I’ve just upgraded from a 91’ NSX to a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo and thought you guys might like to read a critique.
I’m becoming known as “Author/Philosopher, Ronald E. Springer,” having developed a nature based philosophy titled Moral Armor, but as a native of Detroit, I have an extensive background in vehicle design. My exotic vehicle history over the past 15 years is: a Black 86’ Lotus Esprit Turbo, a White 87’ Lamborghini Countach QV (Carbureted), a Black 91’ NSX and now a Black 05’ Lamborghini Gallardo.
Ingress/Egress: Seat bolsters are more pronounced in the Gallardo, so it’s a bit less smooth getting in (at least the seats don’t have the big, intrusive side bolsters that the Ferraris have. Only a twig-boy with no lats could be comfortable in those). The sill is leather, so you cringe each time your foot drags across it, which with the loss of leverage is almost guaranteed to happen. The same problem exists getting out. First you drag your foot across it, wipe it off, then you kick the speaker, ala NSX. After wiping that off, you carefully guide your other foot out trying not to repeat the trauma. Countach wins this round.
Hinges and latches: Phenomenally strong and sure in their design, it’s no wonder the car doesn’t have any rattles. I liked the feel of the NSX door closing better, however. The Gallardo doors feel a bit hollow. Tie.
Seating/Ergonomics: The seats are excellent, though I’d still rate the NSX better for back support. I find myself rounding my back to absorb the shock of the tight suspension, so I can’t really blame the seat. I also find myself peering over the nose and out the side glass (due to the rounded back), as the Gallardo dash is considerably higher than the NSX dash. This is a big plus for the NSX; it gives such a feeling of confidence to have a “lay of the land” as well as mastery over the machine. That sense of being “at one” with the car is lost with the low seating and high sills.
Another thing I love about the NSX is that you can see the wheel arches and right down the nose. It’s the same in the Countach--an attribute which to me, defines an exotic car. You can’t in the Gallardo. The arches are not pronounced enough, and the windshield is too far forward—displaced from the driver. I’ll have my seat shimmed to try to get that feeling back.
I'm amazed (after the Countach) that you can actually see out of this car. Believe it or not, seeing out the back and sides is almost as good as the NSX. And the side mirrors are not only a work of art, they're the perfect size.
The footrest in the Gallardo is too thin. My foot continuously slips off toward the clutch. With the NSX, I used to tuck my foot behind the clutch pedal to stretch out on long drives. That’s impossible in the Gallardo as the pedal comes down too low, so my left foot does a constant dance to get comfortable. In addition, I chopped my Reeboks down on the sides because the pedals are so close together I kept tangling feet while downshifting. I should’ve tried E-gear.
My elbows aren’t too happy either: The door arm rest should be deeper to make the cabin more roomy, and it has no padding whatsoever. The other elbow rests on leather that comes to a hard edge around the parking brake, so the only way to be comfortable is to drape your arm over into the passenger side. This could be good for your relationship…
I originally thought the interior was more cramped than the NSX, but it feels about the same. Also, the beautiful view the driver has of the passenger side door trim panel and the full panoramic view outside is not lost in the Gallardo. Panning your eyes around inside the car is just as stimulating. NSX wins overall.
Instrument panel: The NSX is an example of perfection in gauge layout design. Nice big gauges, easy to read, and only what’s necessary. The dash on the Gallardo is, well, hideous. The tach and the speedo are too small and have deep cone-shaped trim that makes them impossible to read from any angle except head-on. When you do look at them, the shadows from the trim further hamper your view.
The laptop-sized digital display and cone-trim are a disaster. You get a beautiful, full color over-head view about the size of a match-box car to show you if a compartment is open: duplo nonsense. The computer screen cycles through all vehicle operations in nice big print if you’re too nearsighted to read the microscopic gauges, and gives you a host of data on mileage and fuel consumption, if you care. My opinion? TOTAL WASTE OF SPACE.
Give me visceral thrills and a clear layout to control and preserve the machine; nothing more. This is Audi’s influence at its worst; cluttering up a high performance car with gadgets designed for the elderly. NSX wins, hands down.
Switches: The silver switches on the dash are excellent. They make you feel like you’re in a fighter plane. All the dash buttons have a great feel as well; big improvement over the Countach and Diablo. The wheel stalks aren't as nice as on the NSX though, or as intuitive. I find I have to look at the wiper stalk to set it.Tie.
