Gallardo Spyder or California?

[W12GT]

I’m having a bit of a car shuffle and have just made room for another weekend car. I’ve now shortlisted a California circa 2012 and a Gallardo Spyder around 2008/9. Budget is roughly 65-70k.

I doubt I’ll do more than 2k miles a year, only weekends away and when the sun shines as I have plenty of other cars to choose from.

Would appreciate current and previous owner experience on the above, including things to look out for, the good the bad and the ugly of living with them. The likelihood of big bills given the age (and also given I spend a fair bit on my other cars I m trying to be sensible here.

Both cars have been on my to do list for a while.

Edited by W12GT on Saturday 11th July 21:30

[DeejRC]

I think you might want to work out which is which first…

[70proof]

A 2008/9 gallardo is pretty robust, an lp560-4 even more so, I'd have that V10 every day of the week over a V8, it really is something else.... A mate drove my gallardo and he comes from a 720s and 765 lt ... He was pleasantly surprised by the steering and loved the engine

You get a lot more love with the gallardo too

[DeejRC]

If it’s only 2000 miles a yr, basically a pose car - then you get the Gayardo. It’s far more of an event. You still look a cock because you are in a topless Lambo, but at least you know you bought it for exactly that reason.

The Cali is a daily driver, you go to work and do the shopping in.

[v8notbrave]

Lambo, far more of a dreamy poster car and should the need arise a fanny magnet !!! California if be sceptical of the lack of torque in the early NA ones. Sure epic above 5k rpm but below that with a heavy hard top etc it must be underwhelming

[andrew]

how do you arrive at a short list that just contains two such different cars ?

[samoht]

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

[p4cks]

I'd say a Gallardo, but I'd be considering the 5.0 V10 which is the even-firing Lamborghini engine (pre-LP) as opposed to the odd-firing Audi one on the later cars as the former is the best sounding engine of any road car ever

[franki68]

Gallardo will get you ridiculous attention. Had one and couldn’t deal with people poking their face in the car when I was stationary .Terrible turning circle as well but it was a lot of fun and that engine noise in a tunnel is worth the price alone .
The California I didnt think was very good when I drove one the portofino was a huge upgrade .

[W12GT]

samoht said:

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

At 6’1” I’m borderline too tall and the top of the screen is definitely a bit low for me on the Gallardo and very much in my eyeline so not the best driving position (huracan is worse for me and only the tecnica is ok), but I’ve never had a Lamborghini; the countach and Diablo were my wall posters as a kid so definitely want to have one at some point.

[ajm_ph]

v8notbrave said:

Lambo, far more of a dreamy poster car and should the need arise a fanny magnet !!!

Not sure if you're taking the piss, but they really aren't. Having owned two flashy drop-top supercars I can confirm they are fantastic for striking up conversations with middle aged men in car parks though.

[Trev450]

W12GT said:

samoht said:

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

At 6 1 I m borderline too tall and the top of the screen is definitely a bit low for me on the Gallardo and very much in my eyeline so not the best driving position (huracan is worse for me and only the tecnica is ok), but I ve never had a Lamborghini; the countach and Diablo were my wall posters as a kid so definitely want to have one at some point.

Are there different seat options that were available that could lower your seating position?

[W12GT]

Trev450 said:

W12GT said:

samoht said:

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

At 6 1 I m borderline too tall and the top of the screen is definitely a bit low for me on the Gallardo and very much in my eyeline so not the best driving position (huracan is worse for me and only the tecnica is ok), but I ve never had a Lamborghini; the countach and Diablo were my wall posters as a kid so definitely want to have one at some point.

Are there different seat options that were available that could lower your seating position?

Honest answer is I don’t know, but I’m sure other on here will be able to confirm. Def it available on Huracan though.

[CountyLines]

I had an LP560 Spyder with a Larini Clubsport exhaust. Was a great car.

I wouldn't even look at a California.

