Yes I know those are all over the place. Here is a bit of background on how it has come to this.

In the past 10 years I've had 3 NSX, 993, Viper GTS, Z4 M Coupe, S2000, Evo, Lotus Elise, 944 Turbo, S2 to name but a few. I currently have an 11 XKR that I picked up about 6 months ago. Heading to Miami in December for the R Experience where I get to drive these 510hp beasts on a track for a day with pros! Anyhow, I gave the GT thing a try and I'm getting the itch for a more focused toy again.

I loved the NSX as evidenced by having 3 of them. Great feel, sound with headers and exhaust, presence and virtually no maintenance. Frankly it is one of the best looking cars of all time - particularly lowered on wheels. They are dumpy stock. But when you see a sorted one... It has that elongated F1 sort of feel. The Viper was a sledghammer compared to the scalpel like feel of the NSX. 993 was so upright it didn't feel special - like a purpose built race car. Z4 M was lots of fun. XKR is a complete beast when I need it to be and yet just a quiet GT when I want to chill.

But I have that mid-engined bug again. So... I had concluded my next stop should be a Gallardo. That way I have the 500hp I'm used to along with the low, immediate control, sound and presence of a mid-engined toy. I arrived at Gallardo because the 360 just never did it for me. Seems to blobby if you will. I drove one back when I had the yellow NSX and got back in my car thinking "why would I ever spend more $ for that thing!" I had completely forgot about 355 because it isn't new enough and figured maintenance would irritate me since I do about 10k per year on my toys. But after stumbling through forums I'm beginning to get smitten by 355 again. The maintenance is higher than 360 due to belts but so is the savings. And they have the most go-cart like proportions and ride height with F1 sound. Add in Gallardo levels of presence on the road. One of the all time cleanest Ferrari designs and still the vision or shape that comes to most people's mind when they think of Ferrari - classic wedge.

GT3 is just a stellar car to drive and is super durable. Just not an exotic and I'm not sure if I'd be satisfied. I told myself I wouldn't buy an Italian until I was over 30. Well I'm now 36 so wondering if I need to jump in now!

Anyhow, here are my questions about Gallardo...

1) The 05 I drove seemed to have loose or non-immediate steering compared to Porsches, NSX, BMW M or even the newer LP-560. Is there some fix to this. Do you guys with 1st gen Gallardos get bored by this?

2) What have you done about the Audi interior wear? My mother has an A4 and I think such wear on a $100k+ toy would drive me nuts!

3) What is the reliability like? Should I be scared crapless the thought of one without warranty?

4) Are there any bolt-on mods that can add 50+ hp? Not that 500 is slow but coming from my 11' XKR it did feel slow. Yes I know it will never have the low RPM torque properties of my supercharged V8.

5) What else have you owned and how would you compare Gallardo?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Search Decide Buy Enjoy

1) The 05 I drove seemed to have loose or non-immediate steering compared to Porsches, NSX, BMW M or even the newer LP-560. Is there some fix to this. Do you guys with 1st gen Gallardos get bored by this?

Your statement above is true when you do a comparison with a 2004 G-Car. It is also true when you compare a 2004 G-Car to a F-355. I would think there is no low cost easy fix to tighten up the steering on the G-Car. Better to save your money and buy a later year that was built with the tighter steering and suspension.

2) What have you done about the Audi interior wear? My mother has an A4 and I think such wear on a $100k+ toy would drive me nuts!

I have a 2006 G-car and have not experienced any pre-mature interior wear.

3) What is the reliability like? Should I be scared crapless the thought of one without warranty?

Reliability is excellent compared to other exotics. The G-Car is a reliable. Get a PPI before you buy.

4) Are there any bolt-on mods that can add 50+ hp? Not that 500 is slow but coming from my 11' XKR it did feel slow. Yes I know it will never have the low RPM torque properties of my supercharged V8.

There is a lot of discussion on this forum about mods (Intake filters, exhaust, cats, etc).

5) What else have you owned and how would you compare Gallardo?

Here is a quote that sums up Lamborghini ownership:

"A ferrari is the nice girl you take home to mom. A lamborghini is the sick hot bitch you keep on the side” Unknown

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I have a history of high performance cars as well. Forget the 355. Doesn't stand out any longer, is dog slow, and maintenance will kill you. Forget the 360, just as slow, poor handling at 80%, still has a timing belt.

Haven't driven a GT3, need to, hear wonderful things about it.....although if given a choice I bet I choose the GT2 every time. The Porsche Turbo platforms are just that damn good. The 2008 GT2 is one of the rare cars to circle the Top Gear track in less than 1:20. And is priced with the mid-year ('07-08) Gallardos.

Gallardo....have spent time in every generation in the last month. The early cars ('04-08) are too slow for my needs and I didn't like the e-gear as compared to the 430.

The '09 cars power and e-gear upgrades totally changed the field. Like you, I also think the car is quite numb.....the 550-2 is the solution. Lighter weight, and more nimble. Fantastic drive.

Hi. I too have an XKR and I just bought an '08 Gallardo - it should arrive at the end of the week. I also have a '67 XKE. Love the Jags, but I expect the Lambo to be totally awesome.

I have had supercharged NSX with full NSX-R conversion and massive weight reduction. Car dynoed 371rwhp and weight in at 2789lbs verified. Love the NSX, it was one amazing ride. See my old NSX exhaust sound clip here:


Also had 600+RWHP Supra, drove countless AMG cars including 2013 E63 and SL600.

My daily driver is 09 GTR with midpipe. Sold my 6spd 360 recently and picked up a low mileage Gallardo 6spd with tubi exhaust. The Gallardo is huge improvement over 360 in every way. If you are getting early Gallardo, I would recommend 6spd over E-gear. I went through a ton more trouble finding a 6spd and many E-gear owners told me to go 6spd over E-gear.

The 04 Gallardo has tall gearing. Therefore, the low end torque is a bit weak compare to massive low end torque of GTR. But other than that Gallardo is 10 times more fun to drive than GTR. GTR is effortless off the line even if I accelerate off idle. Gallardo is not blazing fast off the line. However, if I launch it using my human launch control (surprisingly easy with 6spd), I don't think it is much slower than GTR. One of easiest manual car to launch off the line I have ever driven, 3500~4000rpm launch, it just hook up and go. From a roll should be about the same as stock GTR. Planning to get ECU tuned next.

From your posts on Ferrarichat, it sounded like you were going with an f355. What happened?

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2008 Gallardo Superleggera / Mango-flavored
2008 528i / Licorice-flavored

I owned many of the cars you mentioned minus the XKR some with almost double the HP the G. Unless you have to be the fastest guy at the track for the street buy the Gallardo you will never look back. I've never owned a car that's this much fun to drive especially if you have some open road to stretch it out

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That is a killer NSX. Below is a link to mine. Michael, I was leaning 355 as they're rare, look incredible and sound even better. But my original choice was Gallardo until that loose steering 05 I drove. I'm all over the friggin place!

What would help would be what are you looking to spend???

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2013 GTR Pearl White
2012 LP550-2 Bianco Monocerus
2011 GT3 RS Carrera White
2003 S2000 Track Car