A/C: I never imagined A/C could be this good. Temperature and settings are independent for passenger and driver, and it feels like your sitting in a wind tunnel. Gallardo wins.
Radio: The radio gets an A for ease of use and a C- for sound quality. I’ll look to upgrade the speakers. Hopefully they’re not nightmare expensive like the ones in the NSX. NSX wins.
Storage: I originally planned to get the 360 because it has reasonable storage space, while the Gallardo reviews show approximately none. But I was surprised how roomy the bonnet storage is with the divider removed, and you can fit a golf bag behind the seats as well (but if I played golf, I’d have bought a pink Jaguar). Tie.
Build quality: After the NSX I was prepared for a disappointment, but it was the other way around. When you wash the NSX, panels give, the fascias are flexible and though designed for light weight as it should be, the car feels a bit Lotus-like at the outer edges. The Gallardo is not frail at all. No matter where you touch it, it’s a rock, and even with the tighter suspension, there are no squeaks or rattles to be heard. It’s hand-built for competence at speed just like the Countach was, and that’s obvious from every angle. Gallardo wins.
Wind Noise/Operating Noise: I was shocked at how quiet this car can be. It’s very much like the NSX in that it wails like an F1 car at the top of its power band yet is quiet in the mid-range if you want to have a conversation. The Countach by comparison was always loud, but I miss that brutality. A ten can’t touch a twelve for harmony, and though it sounds stronger than the NSX, I think the stock NSX sounds better overall.
The Gallardo has excellent sealing systems; there’s no greater wind noise than in the NSX. Tie.
Shifting: Click, click, click, get used to it. The gated shifter was annoying at first, but I grew to like the unique sound. With courage, the Gallardo is as easy to downshift as the NSX, and the clutch isn't much heavier. Seating a gear takes a bit more effort so you have to be firm; same with launching the car. Due to the AWD, there is more system drag to overcome; drop the R’s under 1000 and you’ll likely stall, but it pulls away strong and smooth if you’re sure in your engagement. Tie.
Lift System: I didn’t think I’d need this feature, but I used it in the first two days I had the car. It works well, it works fast, and it saves the front end when you’re faced with a steep incline or decline and can’t get a good angle at it. It also looks cool when you pull out of the gas station, stop at a light and then lower the car before launching into oblivion. Gallardo wins.
Traction Control: Like the NSX, it's the first button to look for and turn off. With a few hard accelerations, all the dash lights were flickering and it freaked me out. Turns out that's normal. Computers are whirring away, sensing wheel spin at all four corners, yaw, and transferring power back and forth, with the only result being a bog in first and second gear. Turn it off and she flies unrestricted, except at the limit (so I've heard). Tie.
Steering/Cornering: I’ve never driven a car that steers like this one. It turns like a carousel. No joke, it exceeds the limits of the NSX with ease. I’ve turned so hard I couldn’t keep my head up straight, and the P-zero’s still didn’t squeal. What I didn’t like about the NSX is that the steering loads up in tight turns, just when you need it to get easier. I’d spin out when reaction time was slowed by high steering efforts. Not in the Gallardo. No plowing and very well-balanced; you can lay on the power beyond the NSX threshold and it will just pull you around the corner with frightening thrust. It’ll be a long time before I have the guts to test its limits… Gallardo wins by a long shot.
Power: Turbine-like acceleration: the Gallardo is faster than the Countach, but due to the AWD system it doesn’t feel faster (you’re being pushed AND pulled). The NSX can’t touch either car in this realm--its universally-lamented downfall. The Gallardo is easier to drive fast; car control is excellent even in heavy rain, outdoing both the NSX and the Countach by a long shot.
Whenever I’d try to top-end the NSX, I’d use the full rev range and every gear. I never succeeded. It sounded great, but took so long to get to one-forty, then one-forty five, then one-fifty…In the Gallardo, I can just leave it in sixth and drop the hammer. It winds up from 90 to 150 without effort. I encountered a beautiful Audi AWD sedan the other day charging hard; I think it was the 450HP one. I could tell his car was fast and competent, but the Gallardo just walked away from him. I’m sure top-ending from third is like the Countach was: a constant struggle to control your own fear! Now, THAT’S what it’s all about. The NSX had fun power, but not scary power. This one gets a “Damn!” out of everyone who’s been in it (or they brace themselves, which is hilarious and kind of pathetic to watch). Gallardo wins.
