and Audi.. and this forum have me inspired further.

...don't really understand your point completely

as a 916 owner you should understand why someone like more the pre audi cars,
it is the same thing as a 916 VS R1, the R1 is 4x times more reliable and faster but someone preferes the good old feelings and design of old V2 Dukes and even the 916 to later 999

i know the gallardo is a better car, as 999 is better than 916, but i still like diablo, countach and miura more: they are more lambo in the way the 916 is more ducati, design has a lot to do with it but it is not the only thing

p.s. i can't think buyng a lambo to travel, more to have fun on a twisty road

I used to have a 1999 Diablo SV...great car but nothing like a Gallardo...

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06 Gallardo, Giallo Midas
05 BMW 645i, Alpine White
05 Hummer H2, Stealth Grey

Owned a Murci and now A Gallrdo Spider - the Gallrdo is an awesome car - like it beter than my Murci - dont knock it till you try it!

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www.212motoring.com

Never thought I'd hear that, could never trade my SV for the new models.

Sure the newer has car has advantages.. as the older has some nostalgia -right. My true point is not the reliability perhaps.. but the production numbers, the cost cutting that sometimes happens when a large company takes over a smaller one... as in Ducati, for awhile the bikes no longer had name brand shocks or quick release fastners standard for example-yet the price stayed the same. The fairings used to be red completely through so if you crashed lightly, the bike was still red... no they are white plastic under the paint. Not big concerns.... but have always felt my dollar was well spent with the older bike that I have had since new. My 916 has never broken down or stranded me.. i do all the maintainance myself. I look at Exotic cars the same way.. they have their quorks.. the trade offs.. but all said and done, most are probably fine machines.

I do undertstand people having preferences to the older car.. but like I said, there sometimes is a happy medium- IF ford bought Lambo and produced 40,000 of them a year for $85,000.. and half the parts were made in mexico- that would Not be very cool at all.
But my impression from Audi's ownership is that they are trying to keep these cars exotic, make improvements for peace of mind for the car owners, and simultabeously trying to retain state of the art technology. ..And That I can Appreciate. -Unlike TPG who bought Ducati. and tried to make it an R1.. some parts became lesser quality, instead of 4 superbikes on the showrooms.. there are 10 or so, and the bike kinda lost its feel to a blandness. I dig the R1 for what it is.. it is a mass produced hooligan machine- out of the box, it needs little. Out of the box it is perfect Margarita Machine... and with that, you just say "There are many like it,but this one is mine...I will ride the wheels off it." ..And that aspect I like too; Parts are available easily.. anywhere. Ducati is almost that way now.. and that is good in some ways... bad in other ways.
The R1 is the space shuttle for the masses. The Gallardo/Lambo is still perhaps a precisionly tuned instrument for a still defined elite class... but it is supposed to be. And Now, under Audi ownership Lambo parts dont seem to be like hunting for the holy grail.. and that has to be good for ownership- Right. As is reliabilty... and because I think the car is so cool, I dont want to see one on Every corner- that would take its glamour away... or be desensitizing.

So to sum this up.. in my perspective- even if it that perspective is perhaps limited, I like reliabilty, I like parts availability, but also... Exotic, hand built, and top notch engineering-- That is my happy medium. There really isn't a debate- the product should sell itself- either you love it.. or you don't. ME, I am glad I live a among a species capable of so much, in a world that offers such machinery, and One where a Tractor company can become whatever they wish to become.