The official MP4-12C Thread

Krzys, I think the roadandtrack weights you list are with driver for the Vettes. Curb weight on Z06 is under 3200 everywhere I have seen. Maybe I'll stick mine on my race scales just to see.

For me, this car needs to be entirely about the driving. Not luxury. Not amenities. Not smooth ride. McLaren's heritage to me harkens back not just to the current F1 team, but to Bruce McLaren and the mighty Can Am cars. The heritage is RACING. The F1 road car was minimally compromised for driving on the street.

I am clearly not the target demographic because I'd gladly tolerate a harsh ride, tons of noise, lack of nav and much more for a 2500 lb car. The MP4-12C seems aimed at taking sales from established exotic car buyers of Ferrari, Lambo rather than being its own product. That may be the smart business plan, but it does not speak to me

A small example. I corresponded with the factory a while back about features I was interested in. I asked about smaller diameter wheels. They are lighter and more rave tires are available in 18 than in 19 or 20. For example my Z06 track wheels are 18s as minus sizing gives me more options for slicks.

The factory had no interest. Disappointing to me

Someone also asked what I thought a quantum leap in performance should mean. Well it is not 20 more horsepower and 7% less weight than a 458. Or for that matter 45 less horsepower and 7% or so less weight than a ZR1. Maybe all the tech innovations will also make the car vastly better than the sum of its parts but I had in mind something that was 20% lighter than a 458 and at least 10% lighter than a Z06 with at least the power of a ZR1. Something that in every statistical category is better than any other car at or below its price point, the effect of which would help assure performance akin to a Porsche Cup car in comparison to a 911 Carrera

I am not looking for a daily driver in the MP4-12C. I am looking for a car for when the one and only thing I want to do is focus on performance driving and that includes on track. Maybe especially on track.

I don't care about a splashy arrival at the restaurant or Cars and Coffee or anything like that.

I just can't help but feel McLaren has lost too much of the racing heritage in this car in pursuit of the luxury and perhaps even poseur component of the exotic car market and that makes me sad

Despite all that I am interested in the car and want one, but not enough to be an early adopted buying without seeing what production cars are really like. (I am also skeptical of the performance, as I know how easy it is to program a turbo car ecu to do amazing things that might make me unwilling to warrantyong term)

Maybe krzys will take his car to the strip and track to report if it is all that and I'll kick myself for not having his vision and confidence as i wait impatiently for the MP4-12C I should have already ordered!

 

You are not their target.
They will not make the volume and profit with guys like you,the market for what you desire is just way too small.
Why don't you get the new Atom V8?

 

I think you are right; I am not the target. I have gotten much more into racing over the last 10 years and as a result street cars are more and more of a letdown when it comes time to drive on track.

The Ariel product is not that impressive to me. No aero to speak of and racers I know who have driven it are unimpressed with handling. The Caterham and Radical offerings are better in that they both have aero offerings in the 1300 lb range

Actually the McLaren I am more interested in is the M8F. Just a race car but comfortably over 700 hp and 1700 lbs. McLaren did this 40 years ago and despite modern technology can't get very close in a street car.

But I think the idea is to have a comfortable street car with performance that exceeds everything at or near the price point and I think this car will do that. Problem is that most of the performance cannot really be explored anywhere but on track and that is where the compromises of the MP4-12C will frustrate me

 

I think those wheels look great. I am probably going to go with those for everyday use and then get a set of the super-lightweights for track. But the ones on the fire black are my fave- less spokes looks more aggressive IMO.

I think krzys said the IRIS upgrade is also required for track pack. Perhaps he can elaborate.

 

Keith;
Have you seen the link ?

Also there will be a way to turn off the all the nannies for owners only.
That plus the firm/quick modes translate into the best street/track car.
Impressive.

 

Thanks. I'm most likely not going to spend much, if any time, at the track and would rarely use the nav.....so I'm thinking I could save the $6,850. As it turns out I am McLaren's target market as I'm looking for luxury, sport and performance all in one car.

