RE: Driven: McLaren MP4-12C

[Kawasicki]

Please check your figures PH. I don't believe this car will reach vmax in 1000m.

[QUADratic]

will try and confirm . . have a test drive tomorrow : )

[MoBeanz]

On the subject of their logo, you can see it evolve:

From this...


to this...


to this...


plus this...


equals this...

[Frik]

Kawasicki said:

Please check your figures PH. I don't believe this car will reach vmax in 1000m.

Quite. 0-1000m in 19.6s at 272kph. Vmax is 330kph.

[British Beef]

ANDYCLAX said:

The noise has not been re-engineered artifically,its just more has been aloud to come into the cabin in track mode,giving you more choice if you want it,i see no problem in that

I did not state the "noise has been re-engineered artificially".

Parts of the car itself have been re-engineered to allow more of the induction noise into the cabin. Which I agree is a good thing.

My general sentiment and most reviews towards this car are of a vehicle that is hugely accomplished and perhaps overly clinical in everything it does, whilst lacking real heart and soul.

Heart and soul is a very subjective matter, when it comes to cars.

[chanjam]

no mention of the terrible traction control system on board that you can't turn off.....

[GFWilliams]

chanjam said:

no mention of the terrible traction control system on board that you can't turn off.....

1. Why would you want to turn it off on the road?
2. You can turn it off if you know how. Fifth gear didn't know how.

[chanjam]

GFWilliams said:

1. Why would you want to turn it off on the road?
2. You can turn it off if you know how. Fifth gear didn't know how.

1. you wouldn't turn it off on the road but then why buy such a track orientated car just for the road?
2. have no idea but every review has been surprisingly bad for a car with such a pedigree

[GFWilliams]

chanjam said:

GFWilliams said:

1. Why would you want to turn it off on the road?
2. You can turn it off if you know how. Fifth gear didn't know how.

1. you wouldn't turn it off on the road but then why buy such a track orientated car just for the road?
2. have no idea but every review has been surprisingly bad for a car with such a pedigree

The road test we did was on the road, not a track. I do agree though, I'd be taking it on track if I was getting one and the few lucky people I know getting one are planning to.

[ANDYCLAX]

British Beef said:

I did not state the "noise has been re-engineered artificially".

Parts of the car itself have been re-engineered to allow more of the induction noise into the cabin. Which I agree is a good thing.

My general sentiment and most reviews towards this car are of a vehicle that is hugely accomplished and perhaps overly clinical in everything it does, whilst lacking real heart and soul.

Heart and soul is a very subjective matter, when it comes to cars.

sorry if i mis-read your post.i agree heart and soul are subjective,and my general sentiment after considering the reviews and driving the car,is that the 12c has plenty.
I would value your opinion on how you now think the car sounds (considering its a twin turbo) before and after the re-engineered soundbox ?
youtube andyc1886

[monty158]

280bhp/pt seems a bit harsh, It's a well known fact that a one ton car pushing 200bhp is enough to get to get the old heart pumping.

If you'd be so kind to drop it to 260bhp/pt it would allow me to bring my Monaro out for this special bank holiday you have planned.

[British Beef]

ANDYCLAX said:

sorry if i mis-read your post.i agree heart and soul are subjective,and my general sentiment after considering the reviews and driving the car,is that the 12c has plenty.
I would value your opinion on how you now think the car sounds (considering its a twin turbo) before and after the re-engineered soundbox ?
youtube andyc1886

Nice videos and nice noises, performance is certainly "enough".

Out of curiosity how do you think it compares with the noise an AM DBS makes? As for me this remains my benchmark for great sounding supercar engines.

[GFWilliams]

British Beef said:

Nice videos and nice noises, performance is certainly "enough".

Out of curiosity how do you think it compares with the noise an AM DBS makes? As for me this remains my benchmark for great sounding supercar engines.

No way near as nice a sound as a DBS IMO

[ANDYCLAX]

British Beef said:

Nice videos and nice noises, performance is certainly "enough".

Out of curiosity how do you think it compares with the noise an AM DBS makes? As for me this remains my benchmark for great sounding supercar engines.

AM DBS sounds stunning,but for me thats all its got compared to a 12c,the last time i drove one was on the alpine course at millbrook and it just didnt cut the mustard compared to the v12 vantage.Where the 12c thrills, is your not expecting 8.5k on a turbo engine,just keeps revving and then you know that its been limited to that as its capable of 10.5k on the original spec'
But its been detuned for engine life.I wonder how long it will be before a tuner puts it back !!

Edited by ANDYCLAX on Monday 22 August 20:50

[GFWilliams]

ANDYCLAX said:

AM DBS sounds stunning,but for me thats all its got compared to a 12c,the last time i drove one was on the alpine course at millbrook and it just didnt cut the mustard compared to the v12 vantage.Where the 12c thrills, is your not expecting 8.5k on a turbo engine,just keeps revving and then you know that its been limited to that as its capable of 10.5k on the original spec'
But its been detuned for engine life.I wonder how long it will be before a tuner puts it back !!

Edited by ANDYCLAX on Monday 22 August 20:50

I never knew that it was originally specced to be 10.5k revs. That must be mental!

[ANDYCLAX]

GFWilliams said:

I never knew that it was originally specced to be 10.5k revs. That must be mental!

i dont think it was ever specced to run at that on the road car,but the engine was capable of running at that,i know they reduced it to make it more usable

[Russell B]

I know it goes, stops and the bits in-between well but to me it looks like a really well done kit car. It just doesent look like an expensive car which is an issue in it's Market.

[zippycar]

MoBeanz said:

On the subject of their logo, you can see it evolve:

MoBeanz - thanks for taking the time to post those pictures as i intended to do same, but never got round to it.

I think there are also another couple of steps, but it is definatly an evolution, as you have kindly illustrated.

[f111lover]

I just don't care what anyone else thinks, I love the 12C, and would seriously cosider selling several organs to get one. (Unfortunately I still don't have enough).

[Guvernator]

ANDYCLAX said:

British Beef said:

Nice videos and nice noises, performance is certainly "enough".

Out of curiosity how do you think it compares with the noise an AM DBS makes? As for me this remains my benchmark for great sounding supercar engines.

AM DBS sounds stunning,but for me thats all its got compared to a 12c,the last time i drove one was on the alpine course at millbrook and it just didnt cut the mustard compared to the v12 vantage.Where the 12c thrills, is your not expecting 8.5k on a turbo engine,just keeps revving and then you know that its been limited to that as its capable of 10.5k on the original spec'
But its been detuned for engine life.I wonder how long it will be before a tuner puts it back !!

Edited by ANDYCLAX on Monday 22 August 20:50

I'm not sure where this idea has come from that turbo cars can't rev. The Japanese have been making high revving turbo cars for years. It's only in Europe where we seem to be obsessed with Co2 figures that manufacturera give turbo cars a diesel like delivery and rev range.

I have owned 2 Japanese turbo cars which loved to rev to 8000rpm+ and they were made back in the 90's. If turbo cars are the future now as they definately seem to be, I wish more manufacturers would take Mclaren's and some of the previous Japanese examples approach and actually make the power delivery in these turbo cars more interesting. If I wanted to drive a performance car which drove like a diesel, well I'd buy a diesel.