Lamborghini Gallardo:

speeder · 03-28-2006, 09:43 PM

I have no idea whether these cars live up to their name as far as quality and performance go, but I saw one at a light today next to a 997 and the Porsche looked like a garbage truck in comparison.

That is definitely some styling. No "playing it safe" or practicality for those guys. I really want one.

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-28-2006, 09:50 PM

Sadly the 997 looks like a garbage truck next to most performance vehicles available these days.

Got to stand around and bask in the orange glow of one at a restaurant in Scottsdale. Quite a serious-looking machine. I'd still take a F360 over it, though. And a Ford GT40 over them both.

HardDrive · 03-28-2006, 10:20 PM

Saw a Ford GT40 sitting in a dealership a few days ago. Looks great from 20 feet, but when you get up close, the build quality is horrible. I could believe some of the stuff. Poor fitting body panels, window trim that does not fit and has been spliced in places (poorly), black mesh vent covers glued in with some black crap that was oozing out all over the place.

That being said, it is one of the sexiest things on earth.

Can't we just get the Italians to design a car, pass the plans off to the Germans to build it, who bring in the Brits to tune the suspension?

Moneyguy1 · 03-28-2006, 10:25 PM

That sounds like the hot rodders of the 60s...Chevy engines, Chrysler gearboxes and Ford rear ends. The ideal setup for speed and durability....Every manufacturer has its good points.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

This thead is useless without cell phone pics. I saw this Ford GT the other night and snapped some pictures as it sat next to my car. The build quality looked fantastic as I examined the car up close and all around. Maybe the one that you saw Hard Drive had some issues. This one could stand to be lowered a bit though. My car is great, but I did think it looked a little pedestrian next to this exotic.
The bottom picture is my car in the Porsche shop for the cab top motor recall...

jhc · 03-29-2006, 01:55 AM

With the top down, the 993 cab is one of the best looking cars out there especially for about $30k.

Halm · 03-29-2006, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
I have no idea whether these cars live up to their name as far as quality and performance go, but I saw one at a light today next to a 997 and the Porsche looked like a garbage truck in comparison.

That is definitely some styling. No "playing it safe" or practicality for those guys. I really want one.

Racemor and I had a chance to see these bad boys in action a couple of years ago at Goodwood.

We just hapened to be at the right place at the right time to see this. Story was that some marketing geek was making a "parade" run -not for time- but still came into the turn way too hot!!! No one was hurt but pretty good damage.

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Hardrive, the Ford GT40 was built forty years ago. It was built as a race car, and as such, cosmetic details wheren't as important.

That said, the 997 and the Gallardo are fairly different concepts, the Gallardo, is built to instantly impress anyone who sees it, which it does.

oldE · 03-29-2006, 04:04 AM

"Saw a Ford GT40 sitting in a dealership..."

" Ford GT40 was built forty years ago"

I suspect HardDrive was referring to the Ford GT, (they couldn't use the "40" part, they don't own the name).

I think its great, with the exception of the rumoured 'Miura' remake, Lamborghini hasn't gone retro like so many other manufacturers. They always seem to be out there making kids of all ages dream.

Les

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Can't we just get the Italians to design a car, pass the plans off to the Germans to build it, who bring in the Brits to tune the suspension?

BMW M1 comes close

BTW, I think a kit car maker owns the GT 40 name.

motion · 03-29-2006, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by speeder
I have no idea whether these cars live up to their name as far as quality and performance go, but I saw one at a light today next to a 997 and the Porsche looked like a garbage truck in comparison.

That is definitely some styling. No "playing it safe" or practicality for those guys. I really want one.

Denis, the Gallardo is a great performing car, but its definitely one for the bling bling crowd. Come down to Crystal Cove one of these Saturday mornings and watch the characters getting out of the G's and Murcie's

It's a nice car, but the interior is all Audi components which looks odd.

I know what you mean about the garbage truck comparison. After driving my Stradale, the 993 Cab feels like a semi-truck, lol.

911teo · 03-29-2006, 06:09 AM

Lamborghini these days is pretty much designed by the Italians and put together by the Germans.

