Does it bother you that a McLaren road car is faster?

The press trials for the McLaren Mp4-12c are going be released in a few days and without question, this car is going to be very fast. It certainly will be faster than the Ferrari 458 Italia. It may be faster than McLaren's old F1.

Does that upset you? Would you make you want to buy a 12c over an Italia because of speed and performance?

I'm curious what people here think.

 

Nope, not at all. I would much rather a 458. Looks a lot more beautiful IMO.

If I wanted something faster than both of them, I would buy a Nissan R32 Godzilla with 1000HP.

But **** that, give me a 458 anyday.

 

Its ugly, they missed an opportunity to make a unique car, rather than a Saleen.

No mystique, no personality.

 

I think Ferrari should always be at the top but competition is a good thing.

when people stop comparing themselves to Ferrari, that's when it's time to get nervous.

 

I suspect that the 458's successor will be faster. Then the McLaren's successor will be even faster, and the circle will continue.

 

The thing is McLaren delayed the launch of the MP4-12C when the 458 came out. What does that tell you? They've had to put in a lot more design into this car than they originally thought. Yes, I do think it will be faster, they have had a lot of time to develop since the release of the 458. All that being said I still LOVE the 458.

Competition breeds greatness

 

The few road cars McLaren have made have all been faster and rarer than their competitors, including Ferrari

 

McLaren has the pedigree to be an excellent challenge to Ferrari. As previously stated, their last outing was pretty fricken spectacular.

I am excited about a competition between these two outstanding marques. If this round goes to the Mp4-12C than I am sure Ferrari will win the next and on and on.

However, raw performance is only one part of the story. I hope that both marques remember that driver involvement is more important than 0-60.

Personally, I have no interest in driving the equivalent of the world's fastest toaster.

 

McWho?

 

There was not a thing I could pick on the poll.

I think of this as an opportunity, McLaren comming out wiht a more beastly supercar than Ferrari, migh get Ferrari to take (say) 400 pounds out of the Italia--and in the process, make it a significantly better car.

 

....uh, the team which keeps Ferrari awake at nights....

 

I haven't gone "over the wall" in 5 years, racing is just circuses for me. Has zero impact on what cars go in my garage.

 

++++++1. There also should have been an option in the poll saying something along the lines of "no because there are plenty of cars out there that are faster than the 458 and if there weren't the 458 or any other Ferrari wouldn't be as good as they are simply due to the fact that they need some competition to build and beat upon". Of course it would have to be paraphrased a bit but you get the idea. It does not bother me one bit that McLaren of all companies made a car that is faster, if thats even true in the real world. If a company like Kia were to make a car faster I would be mad, or something like that. But today we have the ZR1, Ford GT, and other cars from companies that make really crappy other cars and still have models that beat the 458 in terms of speed. But if you were to get into a ZR1 without even opening your eyes you can just feel the American-ness. The Ford is better in terms of quality but still below the 458 in that category. Im not dismissing the two american icons but just trying to point out that McLaren shouldn't be the company to surprise us that they also made a faster car.

Feel free to disagree or jump in on the same thought process as me.

 

No.

Very few people use performance stats as the leading reason to purchase an exotic. Exotics are about passion.

I would imagine less than 5% of exotic buyers see their cars top speed and if 0-60 time were their priority they would be buying tricked out corvettes and porsches.

 

I'll wait to see what the official test results are but heck no I would not be disappointed. I have huge love and respect for both.

 

Serious question.

Has Ferrari usually been on top ?

I recall Lambo, Porsche and others usually had the 0-60 and top end claims over the past 30 years...or am I remembering incorrectly ?

 

This is the best list of fastest production cars through history I could find, don't know about it's accuracy but only 4 Ferrari ever on the list.

You can add the Bugatti SS to the end of the list at what 267?

http://www.malaysiaminilover.com/world-fastest-production-car

 

How about "doesn't bother me, but I am intrigued".

I plan to just keep my old, slow 430.

Dave

 

Uh...Who makes the Mclaren engine? See...in my opinion, the last Mclaren, the F1, was half BMW. So...who is it this time...Mercedes? The heart of any Ferrari is its engine, and THEY make them, not BMW...or Mercedes...or Honda...or...

Make your own effing engines and I'll be more impressed with your marque.

 

Who cares about speed, it's all about sound! and the Mclaren will never sound as good as the NA 458!

 

This new car is all built in house, including the engine

 

towards the top, yes. at the top, not always.

although up until the late 80's there was really only Ferrari and Lamborghini, there's a lot more exotic/supercar players today.

 

"They call it the [Tifosi's] dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it".
- Apologies to George Carlin

 

The engine isn't outsourced? ...When did that change?

 

I'm not bothered,I'm getting one just to see what all the hoopla is all about....