296 Owner reviews?

I would love to hear your review once you get your gts. I'm a convertible guy, I got the gtb at the moment, great car but I think topless will make it (a lot?) more fun to drive.

 

Completely agree with your assessment. First time I think a car is too fast, the 296, 2 seconds later it's all over even on empty highways, or risk going immediately to jail. Never need any more speed. Gas mileage is WAY better than my mclaren 12c.
I'm not yet completely sold on how thrilling the 296 is to drive. It's almost too good and efficient that it feels a bit less sense of danger?
What was your take on the 750s? I will get a lot of track seat time in it next month, I hope I walk away knowing that I bought the right car (296) instead of having to get 2 mclarens...

 

I've had my 296 GTB for a month now. I've run it in carefully. Last weekend, I was able to take it for a spin on the German Autobahn. The speedometer read 360.
TOP.

Next week, I'll take both cars for a spin on the Nordschleife. I'm curious to see how it performs. I'll report back.
The Nordschleife and Spa-Francorchamps are my favorite tracks. Zandvoort is also great, but we brake closer.

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@Morgan911 how it went?

 

223 mph!!

 

I took delivery this past summer. Fantastic car. Quick, as fast as my SF90 better sounding and much more nimble. Mine is an AF package. I will trade it for the Speciale in 18 months.i have road tripped in it and although suspension is stiffer its VERY livable. Much faster than my F8 and better sounding. I have a 458 with Iconel exhaust...hard to beat that sound but really like the 296 sound. Its different. I also have a Turbo S (992) and it is hands down better sounding.

 

Remember, everyone complained about all the features being on the steering wheel, such as the signal indicators, etc. way Bach when. All of those people out driving around genius arrangement.

 

I have a 750s spider and it’s probably the best car McLaren will ever make. I’m not averse to hybrids as I picked up a g90 m5 but McLaren is well known for their problems in the artura. That said the 750s suspension is really on another level. Almost has good as the Porsche gt3rs if not better in some aspects and the steering feel on the McLaren is better. This is been oft repeated by all my friends who have driven my cars even a kinematics engineer for a car company.
After they drive both back to back the million dollar question is which would you pick if it was your money and it’s the 296 every time. The powertrain on the 296 is instant and addictive. I’m not saying the 296 handles poorly or has no steering feel only that there are some subtle differences on my non AF car.

I still enjoy my 750 and right now the plan is to keep both pending what my dealer says about getting a speciale

 

Mc has investment $ and plans for sustained sports car growth. No reason to doubt the replacement will be better like it has been from 12C on.

 

Azzurro la Plata and no shields... But black wheels because nobody is perfect

 

Thanks for your feedback, that's very valuable coming from an actual owner of both. I also own a tuned mp4-12C (not the Ferrari 12C...) and recently I drove the 750S on the track for a day. I agree that McLaren Steering is more engaging because I feel every bump from the road and that adds to the sense of speed and danger coming through my hands. 296 steering feels more disconnected like a video game, but I'm also impressed how accurate it is. Turning even slightly around the center the car responds instantly and accurately. The light weight aspect is also very cool in the McLaren. The 296 is not that heavy and it manages it extremely well, so it handles just as well. But you do get more of a lightness feeling with the McLaren which adds to the sense of danger/excitement in my opinion.
Having said that, I think the 296 power train is way beyond the 750S. I'm totally spoiled by the instantaneous response of the engine and the transmission that at this point anything else feels sluggish. It's also super efficient that it doesn't generate a lot of heat and doesn't need me to visit the gas station all the time. Logically this should help with longevity as heat soak is bad for every component in there.
I know on paper the 296 and 750S are fairly on par in terms of performance. In your day to day back to back comparison, do you think 296 feels a good bit faster than the 750S? That was my impression after driving 750S for a day.

I'm happy with my current combo as my 12C gives me the raw old school experience for 1/3 of the price of the Ferrari. But when McLaren is selling the 750S for the same money as the 296, I agree with you, that's a tough sell for me. Don't tell anyone on McLarenLife though, some folks get upset over there.

 

the 296 feels quite a bit faster and therefore overall more enjoyable. but the interesting thing is the 750s can be tuned for 1000hp easily (check the drag times YouTube channel to see) and have it destroy EVs even revueltos/sf90. It’s part of the reason why I think I’ll keep it alongside as the 296 cannot be tuned at least currently unless something more compelling comes along from McLaren.

I won’t do anything until the factory warranty is up and to be frank it’s plenty thrilling in stock form. I do wish the 296 was a bit louder because the 750s sounds phenomenal for a turbo v8 more than the sf90 which was a huge reason why I’m not interested in one.

 

My local mclaren mechanic is excellent and does a lot of tuning work. I was there today picking up my car... At least on the 720s platform, doing the typical downpipe and tune gets very good results, around +100hp. But anything beyond I would be hesitant to go down that rabbit hole. It will need a good bit of component upgrades and possibly engine rebuild to work right. Every time I visit my mechanic, they're fixing someones car that got pushed too far and blew up. Mclaren hasn't been the most reliable for me and pushing it too far I think is a bit scary.
At least for me, I'm not sure what i would do with more performance than the 296. I don't think I want anything faster for the street.

 

I would have to respectfully disagree on this point.

The 750 maybe louder, but that volume simply is noise.

The 296, while it may be relatively more muted vis-a-vis the 750, it sounds better.

Never conflate noise with sound.

The latter is what we all cherish; the former is, well, just noise.

 

I don’t think I explained myself well I did not mean that the 750s sounded better than the 296. only that the 750s is loud and sounds great for a turbo v8 which matches the cars personality - it has pops and bangs but it’s not over the top.

I love the 296 note I just wish it was maybe 20-30% louder as having the windows down a bit drowns out the noise.

 

I totally agree. I really like how the 296 sounds but it could be a bit louder. I prefer windows up, feels like you hear less with windows down due to wind noise. I never drove a gts, but I would imagine with the top down, it could use more volume also. Maybe down the road I hope there will be a non intrusive option to do catless downpipe and a tune just for sound.
My 12c is stock sport exhaust, with a tune it sounds fantastic, not so much the engine sound but the loud turbo noises. I'm told if I went catless it will be even better in terms of quality of sound.

 

Understood.