Because someone's too lazy to post it here, i'll do it for him. McLaren Strengths 1) Fit, Finish and Overall quality superior to Ferrari. Paint finish is in a different universe compared to the orange peely, thin **** Ferrari puts on it's cars. 2) Technology is class leading IMO. It's like the star ship Enterprise The active suspension is brilliant, body roll is close to non existent. Love the separate control systems for aero/suspension and drive train with normal/sport/track options in each. Active aero seems to work brilliantly, love the air brake. Car seems very stable. Traction control works very well and doesn't seem to be intrusive. Most of the time I had the car it rained; but it didn't seem to matter as the car didn't show any signs of wanting to kill me 3) Love the carbon tub. Car seems very rigid and cockpit has a really nice "open wheeler race car" feel to it. 4) Lights, wiper and all that boring daily driver stuff works much better than Ferrari. 5) Love the touch screen controls that control the information system. 6) OMFG is this thing fast when you get up it. Closest thing to a superbike acceleration that I have experienced in a road car. Much faster than a 458 or anything else I've driven for that matter. 7) Despite performance the car seems very fuel efficient. Didn't run the numbers; 8) Doors are a spectacular feature. Not so spectacular to use though. LESS THAN PERFECT ASPECTS 1) Entry and exit is hopeless. The doors and the wide sill make entry/exit a total PITA. Would stop me considering it as a daily driver. 2) Upgraded sound system, navigation and control centre ($15k) still sucks. The touch screen had a brain fart and totally froze on me. Had to turn on/off to reset and it was fine after that. 3) Styling doesn't grab me. It's exotic, it's distinctive (grabs more attention than Ferrari); but it's not a beauty queen. 4) Sound. This car had the optional "race" exhaust ($12k) which certainly made it loud; but the note was nowhere as good as an Italian exotic. The speakers that transmit sound into cockpit (adjustable) are naff. Takes sound engineered exhaust notes to a whole new level of dumb IMO. 5) Gearbox. Change quality is nowhere near as good as a 458. I ended up sticking drive train in "race" mode permanently as I couldn't stand the slow and slurred changes in "normal" and "sport" modes. Probably worst aspect of car for me. 6) Paddle change levers. Hate the type that are attached to the wheel, much prefer them fixed to the column. To make it worse the levers are too short. 7) Weight. Car is a lot heavier than I expected. Put it on the race scales for interests sakes- 1420kg on empty fuel tanks; but with all other fluids. 8) Options pricing pisses me off; but all manufacturers do it now.
Guilty as charged. The McLaren is a seriously impressive package. I really hope they do a "GT3" road version
You buy one SD or waiting for a "GT3" version before you do? If you bought one, where's the pics re!!!
I haven't bought one, I just had one on loan for 24hrs. If they had a GT3 style road car I don't think I could resist.
Ah, very good sir! Would you still keep the Scuderia if you they made (and you bought) a GT3 style McLaren?
Not my 12C; but here are a few pics of the loan car. Put it on the race scales out of interest- 1420kg on empty fuel tanks; but with all other fluids. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I know I'm biased but I wasn't blown away when I saw one on the road the other day. It was white as well and IMO looked like a kit car. That pic with the doors open reinforce that view. 458 has better road presence and doesn't look like a pretender (flame suit safely on )
Yeah, sorry bout that. Good man! Looks great in that colour. Thanks for the pics SD, you are very privileged to have the opportunity.
It is heavy IMO; but it does have a lot of equipment that the Scuderia doesn't have. Option choice can make a big difference to the weight of a particular car, as it does with Ferrari. My Scuderia on empty fuel tanks in standard specification weighed 1355kg. It's specification included none of the luxury (heavy) options and some of the lightweight options. After my modification project the Scud now weighs 1305kg on empty fuel tanks. It's supposedly got about 540hp too, so it's a pretty quick car. Not as quick as the Maca though!
McLaren styling is definitely less flamboyant; but it's rarity means that it tends to attract a lot more attention than the 458. Up close it looks anything BUT a kit car. The build quality is superb, far better than anything offered by Ferrari. The doors add a lot of theatre to the occasion; but they are very impractical to use. Looking back at my car history it would be fair to say that I am more biased than most people; but the Maca is so good it really makes you stop and think about what it is exactly that you see in Ferrari. I would suggest you try one before you draw any conclusions
Thanks - great to be able to compare the two that accurately! I love the 458... but I've seen a volcano red Mac driving towards me a couple of times for only a few moments and in that brief moment it had, to me, significantly more road presence than any of the Ferraris or Lambos I see in Perth. The funny comment comes later... the local Lotus dealer was complimented by a non-car nut friend on "that stunning white Lotus" parked outside the casino
