Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)

[flemke]

AyBee said:

I thought you were falling out of love with McLaren, not buying every model they produce

I have tried to restrain myself.

[flemke]

Soov535 said:

flemke said:

Sway said:

Having read your frustrations with certain aspects of the P1/675LT, I remember you saying that they may not be sticking around - now you have the 'set', is the thought to keep the full brace of 'Flemke Mclarens'? Not sure if there's a synergistic effect on values as part of a set...

Would have sold one already, but I had promised someone that they could take a photo of the cars together. The weather went against us so that had to be delayed. Then I had the chance to buy one of the new cars, and it made sense to include the new one with the others, but I had to wait until the new one was built, which took the better part of a year. Hence none sold yet.

Although on the one hand it is nice to have a "set", having too many of anything can become a millstone around one's neck. In this case, I have found that, in addition to the hassle of looking after the cars (storage, tax, MOT, maintenance, insurance), by having too many cars (all of which were acquired with the intention of being used), it is not possible to use any of them sufficiently to get to know it. I would rather lavish attention on a small number of things than divide it amongst many and thus give none the attention that it deserves.

That's the general situation. Regarding the modern McLarens, I don't really care for turbocharging. I appreciate that the world is going that way, but I don't have to go with it: there are enough great non-turbo cars around to last me to the end of my driving days.

Are you getting close to blinking on the F1 yet, sir?

Oh, no. I think the market value will continue to go up, but in any case it is my kind of thing - straightforward, honest, analogue, compact, efficient, good looking, challenging, and emotive.

[Soov535]

flemke said:

Soov535 said:

flemke said:

Sway said:

Having read your frustrations with certain aspects of the P1/675LT, I remember you saying that they may not be sticking around - now you have the 'set', is the thought to keep the full brace of 'Flemke Mclarens'? Not sure if there's a synergistic effect on values as part of a set...

Would have sold one already, but I had promised someone that they could take a photo of the cars together. The weather went against us so that had to be delayed. Then I had the chance to buy one of the new cars, and it made sense to include the new one with the others, but I had to wait until the new one was built, which took the better part of a year. Hence none sold yet.

Although on the one hand it is nice to have a "set", having too many of anything can become a millstone around one's neck. In this case, I have found that, in addition to the hassle of looking after the cars (storage, tax, MOT, maintenance, insurance), by having too many cars (all of which were acquired with the intention of being used), it is not possible to use any of them sufficiently to get to know it. I would rather lavish attention on a small number of things than divide it amongst many and thus give none the attention that it deserves.

That's the general situation. Regarding the modern McLarens, I don't really care for turbocharging. I appreciate that the world is going that way, but I don't have to go with it: there are enough great non-turbo cars around to last me to the end of my driving days.

Are you getting close to blinking on the F1 yet, sir?

Oh, no. I think the market value will continue to go up, but in any case it is my kind of thing - straightforward, honest, analogue, compact, efficient, good looking, challenging, and emotive.

Damn it. I've been saving really hard.

[flemke]

robinessex said:

flemke said:

E65Ross said:

My oh my, utterly fantastic.

How are you getting on with the P1 now, Flemke?

I'm not sure that I have even driven it this year...
Wait - I did drive it during the photo session - about 100 feet, I think.

My feelings about it have not changed. Although I think it is a good looking car, a lot of what it does I (and everyone else who would use a P1 as a road car) do not need. What McLaren set out to do with the car they did well. The argument can be made that what they set out to do was right for them, but it's not really right for me, especially in the UK driving environment.

Do I read that as you'd like a 'new' version of the F1 ?

Err....
I have questions about its looks and about the compatibility of a "GT" with a central driving position. I won't make a final decision until they give us more information, which won't be for some time.
Also, FWIW, the new car will have very little in common with the ethos and intention of the F1.

[flemke]

Soov535 said:

flemke said:

Soov535 said:

flemke said:

Sway said:

Having read your frustrations with certain aspects of the P1/675LT, I remember you saying that they may not be sticking around - now you have the 'set', is the thought to keep the full brace of 'Flemke Mclarens'? Not sure if there's a synergistic effect on values as part of a set...

Would have sold one already, but I had promised someone that they could take a photo of the cars together. The weather went against us so that had to be delayed. Then I had the chance to buy one of the new cars, and it made sense to include the new one with the others, but I had to wait until the new one was built, which took the better part of a year. Hence none sold yet.

Although on the one hand it is nice to have a "set", having too many of anything can become a millstone around one's neck. In this case, I have found that, in addition to the hassle of looking after the cars (storage, tax, MOT, maintenance, insurance), by having too many cars (all of which were acquired with the intention of being used), it is not possible to use any of them sufficiently to get to know it. I would rather lavish attention on a small number of things than divide it amongst many and thus give none the attention that it deserves.

That's the general situation. Regarding the modern McLarens, I don't really care for turbocharging. I appreciate that the world is going that way, but I don't have to go with it: there are enough great non-turbo cars around to last me to the end of my driving days.

Are you getting close to blinking on the F1 yet, sir?

Oh, no. I think the market value will continue to go up, but in any case it is my kind of thing - straightforward, honest, analogue, compact, efficient, good looking, challenging, and emotive.

Damn it. I've been saving really hard.

I could always be wrong about that.

[Hitch]

Agree on the 12c comments, that car seems better looking now than when it was released.

[epom]

flemke said:

epom said:

HS ? You kept that quiet Now tell us what it is

Others have summarised above. It's not an official model. A client asked them to make one for himself, but the company and he concluded that it would be far more efficient for them to make a single small batch. Owing to the twee build run, McLaren could not really "launch" or market the car, but rather they contacted some existing clients and offered them the opportunity to buy one of the batch.

