12C, a few weeks in
Discussion
So, I've had my carbon black 12c for a few weeks now, and now that the weather is improving a little I've had more quality time behind the wheel.
Some of you will know that I started a thread where I was torn between getting a Lambo LP560 or a 12C - both similar prices. RamboLambo was quick to point out that I'd be bonkers if I chose the Lambo over the Mac. I'm very pleased to say that he was absolutely right. I sold my 430 to buy the 12C. Here are a few thoughts/observations so far.
The 12c has insane performance. It's totally addictive. The throttle response is instantaneous. It hugs corners like its on rails. It takes off whenever you want it.
It's really easy to use every day once you're in. I'll get to the 'once you're in' bit a little later.. Driving this thing around town is a joy. Pootling along is just a joy. The suspension is not as soft as the journos made it out (it's not Rolls Royce soft at all), but it is very good at soaking up the pot holes. I don't mind it not being S-Class wallowy when I'm pootling. If it was, I'd be concerned I'd bought the wrong car, but it is comfortable. This changes when you shift the mode to track and it's remarkable how the suspension feel changes from soft to proper track mode.
The doors are super sexy but a pain at times. If someone parks up against your drivers door then you're stuck if the passenger door isn't accessible. The door doesn't open superwide, but you can't stop it opening all the way without holding onto it. This means that for comfortable getting in and getting out, you need to make sure you have a metre between you and the car next to you. Getting in and out is a faff although I'm getting used to it. Actually getting out is fairly easy (see comment below about memory seats and auto egress), getting in sees you making some very unusual body shapes as you get used to it.
Compared to my 430?? Night and day. I remain shocked and miffed at people paying 100k+ for a 430. In fact, my one of the dad's at my daughters school just bought a 90k 430 and he stores it in his dad's garage (wtf??). I simply don't get that mentality - car's are for driving, houses and businesses are for investing. I stopped short of telling him that if he's scared of driving it for loss of value, then he can't actually afford it and shouldn't have bought it. The 430 was so much more cumboresome to manouever. The 12c quite happily reverses, has a great turning cirlce. The 430 hated being reveresed up hill and around corners. The F1 gearbox was great, but now that I've have a DCT, I'd get really annoyed at the slow gear changes in the 430. The 12c turns way more heads too. It feels (and probably is) far more exclusive.
Photos, web pics simply do not do the 12c justice. In the flesh, it looks properly insane, just like a supercar should look.
Soul. I'm struggling to understand why the journos claimed it didn't have any when they reviewed them??? Mine sounds like the earth is about implode beneath my feet. At 4k+ revs it screams. There's no turbo lag. It puts a grin on your face when you chuck it around corners. No soul?? What?? Why? I had a 458 for the weekend. Some say it sounds better, I say it sounds different - both have their distinct sonic identities. My 12c sounds like a high speed fighter spacecraft from starwars, I love it.
Iris2 is brilliant. Never seen Iris1 so can't compare but it just does everything really well.
I love that the tech is good enough that the electric seats go back and down to let you out of the car more easily and then come back to their driving position once you're in the car. Love that. Supercar credentials with 1st world comforts.
Did I say it looks awesome? Mines carbon black. Looks low, dark, menacing. The red LEDs at the back remind of the evil robot Maximillion in the Black Hole movie or the red strip of light that sits on a Cylon's helmet (I just realised how that might sound).
Just need to rack up a few more miles in her (27k currently - Shmee150 certainly used her as intended!).
Some of you will know that I started a thread where I was torn between getting a Lambo LP560 or a 12C - both similar prices. RamboLambo was quick to point out that I'd be bonkers if I chose the Lambo over the Mac. I'm very pleased to say that he was absolutely right. I sold my 430 to buy the 12C. Here are a few thoughts/observations so far.
The 12c has insane performance. It's totally addictive. The throttle response is instantaneous. It hugs corners like its on rails. It takes off whenever you want it.
