MCLAREN 720S OR 488

To be fair (not sure it's appropriate in this thread) a carbon tub does not seem to provide dramatic advantages for a closed top car (it's definitely different for a spider though):
claimed weight for the 720S: 1419 kg (DIN), 1495 kg (EU)
claimed weight for the 488 GTB: 1475 kg (DIN), 1550 kg (EU)
In terms of stiffness, I am curious to read / hear about anybody having complained regarding the 488 GTB (or having found it compromised for not having a carbon tub).
If one needs to convince himself he's right to prefer McLaren, I'm fine with it - but it seems a little bit pointless to me; I do not need people justifying themselves for preferring McLaren

 

Ferrari weighs their cars on the moon. I wouldn't get too attached to their claimed weights.

 

While a carbon fibre tub is undoubtedly lighter AND more rigid than comparable aluminum one, there is much more involved in an entire vehicle that determines overall mass such as weight of the engine, suspension, interior components etc.

Every carbon fibre tub car that I have driven has the immediate superior feel of rigidity compared to a metal one.

 

BTW- The superiority in terms of rigidity of a carbon fibre tub is magnified in a spider resulting in overall weight reduction since the car, unlike with a metal tub, no longer requires the additional structural bolsting.

 

Have bought 488 GTB and after test drive 4 weeks ago 720 S. 720 S is faster.

I measured 100-200 kph GPS performancebox 4.8 s, my 488 GTB 5.4 s, but that is known.
But I will keep my 488, more emotional, sound, extreme good, very good turbo response in lower revs, 720 S engine is exploding between 5000-8500 rpm,
but has small turbo lag.
720 S feels on roads lighter as 488 and also smaller, what 720 S not is.

Steering, brakes, no big difference, but body roll of 488 is remarkable higher
in curves compared to 720 S, 720 S is more precise.

But I will keep my 488 GTB, car is not worse than 720 S, it is different like Italian diva and British gentleman, so I keep both cars.
After lot of Porsche and Ferrari's , 720 S is my first McLaren, I am curious!

 

love that...so the Mac is better in every regard but you keep the old goat around...sounds just like me. thats what ferraris are, old goats, they make us sentimental. i have 2 and will keep them forever!

 

Thank you Horst great to hear from those who actually have some real-world input that's valuable

 

While my test drive of the 720 was much shorter, I agree 100-% with your comments. 720 fast as hell! Awesome car but there is a bit of a turbo lag that is not present in the 488. Regardless- both great cars but different.

 

Higher turbo lag is better
That's one point of view.

 

Thanks Horst, could you elaborate on the body roll? does it vary depending on the suspension settings? (selecting similar settings on both cars of course)

I'm also curious to know whether you could feel a better stiffness on the McLaren.

 

https://youtu.be/gK35gd1PAPE

 

Gameover !

 

What a dumb video... What was that about?

 

I'll post scans when they arrive. But you finally got your N-ring answer.

AZ supertest
720s
0-100: 2,6 s
Nordschleife: 7:14 min

 

Interesting, 7s faster than the 488 GTB on 20.6 km of track (so about one third of second faster per km, on average) that favours higher power (with long parts at high speed).
Certainly a good time, but not sure it should be qualified as light-years ahead as some seem to imply.

 

That's a 2.5s 0-60 mph time. Insane for a rwd car.

 

Sorry you don't find it interesting.... I do.

 

Indeed, and once again the most impressive figures relate to drag racing.

 

P zero corsas

 

The car is likely sub-7 minutes on the Ring with a factory/pro and Trofeos/Cup2 that everyone is using lately.

 

I have read German Autozeitung test of 720 S, 100-200 kph 7.1 s, 1.2 seconds faster than 488 GTB in AZ Supertest. 100-200 kph ( without co- driver) is extreme fast!
Döttinger Höhe Nürburgring 323 kph ( 488 GTB: 316 kph)

Resume of test : easy to drive fast, test guy reported from easiest car to drive on Nürburgring he ever drove trustful , no over- or understeer and very handsome for daily driving and gorgeous engine.
Tyres were Pirelli Corsa MC, with Trofeo R like Huracan Performante low 7 minute seems to be
possible.

 

Here Nürburgring speeds 720 S versus 488 GTB .

720 s is at all points faster

 

Pretty easy to figure out.. Great car performance wise, but dubious quality and reliability issues - a common theme with macs.

This video is an interesting comparison and the comment at 7 minutes:10 sec...scrapes very badly.....also at 5:05, not a good thing imho. Also saw in the vid how the white 991GT2rs left it for dead so I very much doubt the 720 is able to touch the 991gt2rs's sub 7 ring time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRCE3AcAIK0

 

Thanks, no doubt that with 50 hp more it has to be faster (and seriously, who would expect a competitor to release 2 years later a car that's not faster?)
Amazingly the graphs show the 488 being faster at Aremberg and Fuchsroehre; and again I dare to say the difference over 20.6 km is far from dramatic.
In most places the 720S is faster though; what is also interesting to note is that depending on corners the difference is minimal or significant.