Brakes: The brakes are phenomenal on the Gallardo. Both cars share this trait, but the 8 piston calipers are unequalled in stopping power; it’s like a motorcycle. And they squeal half the time. But jab them and they will pin you to the webbing and just laugh at our human condition. Gallardo wins.
Pitch and Roll: I was excited by the anti-pitch and anti-squat ability of the NSX; I love how it settles in, but this is ridiculous. The car just doesn’t tilt; you do. It makes you feel stupid. I’m afraid we’ve met the limits of the human body in performance car design, and it’s time to start reverse engineering. Tie.
Wow! Factor: I’m jaded by the cars I’ve had, and I think the NSX is a near-perfect design. But the Gallardo has something the NSX doesn’t and it’s obvious to all. I figured the neighbors would barely notice the new car, but children, parents, old people, EVERYONE came out of the woodwork to gaze in awe at the Gallardo. Out on the road, people whistle, scream, maneuver to get close and start racing each other; it’s entertaining. (The Countach was worse; it got enthusiastic attention, but also negative attention: a swarming, dangerous kind of attention). The Gallardo looks very masculine compared to the NSX, wide and mean like the Countach, and is downright intimidating coming up in the rearview mirror; everything I could want.
I was surprised that during my five-year ownership of the NSX, I rarely dreamt about it; I still dreamt about the Countach. Once I got the Gallardo, I started to dream about it, too. No question it qualifies. It’s a dream car! Gallardo wins.
Ultimately, I'm relieved that it was worth the upgrade. The NSX was always pleasant and rewarding to drive, but with the Gallardo, my face hurts from smiling so much. And NSX ownership never got me invited to the Playboy Mansion.
I have to shrug and accept that the Italians out-did the NSX and reclaimed the throne. Still, I’ve lost a number of comforts I never expected to have in the first place. Should Honda ever build another NSX (I’ve given up on them), all they’d have to do to win is add power, torque and more masculinity to their recipe. Had I not taken a detour away from the Diablo to pare down expenses while I wrote Moral Armor, I’d be raving about the Gallardo, but the NSX showed me the wealth of pleasure to be found in thoughtful design; a joy I was very reluctant to give up. Like dumping the mother of my children to marry a super model, I’ll be forever grateful for the wholesome memories while I spend the rest of my blissful life in the gutter with the bad girl.
I’m becoming known as “Author/Philosopher, Ronald E. Springer,” having developed a nature based philosophy titled Moral Armor, but as a native of Detroit, I have an extensive background in vehicle design. My exotic vehicle history over the past 15 years is: a Black 86’ Lotus Esprit Turbo, a White 87’ Lamborghini Countach QV (Carbureted), a Black 91’ NSX and now a Black 05’ Lamborghini Gallardo.
Ingress/Egress: Seat bolsters are more pronounced in the Gallardo, so it’s a bit less smooth getting in (at least the seats don’t have the big, intrusive side bolsters that the Ferraris have. Only a twig-boy with no lats could be comfortable in those). The sill is leather, so you cringe each time your foot drags across it, which with the loss of leverage is almost guaranteed to happen. The same problem exists getting out. First you drag your foot across it, wipe it off, then you kick the speaker, ala NSX. After wiping that off, you carefully guide your other foot out trying not to repeat the trauma. Countach wins this round.
Hinges and latches: Phenomenally strong and sure in their design, it’s no wonder the car doesn’t have any rattles. I liked the feel of the NSX door closing better, however. The Gallardo doors feel a bit hollow. Tie.
Seating/Ergonomics: The seats are excellent, though I’d still rate the NSX better for back support. I find myself rounding my back to absorb the shock of the tight suspension, so I can’t really blame the seat. I also find myself peering over the nose and out the side glass (due to the rounded back), as the Gallardo dash is considerably higher than the NSX dash. This is a big plus for the NSX; it gives such a feeling of confidence to have a “lay of the land” as well as mastery over the machine. That sense of being “at one” with the car is lost with the low seating and high sills.
Another thing I love about the NSX is that you can see the wheel arches and right down the nose. It’s the same in the Countach--an attribute which to me, defines an exotic car. You can’t in the Gallardo. The arches are not pronounced enough, and the windshield is too far forward—displaced from the driver. I’ll have my seat shimmed to try to get that feeling back.
I'm amazed (after the Countach) that you can actually see out of this car. Believe it or not, seeing out the back and sides is almost as good as the NSX. And the side mirrors are not only a work of art, they're the perfect size.
