Comparing my 458 to my 570GT McLaren

The wife and I have been taking both of these cars to car shows for awhile, now it comes down to her and I wanting to ride together... so we've found the McLaren (her car) just sits and sits.

When you compare the two cars, you really have to wonder why the McLaren sits. Its a stunning beauty.

Its the 570GT... yup. Man those are the ones.. with the smooth rear glass and shape it has to be the most beautiful car McLaren has ever made. I dont think they've topped it yet.

Its crazy fast, much faster than my 2013 458. The transmission has a fantastic feel, as does the steering. The car drives like an Indy car, its not forgiving when you want to throw it around, so be fast with the wheel. Its not an entry level performance car, you need quick reflexes with this one. Similar to my ACR. BUT fortunately it has nanny aids that will keep you from losing it, but they are real intrusive so if they do come on, you know it and you won't look cool to the person in the passenger seat... so know what you are doing and you will scare the H#LL out of anyone in that car.

The 458 is on the other end of the spectrum. Its smooth, its forgiving, you can throw it around and you don't even need to get the revs up. The transmission when in Race mode is perfection. BUT in Sport mode, the shifts are soooo long that you are just annoyed (sure its only milliseconds longer... but just too many more as compared to Race mode).

The sound the McLaren makes under boost is amazing as it echoes across the fields, the 458 has the same harmony and although I've only taken my 458 to Redline on 3 shifts 2-3-4 just to hear it one time. I shift it at 6500 rpms and thats enough for me. The 458 has a fantastic growl at 2500-3500 rpms that nothing can replace and I just enjoy that.

My 458 has the carbon seats and I think they sit a bit too low (they are adjustable, but it may leave a mark on the metal, So I leave them) OR the steering wheel needs to come down a little more as it rolls away from you when you turn for a corner. But there is not enough adjustment for that to happen in the column.

The McLaren steering wheel to me is too thin and should have a meatier feel, but its placement can be adjusted infinitely and is dead on.

Braking on both cars is excellent, the feel of the 458 when things get a little out of hand is definitely the dominant of the two. You can take a 458 to its limit of adhesion and its very forgiving. The stereo on the 458 is awful, the brakes are squeaky, the McLaren, killer stereo and quiet brakes.

Performance, the McLaren kills the 458, just kills it... but thats only on the street. If we were going to a race track or racing in the rain, the 458 would easily be the winner as the 458 can be driven to its limit without worry of a terrifying spin that could total the car.

Ive owned the Mclaren for going on 3 years now with ZERO issues. Oops, had one bad tire, that McLaren paid for.... defect of some sort.

Ive owned the Ferrari for over a year, had one EGR solenoid valve stick, easy 5 minute fix. Put vacuum on it, rapped it and it opened. Sprayed it with some lube, never happened again.

So all in all, each car has its advantages, but honestly I truly can't decide which car is better... its like comparing Steak and Cake. Each has major advantages and no real disadvantages. Each has proven very reliable and incredibly fun to drive, the 570GT can be terrifyingly fast... that boost comes on and you better be ready... the 458 is a racers car for someone that appreciates a car that really turns in proper and exits a corner properly.

So if I had to decide on one, the 458 is what to keep, its destined to be a classic and has advantages that work for me, but I would sure miss the sleek lines of the 570GT and those wild doors and the sound of the boost emanating from the back.... and the crazy G-forces it pulls on acceleration.

Neither car truly out does the other. Both are affordable (as far as exotic cars go) and reliable and certainly great looking... So deciding between these two is an impossibility.. and I guess thats a good thing.

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Yea so far the McLaren has just been flawless. We don't even plug it in. Just go out in the garage whenever you want to drive it, start it up (wait until the lights say green) and go.

The 458 I plug in (I was told to, so I do). Its tough to tell what gets more attention, I think the younger kids like the McLaren and the purists like the 458.

But my neighbor likes the 458 the best... I met him when, heres this guy walking quickly outside still in his socks to stop me and the wife driving (a bit loudly) through the neighbor in tandem. Her in the McLaren and me in the 458. Thinking we were in trouble until I saw who it was... he then defaced my engine bay... now the young kids just see someone signed it and us old guys know who this actually is.. LOL
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He was one part of a dynamic duo

 

A pic says a thousand words... what a golden era that was.... man.

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