McLaren discontinues 12C, offers owners free upgrade

My comment was only about the maintenance cost and had nothing to do with any 458 consideration. I agree the car provides a lot of technology for the money.

Given the comments about lower annual service cost, I need to ask again. I was given a continuous stream of information while trying to test drive a 12C.

It's an awesome car, no doubt.

 

Looking at autotrader, with say 8K or less miles you are looking at $180-190K. almost nothing under $180K other than a few high mile examples.

 

asking prices and selling prices are two different things as we all know

 

good point. anyone have some feedback as to typical discounts from asking to close a deal?

 

You really do have your stinger out for McLaren. It gets old. Now let me have it

 

Find a car you like and make an offer. Worst case they say no.

I think $180-190K buys a good spec car, nice colors, and probably CCB. The less desirable ones that are more bare bones and with steel brakes should be under $180K.

There isn't nearly as much variety out there now as there was last year with respect to 2012 coupes. I think a lot of people jumped on them and have been happy with them.

$15-20K depreciation isn't that bad, so it's not like the used buyers are bumping them like the original buyers.

Most cars since MY2013 have been spiders too, so expect higher prices on that front.

 

Around $160k-$165k.

 

+1

Look at Dupont Registry and see how many McLarens and how many 458s are for sale.

FAR more 458s.

The notion that 'you can't give away' 12c and 458s are hard to obtain is BS.

Even though the 458 is one of the best sports cars of all time. Some (a lot of) people like the 12c better.

Appoximately 3000 12c sold, 85-90% of them now in good homes.

 

Um - far more? 148 458's vs. 108 Mclaren's for sale? OK - that's more; however alot more 458's sold overall; and two years newer.
I'm still not convinced on McLaren's success selling the 12c/650 platform. The 'waiting list' for the 650 is complete BS; they are already into the secondhand dealers - which is not a good sign - (Dimmit/CatsExotic/AutoXotic LLC).

The performance is unquestionable; but so is the performance of an Ariel Atom.
I lusted for a 12c spider after we went to the introduction, but after a day or two, the lust wore off. Alot of variables why - which I won't go into detail.
But I think the dealers are getting caught in the middle quickly. Dupont doesn't list all the cars (for either brand); but take a look at each dealers invetory - to me - it's scary high. Look at McLaren Philly; 14 cars listed!
Kevin

 

If you are obsessed with what happens when you get rid of the car you don't really want it in the first place.

The McLaren resale issue sort of reminds me of 2006-8 Lotus Elise resale. The folks buying the Elise did it for all the wrong reasons. They thought they were getting an "exotic" and it turns out the car is noisy, filled with hard plastic trim, a PITA for people to get in & out of, not powerful in a straight line, and rattles so much that a 1976 Corvette is like a modern Mercedes in comparison. OMG, Poseur Armageddon! The car plummeted by 1/3 in price, but interestingly has held about that price now some 9 years later. I still have and love my 2005 Elise and it is unique and irreplaceable in terms of its light weight and handling/track prowess.

IIthink some of the same happened with the McLaren. I have actually heard people complain that the pubic does not know what a McLaren is, and the McLaren IRIS infotainment system turned out to be POS with the Nav constantly "recalculating" or forgetting to tell you about the next turn. Oh and early owners pissed and moaned about one of the coolest features of the 12C, the "swipe" under the door to open it. It takes a bit of technique and the new cars have a conventional rubber touchpad on the door - yuck! And the Mac is a PITA to get in & out of to some extent due to the high sills and dihedral doors. The doors are also not so great if you are parked too close to an obstruction. Some owners appeared to have reliability issues with early cars - my late production 2012 has been fine, road and track. Finally, I am convinced McLaren rushed the 12C to market prematurely. The early cars did not have the performance and reliability to trounce the 458, but McLaren stepped up and updated all of the 12Cs to the current spec and made all manner of running improvements. And current 12C owners will get some 650S-like improvements. I have a feeling the 12C will hit bottom in price in 2015 and at that point stabilize or even appreciate slightly at least for the 2012 models. You can wait for that, or you can pay what it takes to have one now - you are hunting unicorns if you think you can drive a modern exotic inexpensively.

