Here is the deal: on one side there is the Porsche 996 Turbo with the manufacturer's engine update "X50" resulting in 450 brake horsepower and 620NM of torque (30 bhp and 60NM more than a stock model). The powerplant producing those figuers is Porsche's 3,6-liter twin turbocharged flat-6 "Boxer" engine. Furthermore, in order to make Lamborghini's job harder, it is equiped with the optional sport suspension "X73" which lowers the car another 20 mm and makes it appear even sportier than a garden variety 996 Turbo..
Impressive to know that this Porsche's aggressive and dynamic looks conceal a heavy sumo fighter! The 4 Wheel-Drive 996 Turbo, fully equiped with electric seat adjustment, Navigation System, Air-Conditioning, CD-Player, leather bucket seats, Cruise-Control, etc weighs an aggregate of 1620 kg without the most important component: The Driver..
If you chose to own a 996 Turbo equiped this way you would be 145000 Euro poorer!
On the other side lies, yes that is exactly the right word, lies the Lamborghini Gallardo.. The Lambo is wider and lower than it's German counterpart and immidiately demands respect. To be quite honest the aggressive, extroverted design of the Lambo hugely intimidates the Porsche's sporty appeal!
Seeing those cars together you get the impression of James Bond standing next to Dirty Harry and in this comparison James Bond has a tough job! Because you might just begin to wonder:" how can Bond's Walther PPK stand off Dirty Harry's 44 Magnum?"..
And just to underline it's 44 Magnum character the Lambo comes with a 5-liter V10 producing 500 brake horsepower and 510 NM of torque. This powerplant is imbedded in a full alluminum chassis designed to keep the aggregate weight as low as possible. The scale indicates 1600 kg although the Lambo's middle/rear engine-configuration produces a better weight distribution than the rear engine-configuration of the Porsche.
On top of it, Lamborghini uses the same variable 4 Wheel-Drive system as the Porsche Turbo with generally distributing more torque to the rear axle to keep an agile handling balance. And to make matters even tougher the Lambo offers the same comfort options as the 996 Turbo: Air-Conditioning, DVD Navigation-System, On-Board computer, CD Stereo-Set, leather interiour, etc..
So what about the price?? As this Gallardo model is also equiped with the manufacturer's sport suspension set up the price tag shows: 145000 Euro!
So the figuers indicate a draw: same weight, same price, same quality, same optionals, both 4 Wheel-Drive, both using a 6 gear manual, and as one has more power, the other one has more torque to reach the same top speed of 309 km/h!
So do they behave the same?
Well yes and no! Subjectively, when you are driving these cars the impression remains as above: While both are amazingly powerful, they both have a rather unspectacular performance characteristic. But the sound of the Gallardo is of another world! Sure, the turbocharged Porsche has a great revy and sizzeling flat-6 grunt, but compared to the deep-throated, colourful and more present V10 resonance (which sounds almost like the Audi Group-B Rally car), the Porsche sounds a bit pale in comparison.
However, the figures indicate a draw, AGAIN: 0-100 km/h are reached in 4 seconds by the Lambo and in 3,9 seconds by the 996, while 0-200 km/h are reached 0,6 seconds sooner by the Lambo (13,2 seconds - 13,8 seconds).
While these figures are negligible in real life the handling characteristics finally show a different picture: While the Turbo's stiff suspension is a tad smoother and lighter on the front, the Lambo feels razorsharp and produces virtually no body-roll whatsoever. The Turbo has a very neutral handling balance, great steering feedback and a lot of grip, and this applies even more so for the Lambo. But while both have a great handling, the Porsche steps out sooner when trailing throttle oversteer is induced. This must be due to the more uneven weight balance of the 911. However, the oversteer is easy to control and therefore fun to use. The Lambo's handling on the other hand is so balanced you can neither detect any time consuming understeer, nor any trailing throttle oversteer! Amazing for a car with a middle engine and AWD! The Gallardo allows you at all times to make full use of it's power when exiting corners. And the only thing which is not always easy about it, is that the gear ratio is so long you sometimes need to shift back into first gear to fully accelarate out of tighter bends.
But with that beautiful aluminium gearlever changing gears is a pleasure.
Both have a breaking potential which is out of this world and both are perfectly suited for race track use. However, the Porsche has only four, while the Lamborghini uses eight piston caliper brakes!
So which one is faster on the track??.. Well, we couldn't really go there but we can sure give an educated guess: Our estimation would be a very high standard draw considering lap time speed. However, the Lambo would eventually win any endurance competition!
For instance, a 10 lap race on the Nürburgring Northloop track would show that the Porsche would be low on gas after around seven laps and therefore be forced to make a pit stop, while the Lambo would not have to stop at all! This is due to the inadequate gas tank size of the Porsche 996 Turbo with a mere 64 liter capacity. The Lambo comes standard with 90 liters..
Last but not least the seating position offers a bit better hold in the Porsche's bucket seats, but both cars offer perfect accessability, head and leg space and long term driving comfort. The Lambo's interiour does not offer much extravagance, since many of the dashboard meters can be found in the current Audi A8 model (So much for economies of scale.....). This might be a bit disappointing but nevertheless it is of great quality.
Which car is better?
Well, it is a close race in every aspect. It is a matter of taste really because the differences are too minor as to make issues out of them. The gas tank is a possible issue, but you really need the gas tank in the Lambo due to the fact that the Lamborghini dealership network is not very dense!
But since the Lambo is extravagant, loud and in every aspect comparable and exciting, I will take the Lambo!
Congratulations Lamborghini!
You got me, a true Porsche enthusiast...surrendered!
http://www.sportandperformance.com/i...sid=39&aid=346
An excellent article of the Lamborghini Gallardo vs Porsche Turbo "X50"
Black/ Black & Grey E60 /// M5 Nicknamed Mighty M5 
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Whereas the Porsche crowd can point to several series wins at all levels of racing..
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