It's really easy to use every day once you're in. I'll get to the 'once you're in' bit a little later.. Driving this thing around town is a joy. Pootling along is just a joy. The suspension is not as soft as the journos made it out (it's not Rolls Royce soft at all), but it is very good at soaking up the pot holes. I don't mind it not being S-Class wallowy when I'm pootling. If it was, I'd be concerned I'd bought the wrong car, but it is comfortable. This changes when you shift the mode to track and it's remarkable how the suspension feel changes from soft to proper track mode.
The doors are super sexy but a pain at times. If someone parks up against your drivers door then you're stuck if the passenger door isn't accessible. The door doesn't open superwide, but you can't stop it opening all the way without holding onto it. This means that for comfortable getting in and getting out, you need to make sure you have a metre between you and the car next to you. Getting in and out is a faff although I'm getting used to it. Actually getting out is fairly easy (see comment below about memory seats and auto egress), getting in sees you making some very unusual body shapes as you get used to it.
Compared to my 430?? Night and day. I remain shocked and miffed at people paying 100k+ for a 430. In fact, my one of the dad's at my daughters school just bought a 90k 430 and he stores it in his dad's garage (wtf??). I simply don't get that mentality - car's are for driving, houses and businesses are for investing. I stopped short of telling him that if he's scared of driving it for loss of value, then he can't actually afford it and shouldn't have bought it. The 430 was so much more cumboresome to manouever. The 12c quite happily reverses, has a great turning cirlce. The 430 hated being reveresed up hill and around corners. The F1 gearbox was great, but now that I've have a DCT, I'd get really annoyed at the slow gear changes in the 430. The 12c turns way more heads too. It feels (and probably is) far more exclusive.
Photos, web pics simply do not do the 12c justice. In the flesh, it looks properly insane, just like a supercar should look.
Soul. I'm struggling to understand why the journos claimed it didn't have any when they reviewed them??? Mine sounds like the earth is about implode beneath my feet. At 4k+ revs it screams. There's no turbo lag. It puts a grin on your face when you chuck it around corners. No soul?? What?? Why? I had a 458 for the weekend. Some say it sounds better, I say it sounds different - both have their distinct sonic identities. My 12c sounds like a high speed fighter spacecraft from starwars, I love it.
Iris2 is brilliant. Never seen Iris1 so can't compare but it just does everything really well.
I love that the tech is good enough that the electric seats go back and down to let you out of the car more easily and then come back to their driving position once you're in the car. Love that. Supercar credentials with 1st world comforts.
Did I say it looks awesome? Mines carbon black. Looks low, dark, menacing. The red LEDs at the back remind of the evil robot Maximillion in the Black Hole movie or the red strip of light that sits on a Cylon's helmet (I just realised how that might sound).
Just need to rack up a few more miles in her (27k currently - Shmee150 certainly used her as intended!).
Good write up. Glad you're enjoying it. Can only echo your experiences. The strange thing that I find is that people know it's a McLaren even without seeing the badge at the rear. It's not important to me that people know what it is, but kids certainly knowing (I guess from games) and adults do also. Oh and everyone turns their head when it comes past (slowly).
There are comments on here about the brand not being known. But maybe that's changed over the past few years. Still only seen 3 in the wild. Mine being the 3rd! But people know about Mclaren's nowadays.
Glad you're driving it plenty!
Happy
There are comments on here about the brand not being known. But maybe that's changed over the past few years. Still only seen 3 in the wild. Mine being the 3rd! But people know about Mclaren's nowadays.
Glad you're driving it plenty!
