Car Gazing #005: Lamborghini Gallardo

Lamborghini Gallardo

(+) The Gallardo oozes supercar cool and has the performance and handling to back it up. It’s also useable everyday and is a sound financial bet.
(-) There’s very little luggage space and it has the running costs to go with the supercar tag.

ON THE ROAD

Performance
The Gallardo’s 5.0-litre V10 engine produces a whopping 492bhp, which propels this supercar from rest to 60mph in just 4.2sec. Acceleration in any gear is astonishing, and the sound is something to savour, too. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard. It’s a better choice than the optional clutchless manual ’box that is operated using paddle shifts on the steering wheel.

Ride & handling
The Gallardo handles brilliantly with virtually no body lean and soaks up any lumps and bumps – helped by standard four-wheel drive. This composure makes for surprising comfort on long trips and gives supreme confidence when cornering hard.

Refinement
The Gallardo is surprisingly refined for a supercar. Those fat tyres pick up some road roar, but even at motorway speeds it’s not tiresome. Use the engine sparingly and it’s not obtrusive, but push it hard and there’s instantly a howl to tingle the spine.

OWNERSHIP

Buying & owning
Despite its high cost, there are people queuing up to buy a Gallardo, which will keep used values very strong. Running costs will not be cheap, especially as it manages just 14.5mpg on the combined cycle – and even less if you make use of the car’s full performance.

Quality & reliability
Forget the creaky cabins of older Lamborghinis: the latest examples are built with an eye firmly on quality construction, and the Gallardo is no exception. Audi’s influence is very clear here and we expect this to carry through to the mechanical components, although the car will need regular and expensive servicing.

Safety & security
The Gallardo comes with twin front and side airbags, anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability programme. This last safety feature can be altered to allow more driver involvement and control. Remote central locking is standard, but buyers must pay extra for anti-theft and satellite tracking systems.


IN THE CABIN

Behind the wheel
Audi now owns Lamborghini and its influence is evident in the cabin. The centre console is shared with the A3 hatch, but it nevertheless blends in well with the rest of the Gallardo’s good-looking cabin. There’s decent headroom, plenty of movement for the driver’s seat and a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach.

Space & practicality
If you want practicality, a supercar is not the best choice. However, the Gallardo provides decent cabin space for its two occupants and is also easier to thread through traffic than a Ferrari 360. The downside is that rear visibility is limited and it’s hard to judge where the car’s nose ends. As for the boot, learn to travel light.

Equipment
As you would expect of a car costing well over a hundred grand, the Gallardo is well equipped. It comes with climate control, leather seats and a CD player. After that, buyers can spend many thousands by ticking an options list that includes such luxuries as fitted luggage, satellite-navigation and even a transparent engine cover.


source: www.whatcar.com