Anyone own a McLaren?
- Thread starter GTdrummer
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bonehead
GT Owner
texas mongrel
GT Owner
I've had mine for 11 months, put 7000 miles on it so far, plus one race and 4 or 5 track days. Other than a couple of little niggles (the door latches needed replacement and it developed a rattle) its been flawless. Service is once a year or 10,000 miles, cost $1280 for it. My dealer (ParkPlace in Dallas) has been fantastic, they pick up and deliver the car (I'm in Houston) all very efficient.
I've posted elsewhere here about the 12C versus FGT; its a turbo car so the experience is totally different, in the GT the power is instant 'cos of the supercharger whereas the 12C doesn't do much til around 3000 rpm but then its "holy s**t!!". The most amazing thing about the Mac is its usability, its my daily driver. In 'normal' mode the hydraulic suspension gives a better ride than my wife's Lexus and its so quiet and smooth. Track mode is another story however! Around town I'm getting mid twenties gas mileage, at the track its about 3-4 mpg.
You'd have to drive it yourself to see if its for you; it doesn't have the emotional grab of the GT but is more of an acquired taste. I think they are perfect complements to each other and am just about to head up to the F1 track in Austin for three tracks days, taking both cars so I can do some track comparisons.
I've posted elsewhere here about the 12C versus FGT; its a turbo car so the experience is totally different, in the GT the power is instant 'cos of the supercharger whereas the 12C doesn't do much til around 3000 rpm but then its "holy s**t!!". The most amazing thing about the Mac is its usability, its my daily driver. In 'normal' mode the hydraulic suspension gives a better ride than my wife's Lexus and its so quiet and smooth. Track mode is another story however! Around town I'm getting mid twenties gas mileage, at the track its about 3-4 mpg.
You'd have to drive it yourself to see if its for you; it doesn't have the emotional grab of the GT but is more of an acquired taste. I think they are perfect complements to each other and am just about to head up to the F1 track in Austin for three tracks days, taking both cars so I can do some track comparisons.
Xcentric
GT Owner
I'm about to own one 
It'll be deliverd tomorrow so need to be patient a little. With the various test drives I was not too impressed but tuners are getting nice hp out of the thing. I'm in contact with EVOMS and they are getting 724 out of it
It'll be deliverd tomorrow so need to be patient a little. With the various test drives I was not too impressed but tuners are getting nice hp out of the thing. I'm in contact with EVOMS and they are getting 724 out of it
ive test drove one and the great things about it , 1. the most amazing interior ive been in ever for a supercar
2 the ride as a daily driver is also a good thing in it
3. weather at kuwait was 43 celsius and was giving it real hard , not so much power compared to the gt and starting to get clutch over tempreature every time we accelerate little hard on it
buy it or not ? i think i would go for the 458 italia instead everytime if they gave me the choice
2 the ride as a daily driver is also a good thing in it
3. weather at kuwait was 43 celsius and was giving it real hard , not so much power compared to the gt and starting to get clutch over tempreature every time we accelerate little hard on it
buy it or not ? i think i would go for the 458 italia instead everytime if they gave me the choice
FBA
GT Owner
FBA
GT Owner
From what I've read, it's a 10-second rated car - in stock trim, which makes it faster than the GT. Power /weight is certainly is there, but TQ much lower, because she's a higher revver I'm guessing. I think you mean "not so much low end TQ compared to the GT..."
FWIW, 616 HP and over 450 TQ
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I just love McLaren and would choose it any day any time before the F car or a baby Lambo.
Bruce McLaren 50th anniversary
[video=youtube;23E1m8ZxFmU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=23E1m8ZxFmU[/video]
Bruce McLaren 50th anniversary
[video=youtube;23E1m8ZxFmU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=23E1m8ZxFmU[/video]
fjpikul
GT Owner
Xcentric
GT Owner
Superfly
HERITAGE GT OWNER
KJD
GT Owner
My impression from having driven one for about 45 minutes (to include autocross time), is that the car is very confining. If you are a big person it might not be your daily driver. You have the mon-cell tub which requires you to overstep the sill. Then the pain point is the console which tends to box you in. Gearbox controls unlike the Fcar manetino are under the radio middle console and hard to see. The exotic car dealer who sponsored the event has several sitting around which have not sold. Drive it for at least one hour before you make a decision. Great car but overrated in my opinion. There is a thread on the subject at the other site bearing some of these points out.
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@Art 138
I do not agree. I feel the Mc is rather spacious and very good view all around. I picked it up mine yesterday and playing with the gearbox is real fun. It was raining like hell so couldn't go too crazy but even in sports mode there is lots of traction.
The disappointment, but I knew that, is the sensation when driving. It's just too silent when revving. With the 200cats that will be a different beast.
I do not agree. I feel the Mc is rather spacious and very good view all around. I picked it up mine yesterday and playing with the gearbox is real fun. It was raining like hell so couldn't go too crazy but even in sports mode there is lots of traction.
