Owning a Supercar

We read about them, we ogle them and lust after them; but only a few get to enjoy and experience supercar ownership first hand. Secret Supercar Owner, Mr S, is one of those fortunate people. He has agreed to share his journey with us through all the joy and pitfalls. In Secret Supercar Owner – Chapter 2 he tells us about his first real exotic. If you’d like to catch up you can read Chapter 1 at this link.

They say you never forget your first love. In my case, it’s the first supercar I ever drove. Back in 2008, a good friend trusted me enough to let me drive his Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. That moment has stayed with me ever since. The Gallardo always held a special place in my heart, so when one became available in September 2021, we didn’t hesitate. A 2007 Giallo Midas Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder became the first true supercar we owned.

Shaking with Fear and Excitement

While the Audi R8 (from Chapter 1) and the Gallardo share many similarities, they are also worlds apart. I will never forget how intimidating the Lamborghini felt at first. For the first month of ownership, my foot would literally shake on the pedals every time I drove it.

After doing some research, I discovered how to disconnect the vacuum pump controlling the exhaust valves and made the necessary modifications. The result? Pure theatre. The V10 sound that bursts out of those exhausts is like standing at an AC/DC concert, loud, raw, and completely intoxicating. You just know you’re in something special and you know everyone is watching as you drive a bright yellow Lamborghini down the road. Was I looking for attention? Absolutely not.

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Assuming the Worst

I’ve always disliked the assumptions people make about Lamborghini drivers. I drive these cars because I love them. The thrill of finding the perfect spec is what makes the journey worthwhile. We’re not doing this for attention or fame we’re doing out of passion.

In fact, we go out of our way to share the experience. I’ve had countless kids jump into our cars, start them up, and experience something they’ve only ever dreamed about. As owners, we believe it’s important to inspire the next generation to show them what’s possible if they work hard and chase their dreams.

Maintenance

Surprisingly, the Gallardo can be relatively affordable to maintain if you know where to go. Before purchasing the car, a friend who previously owned one advised me to have it thoroughly inspected at an official Lamborghini dealership and to fix anything that needed attention. When we bought it, at 17 000 km, the previous owner had already spent R180 000 addressing outstanding issues, including a new clutch, brake pads, wipers, and a full service.

E-gear Gallardos uses a single-clutch transmission, and replacing the clutch costs around R100 000. I was carefully briefed on how to drive the car properly to extend the clutch life even signing a document at the dealership acknowledging this. I’ve driven over 18 000 km on the current clutch and have only used around 10 per cent of its life, so the advice we received has clearly paid off.

Taking a Different Route

I’ll never forget its first service with us. We decided to take it directly to Lamborghini for its annual service a mistake you only make once. R45 546,19 later — for spark plugs, filters, oil, and brake fluid — we learned our lesson. About half of that bill was labour alone.

After speaking to other Lamborghini owners, I realised this was a shared experience—everyone makes that mistake once. Since then, we’ve built relationships with former Lamborghini mechanics who now maintain our car at a fraction of the cost. A minor service is around R8 000, and a major service about R17 000.

Overlooked

The Gallardo, in my opinion, is hugely underrated. Those who don’t own one are missing out on something truly special. It’s now 2026, and we still have it and I can honestly say it will be incredibly difficult to let it go.

The car has aged beautifully. Even at 19 years old, it still turns heads everywhere it goes. The 5,0-litre V10 sound can make grown men giggle like children, just like my 7-year-old daughter does.

The beauty of the Gallardo is that you don’t need to drive at ridiculous speeds to enjoy it, unlike many modern supercars. And with Lamborghini no longer producing naturally aspirated V10s, I have no doubt that values will continue to rise.

Owning this car has deepened my appreciation for the brand and it’s only the beginning of the journey.