The official MP4-12C Thread

I spoke at length about the carbon brakes and the normal saving on unsprung weight over steels has almost been negated as they have redesigned the hub to reduce weight, They also said the life span on the ceramics discs would be 2-3 years depending on use, so could be a liability when you come to sell as the dealer will have to bring this into the equation when giving you a price. They also stated the steels were more than upto the job for most people dong some tack work, but that the carbons filled the wheel better if going for the light weight wheels

 

Great reviews, guys. Glad to hear that the car is impressing everybody. So my hunch about the Atom lap time being excluded was correct, but faster than the Veyron SS is still a ridiculous feat. Really, I find it comical (in a good way) that this car is capable of lapping faster than a Gumpert Apollo or Koenigsegg CCX, let alone the Bug SS. Just amazing, perhaps the 7 min 'Ring time will be a reality, too.

Thanks for the updates and if you have any additional thoughts or reflections, please don't be shy... we are living vicariously through you guys, over here, for the next several months.

 

Thanks for your reviews, both. They are much appreciated. The issue of the dual dash is a point well made.

 

Great reviews gents, thanks, also good points about sport exhaust & comments from the engineers/test pilots on the steel vs CC brakes, v good info thanks.

 

How does the mclaren orange look in person? Did any of the cars have the sport exhaust, and if so what was the difference?

thanks,

 

Ok, guys, nice effort so far, but we here across the pond need 10 page essays with very detailed information on everything. Don't be shy, just quit your day jobs and get writing...

 

none had sports exhausts,chris goodwin said the inconel exhaust was alot louder in a more metallic way.if that makes sense,you really dont need it as a dd,just use track mode on the powertrain. The 458 owners there said they thought over time it was better,as even good as the sound is on the 458 is it gets waring over time ,and you wouldnt like to be in the car all the time

 

the car is alot better in the flesh than any photo,i like the orange,but its maybe a weekend colour rather than a daily driver

 

The RIDE??
because my trip was so long i took my wifes gt continental and jumped straight from that into a 12c that we took out on the local B roads,as you would expect it wasnt as comfortable,but not far off,but the big difference was the ride over potholes,which was far better,confusing! where the gt crashed into them,making the whole car shudder on its suspension (but comfortably) the 12c just rode them.It made you look for potholes to aim at! lack of sway bars really makes the difference,also as 360 says on track/track you can feel every pebble.i must admit the journos have taken the sterile tack a bit to far,but they have to think of something negative

 

Personally speaking, I'd get the OEM "steel" brake setup & then get MOV'IT to fabricate me some true carbon-ceramic brake-discs along w/ their relevant brake-pads, which can be used w/ the existing brake caliper (all this is something the routinely do). MovIT's carbon-ceramic brake-discs are by'far superior to anything offered as OEM via Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini/Audi, Aston Martin, MB, GM, etc. Their brake-discs are truly "lifetime" discs, meaning hundreds of thousands of miles of high-performance/competitive driving.

I mentioned such here. Also, if you use the forum search for "MOV'IT" you'll come across a few excellent threads w/ lots of useful info (such as this one here).

Reference:

Tom Frederico Enterprises
MovITBrakesUSA.com
MovIt.DE
FredericoPerformance.com
Poway, CA 92064
[email protected]
TFEnt.com
tel: 858.883.2655
fax: 206.337.0875

(I've conversed w/ Tom, via another forum/etc - he's truly a stand-up & professional guy...)


So, why go this route w/ MOV'IT carbon-ceramic brake-discs & brake-pads, w/ the existing stock OEM McLaren provided brake-calipers (and storing the steel brake discs/pads)?

- first'off, the obvious performance benefit of carbon-ceramic brakes

- the reality that current OEM sourced/offered carbon-composite brake-discs are still largely a wear-&-tear item (despite all that "lifetime" verbiage), a big-ticket one at that

- there will be noted weight-reduction, going from steel brake-discs & presumably some kind of carbon/metallic/organic pads to carbon-ceramic brake-discs & carbon-ceramic pads

- preserve the brand-new/unused steel brake-discs for the sake of residual/resale value (one less quirk prospective buyers would have to fuss w/)

- cost-advantage in the long-run as MOV'IT carbon-ceramic brake-discs will outlast multiple sets of OEM carbon-composite brake-discs

- value-added benefit of both OEM steel brakes (brand-new) & superior/unmatched carbon-ceramic brakes, making one's MP4-12C more marketable/appealing in the seller's arena (obviously for a myriad of reasons, most being preference of either steel or carbon-ceramic w/ the potential 2nd-hand buyer)


Note: all of the aforementioned is going by the assumption that the McLaren sourced/provided carbon-composite brake-discs are similar to those offered by Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini/Audi, Aston Martin, MB, GM, etc (which have proven to be inferior to MOV'IT carbon-ceramic brake-discs).

