458 vs McLaren MP4-12C--- Your thoughts?

Do you have any specific data or information from McLaren about the standard brakes vs. CCBs? I hadn't thought about the load & heat dispersion, but that does make sense - did you get that directly from McLaren or are you making an assumption? Just wondering if there is any information available from the company about the durability of the CCBs for track use.

 

I am a bit wary about the diffusers, since they can get easily damaged with a simple two-wheel off at the track. That's my main concern. Do you know how much the carbon backed seats save over the regular ones? Also, i thought with light-weight exhaust you get a sport button to control the volume? True, false?

Interesting thing about the brakes, makes sense, though. I might still be tempted to go for carbon, since they are larger, so despite the unsprung weight penalty, they should offer better braking. My only concern is replacement costs. After my adventures with Scud's rotors, I am a bit concerned.

 

Don't underestimate the influence this piece will have on the target market compared to the usual suspect car rags.

 

No doubt. One interesting thing: he quotes the weight at 3276, which is quite a bit higher than McLaren quotes. The complaints, by now are standard, though: looks and sound. I still can't find any serious comments on steering feel/communication. People seem overwhelmed by performance. I guess, we will have to wait till April, when first cars are given to the mags.

 

Well I specced my car yesterday and opted for the sports exhaust, my dealer played me a sound clip with it fitted,standard box is around 95Db and the Sports is 105Db. Interestingly Mclaren has restricted the revs to 4K if the car is stationary in N, roll on the summer

 

So no on/off switch for the exhaust?

 

Trojan. Your goading in respect of the '7 min' quote is getting tiresome. Why don't we just settle it this way: Which car do you think will blitz the ring.....the Italia or the MC...? I think most of us Ferrari owners will be a bit subdued when that comparison eventually is made....

 

Love the line 'was honored by the factory and invited to acquire one'...!! You mean they identified you as one of the unquestioning Ferraristas with big bucks who is easily convinced to cough up for the latest marketing exercise...? Hysterical. The 599xx is nothing more than a Ferrari production road car, that is then 'breathed' on by the factory and chango-presto....the new supercar! Uh...no. It's slower than an Italia....and that is slower than a new MC. As someone else said earlier....stay in the bubble....it's warm in there.

ps. as for butt ugly...the 599 is exactly that...bloated and generic. Subjective you say...? Yes, but so is your opinion on the MC's looks...

 

I'm out of this discussion.

For my thoughts, suggest you read the entirety of my posts above, as well as those that rcraig and others have contributed.

IMO, this has become nothing but a McLaren chest beating thread...neither appropriate nor what Ferrari chat is designed to be but its up to the admin/monitors to manage it.

 

...as for 'chest beating'....I think you need to re-read your own posts...

 

This is useless. The guy's insecurities go all the way from here to Maranello. No point encouraging the troll. Let's talk about cars.

 

No reason to close the thread if we just carry on with mature discussion. Still lots of objective information being shared here, in between outbursts. Plus, this 458 vs 12C comparison is just beginning, so we need to find a way to address the topic in a civil manner. Many 12C owners will be Ferrari owners, so the topic is here to stay in one form or another.

I read that the hydraulic suspension may be heavily influenced by the technology on Loeb's rally car, that was banned by FIA in 2006. Pretty cool - I wasn't previously aware of a racing connection.

I wonder if Ferrari will contemplate it for upcoming cars?

 

F1 and Rally tech: yes, they are going all out. On the other hand, didn't the old RS6 (circa 2003) have a hydraulic system to kill roll?

 

All this thread has morphed into is two or three guys trying to convince the Ferrari community that we somehow should ditch our Ferrari's for the faster McLaren even though many of us have strived to own a Ferrari for our entire lives. Its been my life long ambition since I was in the fifth grade watching Magnum PI and later Crocket and Tubbs flying around Miami in a Daytona and later the Testarossa. I've wanted to own one of these magnificent cars since then and that's just not the same emotion that I have for the McLaren. Maybe years from now I will ad a McLaren after they have proved that they hold their value like my new Ferraris and I am within closer distance to a McLaren service center, until then I'm staying with Ferrari.

 

Jim, that is an over-simplification and I'm pretty sure you know that. Nobody here is telling anybody to ditch their Ferrari and I have no plans to ditch mine. If it seems like discussion is one-sided at the moment, in terms of content, it is because the 12C data just became available a few days ago.

 

Here's suspension walk around:
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/09/2012-mclaren-mp4-12c-suspension-walkaround.html

They mention Loeb's inspiration.

 

Another thing here: they mention that the dihedral doors are not a bling choice but were the only way to maintain the tub stiffness: no space for door hinges.

 

LOL!

 

I don't know what planet your from but Ferrari's and holding residuals don't go together in the UK, ask any 360, 430 owner. Of course a new model will initially hold it's value even have a premium but that is all short lived and is only due to supply and demand, just as I would expect the MP4 to run at a premium for a short while untill the supply meets demand. I am not knocking Ferrari for the sake of knocking but if you are choosing a Ferrari because " they hold their value " please wake up and smell the roses. I would like to point out I am a Ferrari owner and am getting a MP4 so feel qualified to make this observation. There is only one way a mass produced car is going in regard values nad that is down as your salesman.

 

They told me that the noise in the cabin is varied via the suspension setting ie Track, normal, but were not clear if this altered the volume outside they did say the valves open at different rpm levels

 

Well Chris this is my seventh new Ferrari in the last 11 years so I am also qualified to speak as to resale value in the US. I have never lost $1 on any new Ferrari I've ever bought. I simply get the newest model and when the next one comes available I turn my used one back and the cycle continues. I plan on doing the same thing when my 458 Spider comes in, but anyway good luck with your McLaren.

 

Did you get a scud at MSRP and then sold it last year for an Italia at MSRP? And you did not lose 1$?

 

Nope, I past on the Scud I thought it was over priced. My last new Fcar was my 2006 430 spider that I sold back to Algar in early 2008 for exactly what I paid for it.

 

Good decision. The market for that (my) car has collapsed over the last 2-3 years.

 

Another thing, do you expect your Italia to fetch MSRP when the Spider comes out next year?