I had my first experience with the smaller Lambo today, and I was very impressed, particularly with its powerband. Very linear, torque available extremely low in the rpm range, and looooong legs to stretch up top. Outside visibility was pretty good, and the car seems to shrink around you once you get in. It's not as much of a greenhouse experience as our NSXs, the A-pillars are thick, but it's as good as say a 360.
I think the most impressive part of the Gallardo to me beyond its flawless engine is the suspension. I've never been in a car that has near-zero body roll, squat, and dive, while still being that soft around town. It's actually firmer than our car's (I own a 3.2L NSX-T for comparison) while still being as soft. It's amazing that we can now demand, and recieve, suspensions that offer a luxury cruising ability combined with a true 1.0g track capability. And the soft feel is present even with the 35/30 series tires that the G comes with stock, which usually transmit every little f-ing pebble of the surface right to your a$$.
Lambo has an optional "sport suspension" for the Gallardo, I can't imagine how it could be any better than what's on the car already. For comparison, the Stradale I rode in last month was much more firm without any tangible improvement in handling. It was just more punishing in general.
The electronic gearbox on the Gallardo is crisp, and fast, even in the non-sport mode. It matches revs on all downshifts like a pro, and it auto-changes to neutral once coming to a complete stop. It's less involving or fun to me than the satisfaction that comes when I sucessfully heel/toe from fifth or sixth to first in my NSX, but the ever growing population of So Cal has forced it for me. The fear of getting caught in traffic jams has lead to the early retirement of all manual clutches from my garage, save for a dedicated track-only car sometime in the future.
Legroom is great in the G, for a car that has its front axle so close to the cabin I'm amazed at how little wheel well intrusion there is. The cabin is about the same size as the NSX, possibly a tad smaller in all dimensions. Not sure how tall guys would do in this car. The much-maligned seats were fine for me (5'10" 170lbs, athletic) with good bolstering and no lower back problems that I could discern. The charcoal leather treatment on the dash and seats, combined with optional red piping lent a rich feel to the interior.
The howl of the V-10 as it approaches redline is intoxicating. This is another area where Lambo got it right as Honda did in our cars, meaning that at low rpms around town it's quiet enough to be able to converse or listen to music just as in any current Accord or other mid-range sedan. But hold the gas pedal down as the tach swings past 4,000 and the aural symphony from behind your head ratchets up at a seemingly exponential rate, drowning everything in a wave of pure mechanical fury. It's a TON louder than the stock 3.2L NSX. It's loud as hell outside the car too, like a 1000cc sport bike really, no one could possibly want an aftermarket exhaust for it save for the reason of tracking it via straight pipes. I have a Comptech exhaust on my NSX, and it sounds good to my ear. But the Gallardo was louder up high, and as quiet down low. The quality of the sound was far superior, as is to be expected considering the source (V-10).
It's funny, but going from the Gallardo back to my NSX produced fewer differances than you'd think, and that's actually a complement to the Gallardo. Usually going from a supercar back to the NSX is a relief for me, as in "now I can see again, now I can hear again, now I can shift again" sort of thing. Supercars are great fun for 30 minutes, but after that the heavy clutch, recalcitrant gear box, and spleen-punishing suspension have me longing for a dose of civility and luxury that the NSX provides.
This time was different though, I was shocked to find that the Gallardo was as daily-drivable as the NSX for sure, moreso really because of the F1 gearbox (a boon in Cali traffic). The visibility penalties that were so common in other cars when the NSX was introduced are gone now, the Gallardo offers a fine view out in all directions. You don't have to swing a door up and look behind you due to sweating reverse in this car as with a Diablo, it's a total non event. The soft feeling suspension combined with the supportive seats and quiet (below 4,000rpm) engine bay are as relaxing as my car is, you never feel fatigued by the Gallardo. In short, the reasons why the NSX was so fawned over by the media years ago are pretty much gone now, cars like the 911TT and Gallardo have made the burdens of driving a supercar obsolete.
For me personally I've gone away from my first choice to replace the NSX, the Ferrari 360 Stradale, and am now pretty firmly in the Gallardo camp. I feel confident that Honda isn't willing to market a future version of the NSX that will equal or exceed what the Gallardo is capable of due to price concerns. I feel they're going to go after the base 911 with the HSC/NSX, and attempt to dominate that price/performance cateogory (say 350HP, 3.5L V-6, 3,100lbs, $65k.) That will be a great car in that demographic if that's what they end up doing, a true value. Plus it gives current NSX drivers a car to upgrade too without breaking the bank.
I'm going to let a few things happen business-wise before I pull the trigger on the G, I want to make sure I can enjoy the car guilt free which means no financing. So it's going to be around July/August before I can make that happen, this is going to be a long five months!
