MCLAREN 720S OR 488

This is where you are disillusioned, but you are welcome to your opinion.

 

Totally agree - but if only that was the case here. The point being mac owners go out of their way trying to get everyone to believe how totally awesome their ownership experience is (while they own it) but the moment they finally get rid of it they can't shut up about what a piece of junk they bought and how stitched up they got when they sold it. Why would it be any different this time?

 

But this is not my opinion - I'm just merely quoting ex mac owners accounts. Are they all liars ?

 

Yup - That was me when I dumped 35% on the bloody thing. Cant even claim it as a capital loss!!. That's not the worst part. The fact is I couldn't even purchase extra warranty after the 3 year period and hence I had no choice but to sell the car. Can u imagine a decent Mac fault and the $s !!!

Having said that while I am no fan of the 720S I think the Senna is an amazing car and punches way above its cost.

 

I don't have the same experience as you so can't comment. Most that I know have bought multiple Mac's but like myself have interest in other brands. I am sure some people have had bad experiences but that is with every brand including Ferrari. I'll spare you with the list of issues I've had it doesn't matter I still enjoy the cars. Don't believe the hype.

 

Try buying a boat

 

I don't know these people you refer to so can't comment and it doesn't really matter. McLaren is just getting better with every new model. Keep in mind they are a new player in this space and have made incredible progress. You can choose to accept or deny this. Whatever works for you.

 

ahh very true and lucky I have no interest in boats. Cars burn enough resources

 

The best 720 story I've heard so far, putting aside some of the fantasies i've read in this thread alone - is that it was great BUT they are selling it and not buying another.
I'm sure I will get more to the bottom of these stories once they've managed their way clear of the sale process...which seems a very long winded process.

 

I'm totally fine with it either way - not my exposure thankfully but hope it works out well.

 

Seems Macs are like boats. Every boat on the harbor is for sale isn't it?

 

Back to the incessant speculation and obsession with the topic of depreciation. Why purchase a $350K car if a primary focus is on the rate of depreciation. Ferrari devotees resort to economics to justify their purchase compared to a Mclaren. Fearful that the 720S is a more thrilling ride than the 488, they then rationalize that at least their 488 will hold its value better over time. Suddenly the purchase of an exorbitantly expensive car is being justified as a prudent financial decision. Some even take this to the absurd level by adopting the most effective way of avoiding the loss of more money on resale by driving their car as little as possible. And all this sounds sensible?

 

Actually, the picture you describe is not actually too different. My FF was already 3 years old when I bought it so I had a reasonable time (it was about 65% of its original price with 19k miles) - I bought it to check I wanted to take on the cost of a Lusso, with a car that would not be too expensive to ‘try out’. 488 Spider is doing ok but I might have a higher rate for the next 12 months, who knows. I suspect GTB is around 5 to 10% year 1 here. The Mac was prodigious depreciation and many owners have experienced the same, it must have steadied out, if for no other reason than there was not enough value left to keep going at that rate. The Lusso will not lose 50% in 2 years, and it is surprising if that is really true in the states. If it is, those two year old cars are the industry’s best bargain. Supply of the Lusso in the UK has been slow - perhaps you guys have taken it all...

To redcaruser’s point, depreciation is relevant because it is the real price of the enjoyment you can have from a specific vehicle. If other brands didn’t exist, Mac depreciation may well be worth it to a petrolhead. But it is hard to justify against the market-leading brand which costs a fraction overall, especially if, like me, you actually prefer that brand and its products.

 

Man oh man there are wayyyyyyyy to many posts on this site about depreciation. If you're buying these cars to make money or break even find a new hobby.

 

Take 2 aspirin and visit a McLaren dealer and call my me in the morning. Trade the 488 and the TTS on a 720s and call it a good day. Try it, be liberated. Its OK, you wont implode.

 

Offshore fishing is a passion of mine, big boat = lots of fuel, maintenance and fishing gear that adds up to the price of 911. Don't even get into the fuel costs. Makes depreciation on cars an afterthought but figure if it makes me happy it is all worth it.

 

I’m not a Mac lover or hater but facts today are: 720 is by far the better performing car, punches well above its class and depreciated less than the 488. In USA.

Buy whatever you like. Both great cars.

 

I learned from my dad to buy an exotic only if I have the appropriate play money, and so I handle this topic, it's a hobby for me and not business. It's all about money at work, that's enough for me. Of course it's great if you do not lose so much money with a Ferrari as with another brand, but for me depreciation is not the main reason for decision-making. Before I bought my McLaren it was clear to me that this will not be my "best investment". But it did not have to be that way either, the money was gone and at the same time out of my mind, as it has to be with play money.

That's why I think you are doing wrong to many Mac owners.