Happy
Yes, this is what's surprised me a little too! I've heard guys shouting "It's a Mclaren!" more than once. I guess it must be the games, but I guess I'm also being a little naive about the car loving public. They also watch Top Gear, they also occasionally dabble in YouTube looking at car vids. Little boys don't put car posters up on their walls anymore, but they do have wallpaper on their iPads and laptops and I'm guessing Ferrari has become a little stale in some peoples minds. I do believe they've lost their edge a little in the looks department - other cars are far more insane e.g. Aventador, Huracan and Mac. I know from my perspective that the 458 look does very little for me. Yes, it's a pretty enough thing to look at but the lines remain slightly awkward. Not as bad as the lines on my 430 (the rear end was messy and the front end seemed to contrast it too much in its simplicity, minus the rather oversized nostrils). Macs on the other hand have more of an exotic look about them, I guess this is another reason why they get more attention for the upcoming petrol head generation.
Is my 12c a keeper? As awesome as it is, I don't think so. I actually can't wait to see what they do with the 650 replacement and then it's going :-) Loving what Maclaren are doing - and they're British, yippee!
Edited to add: I forgot to mention the downshifts! Oooooo, I love those downshifts!
Is my 12c a keeper? As awesome as it is, I don't think so. I actually can't wait to see what they do with the 650 replacement and then it's going :-) Loving what Maclaren are doing - and they're British, yippee!
Edited to add: I forgot to mention the downshifts! Oooooo, I love those downshifts!
Echo everything you say.
Mine has no lift - but manages speed bumps
Used it constantly yesterday to ferry child, wife and do shopping chores - clocking up about 100 miles - some might argue these are just junk miles, but I loved every one of them.
Only niggle - if you are short like my wife - she finds it a chore to reach back to go from D to N/ R
Mine has no lift - but manages speed bumps
Used it constantly yesterday to ferry child, wife and do shopping chores - clocking up about 100 miles - some might argue these are just junk miles, but I loved every one of them.
Only niggle - if you are short like my wife - she finds it a chore to reach back to go from D to N/ R
Great summary and as an owner for 3 weeks I can also echo everything. Just spent a lovely night in a hotel and I have never had so much attention from the staff, they pounced from the moment we appeared and have been around us like flies all weeekend. Not sure that's a a good thing but at least we were allowed to park by the portico in the drop off area and were not asked to move :-)
I'm in love with my car so far, it's amazing, only thing I don't like is the dash stitching reflecting on the windscreen but that's so minor it's almost insignificant and I am struggling to think of any other downsides.....
I'm in love with my car so far, it's amazing, only thing I don't like is the dash stitching reflecting on the windscreen but that's so minor it's almost insignificant and I am struggling to think of any other downsides.....
So pleased for you Slarti, definitely the right choice and the longer you have her and the more you drive it the more you will appreciate the difference between the new and old technology the cars offered.
The Lambo was agricultural in comparison at the end of its long life cycle and getting tired and outdated whereas the McLaren 12C was actually ahead of its time with banned F1 technology.
The McLaren brand is growing rapidly and becoming recognised as "the supercar" to aspire to by the younger generations. These are the future buyers and you have to be able to see down the line and not just tomorrow for where these cars are going to go in terms of long term values.
With low production volumes of early 12C/650S models and ever increasing demand prices will go up.
Not only have you got yourself a cracking car its also a wise investment/purchase, but please just drive it and let any appreciation be a bonus .
Enjoy !
The Lambo was agricultural in comparison at the end of its long life cycle and getting tired and outdated whereas the McLaren 12C was actually ahead of its time with banned F1 technology.
The McLaren brand is growing rapidly and becoming recognised as "the supercar" to aspire to by the younger generations. These are the future buyers and you have to be able to see down the line and not just tomorrow for where these cars are going to go in terms of long term values.
With low production volumes of early 12C/650S models and ever increasing demand prices will go up.
Not only have you got yourself a cracking car its also a wise investment/purchase, but please just drive it and let any appreciation be a bonus .
Enjoy !
RamboLambo said:
So pleased for you Slarti, definitely the right choice and the longer you have her and the more you drive it the more you will appreciate the difference between the new and old technology the cars offered.
The Lambo was agricultural in comparison at the end of its long life cycle and getting tired and outdated whereas the McLaren 12C was actually ahead of its time with banned F1 technology.
