CNBC reports Apple in talks with McLaren
- Thread starter RickH
- Start date
McLaren builds really fast cars, but they can be insanely frustrating.
I had to replace a battery in a 12C. No batteries in stock. Anywhere. No wait, no batteries in stock and battery is discontinued. New battery retail is $2400 and it requires $750 "upgrade" kit to install it. When I pulled the battery, I weighed it and it was 23 lbs. Not exactly an 8 lb Braille for that money.
I had a 12C coupe for a year. Nav system never figured out it wasn't in Pennsylvania anymore. Bought a 650S spider, immediately popped passenger side airbag light and the closest dealer who can clear a code is 4 hours away. 3 windshields deep on 675LT at $4800 for the windshield standalone or $6400 for installed.
I like the car as an alternative to Ferrari, they are fast as balls and I think they look good, best paint on a sports car, but between the depreciation (if you buy new) and various reliability quirks, it can be painful. Apple's biz is based on things looking great and just working. Mac has a lot of work to do on those fronts.
I had to replace a battery in a 12C. No batteries in stock. Anywhere. No wait, no batteries in stock and battery is discontinued. New battery retail is $2400 and it requires $750 "upgrade" kit to install it. When I pulled the battery, I weighed it and it was 23 lbs. Not exactly an 8 lb Braille for that money.
I had a 12C coupe for a year. Nav system never figured out it wasn't in Pennsylvania anymore. Bought a 650S spider, immediately popped passenger side airbag light and the closest dealer who can clear a code is 4 hours away. 3 windshields deep on 675LT at $4800 for the windshield standalone or $6400 for installed.
I like the car as an alternative to Ferrari, they are fast as balls and I think they look good, best paint on a sports car, but between the depreciation (if you buy new) and various reliability quirks, it can be painful. Apple's biz is based on things looking great and just working. Mac has a lot of work to do on those fronts.
I think it could be an interesting combo actually,
Apple would spend 1% of their cash on hand and buy a product which is a premium product.
And "voila" you have a manufacturing facility and decent engineers you can "teach" to upgrade the product they have in mind while at the same time still selling 1000 Supercars a year and putting the Apple logo on the race cars.
Might work...
Apple would spend 1% of their cash on hand and buy a product which is a premium product.
And "voila" you have a manufacturing facility and decent engineers you can "teach" to upgrade the product they have in mind while at the same time still selling 1000 Supercars a year and putting the Apple logo on the race cars.
Might work...
digman1
GT Owner
I forget the name of the English gentleman from Houston that is doing a commemorative version of Tomy Hamon's GT350 race car from the 60's, but he owns a 2012 McLaren. Said he told his wife he had a big day a few week ago, when the McLaren went a whole day without having a warning light appear on the dash. Not good.
My back up camera never really worked right...there were a ton of little issues. IRIS upgrade was meh.....I don't miss it.
GTJack
GT Owner
Dave Rowan, Texas Mongrel and he definitely is a gentleman, and his wife Roz, is a lady.
ByeEnzo
GT
Unfortunately, he may have to get rid of his McLaren when a new FGT arrives. I don't think Dave will shed many tears.
Unfortunately, he may have to get rid of his McLaren when a new FGT arrives. I don't think Dave will shed many tears.
I would consider that fortunately.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ThatPhilBrettGuy
GT Owner
Both Apple and McLaren need constant software updates and bring out new models every year so it's a great fit [emoji6]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Phil, did you make it back to London today?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
daytrayd
GT Owner
First Tesla and Solar City, now this rumor with Apple? There has been an "apple car' rumor for years. I dont see them buying anyone, there would be a JV with VW before they went outright as a manufacturer IMO. Next it will be Lamborghini and Exxon merge to burn off excess gasoline supply. What is the world coming to?
Apollo
GT Owner
“We can confirm that McLaren is not in discussion with Apple in respect of any potential investment,” McLaren said in a statement.
Apple declined to comment.
Apple declined to comment.
ThatPhilBrettGuy
GT Owner
I think the benefits to Apple would be acquiring the software and engineering aspects that McLaren has. Apple is sitting on over $200 billion in cash overseas and can't repatriate it at less than a 40% tax rate. They would be getting a discount on the purchase, as opposed to bringing the money back home at the abusive US tax rate. "Just do it". A drop in the bucket versus sitting on cash generating nothing.
Kingman
GT Owner
Cobrar
GT Owner
Acquisition is part of a financial strategy to repatriate to US dollars - a drop at a time. Nice work if you can get it.. :biggrin
texas mongrel
GT Owner
Drove it to NASA and back today. No radio, "tuner not found", so I tried playing my IPod instead, so many pops bangs and splutters through the speakers that you couldn't reallly tell what tune was playing. They are the most amazing car on the track, and the most infuriating on the road.
Apple is not apparently chasing McLaren Automotive Group, but McLaren Technology Group. MTG does all the electronics for (I think) every F1 car out there, plus Nascar, Indycar, etc. they also have some amazing proprietary technology such as 3-D screens that don't need glasses to see the effect.
So now we can look forward to buggy auto electronics that come with no user manual and that's constantly telling you what to do. Oh, and you'll have to buy a new one every year 'cos they'll change a ton of s**t for no reason (witness IOS 10 that looks an awful lot like IOS 8.0)