The official MP4-12C Thread

Just back from the MTC visit, have to say they looked after us very very well, just my Brother and myself, we were there for nearly 3 Hours.

Unfortunately not allowed any pics

Things I learned today

the chassis numbers are all over the place, the youngest car on the line was 66 but the car in front was 42 and there was a finished Mclaren orange LHD car that was 33 but earlier ones still being built.

Colours
Quite a few white cars and graphite
Fire black looked just black indoors no colour fleck at all but probably caused by the lighting
2 VO's on the line looked great.
Only one Volcano Red, which I'm glad I've chosen (As as Lewis Hamilton I'm told).
The Sapphire black is very very dark blue, similar to Porsche midnight blue ice silver? which is a very very light blue is a bit insipid particularly with silver wheels
std blue is well, blue, IMHO very dull

Std exhaust has a nice sound at idle

Cars are waiting for Iris and rear centre brake lights which apparently will be a bit more smoked in appearance than those fitted

All UK cars will have white side marker inserts as against orange for US etc

My car is apparently in layup/ make up at the old Woking factory where they fit the body panels, crash structures etc before moving to MTC for paint

Completed cars are being stored in the MTC awaiting final parts

Every car has a 6 hour inspection by two techs prior to final sign off

Painting will continue to be done by hand in the MTC even when the MPC is in full production

 

How far is MTC from London? Perhaps I should pay a visit next month

 

Approx 30 minute drive/ 20 mins train

 

Hi Mark,how many cars would you say are ready in the MTC,hope one of the VO cars is mine,dont suppose you remember if one had lightweight silver wheels??? If your car is in layup ,did they tell you when you might be getting it ,or are they still unsure of the iris timeline??

 

They are very private and will not welcome an unscheduled visit

 

Hi Andy, Didn't have access to all the stored cars apparently they are mainly in a basement level of the MTC. neither of the two VO cars had the wheels fitted but think they were earlier chassis' in the 30 to 50 range

 

Thanks Mark,glad you had a good day,waiting is starting to get hard,need another fix soon!!

 

I should be able to arrange a private tour. My partner is a sponsor of McLaren F1 and I am also a customer.

 

Could you clarify : as of today is the production in MTC or MPC ie where was the line to which you refer ? TIA

 

MTC, some bits are moving to MPC over next few weeks with full move towards end of June I believe

 

From Autoblog.com
Report: McLaren crashes MP4 12C on the 'Ring... is a record attempt in the cards?

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/24/mclaren-crashes-mp4-12c-on-the-ring-is-a-record-attempt-in-t/

 

Does anyone have a picture of a McLaren in Pearl White? I had spec the car in Orange but am thinking of changing it to Pearl White.

 

i think the car they are using for the top gear shoot is that colour ,if not its the standard white,mag out in the uk on 15th june,but there are a couple of shots of it on mclarenlife

 

King, go join mclarenlife.com More information on the MP4 can be found there.

 

What has happened to all the discussion here?

I was expecting lots of comments given Car magazine track test comparo.

I have to say the results are very surprising.

 

I think you are right, the Car & 5th Gear tests especially have not helped at all.

 

I have no idea why McLaren didn't anticipate the bad press and have a counter attack ready.

These tests were no surprise to them. Yet, they are silent. Ron goes to Valencia. If I'm a future owner or a dealer --- that's NOT where I want to see him today. I want to see him in the factory sorting things out!

They should have been doing massive PR in advance the last few weeks on how good the car is and had a counter attack strategy when the bad press was released. Instead, everyone is asking "what went wrong" while the factory and it's leadership stand quiet.

Strange. I guess either they don't care about public relations or think they are correct and everyone else is wrong. What is even stranger is why they have left those with deposits down to ponder "what happened to the best handling sports car in the world we were promised?".

I'll tell you the first guy that should lose his job at McLaren --- the head of their PR department!

 

I must say I also am surprised they have not come out with more PR to counter the bad press. They did attempt to counter it partly by running the car again with Chris Goodwin after the 'Car' test, but I can't believe they didn't send an independent source along to verify their purported track times. It all smells very fishy to me.

I think there are many people thinking twice now, ultimately it is how the car feels to each individual that is buying, but some buyers are influenced by these reports, the 5th Gear boys I respect & both Jason & Tiff don't like it. I would want to drive one for myself & make up my own mind before buying.

 

My personal jets cooled on the the McLaren last year when I saw the car and spoke with the factory reps. The focus was on all the poseur stuff like colors and stitching and carbon doo-dads and infotainment system. Then allthey'd tell me was the "dry" weight which told me that, despite all the techno carbon wizardry the car was not significantly lighter than the competition.

IMO, McLaren lost its focus going after the poseur crowd and forgot to build a car based on Bruce McLaren's heritage or even the F1. In 1972 the Can Am McLarens were iconic 1700 lb mostrosities with 750 bhp. The F1 was small, light, powerful and marched to its own drummer.

The MP4 should have had a curb weight of 2700 lbs and been more pure of purpose from my perspective; if I want a more luxury and poseur car I'd go Ferrari for sure since it is one of the top brands in the world, instantly recognizable and less likely to plummet in value and have valets ask if its a kit car.

That said, what I have heard is that the MP4 is significanlty quicker than the 458 in all objective categores, it is just that the subejctive fun factor is panned. Maybe a more pure sports car woudl have fared better?

 

anyone seen this video?

http://www.klips.net/video/gxbnsh-mclaren-mp4-12c-supercar-group-test-autocar.html

 

Yes seen it, but thanks for posting, that is one of the tests I mentioned in an earlier post.

 

McLaren has revised the GT3 racecar, and running it at Goodwood:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/01/mclaren-running-revised-mp4-12c-gt3-up-the-hill-at-goodwood/

Looks even better than before, IMO.

 

still the same nasty, dull sounding engine? and they're using anti-roll bar and lsd setup instead of hydraulic roll control and brake steer? hmm.....

 

Because PCC and brake steer aren't allowed in the series, that's why