McLaren Depreciation 12-C: a nightmare- werewolf?

Only issue is the 12S will probably be a 2015. If you have any questions about 12C ownership, you can PM if you like.

Best,
Tony

 

Curious as rumors are just that but I'm ready to get off the dime and get a my12. The dealer was very accommodating and patient. They will deal on a new car that I really liked but when I asked when the replacement is due the said they didn't know. I asked if it would be less than a year from now and the lead me to believe no BUT when I said I'll take the new car but if a replacement comes out in 6 months or less they would need to give me full credit toward the new version as protection... They got nervous. My guess is the new car is out sooner than you think... I'm going to wait

 

Bob, there will be the following from McLaren in order:

1) P1 2014-2015
2) 12S which is a Stradale/Scud/Speciale of the 12C probably not until end of 2014
3) P13 911 Turbo Fighter (Volume Mc) sometime after 2015

What Dealer are you speaking too?

 

Interesting, I make a similar observation here in switzerland, had a similar discussion with a dealer this late summer. Actual there are 13 MP4's on the market, thereof are 7 new cars (4 Coupés and 3 Spiders). The cheapest one is (non-negotiated) approx. 100k CHF under the list price. If interested it seems it makes sense to wait, anything goes at McLaren... (Facelift? 12S? P13 entry level model? Year-end pressure? Or just not enough demand?)
Dear Mc-owners, please don't kill me now...

 

Got it, thank you. I'm very curious if the 12S / 12C will receive a new face lift (similar lights as the P1).

 

There will always be a different and likely better car on the horizon; at some point you have to just jump in. Trust me, the water's fine.

Or you can wait and wait and wait.

 

...and wait and wait and wait - and save money for the P1!
The P1 did a sensational record time on the Nürburgring (not official), have fun!

McLaren P1 on the Nürburgring! HARD sound + chase! 1080p HD - YouTube

 

Hey I am one of those guys that paid full pop MSRP for my 12C, I guess I won't sell it now, as you only lose when you sell. LOL

 

I've driven the 458 and the Mclaren on the track. One right after the other. This gives a great idea of how the cars compare to each other. I've also driven the Aventador, 911, R8 (V10), F430, Lambo Superleggera.

On the track the top two IMHO were the 458 and the Mclaren MP4-12C. I'd put them so close to each other its hard to call a winner. If you want to own just one you probably get more brand cache with the Ferrari of course. Ferrari is the iconic top brand. However behind the wheel on the public roads or on a track these are too close to call.

I didn't even enjoy driving all the other cars RELATIVE to these two cars. Both amazing products of engineering.

BTW if you want a Mclaren P1 which is an amazing car (just broke the ring record) you may still be able to get one. Inquire at your local Mclaren dealer. Just make sure you have 1.2M plus tax. I'm not sure how the resale on these will be or if they will hold their value. At 1.2M your exposed to significant loss if depreciation is significant. Also this car is so sick I'd say unless you can drive it on a track and/or are just a collector with cash to burn that it is not worth it. You'll get frustrated driving it on public roads. I get frustrated now driving my F430 and M5 on public roads. Public road aggravation gets worse after you have no limits on the track....

 

You should go drive one. You might be willing to pay a little more

 

I own both cars (2013 458 Spider, 2013 12C Spider) and I've tracked my 458 (coupe that I traded in January when my Spider came in) and my 12C. I totally agree with you that it is too close to call a winner. They're both fantastic cars.

All that nonsense about how the 12C provides less emotion, is just that - nonsense. There's plenty of drama waiting under your right foot and its delivered with a smoothness of purpose that will put a huge smile on your face. Whether you're driving through the city or on a race track. Another myth is that the Ferrari is more exciting to drive at regular speeds. That's more nonsense. They're both equally enjoyable to drive at regular speeds. I have a tough time choosing between then in the morning!

The reason I often venture into threads like these is to give a Ferrari owner's view on what it is like to own the McLaren. Ferrari is much more known entity so it doesn't need that sort of defense although occasionally I have to also fight myths on McLarenLife when McLaren owners go overboard. For example, one myth is that the McLaren is a better daily driver. True: the suspension on the McLaren makes it a smoother drive, the seats are more comfortable, the stereo is better and it can beautifully swallow bumps that can unsettle the Ferrari however the Ferrari is also a great daily driver, steers as smoothly as melted butter, is quiet when you want it to be and is roomier inside so it can carry more stuff. It also has some available convenience OPTIONS that McLaren doesn't currently offer such as: backup camera, AFS lighting, satellite radio, Homelink, auto-dimming mirrors, satellite traffic, and visual indication for parking sensors. They're both comfortable, wonderful cars that will speak loudly to your love of driving!

If I had to choose one spider over the other I'd probably keep the McLaren because I also have a Ferrari FF that I love.

I've got one of those on order. I plan to drive it on both road and track. In my opinion with only 375 cars being made they'll likely hold their value in the long term. I had decided on the P1 before I bought my 12C Spider. Now having owned the 12C for a while I'm even more excited for the P1! I know it will be a really special car.

 

Congrats on that P1! I'd be very excited. Would love to hear how you like it when you get delivery of it. It is just incredible.

I'm considering a Mclaren P1 myself or a Porsche 918. Any thoughts from anyone here on the boards which is likely to hold its value the best or appreciate more over 5 to 10 years? With limited runs for both and the fact they are hyper exotic flagship cars of these 2 iconic brands should one would think the resale might be favorable?

I lost a couple hundred on my F430 and since Ferrari won't sell me a LaFerrari which is the most likely to be the best investment of the other two super cars (other 2 being 918 and P1)?

