Ferrari LaFerrari vs Mclaren P1 vs Porsche 918

McLaren have a ton of brand value and heritage - they just haven't been focused on building consumer products so exposure to those outside the racing world has been limited. That side of the business and their name recognition in that space does have a lot of room to grow, and it will with time.

McLaren's products are never going to cut into the cash-cow that is Porsche's sedan and sport utility market - no doubt. It's not a business they care to be in.

>8^)
ER

 

Every sports car enthusiast knows McLaren.

 

It may not be as famous as Ferrari or Porsche, but it is no less prestigious.

(Some may disagree)
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Ooooo.

I think all are prestigious, but to me Ferrari is certainly at the top, followed by McLaren, and then Porsche.

Although, at the moment, you'd have to explain to a lot of people what exactly a McLaren is, which is seriously uncool. Then again, most of those people would be very impressed by a Porrsshhh, no matter the model.

 

Agreed that they do, mostly as a racing team but it would be foolish to say that recognition doesn't spill over to McL Automotive. Still, as you pointed out before, it will take lots of time for it to get to Porsche levels, if it ever does because these days there is a lot more competition than 1948...

The Mercedes tie up with the SLR was, in some respects, a way to try and boost the McLaren brand, but it was better for Mercedes than it was for McLaren. So they started pretty much on what image was built up from the F1. They are doing OK but it will take some great products and proper positioning to guarantee a long future. I'm not so sure about that but unlike many here I'm not rooting against them.

Funny though, how Porsche's decision to build sedans & SUV's is looked at with disdain by so many here. It shows that so many don't understand much about brand positioning at all. Perhaps Porsche's greatest feat in all its time making cars is having been able to very aptly transition into different, vastly lucrative & competitive markets, and excel within them.

Which is why the sentence above can certainly be read as snobbish, even if true. Well it would be if it were uttered by an official spokesperson.

But like many have said here, Porsche executives probably look at McLaren - and claims such as the one above - chuckle, and move on to more important things, like developing groundbreaking technology that is applicable to real world use, and not just ultra-rich world use.

(If I were a betting man, I would also say that IF McLaren Automotive survives another 65 years, most of them will be as a subsidiary brand to one of the big, cash-cow, plebian automakers out there. My bet is on Ford, if they can keep making money, but that's a completely random guess...)

 

I would totally buy a McLaren SUV.

They'd probably have to glue two of those carbon tubs together to make it big enough, but the 3.8L V8 would do

 

My guess is Honda.

 

RZ, please you have something not so boring to tell today? Or you prefer for to continue to speak from the dark whole? Be wise one time.

 

Are you familiar with the two fingers salute Giacomo?

 

RZ, please you have something not so boring to tell today? Or you prefer for to continue to speak from the dark whole? Be wise one time.

 

There is another aspect to this brand/prestige thing, and that is novelty. McLaren have that going for them so they will sell cars just because in a lot of countries/regions you will look "different" by driving a McLaren instead of any of the "established" brands.

Just look at Tesla, granted they have a pretty significant differentiator other than the brand name being new/different, but they are outselling established brands like BMW/Merc/Audi here in California and no one even knew what Tesla is a few years ago.

Brand can only go so far.. if there is a better product out there, people will buy it.

And yes, I know that this is hard to apply in this particular case here, but its just another perspective.

McLaren will do just fine

 

I swear to God , some of you are possessed . Mclaren to be even mentioned in the same breath as Ferrari , Porsche and Lamborghini for road cars is a bloody joke .
The head of mclaren himself says so but the cult just won't have it .

You will be , one of us
You will be , one of us
Lol

I've got the giggles now , I just can't stop laughing

 

Couldn't care less. The 918 felt a lot heavier. We also drove the 911 Turbo S which also felt heavier than the Ferrari and McLaren. Whether it actually weighs much more, or not, isn't the point. It's what you feel from the seat of your pants and how it handles on the track.

I'm not hating on the 918. I loved it. If I had enough extra money I'd get one and I think they will sell out.

 

McLaren don't design or build the engines in their road or race cars.

Until they do, they are simply not comparable to Porsche or Ferrari.

 

a few of us said it ages ago. no one really pays attention, or they simply pass it off as 'speculation'. there is no way in heck that P1 weighs 1400 kg kerb (with full fluids and full tank). press and fanboys keep quoting crap information. the numbers are in folks, real cars, P1 is not as light as cultists/fanboys hoped, 918 is as fast or faster than P1 in a straight line and on track.

per psychology: when people going into drive these cars have it in their heads that 'it weighs this or that' they've already convinced themselves, when in reality it's simply not true. if they believe going in that 918 weighs 600lbs more than P1, well. 458 fast steering tells you it's not a very heavy car... so steering speed of 918 + psychology = it's a lot heavier than those cars and not nearly as 'chuckable'.

 

but that's just it Mark, sometimes from the 'seat of the pants' is shaped by your established belief that it is a lot heavier. Steering speed, damping also affects your sense of one being heavier or lighter. 918 handles plenty well on the track. congrats on your P1...what color?

 

Maybe a better way to get my point across was that the 918 felt more like a Nissan GTR than a Carrera GT. The Nissan GTR is plenty fast but it's so heavy that it feels like the wheels are trying to burst out of the tires when it is pushed hard into a turn.

The 918 wasn't quite that bad but it tended in that direction. Instead of flying through the turns it 'pushed' into them. I wasn't the only one who came away thinking that. The instructor also called it a heavy car and he works for Porsche. I'm guessing this wasn't the best track to show off the 918 at its best - too many direction changes too close together. C'est la vie!

I agree. The Turbo S also handled well on the track and felt heavy compared to what I'm used to driving. These are just my impressions. You're welcome to come away thinking differently. What track did you drive the 918 on?

Undecided. Hoping to narrow that down when I visit the factory in 2 weeks.

 

mark i have a question, in your previous post you stated that you and your buddies plan to rent out a local track to try out all three of the cars. have you thought about offering some journos the chance to test them out on that same day with the stipulation being they must front the bill for renting the track? Regardless on how you three feel about the unwashed masses getting their hands on your babies, is there anything else keeping you from doing something like this? has mclaren, or porsche/ferrari from your knowledge asked you not to let journos test the cars?

 

I would imagine they can do what they want, but most owners probably don't want to invite journalists to come thrash their brand new supercars.

 

Thems fightin' words.

>8^)
ER
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Can't wait for the "proof"

 

Scuderia980,please tell us what tracks you've driven these cars on. You seem to be so sure of your views, they must come from your time behind the wheel of these great cars. Or do they just stay in your fantasy garage?

 

Yes of course RZ. But do you mean the peace sign or the victory sign? No matters. I want no peace with you, is it not embarrassing for you to ask me? If you mean the victory sign then you are confused because you my friend are not a victorious person.

 

918 Spyder 0-200km/h:
Porsche 918 Spyder: 0 - 200 km/h - YouTube
Consistently faaast as ever

 

Sounds heavy.

>8^P
ER