 

I'm sorry but what does this post have to do with the 12C, all you have done is try to sell your brakes, shameless promotion. Where are the mods, please remove this post.

 

lol... relax, my friend - no worries...

First'off, you may not read my post properly/thoroughly (as you didn't get anything out of, you haven't been keeping up w/ the thread).

Secondly (and of more importance), I have no affiliation or interest w/ MOV'IT. They've been previously mentioned dozens of times on this site (in'fact, I got the cut/paste contact info from this post in this very forum); also, Tom's a forum member (TFENT).

And lastly, the ongoing discussion w/ 360 & andy c was w/ regards to the MP4-12C's carbon-composite brakes vs. steel brakes (and wear-&-tear / residual-valuation / etc). I just offered an opine.

Happy?

(I've been a member of this forum since '03, as well has have personally met the admin & others who run the show on numerous occasions - meaning I know how things work here...)


On-topic...

T-minus 1 1/2 years, fingers crossed!

 

^^^ They are cast iron, not steel.

Based on all the info to date, the iron vs. Carbon ceramic brake options are similar in performance, but do have some differences in wear, dust, size, and cost. Hard to say if one is better or not, depends on the use of the car.

 

You clearly have not followed this thread for long. Yes, the OEM carbon discs are a wear item, BUT unlike Ferrari's and their ilk, they are not a big ticket item. Replacement costs are simply minimally higher compared to steel. No need to go with anything but OEM.

 

we know they are cast iron Falb,its just most people in the states say steel,we are only trying to be helpful,tyres/tires .everything about the brakes has to be looked at differently on this car,there is so much help from the airbrake making them spread there load and heat soak differently to anything else,also chris goodwin said they did a 5000k 24 hour flat out track test purely to test the new cast iron/ali hub design,he did tell me this yesterday, tongue in cheek he said the ceramics filled the superlightweight wheel better and kept them cleaner

 

I was just reusing the term used by other(s) in the thread...

Uhh, just because I don't chime in this thread multiple times a day often w/ nonsensical diatribe and/or bubbling exuberance doesn't mean I am not keeping up w/ the posts & updates in the thread. Quite the contrary. Regardless, a side premise of my post was the point of offering future buyers in the resale market a choice of having the "steel" brake setup, along w/ carbon-ceramic brake setup. This seemingly is a concern for some, but might not be the case w/ the MP4-12C. And no- OEM isn't always bests (even w/ exotics/super-cars/etc). Majority of those w/ Porsche PCCB's have already made the move to other applicable outfitters for longer-lasting, higher-performing, better-priced relevant component(s).

Good to know these McLaren "carbon" brake discs are not cost prohibitive in the longrun, kryz. I am still wondering if they are adhered flakes/matrix of carbon-ceramic material over a "steel" disc (as the case w/ other OEM carbon-composite brake discs) or they are woven sheets of carbon-ceramic layers (as the case w/ MOV'IT & other race applications)? Going by the mention of "2-3 years (usage) life" & competitive price-point (relatively speaking) in a previous posts, I'm leaning to them being the former.

Anywayz... onwards, forward!

 

....didn't see this thread until today....

I'm in line for mine

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=140429159#post140429159

 

Awesome and congrats! I read your thread, Azure Blue is going to look great. Would strongly consider it myself if I didn't have three blue cars already.

Also, yes McLaren Toronto is going to be full service dealer (aren't they all anyway?) operated by the Pfaff Group. Very reputable org here in Toronto. Did you call them to see what build date they are currently booking? PM me if you need a contact. Although with current Forex, you'd take a bath buying in our strong loonie (plus import duty) vs a USD car. Unless you have some CAD stashed away up here...

 

ok guys,just uploaded my fast lap on you tube,mclaren mp4-12c page 20 under andyc1886,
please ingnore the exited 5 year old talking bollocks,not good but thought you might like to see one of the first customer laps,no commets please!!!!

 

Thanks for that Andy!! Awesome! The car certainly does look nice and tidy through the bends.

 

Thank for the video and initial impressions guys, BUT.........CAN YOU PLEASE POST A 10 page report ala EVO/CAR!!! LOL.

 

And why are you in this thread? LOL - are you going to post pics here you traitor?!

 

Andy,

Thanks for the you tube video of you driving the 12c. It was great. The car sounds very good. Did that car have sports exhaust or the standard exhaust? I can't wait till we get dealer drivers here in US but I'm wondering if we'll have them on tracks like you did...