[Trev450]

W12GT said:

Trev450 said:

W12GT said:

samoht said:

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

At 6 1 I m borderline too tall and the top of the screen is definitely a bit low for me on the Gallardo and very much in my eyeline so not the best driving position (huracan is worse for me and only the tecnica is ok), but I ve never had a Lamborghini; the countach and Diablo were my wall posters as a kid so definitely want to have one at some point.

Are there different seat options that were available that could lower your seating position?

Honest answer is I don t know, but I m sure other on here will be able to confirm. Def it available on Huracan though.

Def was with the gen 1 R8 and that shares the Gallardo floorpan

[p4cks]

W12GT said:

Trev450 said:

W12GT said:

samoht said:

ISTR Gallardo Spyder is a case of "You must be at most this tall to ride", so it might not be an option depending how tall you are?

At 6 1 I m borderline too tall and the top of the screen is definitely a bit low for me on the Gallardo and very much in my eyeline so not the best driving position (huracan is worse for me and only the tecnica is ok), but I ve never had a Lamborghini; the countach and Diablo were my wall posters as a kid so definitely want to have one at some point.

Are there different seat options that were available that could lower your seating position?

Honest answer is I don t know, but I m sure other on here will be able to confirm. Def it available on Huracan though.

6'3" here and the Gallardo coupe was fine for me

[Bobton125]

andrew said:

how do you arrive at a short list that just contains two such different cars ?

my guess would be that they're both Italian convertible supercars around the same price range?

[ajm_ph]

Bobton125 said:

andrew said:

how do you arrive at a short list that just contains two such different cars ?

my guess would be that they're both Italian convertible supercars around the same price range?

I would say one is a super-GT the other is a supercar. That's not a criticism of the California in any way, I really like the california, I just don't think you can call a front-engined 2+2 with a design focus on everyday usability a supercar. For what it's worth I don't see "supercar" as sitting at the top of some car-type hierarchy, supercars are not worse than GT cars, they are just different. The california though definitely blurs the line between the two, it has a lot of supercar attributes, but it's nonetheless an ultra-sporty GT car.

As it happens 2 years ago I had exactly these two cars on my own shopping list, because they were both around the same price, and both exciting and exotic drop-top italian cars with a prestige badge. In the end I bought neither and got an F430, but I see from his profile the OP has already owned a F430, so that's probably not helpful.

[Griffith4ever]

DeejRC said:

If it s only 2000 miles a yr, basically a pose car - then you get the Gayardo. It s far more of an event. You still look a cock because you are in a topless Lambo, but at least you know you bought it for exactly that reason.

The Cali is a daily driver, you go to work and do the shopping in.

This made me laugh out loud :-)

[Griffith4ever]

ajm_ph said:

v8notbrave said:

Lambo, far more of a dreamy poster car and should the need arise a fanny magnet !!!

Not sure if you're taking the piss, but they really aren't. Having owned two flashy drop-top supercars I can confirm they are fantastic for striking up conversations with middle aged men in car parks though.

Amen. R8 Spyder V10 here.

Conversations with middle aged men - 1000000
Would you swap that for my Corsa? - 1000
Young lads going "rev it mate!" - 100000
Girls attracted = 0

Maybe it would be different if I was in my 20's , not 50's, or maybe if I were in Essex?

If it were me, I'd go Gallardo over Cali, although Cali-T is a more serous contender.

If you are buying a Gallardo "because Lambo" then I'd get the Pre-LP and enjoy the unique engine note, higher maint costs (less Audi interchangeable parts, and less Indy's want to play with yoru Lambo). lower purchase price. If not "because lambo" then an R8 V10. Less money, cheap to maintain, same engine, less attention (though it's still a lot) same performance.

Honestly, I've looked at Gallardos to "scratch that itch" but it would have to be Pre-LP and then I'd have a slower, more costly to maintain car (than what I have). Post LP is just too similar to what I have under the skin to justify the change. Stunning cars to look at mind you. Hence the itch