 

Congratulations on the great cars! Mark, can you comment on how much shake/ solidity the 458 and 12C spiders exhibit?

Objectively I think both are fantastic supercars. Subjectively, that really comes down to personal preference. I prefer the 458 for the usual reasons but I can't sit here and say the 12C is somehow bad. Its excellent. Its just the marketing side McLaren got wrong.

 

The p1 ring time is a rumor started by a mate on Macca life. Mclaren are still at 7.04 but I'm sure could beat the 918 once Macca have finished setting it up.

 

All the times, including the 7:04, are just rumors until they make one official.

But I agree with you that P1 should be able to beat the 918 around that track. Top Gear stated the 0-124mph number on the two cars was 6.8 for the P1 and 7.9 for the 918 - that's a 1.1 second difference to 124Mph! And the P1's 9.8 second 1/4 mile time at 152 mph is astounding! The two cars share the same 0-60 times but the P1 widens the gap over the 918 well past 1/4 mile. So it just seems quite plausible that 600 pound-less, higher horsepower, P1 can beat the 918 around track so a 6:47 time (to the 918's 6:57 time) on a long track like that doesn't seem so outrageous if the 918 can do 6:57.

But regardless, they're both going to be amazing cars! One of my friends is buying the 918 and I can't wait for the day we get to try each others cars on the track. The thing I love about the 918 is that it is a spider which would be great for the nice sunny days we get here in NC.

 

The 12C feels like its carved out a solid piece of rock. You never feel shake. I never really had an appreciation for torsional rigidity until I drove the 12C. If I drive it for a few days and then switch to the 458 I start to think somebody loosened all the bolts on the 458. That feeling goes away after a few hours of 458 driving. The 458 is an amazing solid car on its own. If you hadn't spent enough time in the 12C you'd think the 458 was the poster child of solidity (especially in terms of convertibles). I had a 2010 Italia before my 2013 Spider and I was blown away that the 2013 ride was more refined, and solid, even though it was a spider. But the 12C raises the bar on solidity.

It's also got the most incredible suspension. It sucks up bumps that unsettle the 458. You see them coming and you flinch for them but they don't rattle you like they do in other cars. It's a very strange feeling you might expect from a GT car (like the FF) but you don't expect it in a pure sports car. Maybe this is what people mistake for "low emotion" - maybe they want the drama of a car that shakes over the bumps. I don't really get why - it's one of the things I especially love about the car.

The Ferrari brand gets in your blood. There's nothing else like it. Ferrari is a such a passionate brand. It's is so hard to just be purely objective about their cars. The way they drive along with the styling, the sound, and the history behind them is (in my opinion) different from any other manufacturer. Sometimes I'm driving to/from work and I look around the interior and I yell out "Ferrari!" with rolled-r's and an Italian accent. Yeah, these cars bring out the big kid in me. Both the 458 and the FF just make you feel so good about life when you're driving them. The reason I love the FF so much is because I can drive a red-blooded Ferrari on cold, rainy, crappy days buoyed by the confidence of it's great 4-wheel-drive system and the roar of its voracious V12. It's going to go where you point it, even if you get a little overzealous with the right pedal in the wet or slush.

But for me McLaren is building passion in its own way that's different from Ferrari. The more I drive it, and the more I see it in my garage beside the Ferraris, the more I'm developing the same sort of passion for the brand that I have for Ferrari. Because they don't have the road car history that Ferrari does the only way to get truly infected with McLaren fever is to drive it. As a full-blooded Ferrari owner I was surprised how quickly my appreciation for McLaren developed after driving it just a few times. I'm passionate about technology and the McLaren just feels so incredibly evolved in that area. It's evolved in a different direction from Ferrari but not worse. One of my friends says the 12C feels like Ferrari and Porsche got married and it was their baby. It has many of the good qualities of each but still has its own distinct identity. I had a few nice Porsches (also loved them!) before and I can see what he means by that.

I think McLaren's brand will grow and thrive - especially once they have another model or two (not including limited ones like P1) on offer. They need time to mature and I'm confident they will. Part of the reason I wanted to get a 12C was to make sure I was making the right choice on the P1. The 12C has completely made the sale for the P1 and every time I drive it I'm feeling even more excitement for it. The hard decision is going to be what do to when the P1 shows up. I'm not sure I'll want to let go of the 12C but I'm out of garage space.

Sorry if that's a little long-winded. I need to go for a drive now!

 

Thats not long winded- thats a great post! Thanks!

I drove a 458 Spider and I thought it was a little too shaky for my tastes but Ive driven the Italia (and 12C coupe) and I think those are nice and solid feeling. I was wondering how the 12C spider compares since its got the CF tub.

 

+458 and +12c, Great Post MarkNC!

 

Wow this is a steal: Asking $275K for a new 12c spider.

2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider, $275,000 - Cars.com

 

It's a steal because they are asking MSRP on a new spider where every other 12c spider for sale is 20-30 grand more.

It's a steal because you can walk into a dealer and drive out with one today without an 18 month waiting period or having to buy another car just to get on the list.

It's a steal because 458 spiders are still way over MSRP. With this car's performance, that's a remarkable bargain.

Sorry you can't see that: The 12c and now the 12c spider are bargains.

Bargains are good for consumers. Anyone looking for a 12c spider should be happy.

 

I'm not. I've driven it and it has the same problems for me as the reasons why I gave up the 458.

But, my opinion doesn't matter. The 12c gives F cars a run for the money and with them at bargain prices like these, I can see them making a comeback.