The footrest in the Gallardo is too thin. My foot continuously slips off toward the clutch. With the NSX, I used to tuck my foot behind the clutch pedal to stretch out on long drives. That’s impossible in the Gallardo as the pedal comes down too low, so my left foot does a constant dance to get comfortable. In addition, I chopped my Reeboks down on the sides because the pedals are so close together I kept tangling feet while downshifting. I should’ve tried E-gear.
My elbows aren’t too happy either: The door arm rest should be deeper to make the cabin more roomy, and it has no padding whatsoever. The other elbow rests on leather that comes to a hard edge around the parking brake, so the only way to be comfortable is to drape your arm over into the passenger side. This could be good for your relationship…
I originally thought the interior was more cramped than the NSX, but it feels about the same. Also, the beautiful view the driver has of the passenger side door trim panel and the full panoramic view outside is not lost in the Gallardo. Panning your eyes around inside the car is just as stimulating. NSX wins overall.
Instrument panel: The NSX is an example of perfection in gauge layout design. Nice big gauges, easy to read, and only what’s necessary. The dash on the Gallardo is, well, hideous. The tach and the speedo are too small and have deep cone-shaped trim that makes them impossible to read from any angle except head-on. When you do look at them, the shadows from the trim further hamper your view.
The laptop-sized digital display and cone-trim are a disaster. You get a beautiful, full color over-head view about the size of a match-box car to show you if a compartment is open: duplo nonsense. The computer screen cycles through all vehicle operations in nice big print if you’re too nearsighted to read the microscopic gauges, and gives you a host of data on mileage and fuel consumption, if you care. My opinion? TOTAL WASTE OF SPACE.
Give me visceral thrills and a clear layout to control and preserve the machine; nothing more. This is Audi’s influence at its worst; cluttering up a high performance car with gadgets designed for the elderly. NSX wins, hands down.
Switches: The silver switches on the dash are excellent. They make you feel like you’re in a fighter plane. All the dash buttons have a great feel as well; big improvement over the Countach and Diablo. The wheel stalks aren't as nice as on the NSX though, or as intuitive. I find I have to look at the wiper stalk to set it.Tie.
A/C: I never imagined A/C could be this good. Temperature and settings are independent for passenger and driver, and it feels like your sitting in a wind tunnel. Gallardo wins.
Radio: The radio gets an A for ease of use and a C- for sound quality. I’ll look to upgrade the speakers. Hopefully they’re not nightmare expensive like the ones in the NSX. NSX wins.
Storage: I originally planned to get the 360 because it has reasonable storage space, while the Gallardo reviews show approximately none. But I was surprised how roomy the bonnet storage is with the divider removed, and you can fit a golf bag behind the seats as well (but if I played golf, I’d have bought a pink Jaguar). Tie.
Build quality: After the NSX I was prepared for a disappointment, but it was the other way around. When you wash the NSX, panels give, the fascias are flexible and though designed for light weight as it should be, the car feels a bit Lotus-like at the outer edges. The Gallardo is not frail at all. No matter where you touch it, it’s a rock, and even with the tighter suspension, there are no squeaks or rattles to be heard. It’s hand-built for competence at speed just like the Countach was, and that’s obvious from every angle. Gallardo wins.
Wind Noise/Operating Noise: I was shocked at how quiet this car can be. It’s very much like the NSX in that it wails like an F1 car at the top of its power band yet is quiet in the mid-range if you want to have a conversation. The Countach by comparison was always loud, but I miss that brutality. A ten can’t touch a twelve for harmony, and though it sounds stronger than the NSX, I think the stock NSX sounds better overall.
The Gallardo has excellent sealing systems; there’s no greater wind noise than in the NSX. Tie.
Shifting: Click, click, click, get used to it. The gated shifter was annoying at first, but I grew to like the unique sound. With courage, the Gallardo is as easy to downshift as the NSX, and the clutch isn't much heavier. Seating a gear takes a bit more effort so you have to be firm; same with launching the car. Due to the AWD, there is more system drag to overcome; drop the R’s under 1000 and you’ll likely stall, but it pulls away strong and smooth if you’re sure in your engagement. Tie.
Lift System: I didn’t think I’d need this feature, but I used it in the first two days I had the car. It works well, it works fast, and it saves the front end when you’re faced with a steep incline or decline and can’t get a good angle at it. It also looks cool when you pull out of the gas station, stop at a light and then lower the car before launching into oblivion. Gallardo wins.
