Gallardo vs. 996TT

The Gallardo is Lambo's take on the 996TT with added Italian flair. Which would you choose?

Let's kick off with this quote from another thread.

Journalists can't drive.. The Gallardo is faster than both the Turbo and the GT3.
Damn well it should be quicker, with an extra 60bhp/ton over the 911's! In a straight line, absolutely, it is quicker, but I wouldnt say it'd be quicker on any track.
Whether or not journos can push a car to its limit is arguable, but are the journos' complaints on the Gallardo's 'lifeless steering' and 'mushy brake pedal' groundless?

And on tighter tracks it's even faster than the GT2.

Not a fair comparo, the GT2 is too soft for track work, it's a GT. And anyway, what do you base that comment on? Evo found the 996TT to be quicker than the Gallardo on tight roads, which isnt exactly unbelievable due to the slight torque advantage (413@4600 vs 376@4500), and the GT2 has more torque than even the 996TT, 457lb/ft@3500rpm! So please clarify...

Damn well it should be quicker, with an extra 60bhp/ton over the 911's! In a straight line, absolutely, it is quicker, but I wouldnt say it'd be quicker on any track.

It doesn't have 60hp/ton more, and I never said it's quicker in a straight line, it's not. At least not untill 100 km/h and above. And as far as elasticity goes, the Porsche is quicker there to.


Whether or not journos can push a car to its limit is arguable, but are the journos' complaints on the Gallardo's 'lifeless steering' and 'mushy brake pedal' groundless?

No it's not, but seeing as how most of the customers are fat rich men, it's not a design flaw.


Not a fair comparo, the GT2 is too soft for track work, it's a GT.

As is the Gallardo and the Turbo.


And anyway, what do you base that comment on? Evo found the 996TT to be quicker than the Gallardo on tight roads, which isnt exactly unbelievable due to the slight torque advantage (413@4600 vs 376@4500), and the GT2 has more torque than even the 996TT, 457lb/ft@3500rpm! So please clarify...

It's based on Sport Auto's test in December.
The Gallardo is one of the fastest car they have tested around Hockenheim, second only to the GT3 Cup.

I'm going to have to choose the 996TT on this. From what I've been hearing the driving experience would have to be an exhilerating one. The fact that its a rwd car is also more appealing to me over the awd Gallardo. It almost sounds like the Gallardo was made as a bit of a softy car. Mushy brakes? Lifeless steering? I find the lifeless steering ironic due to the midengined design plus awd. It just doesn't sound like it would be as fun to drive over the 996.

The fact that its a rwd car is also more appealing to me over the awd Gallardo.

Come again?

Come again?

When I drive an rwd car I feel more involved with the cars capabilities as how in a awd car it feels like the tremendous grip and provided computer stability controls plus well designed differentials make me feel less involved in the driving experience. Its all a matter of preference, and I would rather feel more involved in the driving experience, than not.

Ok.
But how is this relevant when comparing the Turbo to the Gallardo?

Ok.
But how is this relevant when comparing the Turbo to the Gallardo?

Thats easy, it was a subjective statement. I was brought to the attention that this thread wasn't only a objective comparision. The first statement boldly said, "Which do you choose?". In that case, it would make it relevant.

You're impossible...
Please tell me when Porsche started selling rear wheel drive 996 Turbos.

You're impossible...
Please tell me when Porsche started selling rear wheel drive 996 Turbos.

:uhoh: , oops. Why was I thinking that? I don't know. Maybe it was the GT2, GT3 statements? hahaha. Once again, sry bout that.

It doesn't have 60hp/ton more

Apologies. My calculations were a little off. Using the most commonly quoted figures that I believe are correct:
Gallardo – 493 bhp, 1520kg -> 324.3bhp/ton
996TT – 420bhp, 1540kg -> 272.7bhp/ton
The Gallardo’s advantage over the 996TT is only 52bhp/ton :p
51.6 if we’re gonna be anal about it ;)
I never said it's quicker in a straight line, it's not. At least not untill 100 km/h and above. And as far as elasticity goes, the Porsche is quicker there to.

Looking at your Sport Auto stats it gets to 60 (~100kph) in 4.0s, as quick as ive ever seen a 996TT achieve. But then there’s a quoted kerb weight of 1613kg for the Gallardo, which ive never seen anything close to before, so go figure :confused:
Btw, I got the Sport Auto stats from a Lambo forum so there may be a typo. Or not. Perhaps you can clarify that, since you have the article?
No it's not, but seeing as how most of the customers are fat rich men, it's not a design flaw. [poor steering & brake pedal feel]

You’re kidding, right? So what if most customers are fat, or don’t intend to drive the Gallardo as you and I would? Are these people buying the equivalent to an S-class to merit a diluted driving experience? No. It should be there for those who do want it. Why should they get a watered-down driving experience? And anyway, each customer is buying a supercar with hard suspension capable of a 4 second dash to sixty. Endowing it with a mushy brake pedal isn’t a design flaw? Come on… And why would giving a fatty good steering feel be such a crime? It isn’t. It’s just that Audi cant seem to do it. Anyway, does the 996TT suffer from these faults? Does the 575 Maranello?
As is the Gallardo and the Turbo. [a GT]

Fair point to a certain extent, it’s not a rough-neck racer like, say, a GT3, but is it really a GT? It’s not exactly feasible as day-to-day transport…
It's based on Sport Auto's test in December.
The Gallardo is one of the fastest car they have tested around Hockenheim, second only to the GT3 Cup.
Im not denying the Gallardo is fast, im just disappointed with its reported flaws, especially considering its premium over the competition. Btw, who was driving in the Sport Auto test?

To me it seems as though the 996 TT and Gallardo are relative equals in performance, and as Deakins said, both are also soft for real track work. Therefore, imo it all boils down to the 'intangibles'. In this category, you get a heritage with the 996 but with the Gallardo you get a slightly sharper engine note an Italian design.

I'll take the Gallardo, but with remorse that I won't also be driving the 996 TT