The McLaren brand is growing rapidly and becoming recognised as "the supercar" to aspire to by the younger generations. These are the future buyers and you have to be able to see down the line and not just tomorrow for where these cars are going to go in terms of long term values.
With low production volumes of early 12C/650S models and ever increasing demand prices will go up.
Not only have you got yourself a cracking car its also a wise investment/purchase, but please just drive it and let any appreciation be a bonus .
Enjoy !
Thanks Rambo. And thanks for making me see sense! I can't believe I even considered side-stepping from a 430 to a Gallardo!The Lambo was agricultural in comparison at the end of its long life cycle and getting tired and outdated whereas the McLaren 12C was actually ahead of its time with banned F1 technology.
The McLaren brand is growing rapidly and becoming recognised as "the supercar" to aspire to by the younger generations. These are the future buyers and you have to be able to see down the line and not just tomorrow for where these cars are going to go in terms of long term values.
With low production volumes of early 12C/650S models and ever increasing demand prices will go up.
Not only have you got yourself a cracking car its also a wise investment/purchase, but please just drive it and let any appreciation be a bonus .
Enjoy !
SlartiF430 said:
Thanks Rambo. And thanks for making me see sense! I can't believe I even considered side-stepping from a 430 to a Gallardo!
Gallardo is a great car though Slarti. I consider myself very fortunate, went from a 430 to a Gallardo then a 650S. A really satisfying ladder that introduced me to the best that all these baby Supercars can offer.Really pleased you are enjoying the Mac, cant really see anything to better it at the moment short of spending 900 grand!
br d said:
Gallardo is a great car though Slarti. I consider myself very fortunate, went from a 430 to a Gallardo then a 650S. A really satisfying ladder that introduced me to the best that all these baby Supercars can offer.
Really pleased you are enjoying the Mac, cant really see anything to better it at the moment short of spending 900 grand!
Apologies, I diddn't mean to talk down the G. I think if I bought one it would feel a bit "more of the same" and I'd be itching to get into something more of our time (DCT being the big thing for me).Really pleased you are enjoying the Mac, cant really see anything to better it at the moment short of spending 900 grand!
SlartiF430 said:
Apologies, I diddn't mean to talk down the G. I think if I bought one it would feel a bit "more of the same" and I'd be itching to get into something more of our time (DCT being the big thing for me).
Absolutely mate, I know exactly what you mean. The G and the 430 are very much of a piece and between them they represent a good spectrum of the previous generation of Supercars. For me the Mac moves the game on to the next level. I loved both those cars and feel very privileged to have owned them but I do feel that the McLarens are a massive step forward. I was really torn between the 650S and a Speciale but in the end the comfort and handling of the Mac won through (I like to do long Euro trips!). I've yet to drive a 488 so a return to Ferrari is still a possibility but it will really have to shine to Eclipse the M!
A10 said:
RamboLambo said:
The McLaren brand is growing rapidly and becoming recognised as "the supercar" to aspire to by the younger generations.
Says who?I have test driven a 458, got straight out and then test drove a 12c. Night and day difference for me. A few months later I was taken out in a 650s as a passenger and it blew my mind. In a few weeks time (when it arrives) a customer of mine is going to take me out in a 570 , looking forward to it!
That's my 2 cents
A10 said:
Says who?
My kids and ALL their friends for starters.Always involve them with my car purchases just to get an unbiased opinion.
Believe me they don't know one car brand from another but they just love McLarens ????
Don't ask me why but what I do know is I've never had the same reaction to any of my Ferrari's, Porsches or Lambo's.
These are the future buyers
SlartiF430 said:
mikey k said:
Glad you are enjoying it 
Did you get my PM about the Morgan/Wales trip?
I just checked, and yes I did. Ok. Gonna call the hotel tonight and book myself in. Not sure if it's just me or +1 yet...Did you get my PM about the Morgan/Wales trip?
Thanks for prodding mikey
Hotel is getting full so you will need to jump on it
Drop me a mail when its done
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