Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2008 Audi R8 VS 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo Near Phoenix, AZ

Both the R8 and the Gallardo have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the R8 for 1 year and 5000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotation, lubrication and any other scheduled maintenance. Lamborghini doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Gallardo.

There are over 16 times as many Audi dealers as there are Lamborghini dealers, which makes it much easier to get service under the R8’s warranty.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi R8 is faster than the Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0 (manual transmissions tested):

On the EPA test cycle the R8 gets better fuel mileage than the Gallardo:

For better stopping power the R8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Gallardo:

The R8 stops much shorter than the Gallardo:

The R8 has a standard tire pressure monitoring system, which will alert the driver to a drop in tire pressure before damage to the tire or an accident might occur. The Gallardo doesn’t offer a low tire pressure warning system.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the R8’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Gallardo (104.3 inches vs. 100.8 inches).

The R8 handles at .98 G’s, while the Gallardo Coupe pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Road & Track skidpad test.

The R8 goes through Road & Track’s slalom 2.8 MPH faster than the Gallardo Coupe (71.1 vs. 68.3 MPH).

As tested by Road & Track, the interior of the R8 is quieter than the Gallardo Coupe:

The R8 has 1.7 inches more front headroom and 2.7 inches more front shoulder room than the Gallardo.

The R8 has a much larger trunk than the Gallardo Coupe (6.7 vs. 4 cubic feet).

The R8’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gallardo’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The R8’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Gallardo’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The R8’s standard power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Gallardo’s standard power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

The R8 offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Gallardo has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To help keep the driver’s hands on the wheel, the R8 has standard steering wheel controls for the radio. The Gallardo doesn’t offer steering wheel audio controls.

Wireless connectivity is optional on the R8, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Lamborghini doesn’t offer wireless connectivity on the Gallardo.