I saw some pictures of the "new" Lamborghini Miura. Basically they are going to "update" the old Miura SV body shape for today's safety regulations.

The talk is of a 700hp V10 in there...

tchanson · 03-29-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 911teo
Lamborghini these days is pretty much designed by the Italians and put together by the Germans.

I saw some pictures of the "new" Lamborghini Miura. Basically they are going to "update" the old Miura SV body shape for today's safety regulations.

I'm completely baffled by the point of that car, other than a kind of "me too" retro thing. Its seems completely at odds with the creased/angular path they've successfully taken with the Murc and Gallardo.

But more puzzling is that this "new" Miura really seems like a parody in relation to the Bertone original, which, for my money, remains one of the most beautiful pieces of rolling sculpture ever built.

I've got to assume some PR pinhead in Ingolstadt or Wolfsburg came up with the idea of a "new" Miura...

Tim

RickM · RickM's Garage

Tim,

I guess we look at this from a "purists" perspective. The reality is that there's only so many original Muiras to go around. It's not every day that a brand has a winner sitting on the shelf waiting to be exploited. After all that's what businesses spend billions in trying to achieve.

All car companies are in the business to make money. Wether they make it in style is another question.

BTW, I agree...one of my favorites as well.

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-29-2006, 07:37 AM

My father had an orange '69 Miura and I continue to deride him for ever selling it. Definitely the #1 car I would have if I could have anything.

The "new" Miura seems like a cash-in attempt on today's credit card mentality. Anyone who could afford a new one could equally afford an original. Unless they finance the new one, of course.

tchanson · 03-29-2006, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
I guess we look at this from a "purists" perspective. The reality is that there's only so many original Muiras to go around. It's not every day that a brand has a winner sitting on the shelf waiting to be exploited. After all that's what businesses spend billions in trying to achieve.

I'd concede that point when you're talking about Camaros, Mustangs, Thunderbirds...mass produced cars with multiple variations/permutations, built in the millions over 30+ years to the point that they become brands (and not just nameplates) in and of themselves.

None of which applies to the Miura. Cutting edge design, whether in 1966 or 2006, doesn't have much need for retro cues. The whole point/gamble of the original Miura, IMO, was its groundbreaking design. (and making the Daytona look like a truck in comparison

)

And, in any event you can easily find an original Miura for far less than the price VAG was floating for the concept "new" Miura. I'd prefer the real thing.

Tim

Yellowbird RS · 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motion
It's a nice car, but the interior is all Audi components which looks odd.

X2, the Gallardo looks awesome but yes the interior is all Audi

speeder · 03-29-2006, 09:19 AM

I could live w/ that interior, no problemo.......

Gimme gimme gimme gimme that SOB!!

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by tchanson
I'd concede that point when you're talking about Camaros, Mustangs, Thunderbirds...mass produced cars with multiple variations/permutations, built in the millions over 30+ years to the point that they become brands (and not just nameplates) in and of themselves.

None of which applies to the Miura. Cutting edge design, whether in 1966 or 2006, doesn't have much need for retro cues. The whole point/gamble of the original Miura, IMO, was its groundbreaking design. (and making the Daytona look like a truck in comparison)

Tim

...and what about the 911? In many ways the new Muira is to the original what the 997 is to a first generation 911. Just more of a gap.

tchanson · 03-29-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RickM
...and what about the 911? In many ways the new Muira is to the original what the 997 is to a first generation 911. Just more of a gap.

I dunno. Seems oranges and apples to me. The 911 had no gap. I'd agree if Porsche stopped building the original 911 after 1968, and then created a "new" 911 35+ years later. Instead, the 997 to me is an evolution of the 911 that has been ongoing for 40+ continuous years.

The last Miura was built 35 years ago, and the "new" one, created from whole cloth, is essentially a rebodied Gallardo spaceframe with a name/look chosen solely to evoke a long gone, legendary single model.

Maybe if VAG had the cojones to mount the proposed V12 transversely like the original I'd like it more....but I doubt it.

Tim