No, I think you're honest. There are things that annoy me on the 458 (too many buttons on the wheel, horrible AC vents and HVAC in general, and the TFT screens are confusing and hard to navigate.) My pet peeve with the Mac was getting in and out. It's a freakin' pain and I can see it getting old real fast. I think it seems smaller inside because of the wide CF sills on both sides squishing people together. I liked the 458's interior better as it just seemed more interesting to look at. But, the Mac is more purposeful. They are a wash. But, I think the TFT screen on the Mac will be useless in the spider version with direct sunlight. The one thing I really didn't like about the Mac was the creeping gearbox and it's creep speed. The one thing I really didn't like about the 458 was the AC, with the spider being actually worse than the coupe.
Getting into/out is definitely not as easy as normal doors, but there are several ways to accomplish it and you just need to figure out which works best for you. Just depends on you size, age, and preference. Oddly enough my dad who is 60, 6'2", and probably 200 lbs said the 12C was easier getting into than the R8, and by the look of it, it was. For whatever reason he was able to get in and out with less of an issue. Then again, he doesn't exactly just step smoothly into an R8 like it was a Camry either. I also haven't noticed the doors being much of a parking issue. In my garage, I definitely had times where I had to gently rest the R8 door against the wall as not to bang it. The McLaren actually uses up less space it seems and once I got familiar with the parking, I know 100% of the time that I can just let the door glide up fully and exit without any worry of it hitting. I've yet to encounter being too close to something/someone. I do notice the 1st gear creep, but I don't feel like I have to be holding the brake that hard. This may be because I have CCB and find them somewhat touchy. Maybe they require less pressure than steel to bite.
Great Review Keith. I understand what you are saying about the McLaren's doors but don't you think it would be more difficult to get in/out if you had regular doors and the big CF tub/sill. I think that and they F1 heritage were the 2 reasons for it.
The problem with the doors is that you have to sort of limbo dance under them to get in. You could probably sit on the sill and swing your legs in, but I always enter my cars right leg first then butt and finally left leg and if you stand straight up doing this your shoulder hits the door. It is good that the door assembly includes the rocker panel so that you can stand adjacent to the sill/tub, but that could probably have been done with a conventionally hinged door.
Park Place McLaren in Dallas and McLaren North America put on a great even at Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, TX last Friday. They had 2 groups, morning and afternoon, where we were able to have professional instruction on the track as well as learn to use launch control and all the suspension and drivetrain settings on separate autocross areas. A great way to experience the MP4-12C cars and drive them like they were meant to be. We were able to do several laps of the the 3.4 mile track on our own, with a professional driver in the other seat to coach us past our natural instincts of self-preservation. Nothing like going 160 on the back long straight, only to later do hot laps with the pro driver who went way deeper and faster on all the turns to show you what the car could really do. I am in the process of sorting out purchasing the 918, P1 and/or the 12C, so this was the absolute best event for me. I still have lots to consider, but to know that McLaren North America and North Park McLaren will go to any lengths to put you in the driver's seat is really sensational. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It seems like other cars are also jumping on the Lambo-style door style. The new BMW i8 even has these doors now !! It looks like all the swing-up door drama is now becoming just plain old: 'mainstream'. I bet more and more cars will use them. Oh, well.