The disappointment, but I knew that, is the sensation when driving. It's just too silent when revving. With the 200cats that will be a different beast.
Terry,
I don't think that you are going to like the McLaren more than the 458. I drove them both and quickly found that the 458 is a better car IMHO in every way; more lively, more visceral, more fun than the McLaren. I have a 458 Italia on order. The 458 is also holding its value much more steadily than the McLaren. You seem to lose about $60K driving off the lot and
that is not the case with the 458 so far. For a discriminate gentleman like you, your next car should be the Bugatti Veyron or, perhaps, venture into the V12 Ferrari. In other
words, a different type of ride from what you have. The McLaren will be too close to the 458 you already have and will feel like a tamer version of what you have. It is a lot quieter
than the 458 too and you wont get that feeling you get at WOT with the Fcar. A horizontal move at best.
I don't think that you are going to like the McLaren more than the 458. I drove them both and quickly found that the 458 is a better car IMHO in every way; more lively, more visceral, more fun than the McLaren. I have a 458 Italia on order. The 458 is also holding its value much more steadily than the McLaren. You seem to lose about $60K driving off the lot and
that is not the case with the 458 so far. For a discriminate gentleman like you, your next car should be the Bugatti Veyron
or, perhaps, venture into the V12 Ferrari. In other words, a different type of ride from what you have. The McLaren will be too close to the 458 you already have and will feel like a tamer version of what you have. It is a lot quieter
than the 458 too and you wont get that feeling you get at WOT with the Fcar. A horizontal move at best.
texas mongrel
GT Owner
It's all down to personal choice, and obviously I'm biased. However, RE: interior space, I'm 6'-4", 205lb and have waaaaay more space in the 12c than the GT. I can also drive with a helmet on in the 12c without having to adjust the seat to the Italian ape driving position to get necessary headroom. I can also put a big Igloo cooler or two cases of wine in the trunk (try that in the GT) and have two cup holders inside. RE; 458, I ran Hennessy's Houston half-mile last year with an Italia present, so we had a back-to-back direct comparison. Without using launch control I was hitting 160 in the half-mile, the 458 never went faster than 148. At Circuit of the Americas just this past weekend I had two GT3RS porker drivers come up after a session and ask what I'd done to my car as, although they could stay with me on the bends, I was walking away from them on the long back straight. My car is bone-stock on the stock (crappy) tires. The 12c was 7seconds a lap faster than the GT.
The main reason I think that people choose the 458 over the 12c is emotional - its a much more visceral car (as noted above), makes lots of noise, has loads of buttons on the wheel etc etc. But, if you want a driving tool to go faster than anything else in its class, you will buy a 12c. Regarding price, the current over-stock situation in the US is all the more reason to buy one as its currently got to be the supercar bargain of the century! AS far as residuals go, they'll all end up similar in a few years whether F-car, Lambo, or Mac.
The main reason I think that people choose the 458 over the 12c is emotional - its a much more visceral car (as noted above), makes lots of noise, has loads of buttons on the wheel etc etc. But, if you want a driving tool to go faster than anything else in its class, you will buy a 12c. Regarding price, the current over-stock situation in the US is all the more reason to buy one as its currently got to be the supercar bargain of the century! AS far as residuals go, they'll all end up similar in a few years whether F-car, Lambo, or Mac.
Yesterday I took mine for the trip to Germany but was rather frustrated with the small thiings that don't allways work. Dashboard lighting only came up after some miles, elec window that doesn't want to close completely causing terrible wind wispering, car that doesn't want to start as it can't find the key, .. I was so frustrated I called the dealer they gave me an untested - unfinished proto type. There are some things to be considered eg keep the key away from the middle console .... It was heavily raining and really couldn't push too much but wauw. It consumes less than my 4,2 Touareg Diesel . When driving back the evening all was dry and could release more of the power and the highways were free. This thing is unbelievable stable at high speeds and gives lots of confidence.It's really easy to drive and not as tiring as the 458 on long fast trips. As it only has 300miles on it I didn't take it over 8000rpm and speeds of 160mph (260kmh) are easily maintained. I'd suggest you'd drive one but drive one for more than a day to appreciate it as this car is different from what we're used to. The playing with the geatbox, the launches, hanging in the curves at high speeds are addictive but could potentially cause driving licence loss. we'll see
. When driving back the evening all was dry and could release more of the power and the highways were free. This thing is unbelievable stable at high speeds and gives lots of confidence.It's really easy to drive and not as tiring as the 458 on long fast trips. As it only has 300miles on it I didn't take it over 8000rpm and speeds of 160mph (260kmh) are easily maintained. I'd suggest you'd drive one but drive one for more than a day to appreciate it as this car is different from what we're used to. The playing with the geatbox, the launches, hanging in the curves at high speeds are addictive but could potentially cause driving licence loss. we'll see