HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE
An expert’s view MARK ROSE, HR OWEN “Gallardo prices are all over the place. The model is far more complicated to buy than anything else. We don’t deal with older ones much, but check for track-day use — feathered tyres, worn brakes, gravel stuck in panel gaps. Lots of Gallardos get vinyl wraps so check for paint nicks where it’s been de-wrapped. A surprising number have been clocked, so if the steering wheel is shiny or the driver’s seat bolster is worn but the odometer says 5000 miles, walk away. Check the seller has title to the car; being the keeper on the logbook is one thing, but who actually owns it? I’d buy a 2013 Superleggera LP570-4 — around £115k in the trade but £140k retail.” Buyer beware ENGINE Early 5.0-litre engines are prone to oil pump problems, so have the compression and oil pressure checked. Some owners overfill the dry-sump engine, so dip and check. Engine management light can indicate overheating after disabling of exhaust noise reduction valves. Low-mileage cars can have sticking throttle bodies, causing the engine revs to ‘hunt’. TRANSMISSION Expect the auto’s action to feel a little sticky and some clutch slip. A new clutch is around £3000, including a new flywheel (a must). The auto ’box can be interrogated with a laptop, which should reveal whether updates have been performed. Rare manuals can suffer cable stretch, but that’s all. SUSPENSION AND BRAKES Front pads and discs get a hammering; ball joints, anti-roll bar bushes and track rod ends too. On post-2005 cars check optional front-end lift system works. Check handbrake holds. BODY Aluminium body is hard to fix so avoid dents. Side oil cooler vent seam corrosion not unknown. A stonechipfree nose is either protected with film or has been repainted; if the latter, check for ‘blow-over’ areas. Check side vents for stone chips. Non-functioning hood could be a simple solenoid fail. INTERIOR Most controls originate from Audi and are trouble-free. Trim is tough but Alcantara steering wheel can wear to a shine and driver’s seat side bolster look scabby. Also worth knowing A properly applied paint protection film on the nose and rear cooling ducts is almost invisible. It needs shaping before application so check for edges lifting and cut marks in the paint where fitters have, literally, cut corners. How much to spend £50,000-£69,995 Coupés to 05-reg and 60k miles; manuals most expensive. And a 46kmile, 07-reg 520bhp Spyder for £66k. £70,000-£79,995
Early coupés with 35k miles. Also an 09-reg, 38k-mile Spyder auto for £73k. £80,000- £94,500 More early coupé manuals, plenty of 07-08 Spyder autos with 25k miles. £95,000- £109,950 Up to 2010-reg Spyders and lowmile early coupés, plus a 2007-reg Superleggera with 28k for £100k. £110,000-£114,500
Up to 2013-reg Spyder autos, plus a 2010 coupé manual with 24k for £113k. £115,000-ON
The best autos from 2012-on. One we found LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO 5.2 COUPÉ AUTO, 2009, 9000 MILES, £104,500 A private sale, one-owner car with full history, never used on track and bought new from HR Owen. The same dealer has a 2010, with 24,000 miles and a year’s warranty, for £113k.