McLaren discontinues 12C, offers owners free upgrade

Look for the 12C to really tank now....

 

Seems like this is great news if you're looking for bang for the buck.

Yeah, McLaren overproduced and overplayed the 12C. Yeah, they mangled their plans with the 650 S. Yeah, it seems that - between the whole 918 production numbers, the 918 'Ring time debacle, and the 12C/650 S - one hand isn't talking to the other in Woking.

But if you're looking to get into a super sports car the secondhand way, this is one hell of an opportunity. The bargain-basement pricing, combined with McLaren's desire to keep customers happy by offering free improvements to the 12Cs, means you could probably walk into a Macca dealer and pick up a CPO 12C for, with some negotiating, $150-$175K - and still have it upgraded with all the '13 and '14 "thanks for buying, please don't dump it on the market because the value is falling" refits - the 616 hp reflash for the computer, improved shift programming, revised active aero, etc.

Meaning you could have an ostensibly new mid-engined exotic - one that'll run with the best sports cars on the planet - for the price of an Aston Martin Vantage V8. Or a Mercedes-Benz CL600.

Sure, it might not be quite as much fun as a 458. At even money, I'd take the Ferrari every time. Even if the Macca was $40K less, I'd probably go for the Ferrari. But at $100K (or more) less than an Italia?

Bad for McLaren, good for secondhand customers.

 

Very true. They are terrific cars. At near the same price as a GTR, it is much more appealing.

SV

 

Where are you finding Mclaren's for the same price as a GTR?

 

True to the McLaren ethos, the benefits of such progress are not limited to our new models. As a McLaren owner, we want to be able to share these developments with you with the offer of a free Technology Upgrade available from June.

This excerpt from McLaren's latest communique ( aka R.I.P. 12C email) is a slap on the Mac owners face.

A few free software reflashes is suppose to appease the pain on the news your 12C is now discontinued….not the best way to treat good paying customers.

 

It's a phenomenal car. I don't have a dealer within 100 miles or I probably would have gotten one instead of my 458. I personally found it to be as fun as the 458, you just have to go even faster. Which is sort of insane.

 

Well said. I agree. I love the 458, but I would love to add a 12C spider...

 

Oh well. 12C is done and it remains to be seen what the longer term fallout is. But I am not sure it matters if you bought one to drive it. Now if you bought to have the latest and greatest at the Valet stand you are screwed as it's yesterday's news. Does not matter that much to me, but I tend to keep cars 5+ years.

 

I really want a 12c Spider. I can afford one now at current prices ($220-$260K for 2013 with 200-3K miles; $255-$280K for 2014). BUT do I just wait patiently for another 3 or so months. Sure my current car will depreciate a little more, but so what.

FWIW, If you look at the 12c just as a car, and ignore both the GOOD and the BAD of McLaren the company, there is no denying that it is wonderfully engineered vehicle.

I do very much appreciate Ferrari cars, but the further away you get from the engine, you get the sense that the level of engineering (and attention to quality) falls off. In some areas, rather quickly. I don't get that sense at all about the 12c; it seems well engineered throughout.

As far as looks...Its all about personal taste. My favorite is the High Sport, followed by 12c with MSO bumper followed by 12c with black or CF splitter. In distant last place for me is the look of the 650S front (note: I reserve the right to change my mind once I see it in person in a couple of weeks).

As far as soul...Well lets just say that this Scuderia owner would have no complaints about the soul of a 12c!

 

I sold mine in just a matter of months for a $70,000 hit at least. I never really did the math.
Eric

 

If you want a 12c spider I would run to find one you while still in stock and tell them you want 80k off. You might not get it but it would be a pretty good starting point.

Over time stock will dwindle and you'll have less to choose from.

The used market is more difficult to tell. On one hand more used ones will be traded in or sold. On the other hand the replacement car is much more expensive so the 12c looks like a bargain.

The real question will be will McLaren hold the line on dealer discounting and cut production to better meet the true market. I think we are 18 to 24 months to know that.

But there is no question the 12c is an amazing bargain now. If this is your cup of tea, grab it while you can. I bet only 5% of 650s owners could tell the performance difference between the two if blindfolded.

 

Very possible.

 

I will wait 3-6 months for my 12C spider.

 

Not likely I'll see another one. The last (and only) 3 I saw were from Miami (trucked in and trucked out). None around here that I know of. Nearest dealer is Scottsdale which is over 11 hours from here.

Most people around here are too self conscious to be seen in failed model/brand.

Best

 

Why does it matter if the 12C is finished or not?

They aren't taking your car away from you and it's still one of the best in the world. They are also giving you more updates and offering discounts on options that weren't available before.

Did California owners get the 2012 updates for free? Do 458 owners get Speciale updates that are even just software?

If you have a 12C, you're 12C just got better. How can you complain about it?

The only people who should be a bit annoyed are those that bought one just before the 650 was announced. If you have a 2012 or 2013 car, your car just got better for free.

If the 12C wasn't selling well enough, would you rather they just kept selling them and flooding the market with more cars?

It must be a Ferrari thing where owners dislike free updates and discounts...

 

This is a valid point. Out of curiosity, what other car companies offer free upgrades? Serious question here.

 

What other car companies give free upgrades? Ones that are about to fail.

BlackBerry is giving away free apps. Get it?

 

Tin foil hats, everyone.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

True that. Was driving my 12C today. Man, what a car and so fast. Top down and rigid.

 

This is probably the first time I've ever heard someone try to spin getting free stuff.

There would be 100 long page thread of praise if Ferrari went back and stated updating models with new features for free.

When McLaren does it, its a sign off failure.

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Better sell it now before the active aero updates, camera, and Sirius retro-fit kill the value!

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Also, anyone know when the 458 will get the side slip feature?

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And your resale value is falling even faster.

Have a nice day.

 

I paid 200k for mine. What the trade on your spider right now being that you've actually put miles on it?

A 12c loses and extra 50k over a 458 over 5 years. Lol. That's a rounding error for most exotic owners over that time period.

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I had one of the first mp4s and took a 40k hit within 6 months. Never got the iris working. It's a shame because it was a good car but I just couldn't keep taking the hit. At cheap prices, I think it's well worth it but would never take one over the 458.