Ferrari LaFerrari vs Mclaren P1 vs Porsche 918

So it has been two weeks since I took delivery of the 918.

I have been driving both cars quite a bit lately.

The 918 is so much more improved over the test cars, and is way better than I expected.
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Nice looking cars! I'd love to hear your opinion of the two cars and how you feel they compare. I drove the 918 the week before customer deliveries started in the USA. It was production-spec prototype meaning Porsche representatives said was exactly the same spec and software as cars being delivered to customers - i.e. a proper example of what I'd be getting had I ordered one.

To me the biggest feature of the 918 is driving it with the roofs off. That also negates one of the annoyances of the 918 which, for me at least, was ingress and egress with the roof panels on. If I had unlimited money I'd definitely buy one to use one really nice roof-off days.

 

I would like to ask for your help to get in touch with some of them - P1 owners, if it is not too much of a bother. Let me know and I will DM you. Thank you in advance.

 

Agree do only a few of these on the market if you find one you like and at a price you like you better jump!

 

Thanks Mark

I agree with the topless feature, It is a nice luxury to have.
About comparisons between the two, I could go on for pages.
Let me start with what I love about the 918. I haven't done any track driving, these are my street impressions so far.

1.Sound

The top pipes crackle and pop in a delightful manner, it reminds me of the 2010 458 (later models had different exhausts from factory) but is louder. Downshift in a higher gear or give it a touch of throttle till about 5 or 6k rpm, let go and the exhaust orchestrates some nice cracks. You don't need to go fast to enjoy this car. With the exhausts behind your head its like your sitting in a musical instrument, controlled by your foot, and boy is it LOUD.


2.Interior

Screams Luxury, you can smell the quality of the leather used.The garnet red interior looks gorgeous and feels very bespoke. Buttons and knobs are better than the prototype. I recall they used plastic for some knobs. Now they're all metal and have that expensive feel to them.



3.Media

The whole system is next gen, Im a bit of an audiophile and the Burmester system is as good as it gets. Its got two screens, top for nav ,rear camera, battery/electric status and some other apps. The lower one controls the cars settings, all the controls are touch and the whole center console works as beautiful as it looks.



4.Torque

This car has an explosive amount, specially in hot lap mode. So much, so soon, so sudden. I think this is the shocking feature. Anything else you relate to suddenly becomes laggy.



5. Electric mode

Its hard to believe, but I enjoy this mode in the 918 just as much as the other combined modes. Its smooth, quite and most importantly(cant believe im saying this)...fun!
I had a run with the latest model cayman the other day, and I left him about a cars length from a roll.

Starting the engine while driving in E mode is another special experience. A very loud explosive bark reminds you that you have an extra 608hp behind your back to enjoy.

 

thanks for the write up. Very insightful.

 

Fantastic. I have been very concerned that the next iteration of F12 will be hybrid as well (this weeks' rumor) and it would destroy the experience. Your personal discussion gives me hope that there is a future for us mere supercar owners. Good luck and I will be keeping an eye out for your blue beauty if I'm lucky enough to see it here in the NorthEast/Middle Atlantic.

 

The car looks fantastic. Is that white? Also I love the plate.

Also very cool to hear your insights. Keep it coming!

 

jeebers man, I'm so jealous. congrats on finally taking delivery! glad it lives up to your expectations in quality and performance (never had a doubt though I love 918 in white too. yes, the instant torque, the amount of it especially in high gears, that's what everyone says is so addicting... did you get your P1 remapped yet with the new 'updates'? keep the driving impressions coming...let us know when you get to thrash 918 on race track. and of course continue to drive the crap out of them!

 

Thanks Craigy, the car is white the hue is just off in the pic

Ill post some more pics and comparisons soon

Thanks Scud,

I have to say, I am actually glad the car was delayed this long. Kudos to Porsche for listening to its customers and for improving the car all along.

I didn't get the p1 remapped and to be honest im not aware of any updates yet. I really don't think it needs it, the car lights up its tires at speeds way past most speed limits.

Once im done with the clear bra ill take the 918 to track.

 

Drift,
Leaving all bad behind, honest congrats on the new car!

 

. Congrats Drift! Both your cars look stunning! Please post more (a lot more!) photos of both cars and keep the driving impressions, critiques and opinions coming!

