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Location: Manalapan NJ
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GT3 vs F430 vs Murcielago vs Gallardo
So, had an interesting day today...spent the most part driving a fleet of exotics on the street.
These are my findings and observations on each vehicle in the order driven.. 1. Ferrari F430.. Surprisingly comfortable once you're in it. Road feel is excellent with neutral steering. The engine is very responsive but not the screaming monster I thought it would be...it actually likes to be short shifted, keeping the RPM's in the 4K to 6K range. The transmission was the roughest shifting of all the cars. Rearward visibility is non-existent to the point where I wonder why it even has a reverse gear. 2. Lamborghini Murcielago.. Probably the best sounding car of the pack. Very responsive with amazing power thru the complete rev range. Displayed a surprising amount of understeer, I think the huge tires are making up for less-than-stellar handling. Transmission is very good and precise. Interior makes you feel that it's a base model rental car with a very loud exhaust.(until you hit the "go" pedal!!) 3. Porsche GT3.. This car undoubtedly was the best "all rounder". The engine made decent power in the lower RPM but was insanely fast north of 5.5K RPM. The handling was awesome and became even more so the harder it was pushed. Steering feel was typical Porsche, letting you know everything that was going on, stiff without being heavy. The trans with extremely short shifter took a while to get used to, 2nd - 3rd remained difficult and the HEAVY clutch didn't help that. The brakes are amazing and by far the best of all the cars. Stiffest chassis. 4. Lamborghini Gallardo spyder.. The most fun car to drive. This thing just screams throughout the RPM's. I was shooting 3 foot flames from the tailpipes on every shift. Brakes are good but the feel leaves a lot to be desired. Initial pedal is heavy with no results, you push them harder and BAM, they're on full bite. Steering was nice and stiff with a heavy feel to it but gave ZERO road feedback. 5. Aston Martin DB9 Volante.. Pure class. Smooth as silk at any speed. This thing loves to be reved high. The Tachometer takes some getting used to as it rotates anti-clockwise. 6. Mercedes SL65 AMG... WOW..WOW..WOW.. This is the ultimate sleeper. This is the most powerful of all the cars driven. 605 hp and 748lbs of torque. This car has more power than it can handle. I could spin the tires at will doing 100+mph !!!. Acceleration wise, this car beat them all and was not too shabby in the turns either. In a nutshell, the Gallardo was the most fun to drive and the GT3 was the best to drive when things got serious. Some pics will follow.
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'96 Dodge Viper '09 Maxima '05 zx10..(0-100-0 before your turbo even spools!!) '99 Rottweiler '08 Cane Corso |
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10-25-2007, 07:49 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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May I ask, what is it you do for a living?
Are you taking applications? 
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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10-25-2007, 07:53 PM
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Silver '88 RoW Carrera Grey '06 A4 Avant |
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10-25-2007, 08:17 PM
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Location: Houston (The Vintage), Texas
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Guess the Murci you drove wasn't a LP640. It's supposed to be quite a beast. Thanks for the write up!
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-Tom '73 911T MFI - in process of being restored '73 911T MFI - bare bones '87 924S - Keep's the Porsche DNA in my system while the 911 is down. aka "Wolf boy" |
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10-25-2007, 08:23 PM
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Location: SoFLA
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He's a parking valet at the Ritz-Carlton... |
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10-25-2007, 08:29 PM
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Registered
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Location: Hinsdale, IL
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Doing a remake of Gone in 60 Seconds?
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Garrett Living and Thriving |
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10-25-2007, 09:27 PM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,232
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LMAO!!!
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Cayman S, PDK Mercedes E350 family truckster Steam locomotive. Yes, you read that right. |
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10-25-2007, 10:29 PM
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No. it was an '05. Don't get me wrong, I would give a kidney to own any of these cars...they're all amazing in their own right. I was just trying to give an un-biased comparison. Funny thing is that the Alpina B7 I took there drew as much attention as the exotics..actually, in retrospect, I think *it* is the ultimate "sleeper", more so than the Benz SL65 AMG. I really want a Gallardo !!!.  still working on the pics.
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'96 Dodge Viper '09 Maxima '05 zx10..(0-100-0 before your turbo even spools!!) '99 Rottweiler '08 Cane Corso |
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10-28-2007, 03:58 PM
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'96 Dodge Viper '09 Maxima '05 zx10..(0-100-0 before your turbo even spools!!) '99 Rottweiler '08 Cane Corso Last edited by audi2.7t; 10-28-2007 at 08:44 PM.. |
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10-28-2007, 08:38 PM
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'96 Dodge Viper '09 Maxima '05 zx10..(0-100-0 before your turbo even spools!!) '99 Rottweiler '08 Cane Corso |
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10-28-2007, 08:41 PM
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Ok. If you could own ONE of these cars, which would it be?
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-28-2007, 10:39 PM
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Quote:
BTW, operating costs on the Murcie comes to about $2.50 per mile excluding purchase cost and fuel !!!. 
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'96 Dodge Viper '09 Maxima '05 zx10..(0-100-0 before your turbo even spools!!) '99 Rottweiler '08 Cane Corso |
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10-29-2007, 06:13 AM
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Unfair and Unbalanced
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: From the misty mountains to the bayou country
Posts: 9,711
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SL65, by a country mile.
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"SARAH'S INSIDE Obama's head!!!! He doesn't know whether to defacate or wind his watch!!!!" ~ Dennis Miller! |
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10-29-2007, 06:39 AM
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The visual differences between the Murcie and the Gallardo are subtle; I have seen them side-by-side. Why is it, then, that when I look at a Murcielago I see a thing of beauty and when look at the Gallardo I see an ugly geometrical slab? I guess those details matter!
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-29-2007, 07:09 AM
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Location: Linn County, Oregon
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+1 Only make mine a coupe, please. It rains in Orygun, you know...
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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10-29-2007, 11:11 AM
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F430, without a doubt.
So jealous...
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I turn away with fear and horror from this lamentable sore of continuous functions without derivatives. --Charles Hermite Fakelife.com Nothing to do with archery anymore. Porsche/BMW/Ferrari/Honda videos |
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10-29-2007, 11:13 AM
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I would take the 997 GT3, I rode in one about two months ago and was in complete awe.
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Garrett Living and Thriving |
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10-29-2007, 12:04 PM
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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10-29-2007, 12:26 PM
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Quote:
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Neil '73 911S targa |
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10-29-2007, 12:55 PM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,595
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I've never driven in or ridden in any of these cars, but based on what I've read and seen, I'd want the GT3 or the Gallardo. To me the Gallardo is better looking. The Murcielago looks really big and cumbersome in comparison. And the Gallardo is pretty close to being as fast.
The SL65 would be my choice for a grand touring car. Something to take when the wife was along, but the GT3 would be what I'd take the other 98% of the time I suspect. Of course, driving them all might change my mind. If anyone wants to offer me the opportunity, I'll gladly take you up on it.
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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10-29-2007, 01:34 PM
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1988 Porsche Carrera 3.2
2007 Porsche Cayman S
The Viridian Falcon
SOLD! -- The Purple Pig
SOLD! -- Mighty Mouse
SOLD!! -- Alpine Wolf