In short, the poseur who wants fancy infotainment and does not value the performance and driving dynamics above all else will not like the McLaren. I think you tend to find more geeky and performance-obsessed persons love the 12C, and more celebrities and "soul"-searchers love the 458. Frankly, when a complete azz-wipe like Bieber has a car, that makes me NOT want one. And don't get me started on private jet-owning celebs and the Priuses (Pria?)

Ferrari resale is great, I suppose, but you have to figure in the hidden costs of buying overpriced used cars to get an allocation and I am not convinced that for new cars that the true cost of ownership of the 458 is all that different from a 12C.

But honestly, agonizing about what happens when you get rid of the car is like not dating a girl because you worry about the breakup.

 

FYI - I like your commentary; my counterpoint though, is that a car like this (Ferrari/McLaren etc); is a big ticket item. And while most people don't want to think about selling; the very thought that an item you own is depreciating more than expected, is always concerning. Whether you need to sell due to financial problems, or want to sell to move into something else, knowing a car has had a big depreciation history has to be factored into the initial purchase.
Kevin

 

Agreed, if your intentions are not very long term, or you like to change cars frequently, then depreciation is a legitimate concern - but at that point I also think you probably are not that serious about the particular car. I tend to hold cars at least 5 yrs - e.g. still have a 2005 Elise, 2001 Viper and even 2008 Z06, all of which I still love and the depreciation on which is pretty small now, annualized. And I was worried about the 12C, too and not an early adopter. I bought new in 2013 at a steep discount and still have suffered depreciation, but I expected as much and you only take the depreciation hit when you sell.

And if a financial emergency causes you to have to sell your car in short order, you might have overextended yourself buying in the first place, so you need to think hard about your ability to hold on to the car should you have business, health or employment problems.

 

Do tell - This is a Car site and a Ferrari site afterall. What's the harm in expressing your opinion? It makes for an much more interesting discussion and I'm sure its better than hearing Bob or Art man's drivel. Although I haven't seen Bob post much negative comments lately.

Ritesh - Biased McLaren Owner(See I admitted it).

 

OK _ to all McLaren owners don't take offense to this, just my opinions, and this is not a Ferrari is better than McLaren post etc....

Honestly - first off it a new one would have been a major financial stretch, but even if it weren't; i think the engine bay - even under glass - is terrible. It's just all carbon covers - doesn't show a thing to me; or anyone else. The comparisons to Ferrari are inevitable - at least (starting with the 360 to 458) you can see an actual engine. I really think McLaren could have done more to showcase the actual engine. Waaay too much carbon...(pic below)
The looks are better in person, but - hard to explain - after a day or two at home - I realized it didn't get me excited. All that carbon top to bottom is great, but it just looks too shiny and 'plastic' looking to me. Again hard to explain. Also a dealer two hours away, new car little problems, (lights, sensors, etc) will the company survive etc....
those were my reasons.
of course the performance will rip the skin off my face, but i don't have much free time to go to a track day. Anyhow, I hope you fully enjoy your experience.
Kevin
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Fair enough - the extra plumbing on a turbo car makes an engine bay display somewhat pointless unless you go with a crazy greenhouse like the F40. I was so enamored of the 12C performance (and remain so) that it could almost be a rolling turd and I'd at least like the way it rolls. But if looks and sound really do it all for you, I have to admit the 458 is better. I do not even have the CF covers in my engine bay as I really don't care how it looks, so long as it is clean.

 

Maybe I'm just getting old, I did the ear splitting visceral experience on the F550, less so with the Tubi F360 and stock F430, with the Mclaren I have the sport exhaust and with the performance and handling settings in track, very pleasing if getting attention is your gig, you won't be disappointed. But for me, I like the bi-polar personality of the Mclaren and believe me it get's all the attention I need.

MB

 

I am talking them down so that when they reach 125k I can buy one

 

now there is a real community service. I hope you never get one

 

alright boys; let's keep it civil here!

 

My input is not going to affect the cars resale value. The market will determine what its worth is not me

 

I still hope the market does not come to you. If it does, deal of the century

 

good cars huh?

 

It is the most fun to drive of anything I own!

Joe

 

The 12C really is magnificent, they just rushed it to market with too many early glitches and it's just not a Ferrari.

 

You Forgot to add the 458 spyders. Hello?

161 coupes + 71 spyders = 232 458s

[there are 20 spyders under coupes section (none after the first page) but they look like they are not repeated in the spyders section.]

12c : 80 coupes + 15 spyders.
650S : 6 coupes + 1 spyder.