Discussion
Since I only collected my 2011 pre-owned McLaren 12C from McLaren Ascot in December last year, I thought I would share my ownership experiences with the PH community from almost the very start. The plan is to keep anyone who is interested on PH regularly updated on how I get on. I would certainly welcome contributions from other 12C owners as well as anyone generally interested in the car.
Here are a few pictures of my 12C just before I collected it from McLaren Ascot:
Here are a few pictures of my 12C just before I collected it from McLaren Ascot:
Some further information on my 12C:
Colour: McLaren Blue
Date first registered: August 2011
Mileage to date: 17,200 miles
No. of former owners: 2
Full (McLaren official) service history
Warranty expiry date: December 2017
Optional extras:
Professional detail using Gtecniq applied at no cost
Paint protection film (Suntek) applied at cost
IRIS 2.0 infotainment fitted at cost
Reversing camera fitted at cost
Stat attack:
Engine: 8 cylinders / 3799cc twin-turbo
BHP / rpm: 616 / 7,500
LB FT / rpm: 442 / 3,000
Weight: 1434 kg
BHP / ton: 435
0-60 MPH: 3.1
Max MPH : 207
Colour: McLaren Blue
Date first registered: August 2011
Mileage to date: 17,200 miles
No. of former owners: 2
Full (McLaren official) service history
Warranty expiry date: December 2017
Optional extras:
Professional detail using Gtecniq applied at no cost
Paint protection film (Suntek) applied at cost
IRIS 2.0 infotainment fitted at cost
Reversing camera fitted at cost
Stat attack:
Engine: 8 cylinders / 3799cc twin-turbo
BHP / rpm: 616 / 7,500
LB FT / rpm: 442 / 3,000
Weight: 1434 kg
BHP / ton: 435
0-60 MPH: 3.1
Max MPH : 207
Congratulations on the new car! I think the 12C is aging quite well. I like that colour combination, especially with the silver wheels. Something to be said for supercars in non-in-yer-face colours.
How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?
How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?
12C plus and minus points to date:
Plus points: power; acceleration (when you really go for it the car is like a bloody rocket-ship - faster even than a Porsche 997 GT2 I used to own and that thing was RAPID); grip; braking (carbon discs); air brake; exceptional ride; steering; gearbox in manual mode; seating position; visibility; practicality (to a point); scissor doors; and, looks (subjective).
Minus points: engine note low down in the rev range (sounds like an almighty 4-cylinder and not an 8-cylinder); some turbo lag; gearbox in auto mode (from time-to-time); IRIS 1.0 infotainment (I upgraded to IRIS 2.0 which has made a big difference but the radio is still poor); the car's superior ride comfort does give the sensation that you are floating somewhat over the road rather than keyed into it; rattly turbine air vents; and, I'm still trying to get the hand of the swipe mechanism for the doors!
Plus points: power; acceleration (when you really go for it the car is like a bloody rocket-ship - faster even than a Porsche 997 GT2 I used to own and that thing was RAPID); grip; braking (carbon discs); air brake; exceptional ride; steering; gearbox in manual mode; seating position; visibility; practicality (to a point); scissor doors; and, looks (subjective).
Minus points: engine note low down in the rev range (sounds like an almighty 4-cylinder and not an 8-cylinder); some turbo lag; gearbox in auto mode (from time-to-time); IRIS 1.0 infotainment (I upgraded to IRIS 2.0 which has made a big difference but the radio is still poor); the car's superior ride comfort does give the sensation that you are floating somewhat over the road rather than keyed into it; rattly turbine air vents; and, I'm still trying to get the hand of the swipe mechanism for the doors!
Vroom101 said:
Congratulations on the new car! I think the 12C is aging quite well. I like that colour combination, especially with the silver wheels. Something to be said for supercars in non-in-yer-face colours.
How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?
That's kind of you to say, thanks Steve. I spent an age trying to find a pre-owned 12C in dark blue (I have a thing for dark blue!) and when one came up with McLaren Ascot I jumped on it. I'm also not a huge fan of black or anthracite wheels (although each to their own) and think the silver wheels and tan interior complement the dark blue exterior well. How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?
I plan to use the 12C on weekend trips, continental blasts (heading to the Le Mans test day in June) and the odd track day - Nurburgring, Castle Combe and Goodwood already booked. I'll keep the car regularly inspected and serviced with McLaren Ascot so the car is maintained in tip-top condition.
Took the 12C on a Saturday blast to Goodwood just before Christmas but on the way back home I got stuck briefly behind a slow car taking an age to get past a gritter lorry on the A3. Arrgghhh! Luckily no damage done but it did mean I swiftly booked the car in at McLaren Ascot to have paint protection film (suntek) installed.
aspirated said:
Looks very discreet, what made you choose one over a 458?
Thank you. Three simple reasons why I chose the 12C over the 458:1. Cost (my 12C was approx. 25-30k less expensive than equivalent 458)
2. Noise level - the 458 has a fantastically characterful engine (unlike the 12C) but I'd struggle to get on most of the track days I enjoy.
3. I really wanted to buy British for a change (traditionally I've bought German).
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