Ferrari LaFerrari vs Mclaren P1 vs Porsche 918

Don't expect Ferrari to ever go to the Ring and announcee a official time. Its not going to happen because Ferrari can care less. McLaren on the other hand has its hands full because they now need to shave at LEAST 8 seconds off their current time, which is going to be a very large challenge for obvious reasons.

 

According to Porsche, the Weissach Package reduces weight by almost exactly 100 pounds ... but this weight savings is achieved with magnesium wheels, more use of carbon fiber, less carpet, less leather, etc. I think the batteries are the same as the standard 918.

I just read somewhere that the ~100 pounds weight saving is probably worth ~ 2 seconds at the 'ring (sounds reasonable).

 

IMO on the Road all three will be plenty fast.

 

The 'ring times recently posted by the McLaren (7:04) and Porsche (6:57, Weissach Package) are 'gently' leading me to a conclusion: the 7 minute barrier will be something of a "checkbox" item for the new supercars ... beyond that, nobody will care very much at all.

Many have already argued that lap times at the 'ring are not the be-all, end-all that some may think ... a statement with which i would agree (otherwise, every car guy with means would have purchased Viper ACRs not long ago). And now, I think the 7-minute barrier conveniently presents itself as a check-mark threshold, one that helps "define" a supercar (not entirely unlike the 3-second threshold for 0-60 times) among the current generation of hyper-performance. Beyond that, only a small handful of hardcore enthusiasts will argue about 3 seconds under 7 minutes versus 1 second under 7 minutes versus 6 seconds under 7 minutes (where we'll have endless debates about which tires, relative humidities, etc etc).

An impressive performance by Porsche, to be sure (perhaps not entirely unexpected, given that the 918 was developed around this track)! Slightly disappointing performance from McLaren (so far). But what I'm saying is this : cross the 7-minute barrier, and as a manufacturer, lap times at the 'ring will have zero impact on sales ... that's my humble conclusion (fwiw)

 

I don't want to keep sounding like a fan boy, but could this be due to the AWD configuration (as well as AWS) of the 918?

Porsche seems to have really thought this car out well and engineered it solidly. Of the 3, the 918 would likely worry me the least in terms of real world reliability.

Also, the roof comes off.

 

Not to mention the HUGE price difference between the 918 and the others

 

Seriously? If they couldn't care less why did they already publicly state that they would be under 7 minutes? That isn't the action of a company that couldn't care less.

 

Definitely. Torque vectoring and aws gives it amazing lateral g even if on street tires and with conventional roll bars. Now think how much quicker than the others this would be in less than ideal conditions. Shame LaF didn't use an electric version of their 4rm

 

Now..what if the New GTR Nismo laps faster than that?

 

Well throwing down a laptime of 6:57 at the Nordscheilfe takes a REAL man ....in any car

 

If I was a Mac buyer, I would be feeling a little anxious right now. No doubt some concerned faces in Woking and Maranello as aside from clearly being quicker than most supposed, you know this complex technology will work and you get a convertible thrown in. I am not surprised if they sell all 918. Well done Porsche, never to be doubted.

Given the cars weight it must be pulling some pretty amazing lateral g?

 

LdM has always said Porsche is their natural rival...

 

Really? I wouldnt. Not because the Mclaren can still be faster but because these laptimes only mean so much. Granted, if the P1 was only pulling a 7.30 lap or even a 7.20, i would almost agree with you but 10 sec slower at the ring should not guide one's decision to buy one or the other. These supercars should first and foremost talk to your emotion before cold lap times. IMHO.

 

Generally I agree with you, but the fact is that Mac have teed themselves up, from the very beginning, with the P1's USP being ultimate performance. It is not a car like the LaF which is all about the emotion as well as performance. It is about performance and then emotion. If it can't 'win' the bench race at the 'Ring my personal view is that it will affect Mac sales.

As for Ferrari - I think they do care about a competitive 'Ring time, but not as much as the others because everyone knows the LaF will be an amazing investment grade ride regardless, and they will shift the entire production without any problems.

 

Let me throw a question out...If you could have any of the three cars and could keep it for three years for free and then have to give it back...
Which would you take?

 

Let's assume that McLaren and Porsche are able to sell their entire allotment of vehicles. How many of those owners do you think will even be able to get close to 7 minutes in their cars? I can't fathom how the actual time different professional drivers achieve in these various cars will negatively impact the ownership experience.

Greg A

 

The 918 because it is probably (IMHO) the one that will run without major issues for those three years, maximizing my driving time.

Greg A

 

no one will go that fast but almost everyone will waiting with excitement for stig lap times

 

same here....also I happen to think it is the prettiest as well

 

9250rpm V12 . . . hard to ignore that.

 

I would take the LaF!!!

But I also love the other two! I think it is bloody marvelous that these 3 cars are coming out on the market at roughly the same time for enthusiasts who can afford them to choose from (or buy any combination or all of them!)

 

exactly, laFerrari with modified exhaust will be sound amazing
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvaNPyMJDto]Ferrari F12 Berlinetta w/ Innotech Exhaust - SOUND(!) comparison - YouTube[/ame]

 

"THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE"

BTW for all the people saying that laptimes are irrelevant...trust me...the kind of people that buy these cars DO care about that....
Its called bragging rights

Yeah love the sound of the Ferrari V-12's...who doesn't

 

If I didn't have to give it back after "just" three cost-free years . . .

 

If I got to keep it La Ferrari would be my choice..