Traction Control: Like the NSX, it's the first button to look for and turn off. With a few hard accelerations, all the dash lights were flickering and it freaked me out. Turns out that's normal. Computers are whirring away, sensing wheel spin at all four corners, yaw, and transferring power back and forth, with the only result being a bog in first and second gear. Turn it off and she flies unrestricted, except at the limit (so I've heard). Tie.
Steering/Cornering: I’ve never driven a car that steers like this one. It turns like a carousel. No joke, it exceeds the limits of the NSX with ease. I’ve turned so hard I couldn’t keep my head up straight, and the P-zero’s still didn’t squeal. What I didn’t like about the NSX is that the steering loads up in tight turns, just when you need it to get easier. I’d spin out when reaction time was slowed by high steering efforts. Not in the Gallardo. No plowing and very well-balanced; you can lay on the power beyond the NSX threshold and it will just pull you around the corner with frightening thrust. It’ll be a long time before I have the guts to test its limits… Gallardo wins by a long shot.
Power: Turbine-like acceleration: the Gallardo is faster than the Countach, but due to the AWD system it doesn’t feel faster (you’re being pushed AND pulled). The NSX can’t touch either car in this realm--its universally-lamented downfall. The Gallardo is easier to drive fast; car control is excellent even in heavy rain, outdoing both the NSX and the Countach by a long shot.
Whenever I’d try to top-end the NSX, I’d use the full rev range and every gear. I never succeeded. It sounded great, but took so long to get to one-forty, then one-forty five, then one-fifty…In the Gallardo, I can just leave it in sixth and drop the hammer. It winds up from 90 to 150 without effort. I encountered a beautiful Audi AWD sedan the other day charging hard; I think it was the 450HP one. I could tell his car was fast and competent, but the Gallardo just walked away from him. I’m sure top-ending from third is like the Countach was: a constant struggle to control your own fear! Now, THAT’S what it’s all about. The NSX had fun power, but not scary power. This one gets a “Damn!” out of everyone who’s been in it (or they brace themselves, which is hilarious and kind of pathetic to watch). Gallardo wins.
Brakes: The brakes are phenomenal on the Gallardo. Both cars share this trait, but the 8 piston calipers are unequalled in stopping power; it’s like a motorcycle. And they squeal half the time. But jab them and they will pin you to the webbing and just laugh at our human condition. Gallardo wins.
Pitch and Roll: I was excited by the anti-pitch and anti-squat ability of the NSX; I love how it settles in, but this is ridiculous. The car just doesn’t tilt; you do. It makes you feel stupid. I’m afraid we’ve met the limits of the human body in performance car design, and it’s time to start reverse engineering. Tie.
Wow! Factor: I’m jaded by the cars I’ve had, and I think the NSX is a near-perfect design. But the Gallardo has something the NSX doesn’t and it’s obvious to all. I figured the neighbors would barely notice the new car, but children, parents, old people, EVERYONE came out of the woodwork to gaze in awe at the Gallardo. Out on the road, people whistle, scream, maneuver to get close and start racing each other; it’s entertaining. (The Countach was worse; it got enthusiastic attention, but also negative attention: a swarming, dangerous kind of attention). The Gallardo looks very masculine compared to the NSX, wide and mean like the Countach, and is downright intimidating coming up in the rearview mirror; everything I could want.
I was surprised that during my five-year ownership of the NSX, I rarely dreamt about it; I still dreamt about the Countach. Once I got the Gallardo, I started to dream about it, too. No question it qualifies. It’s a dream car! Gallardo wins.
Ultimately, I'm relieved that it was worth the upgrade. The NSX was always pleasant and rewarding to drive, but with the Gallardo, my face hurts from smiling so much. And NSX ownership never got me invited to the Playboy Mansion.
I have to shrug and accept that the Italians out-did the NSX and reclaimed the throne. Still, I’ve lost a number of comforts I never expected to have in the first place. Should Honda ever build another NSX (I’ve given up on them), all they’d have to do to win is add power, torque and more masculinity to their recipe. Had I not taken a detour away from the Diablo to pare down expenses while I wrote Moral Armor, I’d be raving about the Gallardo, but the NSX showed me the wealth of pleasure to be found in thoughtful design; a joy I was very reluctant to give up. Like dumping the mother of my children to marry a super model, I’ll be forever grateful for the wholesome memories while I spend the rest of my blissful life in the gutter with the bad girl.
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