 

What you have just discovered are what we have been telling you and everyone else for the longest time. Just that no one would listen

 

Were it Ferrari, after his comments, they would have given him his money back and said good bye to his allocation.

He can consider himself lucky he's still got his 918

 

Amazing! I'm off to the factory in Stuttgart next week, my car is completed and same colour as yours! Can't wait!!

 

Congrats! What interior did u order?

I consider myself lucky and blessed to have these cars.
About my comments, i was being completely honest in the past with regards to the 918 i drove earlier. I told porsche the exact same thing about what i didn't like in the car.

I was honestly close to selling the car, I had one of the first allocations and a had few offers.

After reading your posts and a few other reviews on how the car has improved, i decided to give it a try. After the first day of driving i knew she was a keeper.

Thanks Ferrari SS, i promise to post more pics and insights soon.

Thanks boyko appreciate that

 

Hey Drift.

Congratulations on both your cars, including your 918.

Well written, descriptive summary as well.

Good to hear your comments. Many of us are/were not surprised.

Porsche has a very open development process (though obviously, not for the Faint of Heart Manufacturers). It was long as well, due to the complexity, innovations, and conflicting goals of the vehicle. And what you drove was not a complete vehicle. That's just how the German's/Porsche do it. So you knew the actual production car was going to be spectacular.

On the other hand: Though the one you drove was an incomplete vehicle. It certainly couldn't hurt if Porsche listened to feedback (as you suggested, within reason) by the various journalist and owners who drove the vehicle during it's long, open development process. It could only improve the vehicle, making Porsche focus on things that maybe even a Walter Rohl; their various designers, drivers, or engineers may have missed. Everybody wins in that scenario!

Most manufacturer's, don't have the balls to place their vehicles under outside scrutiny like that, fearing what you actually did. But that's Porsche. They always appear to have confidence in their vehicles and development process (though obviously not infallible, or with out error) to work out the kinks, subtleties, and deliver.

Please keep up the various post and POV's.

Enjoy your two vehicles (or which ever one you like most) immensely!!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hey Drift congratulations
any chanche to put a vBox on your hypercars??!?!?
a LaFerrari is coming also??

 

Thank carmaven, the fact that they took the feedback and continuously improved the car really impresses me about Porsche. I can say that the car is 80% improved.

Given the complexity of the engineering in this car, I find it remarkable how they have managed to fine tune the car in such a manner that it still remains enjoyable with all the technology underneath.

Thank you, I vboxed both cars 60-130 mph, 918 in hot lap and p1 with the traction on as I had traction issues. Im sure that both cars are capable of running better times.

P1 4.9
918 5.3

 

80% improved from when? How long ago was it that you drove the car? The track time I had was in the finished product. They did a whole tour around tracks in the USA this past summer just before (and just after) USA customer cars started shipping. Due to the mountain of regulations in the USA it is usually the last major market into which European cars ship.

 

From march 2014. The thing is Porsche kept continually improving the car, hence the delays.
Im sure the car you were in was very close to production spec.

 

You March drive was closer to the spec from when the UK press drove them.

I visited Weissach in April and drove the then production spec software which no one else outside of factory had driven before.

The summer tour cars has the spec from the April update, which is the spec Walliser signed off for start of production.

When I had my car delivered in December they had another massive update during PDI.

 

Porsche has a sound concept for the 918 since the beginning. They had hiccups along the way, but it is the most complex car ever and being Porsche you know they are aiming for perfection.

I had gathered that Walliser had free reign on the project, he only reports to the board and the board gave him all the time in the world to finish the car, unlike other cars he had no time constrain or monetary concern about getting the revenue in quickly.

I also had extensive chats with Walliser and his team members about the project and that's what convinced me to keep my faith with the car. I was handsomely rewarded, so did every other 918 buyers.

If you are on Facebook, I extend an invitation to you to join our closed group of 918 owners, about 20 members now. It's a place us owners share stuff that may or may not be appropriate for public forums.

 

They updated the car with the latest software..only

Unlucky me I wasn't there I was out of town when they did the updates and also my dieting cutting phase getting serious.

So when the day is over I'm all drained out from cardio/work/gym no time to take her out to check the improvements.

Hopefully after my competition is over and taking her to Geneva/MTC.

Mbn

 

Ok then. Good luck with your workout.