Got this from the Corvette forum with someone wanting a ZR1 or the Gallardo. JimMcclain responded and owns both a Gallardo and also a VIPER. Very informative and thought it be good for info here.
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RE: If you had/have the means to buy either one of these amazing cars, which one would you buy? Obviously, the ZR1 is more powerful, while the Gallardo has a mere 520 HP. For the money, the ZR1 is the clear choice. However, if money were not an issue and they were sitting side by side, which car would it be? Do you want the prestige or the sheer torque?
My personal two cents:
If money were not an issue and I had to choose one or the other and not just buy both - I would get the best of both worlds and buy the Lambo and just add some power to it. This platform may be the best ever made that is ready to add additional power to it. If you bring the Gallardo to Jason Heffner for his 1000 hp twin turbo system you have it all - prestige and performance!!!
Car and Driver has tested his 850HP package twice now (once in Nov 06 and now in current Feb 2008 issue in a 0-200-0 top dog contest). These lesser powered "850hp" cars turned in numbers raved about by C&D such as 0-60 in 3.1 better than an Enzo or S7 and also rated as the best daily driver of all the high HP, "fastest of the fast cars" they compared. The Gallardo is also the only car they tested on stock street tires in the 0-200-0 contest and if you strip the other cars of this advantage the "real street", not track performance of the Gallardo would be even more evident. Now just imagine once Jason gets the magazines one of his newest 1000hp cars, especially the one that he is currently building for a customer which is based on a Superleggra vs stock coupe ? It will be hard for any car on the planet to beat the numbers this will turn with pump gas and street tires on the street which is what I believe 90% of us are most interested in.
See C&D Articles:
Nov 06
http://www.caranddriver.com/specialt...-gallardo.html
Feb 08 0-200-0 (must create an account to view)
http://www.lambopower.com/forum/inde...opic=28187&hl=
The advantage of the Superleggera over the stock coupe is lighter weight (due to use of Carbon Fiber like the ZR1) but most important incredible brakes (Ceramic like the ZR1). In fact the stock Superleggera is no slouch either and in the Nov Car and Driver review it turned numbers right in there with the 911T, Z06 and 08 Viper from 0-60 - 3.5, quarter mile 11.7, track times, cornering grip and stopping.
Stock Superleggera Review:
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtest...erleggera.html
In the end a car with mid engine and 4wd like the Gallardo is a different animal than a front engine / rwd for street use on street tires once you add big power. With anything over 500hp traction becomes an issue with RWD (I have had many Vettes and currently have a supercharged 850hp 2006 FE Viper Coupe so I know first hand). I also happen to own the first Heffner Twin Turbo Gallardo (only 7 in existence so far) that was ever built so I can speak first hand on this amazing car as well.
The difference in acceleration/repeatable performance/grip with the mid engine, 4wd Gallardo and big twin turbo V-10 power even in the rain or snow is beyond words. There is very little wheel spin and just massive grip, acceleration and gforces putting you in your seat each time you hit it. The exhaust note of these high reving, 8000+ rpm engines with custom Heffner exhaust, turbos whistling, BOV's is also beyond words and it's got to be the closest thing to a true F1 car or Jet airplane on the streets.
Vettes and Vipers are incredible modern American muscle machines and very beautiful in their own special ways. The Italian / German made Gallardo's are superior in my opinion IF "I had to choose between one or the other". The reason I say Italian / German made is that many overlook the fact that since Audi bought Lamborghini the Gallardo is the first new model released by Lambo using both companies engineering and knowledge. This is also why the smaller nimbler 4 year old design, Gallardo and its all aluminum construction and modern technology is a far superior platform to the bulky, tempormental, steel chassis Mercilago and the 12 year old technology that it is built on. The Merci is a better looker than the stock Gallardo - no doubt, but thats about it and I would say the Superleggera gives it a run for its money in the looks department as well.
Basically in the end for me if I had to write a recipe for the best platform to build a high performance car on it would be mid engine, 4wd, light and balanced, high quality interior (such as all italian hand stitched leather), high technology (ESP, traction control, launch control, egear, electronic suspension, etc...), limited numbers for exclusivity(hence expensive price) with the exotic exterior design Italy has become so famous for from autos to clothing to furniture alike. This is the Gallardo to me.
In the end you get a super exotic that puts the Saleen S7, Ferrari Enzo, Buggati Veyron's to shame for hundreds of thousands less.
Here is a related article in terms of the overall quickness and capability of TT Gallardo which you can see how it faired with the Henessey Viper from the earlier C&D article I listed above where it was only running 850HP (Hennessey 1033HP) vs how the Hennessey Viper beat the 1000+ hp Veyron in the article below. I know you cant do an accurate direct comparison with the TT Gallardo and Veyron with this since it is a different day, different location). But this does show the TT Gallardo with 1000hp would be one of the most potent street cars ever.
Hennessey Viper beats Veyron 0-200 test:
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