The official MP4-12C Thread

The IRIS upgrade in the US costs $6,850....

 

i would think they will dial in a bit of flexibility,not really sure how it will work,but dont forget ,even the press were scepitcal about the suspension,now they are just dumbstruck ,my thoughts on eau rouge were a bit of fantasy,but i bet this car gives you more confidance than anything else ,at any speed

 

This is true, you've been a "ringer" so far! Appreciate the reply, thanks.

 

Some people enjoy being treated badly!
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I would be surprised if the the track pack option isn't available without the Iris system, most track enthusiasts wouldn't want the additional weight of the 7 speaker set up. The Meridian standard audio should still sound good enough for most buyers, in what is after all 2 seat sports coupe.

 

I hate to say this, but so far I am not being treated better by McLaren than by Ferrari...in fact it's so far not even as good as the treatment by Ferrari. I have asked tons of questions, and the McLaren dealer is so far unable to get the factory to respond. I have asked for a factory tour so I can see cars in person in different colors and interiors before I spec a car...also not happening so far. I have asked about watching my car get built...in person...and the answer so far isn't NO (but it sure isn't YES either)...and not even a suggestion that the "watch your car being built on the web" is even a possibility. I simply cannot get ANY information out of the them.

So I don't know why folks are saying McLaren is treating customers better than Ferrari....so far, at least in MY case, that is just not true. I could pick up the phone right now and arrange through my Ferrari dealer a factory tour (I've done it without problem before). Not so with McLaren for some reason.

I am continually underwhelmed with the McLaren PR/Customer Support aspect of the business. I just don't understand why they don't get that the purchasing experience is an important part of the overall ownership experience....and so far I am just not impressed. I keep hoping that this changes quickly, and I am continually disappointed.

So what makes anyone think McLaren (Sir Ron) is going to give any more of a hoot about customers than Ferrari (Luca)?

I keeping giving McLaren the opportunity to change my perception, but since they aren't stepping up to the plate, in MY case, perception is quickly becoming reality.

I still want a car, and still have a deposit on one for October delivery, but McLaren is not helping to convince me it's the right decision.

 

i think the extra sound system is part of the iris,as is the nav ,but not what the iris is really about,i think the couple of kilos extra will be nothing compared to what it will offer if it is connected to the brain of the car,which i am sure it must.also it will be connected to woking as was the F1

 

i think at the moment they have become a victim of there own success,im sure things will iron out as the next few months go by,the sort of people who are wanting these cars are
in the know and just want to know more than your average car buyer,and Mclaren are so new to this game ,as ive said before they are a race team and the engineers just never want to sign it off,so everything is in flux at the moment,(like the track pack,sports seats)
although the factory is only acouple of weeks delayed ,(due to the snow in dec),the first cars have been put back a couple of weeks because of the unexpected uptake in carbon options .all the things like watching your car been made,have only been suggested for the future,not for the first few cars,
in the uk ,we are a few weeks ,months ?ahead ,as are the dealerships so maybe the US dealerships will get more help as production ramps up.
i would like to pick my car up from the factory,which will be avalible in the future,but i have to accept maybe to start with if i want an early car i have to make some sacrifices

 

Did anyone ever verify the warranty... is it 2 or 3 years?

 

I'm also wondering if I'm scheduled for a December 2011 or January 2012 delivery (as I requested because I'm guessing some of the bugs from cars delivered this summer would be worked out) if I could add sport seats before the car is finally built?

 

Yeah, well, patience isn't exactly in my DNA....what can I say?

I, too, am an engineer by degree and training and job, and have managed a lot of engineers....and sometimes you just have to take the pencils (CAD software keys?) away from the engineers.

I get it, but there should always be time made available to respond to CUSTOMER (KEYWORD: CUSTOMER) questions.

In the end, the CUSTOMER gets to make a choice because the CUSTOMER can spend their money elsewhere. What is it that you, as an owner of a business, are going to do to make sure the customer doesn't make that fateful decision to take their money to a competitor? You can't just rely on having what you deem to be a better product, because the competitors will ALWAYS catch up...ALWAYS. And sometimes very quickly. What do you do for the customer to differentiate yourself in a crowded high end market where the choices are plentiful, and the products of similar caliber? What do you do to make sure your customers stay with you even if the competitor does offer at some point a "better" product? How do you instill, from the very first contact, a sense of loyalty with that customer?