Wowzers for some reason those pics didn't load at work. Now I can see what the fuss is about. Special stuff my good man, enjoy them.


Ps can't imagine Ron being too happy about the water in the lake. A bit murky and off colour is it not?

[Joe911]

epom said:

Wowzers for some reason those pics didn't load at work. Now I can see what the fuss is about. Special stuff my good man, enjoy them.
Ps can't imagine Ron being too happy about the water in the lake. A bit murky and off colour is it not?

Seemed to support life ...

[weeboot]

isaldiri said:

Should really leave the man himself to answer but the 688 is a MSO special from a customer commission with permission to make a few more to defray the costs. Blueprinted engine and some extra aero parts (which imo look a bit too fussy on a road car with the front canards/grilles I have to admit). The rear wing afaik isn't actually fixed but actually has some degree of movement.

Mr F, would love to hear how different you find the 688 to the 675...

I really do dislike the term "blueprinted" being used against modern, CNC machined, engines. Unless I'm missing something, the term blueprinted means to build exactly to specification.
In years gone by, this was a special thing, now, it's "just" another production engine, especially at this level.

[weeboot]

Joe911 said:

epom said:

Wowzers for some reason those pics didn't load at work. Now I can see what the fuss is about. Special stuff my good man, enjoy them.
Ps can't imagine Ron being too happy about the water in the lake. A bit murky and off colour is it not?

Seemed to support life ...

Heat sink for the wind tunnel hardware is it not?

[epom]

weeboot said:

Joe911 said:

epom said:

Wowzers for some reason those pics didn't load at work. Now I can see what the fuss is about. Special stuff my good man, enjoy them.
Ps can't imagine Ron being too happy about the water in the lake. A bit murky and off colour is it not?

Seemed to support life ...

Heat sink for the wind tunnel hardware is it not?

Wow it does. And yes it most likely is used for something alright. Just can't imagine Ron allowing it to be not crystal clear and at an exact temperature. Standards are slipping at McLaren

[Joe911]

weeboot said:

Heat sink for the wind tunnel hardware is it not?

Hmm - heat sink for the building - not sure it is for the wind tunnel specifically.
Fabulous place - full of neat stuff.

[weeboot]

Joe911 said:

Hmm - heat sink for the building - not sure it is for the wind tunnel specifically.
Fabulous place - full of neat stuff.

Agreed, ended up there with a ridiculous vehicle a few years back.
In the spot where you took photos, it was VERY hot.
We had a lot of horsepower..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuWMEoZa2tI

[Joe911]

weeboot said:

Agreed, ended up there with a ridiculous vehicle a few years back.
In the spot where you took photos, it was VERY hot.
We had a lot of horsepower..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuWMEoZa2tI

[flemke]

weeboot said:

isaldiri said:

Should really leave the man himself to answer but the 688 is a MSO special from a customer commission with permission to make a few more to defray the costs. Blueprinted engine and some extra aero parts (which imo look a bit too fussy on a road car with the front canards/grilles I have to admit). The rear wing afaik isn't actually fixed but actually has some degree of movement.

Mr F, would love to hear how different you find the 688 to the 675...

I really do dislike the term "blueprinted" being used against modern, CNC machined, engines. Unless I'm missing something, the term blueprinted means to build exactly to specification.
In years gone by, this was a special thing, now, it's "just" another production engine, especially at this level.

I think "blueprinting" originated when it was very difficult to find components that were all to the same specification. To blueprint the engine was to ensure that all the clearances were the same, that the pistons weighed the same, etc. This sometimes required starting with, say, two dozen pistons in order to find the eight that were closest to each other in weight.
Obviously modern machining technology is far beyond what was possible when the term "blueprinting" was first applied to performance engines, but these days are the manufacturing disparities literally too small to matter?

[weeboot]

flemke said:

snip
Obviously modern machining technology is far beyond what was possible when the term "blueprinting" was first applied to performance engines, but these days are the manufacturing disparities literally too small to matter?

In the context of short run, high value, vehicle manufacture, one would hope so.

I accept that this isn't necessarily the case, but surely at this level, the extensive use of a micrometer and adherence to standards would be in place?
Or am I hoping for too much? (Having seen the work some F1 (formula, that is) specialists deliver, for far higher costs, perhaps I'm kidding myself)

[robinessex]

Modern machine tools work to a precision that makes blue printing redundant.

[Rich_W]

epom said:

weeboot said:

Joe911 said:

epom said:

Wowzers for some reason those pics didn't load at work. Now I can see what the fuss is about. Special stuff my good man, enjoy them.
Ps can't imagine Ron being too happy about the water in the lake. A bit murky and off colour is it not?

Seemed to support life ...

Heat sink for the wind tunnel hardware is it not?

Wow it does. And yes it most likely is used for something alright. Just can't imagine Ron allowing it to be not crystal clear and at an exact temperature. Standards are slipping at McLaren

Rumour has it that when McLaren opened the MTC in 2003 that Ron actually walked on the water...

[weeboot]

Rich_W said:

Rumour has it that when McLaren opened the MTC in 2003 that Ron actually walked on the water...

Other rumours suggest a subterranean test track.

[Rich_W]

weeboot said:

Rich_W said:

Rumour has it that when McLaren opened the MTC in 2003 that Ron actually walked on the water...

Other rumours suggest a subterranean test track.

But that's been proven to be false