YouTuber’s Lamborghini Murcielago is a Hot Mess
Tyler Hoover’s latest acquisition is a great looking Murcielago Roadster, but problematic issues might cost him serious money.Â
What was the last truly insane vehicle from Lamborghini? The automotive community generally feels the company reined in their worst impulses when Volkswagen acquired the company in 1998. Realistically, they still make some incredibly awe-inspiring vehicles. But there was a time when Lamborghini operated a little closer to the edge. The Murcielago being a fine example of that thinking.
Speaking of risky bets, YouTube automotive enthusiast Tyler Hoover recently purchased a 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster that comes with a bit of baggage. Over the years, Hoover has made a name for himself by owning the cheapest of a particular model in America and dealing with the fallout of whatever maladies they arrived with. His new Lambo, which is the second in his stable, is such a vehicle. It may be the death of him.
Showing Mercy for a Murcielago and its Crazy Owner
Hoover based his latest purchase on the premise that this particular Murcielago boasted a cheaper asking price than the Murcielago fellow YouTuber Freddy “Tavarish” Hernandez bought last year. In both cases, Ed Bolian of VINWiki Car Stories instigated the men to buy their respective models. At $76,000, it was cheaper than the other Murcielago, but Bolian’s finder’s fee pushed that price to “under $100,000,” according to Hoover. “It really is a great deal if the repairs don’t bankrupt me,” says Hoover. Famous last words?
Hoover detailed the many issues with his new Lambo. Even without the problems, the Murcielago contains a lot of curiosities. For example, the Roadster’s top wasn’t exactly designed with ease of use in mind. Nor was it especially premium. “It is a toupee that you peel off. Kind of like a boat cover,” says Hoover. Lamborghini designed the top with many different pieces. That makes it incredibly difficult to remove. As for actual problems, Hoover’s Murcielago has a few. The “bat wings” don’t operate properly and are stuck open. By contrast, the gull wing doors immediately want to guillotine anyone nearby.
Hoover’s Folly?
Those issues pale in comparison to what is really ailing his Murcielago. In addition to the gated manual transmission, Lamborghini offered a six-speed “e-gear” automated manual transmission. That actually become the most popular transmission choice by far. As a result, a Murcielago equipped with the regular six-speed manual is typically far more expensive due to their scarcity. Hoover’s model is equipped with the semi-automatic transmission. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that type of transmission. Unfortunately, Hoover quickly found out that the transmission in his Lamborghini is going to need some work.
“The trouble starts when I start moving. The clutch engages, it starts moving, but then…listen to that,” says Hoover. A horrible grinding noise permeates his cabin as the car moves through first gear. Fortunately, it seems like the issue is limited only to first gear. After he gets to second, the car becomes exactly what he expected: an extremely desirable exotic. He seems to think the problem isn’t catastrophic but fixing it will probably be expensive. That’s because the engine has to be removed before the transmission can be accessed. Yikes! Hopefully the Lamborghini doesn’t ruin him.
Hoover’s potentially on the hook for a lot of money if he wants to get the Murcielago into fighting shape. But the car is a childhood dream of his, so odds are that he’ll pony up for the repairs. In any event, the video is worth a watch just to hear that crazy grinding noise from the transmission. Here’s hoping it’s not as serious of a problem as he thinks.