I'm sure no Mac owner is cheated, you know it, that's no secret, this brand is still very unstable in terms of value stability, not comparable to Ferrari. But the products are cool and they make fun. Goal achieved.

Please do not write now that I just want to justify myself. I enjoy expensive holidays, play golf on completely overpriced golf courses and my US V8 sport-boat also eats tons of hay. So, depreciation in the context with exotics can also be a little overrated.

 

I also fish quite a bit. Where and what are you fishing for offshore ? There is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than trolling for billfish. Best , Kirk.

 

Even for owners who understand that nice things cost money and that to not lose money or even gain on a car is a rare bonus, the holding cost is relevant. I can afford to ‘waste’ money but I don’t want to. If the decision to buy a car like a Mac, a Merc or an Aston is embarked upon in full knowledge of the likely holding cost then the buyer clearly considers it value and it is not a waste. But everyone will have a different definition for that.

If car ‘a’ is half a second quicker than car ‘b’ to 200km/h how much is that worth? Not much to me, but to some everything. And for those people, a Mac is a great choice.

The first ever brand new supercar I bought was a McLaren. It was great. I sold it as it was nearing the end of the warranty period because from a career in the car industry I know what can go wrong with fairly new manufacturers and even though my car seemed ok, why take the risk, was my thought process? Then I discovered the depreciation cost, which, when added to the fact that I prefer the philosophy Ferrari use in the development of their cars, that was that. It’s only personal choice, either way.

 

Ferrari's are far more rewarding to own than McLaren's.

 

You should have kept that car it was probably almost fully depreciated, you could have continued to enjoy it for pennies.

 

Mid Atlantic. BF, YF, Bigeye, wahoo, dolphin, Marlin, whatever bites. I'll probably do the White Marlin open this year in OC, Maryland.

Fishing thread will be more fun than this bickering. Off to THT I go, much more friendly.

 

Nothing beats trolling for the omnipresent and ever disgruntled and defensive Mac or Lambo Fish. Frantically snaps at anything in the vicinity of a 488. Easily trapped and prone to self-inflicted wounds.

 

ha ha! Every person posting in this thread who is a mac owner also owns ferrari's and has probably owned more ferrari's then mac's. There is no such thing as a person who identifies themselves as a "mac fan" as the owners of mac's go between all the marquees.

There is such a thing as a ferrari and porsche owner though.

From what I gathered, there is three people posting on this thread from Australia. Yourself (488 is your first ferrari(?), shack who used to own a mac and he says in this thread that he lost 35% in one year as a second owner. According to his old posts, the original owner received a hefty discount from MSRP and then he bought it a few months later at a hefty discount from the original owner and disposed of the car pretty quickly but is now complaining that he couldn't get an extended warranty, which would mean he held the car until close to the end of the third year. Mandalay who is still waiting for his 488 which will be his first ferrari at the end of this year (?).

Here's my experience in the last 3 years across the marquees (this is simply from MSRP to what I sold them for)

2014 458 coupe - bought $290K traded in 7 months later for $240K (2,000 miles)

2014 458 speciale - bought used $415K with MSRP of $372K (bought with 800 miles). Still have it and it is up to 8,000 miles. If I sold it then I'm assuming that my net proceeds would be in the $350K range

F12 bought at $370K . Held on to it for one year with 4,600 fantastic/enjoyable miles. Wholesaled after one year for $280K

Bought 650 for $310K. About 10K miles after 1.5 years and netted $200K

Bought 675 coupe. About $412K. Long story but didn't lose any money on this one

Bought 675 spider. About $495K. Only 180 miles and netted back $495K after 6 months

Bought lambo sv coupe for $534. Netted $490K after six months and 600 miles

Bought Lambo sv roadster for I think $590K and took delivery as a favor for dealer. Sold it within two months and came out even.

Bought 2009 scud for $198K in 2014, drove it for a year and received net proceeds for $200K

720s have driven it to close to 3000 miles and if I wanted to get rid of it now then I'd probably net $30K below MSRP (high MSRP launch car).

2016 GT3RS - bought secondary market for $232K. I believe MSRP was $207K. Still have it but I was told that I could sell it for MSRP and assuming commissions I'd probably net close to $190K

Now all that being said; if I wanted a Pista (I already turned it down) then with my ferrari buying history it wouldn't get done without a lusso ($75K loss I'd assume).

750LT - I get with no problem with my buying history

Senna - I get with no problem with my buying history

On the flip side; my friends that received a TDF - they bought a significant amount of money losing ferrari cars in the two years leading up to the TDF delivery.

-------Note; I'm just sharing this to give a little more full disclosure about depreciation or lack of it. I drive the cars to enjoy them like many people do.