SSTHO

I realized how much I LOVE the 997.2 GT3s.

I believe the modern day supercar is becoming more versatile (more daily driver friendly and on demand, keeping true to the supercar feel, performance, thrill). The McLaren > 458 Italia for the daily driving factor, but what got to me was there was no real driver connectivity for me.

Driving home in my 997.2 GT3, I realize how connected I always feel with this car.

My critique on MP4 12C

+ great straight line torque, car really pulls hard with minimal turbo lag
+ fit & finish was above expectations, surprisingly light doors and solid feel
+ gear shifting was effortless and extremely smooth

- still can't deal with turbo lag of any sort
- smooth gear shifting did not give it a sporty feel, especially downshifts
- didn't evoke any real emotion: looks, exhaust note, driver connectivity

Verdict: a bit numb and better for daily driving use; 458 Italia hands down if I had to commit my own $. But for me, no car rivals the 997 GT3's driver connectivity. That's most important for me.

NorthVan

What dealer has the MP4?

Would love to see it in person.

Nick Wong

Lake Forest Sports Cars in the northern Chicago suburbs has one for sale.

NorthVan

Long drive to see a car.

Nick Wong

Perhaps, but you didn't really specify where...

Darkstar1

I would fly...

ethel19

I could not agree with you more! I have yet to drive a new McLaren. I am certain that the car must be awesome to drive. I am certain that is true of so many neat, expensive, new cars that are out there and have come out. I have owned 5 Ferrari's over the years and loved them all. Having said that, NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING connects me to the road like my 997.2 GT3.
There is something magical about this car. I am not a great driver. Never have been and never will be. However this car can make you feel like nothing else. The car is not about numbers and the fact that the new 991 can do the "Ring" in the same time as the 997.2 GT3. This car goes way beyond the numbers. It is so sublime in the way it can take an average driver (like myself) and make him, or her, feel like they have gone to another world. I will never sell this car. It will leave me when they put me in a pine box. Nothing new with what I just said, however I just had to say it.

NorthVan

Good Point

Targa Tim

Actually I saw an orange one travelling eastbound on West 4th Ave. (Burrard) at 5:20pm today. I went to MCL to pick up my CTT and saw it on my way back home.

SSTHO

Ed - Pfaff from Toronto have the official dealership rights for GTA and looking for a tiny space in Vancouver. It's parked at 1623 West 2nd Ave for Ride & Drive event from today for a few days. It was invite only, but might be possible to sneak in for a peak? Car was also here last summer for the Luxury Supercar Show.

Doublej

Regarding the shifting etc, did you change the program into one of the sport modes? If you didn't then it was probably still in the 'grocery getter' mode and I can see why the shifting was smooth and not 'sporty'.

Exciting none-the less to drive I'm sure!
JJ

NorthVan

Thanks, I will try and go by to take a look.

SSTHO

JJ - certainly tried playing around with both the softest possible settings and also both track settings on both dials in the center console. I wanted to focus on the largest variance of character of the car. Smooth was all I remembered.

The 458 had a great sporty feel and sound (but the LFA takes the cake for downshift sound IMHO). I spent real time with the 458 in city and track driving. This test drive was a 30 minute urban setting with some bridges.

Exhaust note was barely noticeable in 'grocery getter' mode - as noticeable as a 997 TT. But it came into character when track mode was selected. The exhaust note was nice, but not 458 Italia or any other Ferrari-like exotic and memorable.

tcsracing1

a lot of people mistaken it for a new Gallardo.....

for this reason i do not think i could own one...

hell of a nice car though!

jyoteen

There are tons of them at the McLaren dealership in Beverly Hills. Already seen two of them on the roads.