McLaren reviews begin
02-16-2011, 03:50 AM
#62
Bias: I placed a deposit on one.
The Mclaren IMHO offers CGT's CF tub/rigidity with modern day electronics and DCT. It also offers NONE of the stupid games that Ferrari plays. You want one - place a deposit, get in line. So I did just that. I want to see it in person and TD it before I pay for the rest of the car.
No offense - but if I want women/sexual analogies I go to the Ferrari board.
The Mclaren IMHO offers CGT's CF tub/rigidity with modern day electronics and DCT. It also offers NONE of the stupid games that Ferrari plays. You want one - place a deposit, get in line. So I did just that. I want to see it in person and TD it before I pay for the rest of the car.
02-17-2011, 10:26 AM
#63
Automobile Magazine:
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ive/index.html
With the quarter mile at 10.9 @135 mph, the 6.1 second 0-100 time is believable.
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...ive/index.html
With the quarter mile at 10.9 @135 mph, the 6.1 second 0-100 time is believable.
02-17-2011, 11:46 AM
#64
Pull on right for up**** and left for downshift.
Or if using the right hand only pull upshift (car accelerating) or push (car decelerating or weight shift forwards).
Makes sense to me. Porsche shifters were the opposite movement and counter intuitive.
02-17-2011, 10:11 PM
#65
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http://magazine.windingroad.com/issue/67/
Decent review on the MP4-12C. Finally some better photos. Interesting how the interior closely copies the Carrera GT design.
Decent review on the MP4-12C. Finally some better photos. Interesting how the interior closely copies the Carrera GT design.
02-19-2011, 02:54 PM
#67
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02-19-2011, 02:56 PM
#68
Instructor
One of the comments said it all:
"Clearly, this is the "thinking man's" exotic rather than the "gold chain man's" exotic, and I think it's absolutely brilliant."
02-19-2011, 04:28 PM
#69
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Mojo - I think you are discounting the value of 'noise and looks' quite a lot. A very simple fact about cars in this class is that they are not race cars where a lap time is the only measure of success. They are street cars. I think when you spend this kind of money you want to feel GIDDY about a car and it should bring you incredible emotions to see, hear, and drive it. It appears like McLaren has underestimated the importance of creating a complete package that includes less objective measures beyond the 0-124mph times.
No question the 458 is inferior on performance measures, but if performance measure was the only criteria then people would not be paying 500k for cars like the F40 to this day, a car that by all measures has been killed on outright performance by modern cars costing 1/5th, yet one that repeatedly is on lists of the 'best' supercars of all time. Same is true for the Carrera GT for that matter.
Personally, I am not skilled enough to extract and use any more performance than the 458 provides which in my opinion is already outlandish for street and track use. I think that applies to 97% of buyers. There is an appeal to something even faster, but it is well beyond the point of diminishing return in the decision making process.
By the way, I am 70% on ordering a 12C so its not like I don't see the appeal, I am a fan on many levels.
No question the 458 is inferior on performance measures, but if performance measure was the only criteria then people would not be paying 500k for cars like the F40 to this day, a car that by all measures has been killed on outright performance by modern cars costing 1/5th, yet one that repeatedly is on lists of the 'best' supercars of all time. Same is true for the Carrera GT for that matter.
Personally, I am not skilled enough to extract and use any more performance than the 458 provides which in my opinion is already outlandish for street and track use. I think that applies to 97% of buyers. There is an appeal to something even faster, but it is well beyond the point of diminishing return in the decision making process.
By the way, I am 70% on ordering a 12C so its not like I don't see the appeal, I am a fan on many levels.
Last edited by superquant; 02-19-2011 at 05:00 PM.
02-19-2011, 05:02 PM
#70
Instructor
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Order it with sports exhaust with flaps. A lot more noise (105db vs 97db) and engine vibration. I think this should bridge some of the gap to ferrari "emotional" theatrical performance. And of course leave it for dust in terms of performance.
Personally i ll lightly mod this car for 650-700hp and 700+nm and then it will be perfect on all grounds. The above should be well within the capabilities of the equipment (as its whispered by the factory).
PS I know i am crazy..
Personally i ll lightly mod this car for 650-700hp and 700+nm and then it will be perfect on all grounds. The above should be well within the capabilities of the equipment (as its whispered by the factory).
PS I know i am crazy..
02-19-2011, 07:42 PM
#73
Nordschleife Master
Mojo - I think you are discounting the value of 'noise and looks' quite a lot. A very simple fact about cars in this class is that they are not race cars where a lap time is the only measure of success. They are street cars. I think when you spend this kind of money you want to feel GIDDY about a car and it should bring you incredible emotions to see, hear, and drive it. It appears like McLaren has underestimated the importance of creating a complete package that includes less objective measures beyond the 0-124mph times.
Case in point, we all know a PDK GT3 would be faster around the track yet, 90% of Rlisters would go with the standard H.
02-19-2011, 07:45 PM
#74
Interesting article. As Chris Harris put it - the car is "a bit clinical". I want to see it in person. My concern is that I won't be impressed by the exterior styling. IMHO - the interior and ergonomics of the MP4 is much nicer than the F458. However the F458 has better styling from the A pillar back(I like the front end of the MP4), has a better sound and after all it is a FERRARI.
Just the name tells you something: F458 Italia Vs. MP4-12C. IMHO that is got to be the worst name in Sports car history.
Btw - I am 40% leaning towards the MP4, 30% F458 and 30% Carrera GT.
Just the name tells you something: F458 Italia Vs. MP4-12C. IMHO that is got to be the worst name in Sports car history.
Btw - I am 40% leaning towards the MP4, 30% F458 and 30% Carrera GT.
02-19-2011, 07:58 PM
#75
Tried to read it. I can't take the opinion of a journo seriously if they start by giving a metrosexual fashion commentary of an F1 race team chief. Sheesh. There's a topic. It's the car, the company and even the man, but it's not the faaking cravat. And three fluffy paragraphs of waffling all amounts to "Ron Dennis is as fastidious as you've probably heard many a time." And the rest of it sums up with "I went on the press junket, the car didn't thrill me, I need something more pretentious."