RE: Chris Harris video: McLaren MP4-12C
Discussion
It's undoubtedly a brilliant car. With some curious design choices. Forced Induction, Paddle shift only, no roll bars, no LSD, weird sound tube into the cockpit thing etc
But 2 things in that article:
1) "After Ron Dennis had delivered a monologue containing some very bold claims"
If McLaren HAD NOT said all this BS about best car ever. And just done the same as when they launched the F1 and said "here's the car let us know what you think" it would have been received far better. Ron set themselves up to be compared and it backfired. Hence the slightly panicked re-working of some details which seemingly have improved the car.
2) "and you're left with a brand new car, from a company with zero experience in this sector"
That's disengenuous. McLaren are not some small start up. Even if you ignore the BRILLIANT Racing arm of the company. They built what I and many consider to be the BEST supercar ever in the F1. Even the SLR which admittedly wasn't universally praised was still reckoned to be a brilliant GT car. Granted McL are now aiming at a different price range, but you don't forget how to do good cars overnight.
The video tells me more about the car that Fifth Gear or Top Gear ever did though. So another thumbs up for "Drive"
But 2 things in that article:
1) "After Ron Dennis had delivered a monologue containing some very bold claims"
If McLaren HAD NOT said all this BS about best car ever. And just done the same as when they launched the F1 and said "here's the car let us know what you think" it would have been received far better. Ron set themselves up to be compared and it backfired. Hence the slightly panicked re-working of some details which seemingly have improved the car.
2) "and you're left with a brand new car, from a company with zero experience in this sector"
That's disengenuous. McLaren are not some small start up. Even if you ignore the BRILLIANT Racing arm of the company. They built what I and many consider to be the BEST supercar ever in the F1. Even the SLR which admittedly wasn't universally praised was still reckoned to be a brilliant GT car. Granted McL are now aiming at a different price range, but you don't forget how to do good cars overnight.
The video tells me more about the car that Fifth Gear or Top Gear ever did though. So another thumbs up for "Drive"
Have to admit it does look amazing in black
Title of article says:
Some bloke on the telly said the MP4-12C doesn't do sideways - Harris begs to differ
But when you see the shot of Harris drifting it they weren't big long controlled drifts like you see everyone [in videos that is!] doing in a 458 or GT3 or M5/M3 AMG Mercs etc. I also see he wasn't getting it sideways on the road, which he does in all the other cars - this is possibly telling? And to get it to slide you need to turn off the TC totally which might be a tad scary in a £200,000 super car! If he had it turned on and tried that then it probably would fire him off the road aka Tiff.
I know going sideways isn’t everything but still; it is def not as easy to slide around as other performance and supercars
458 looks more fun but the MP4 still a great car and great to see a proper competitor for Ferrari and this being there first car more and even better to come no doubt. Looking forward to their sub MP4 car
It sounds like it is more usable than a 458 as an everyday car - but as he says it’s not really an everyday car. And the 458 is supposed to be pretty usable and hasn't got a terrible ride etc and its box is easy enough to use for cruising also
Tough call but given the choice I think I would take a 458 over this - both look great in black so that’s def the colour of choice for the both – but I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting something different than a Ferrari
Title of article says:
Some bloke on the telly said the MP4-12C doesn't do sideways - Harris begs to differ
But when you see the shot of Harris drifting it they weren't big long controlled drifts like you see everyone [in videos that is!] doing in a 458 or GT3 or M5/M3 AMG Mercs etc. I also see he wasn't getting it sideways on the road, which he does in all the other cars - this is possibly telling? And to get it to slide you need to turn off the TC totally which might be a tad scary in a £200,000 super car! If he had it turned on and tried that then it probably would fire him off the road aka Tiff.
I know going sideways isn’t everything but still; it is def not as easy to slide around as other performance and supercars
458 looks more fun but the MP4 still a great car and great to see a proper competitor for Ferrari and this being there first car more and even better to come no doubt. Looking forward to their sub MP4 car
It sounds like it is more usable than a 458 as an everyday car - but as he says it’s not really an everyday car. And the 458 is supposed to be pretty usable and hasn't got a terrible ride etc and its box is easy enough to use for cruising also
Tough call but given the choice I think I would take a 458 over this - both look great in black so that’s def the colour of choice for the both – but I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting something different than a Ferrari
Baddie said:
So Chris likes his cars to ride smoothly? Except when they have GT3 on the back though....
If only the McLaren sounded like an LFA
If only Ron had kept his big mouth shut at launch
Well said on all points If only the McLaren sounded like an LFA
If only Ron had kept his big mouth shut at launch
Now when you mention it I would take an LFA over a 458 or MP4. I know it's much more expensive but I would only be able to afford any of them if I won the lottery and then price wouldnt really matter!
The note of the LFA is amazing, make these heaps sound contrived
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