Those of you who run/have run businesses know exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure Sir Ron and the Woking boys have figured it out yet.

 

I have asked that question of the dealer as well....they don't know yet. How crazy is that?

Ferrari is 3 years / unlimited mileage. I would think that McLaren would have to AT LEAST match that.

 

my dealer says 3 years unlimited mileage.

Re: expectations, I am willing to sacrifice the lack of information from McLaren HQ early on, as long as the product itself is incredible. Classic early adopter scenario, but perhaps not for everybody when this sum of $ is in question. As for my dealer, they have been forthcoming and honest about the entire waiting list/deposit taking process, which is refreshing. They were adamant that the waiting list is formed first-come, first-served, regardless of prior customer relationships and that no amount of money could move somebody further up the list.

 

Great about the 3 years and +1 re: your comments. I have been given very good personal service from the local dealer who, as I mentioned in earlier posts, is arranging a private viewing of a 12 C for me next Wednesday. That impresses me! To see, feel and hear the car means much more to me personally at this point.

 

sure its 3 years,will have confirmation next week

 

I am willing to sacrifice a certain amount of lack of information, but not the total vacuum that exists right now. None of my questions have been complicated nor complex. I just want some basic information about some of the options before signing the final order. Simple stuff like are they are willing to make a couple of minor changes within some of the interior options (minor interior material swaps for example)? Simple things that they certainly know such as what does a particular option weigh...easy stuff. I have no indication that it will be possible to get any answers in that time period. So that is why I am seriously considering giving up a 2011 slot and going with a 2012 slot...to give them time to work out the kinks in the ENTIRE process.

I'm the guy who has to live with what I choose, so I want to choose wisely. I want to make informed choices, not choices based on rumors or what someone has supposedly been told by someone with "inside" info. I'd like to get the answers from the folks who will be building the car....it's that simple.

Not saying that anyone is wrong for dealing with this process in a different manner. To each their own. I'm simply frustrated that they seem unable to provide ANY sort of response, even if to say they will be able to get back to me in a week, a month, two months, etc.

So, that being said, I'll not bring it up again. And whatever I do eventually get back in terms of answers from the dealer/factory, I will post here.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program......

 

Same here: 3 years/unlimited mileage. No ifs or buts.

 

dont forget if you are going for one in october,its probably going to be number 400/500,maybe they are concentrating there efforts on the first 60 cars,then so on,and with the customers who have their specs in,with it being a completley new company they also have to ramp up man power aswell,and i doubt they will ever face this problem again.

 

It's a small distinction, but the force required to overcome aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed. The power required increases with the cube of speed.

 

Funnily enough, they are still tweaking the design. Double arm mirror attachement on the cars is supposedly be changed to single arm in production cars due to noise.

 

due to whistling above 160mph,at the moment this is for the American cars,maybe they cannot get them produced in time for the early european cars and they will be fitted retrospectivley?

 

No problem. I share your frustration at the lack of available info. I guess I'm just willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are being swamped with requests right now. But yes, if the situation does not show signs of improvement before too long, I will be putting more pressure on my dealer and suggest that all of us do likewise for the benefit of everybody. You are correct- McLaren themselves have gone out of the way to claim they will set a new standard in customer service. I fully expect that we will have to help them live up to that promise by sharing whatever info we get, but also by making sure we tell the dealers what we want so they can relay our requests.

 

The ZR1 time doesn't quite make sense to me. I wonder if they used a 2009 and had traction issues at launch. But that doesn't still compensate for 7 second difference over a 2RS.

This cars seems almost too good to be true. Now if I can just wait 9(or so) more months!!

 

i assume you mean a $100k car. Keep in mind the VW Group also manufaturers Bugatti

Agree, Ferrari's days may be a thing of the past unless they greatly change the way they treat their customers.

 

Autobild got zr1's 0-300 at 32.6 (and 0-200 at 10.4)

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/test-corvette-zr1-778104.html