 

No, I don't really know: just rumors from some Brits on other forums. I should have confirmation from my dealer next week, though.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I could live without the upgraded sound system. Dealer's giving me the line: it'll help resale but I don't believe it.

 

Keith,

You are clearly not the target, at least for now. The rumored lightweight special might be what you are after. However, if you want significant downforce and all that jazz,why not go for a dedicated open wheeler: like formula Renault? It's 200k and will run circles around anything even vaguely street related.

I agree, though to some degree on the McLaren attitude: when I was asking about harness or roll bar, they were looking at me kinda puzzled.

By the way, the weights I listed are curb weights. They separately list test weights (with drivers).

 

Come on, you should take it to the track at least a couple times. The most glorious thing about mid-engined supercars is truly insane speed you can carry into turns. The best way to bond with friends and family. They will never look at you the same way.

 

You know, I probably will just try it so I can really let it loose but it's for sure not my main motivation for getting the car. I want a comfy car that I can drive hard on the road but you make a great point....tracking the car seems fun and a great way to spend time with friends and other owners.

 

My (teenage) kids love hanging out at the track, even though, they have little interest in cars.

 

I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities to take the cars to the track via Mclaren/dealer sanctioned events of one type or another. Even if the event is very low-intensity, being on track is awesome- you really won't regret it.

 

Do you guys think that Fire Black will do any better at hiding that thin layer of dust that makes pure black cars look like they are constantly dirty? i.e. because of the speckled finish of the Fire Black? If so, it would seem like a great compromise as I really don't have the time and energy to keep a black car looking pristine!

 

That black looks good. I think the car looks plain but black seems to help. Having said that, I would love to one of these cars. I think even over a 458? Anyway, having done a fair number of street miles and track laps in a McLaren F1, I am anxious to see how this car compares.

 

Well I would assume that these Fire Black photos were taken with a high-quality SLR camera, judging by the clarity and aperture focus. What a difference. From the beginning, I have felt that McLaren made a mistake with the original images that they released of the Volcano Orange car. I love the Volcano Orange colour, but the airbrushed glamour images they released were crap. They softened all the lines of the car, didn't show any contrast and generally just made the car look too tame. Plus, the standard wheels are just not aggressive looking at all, IMO, especially in non-stealth finish. I guess they need to work on their marketing, but I would have just got a pro photographer to take some shots like these Fire Black ones, instead. It wasn't until I saw the car in the metal at the dealership reveal that I became really excited, and these pics are definitely more true to that experience.

 

Another nice gallery of high-quality photos, here:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/car/2012-mclaren-mp4-12c/gallery

 

Good point, the new High Res real-life photos by the journalists are much better than the McLaren press images. The 12c has gone from digital cartoon to real car and it is much more interesting.

 

Love this pic.
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And this one.
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It looks like an eager, orange puppy .

 

I know running & maintenance costs, will be irrelevant to some, but I copied this from another forum.

"I was told by McLaren the servicing costs for the MC 4 is £900 per year (annual service including all liquids). There is only 1 level for servicing! Further, insurance cost should be much lower as the factory will rebuild the car at cost if the Tub is damaged in an accident. During 3 consecutive 56mph front impact crash tests, the Tub was unscathed. McLaren said it took approximate 3 man hours to rebuild the front end following crash testing."

For those looking to use it day to day, and considering it's 24.2 mpg UK combined cycle mpg figure, It shouldn't be a ridiculously expensive machine to keep on the road.

 

Anyone looking for some fabulous 12C pic's, may I recommend a great thread on Team-speed. It should be 1st result of the Google search below. I would post a direct link, but it's censored here, what's that all about?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Y63&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=McLaren+MP4-12C+Picture+thread+page+25&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

Here are a few detail shots, recently posted. There are many more for those interested.
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