PS - This car is literally a neck breaking event in traffic. People roll down their windows and look back at you while at speed on the FREEWAY. It's comedy, but you better be ready for it. Not a car for those looking to anonymously sneak around town.
I think the most impressive part of the Gallardo to me beyond its flawless engine is the suspension. I've never been in a car that has near-zero body roll, squat, and dive, while still being that soft around town. It's actually firmer than our car's (I own a 3.2L NSX-T for comparison) while still being as soft. It's amazing that we can now demand, and recieve, suspensions that offer a luxury cruising ability combined with a true 1.0g track capability. And the soft feel is present even with the 35/30 series tires that the G comes with stock, which usually transmit every little f-ing pebble of the surface right to your a$$.
Lambo has an optional "sport suspension" for the Gallardo, I can't imagine how it could be any better than what's on the car already. For comparison, the Stradale I rode in last month was much more firm without any tangible improvement in handling. It was just more punishing in general.
The electronic gearbox on the Gallardo is crisp, and fast, even in the non-sport mode. It matches revs on all downshifts like a pro, and it auto-changes to neutral once coming to a complete stop. It's less involving or fun to me than the satisfaction that comes when I sucessfully heel/toe from fifth or sixth to first in my NSX, but the ever growing population of So Cal has forced it for me. The fear of getting caught in traffic jams has lead to the early retirement of all manual clutches from my garage, save for a dedicated track-only car sometime in the future.
Legroom is great in the G, for a car that has its front axle so close to the cabin I'm amazed at how little wheel well intrusion there is. The cabin is about the same size as the NSX, possibly a tad smaller in all dimensions. Not sure how tall guys would do in this car. The much-maligned seats were fine for me (5'10" 170lbs, athletic) with good bolstering and no lower back problems that I could discern. The charcoal leather treatment on the dash and seats, combined with optional red piping lent a rich feel to the interior.
The howl of the V-10 as it approaches redline is intoxicating. This is another area where Lambo got it right as Honda did in our cars, meaning that at low rpms around town it's quiet enough to be able to converse or listen to music just as in any current Accord or other mid-range sedan. But hold the gas pedal down as the tach swings past 4,000 and the aural symphony from behind your head ratchets up at a seemingly exponential rate, drowning everything in a wave of pure mechanical fury. It's a TON louder than the stock 3.2L NSX. It's loud as hell outside the car too, like a 1000cc sport bike really, no one could possibly want an aftermarket exhaust for it save for the reason of tracking it via straight pipes. I have a Comptech exhaust on my NSX, and it sounds good to my ear. But the Gallardo was louder up high, and as quiet down low. The quality of the sound was far superior, as is to be expected considering the source (V-10).
It's funny, but going from the Gallardo back to my NSX produced fewer differances than you'd think, and that's actually a complement to the Gallardo. Usually going from a supercar back to the NSX is a relief for me, as in "now I can see again, now I can hear again, now I can shift again" sort of thing. Supercars are great fun for 30 minutes, but after that the heavy clutch, recalcitrant gear box, and spleen-punishing suspension have me longing for a dose of civility and luxury that the NSX provides.
This time was different though, I was shocked to find that the Gallardo was as daily-drivable as the NSX for sure, moreso really because of the F1 gearbox (a boon in Cali traffic). The visibility penalties that were so common in other cars when the NSX was introduced are gone now, the Gallardo offers a fine view out in all directions. You don't have to swing a door up and look behind you due to sweating reverse in this car as with a Diablo, it's a total non event. The soft feeling suspension combined with the supportive seats and quiet (below 4,000rpm) engine bay are as relaxing as my car is, you never feel fatigued by the Gallardo. In short, the reasons why the NSX was so fawned over by the media years ago are pretty much gone now, cars like the 911TT and Gallardo have made the burdens of driving a supercar obsolete.
For me personally I've gone away from my first choice to replace the NSX, the Ferrari 360 Stradale, and am now pretty firmly in the Gallardo camp. I feel confident that Honda isn't willing to market a future version of the NSX that will equal or exceed what the Gallardo is capable of due to price concerns. I feel they're going to go after the base 911 with the HSC/NSX, and attempt to dominate that price/performance cateogory (say 350HP, 3.5L V-6, 3,100lbs, $65k.) That will be a great car in that demographic if that's what they end up doing, a true value. Plus it gives current NSX drivers a car to upgrade too without breaking the bank.
I'm going to let a few things happen business-wise before I pull the trigger on the G, I want to make sure I can enjoy the car guilt free which means no financing. So it's going to be around July/August before I can make that happen, this is going to be a long five months!
PS - This car is literally a neck breaking event in traffic. People roll down their windows and look back at you while at speed on the FREEWAY. It's comedy, but you better be ready for it. Not a car for those looking to anonymously sneak around town.
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