Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)
Discussion
Rich_W said:
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. 
flemke said:
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.
There it is, too many Mclarens, the epitome of first world problems.Have you had chance to drive them all in anger on road and track? Which of the modern cars comes out top and how do they compare to the F1?
I was recently in a fortunate position to be offered passenger track laps in a P1 by a friend who is more fortunate still to own one, but I declined as it would have meant further extending a business trip and further still annoying my dear lady. I live in hope that was not the last offer which will be afforded to me to experience such a car.
flemke said:
They were always going to have the same front on the LT and HS. Their similarity to the P1 was because, at every car maker these days, the marketing people like to carry over design "language" from one model to the next. We've had the "kidney" grille theme on BMWs for more than 80 years!
Of the modern McLarens, I still think the first, the MP4 12C, was the best looking. If they would just find a way to put the 12C front end on a 650S, it would be my favourite modern McLaren.
You and me both. The 570S looks like an angry pokemon. Of the modern McLarens, I still think the first, the MP4 12C, was the best looking. If they would just find a way to put the 12C front end on a 650S, it would be my favourite modern McLaren.
shirt said:
flemke said:
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.
There it is, too many Mclarens, the epitome of first world problems.Have you had chance to drive them all in anger on road and track? Which of the modern cars comes out top and how do they compare to the F1?
I was recently in a fortunate position to be offered passenger track laps in a P1 by a friend who is more fortunate still to own one, but I declined as it would have meant further extending a business trip and further still annoying my dear lady. I live in hope that was not the last offer which will be afforded to me to experience such a car.
As I got my cars for road use, driving them on circuit does not interest me that much, and I don't have the time for it anyhow. I used to spend a reasonable amount of time on circuits, but not lately.
All the modern McLarens are more competent, or vastly more competent, than the F1 in the utilitarian sense.
All of the modern cars are less, or vastly less, rewarding to drive.
If I had to choose which car to take for a fun drive, other things being equal I would choose the F1 over the others 100 times out of 100.
flemke said:
I have driven P1 on circuit, also an earlier car, must have been a 12C.
As I got my cars for road use, driving them on circuit does not interest me that much, and I don't have the time for it anyhow. I used to spend a reasonable amount of time on circuits, but not lately.
All the modern McLarens are more competent, or vastly more competent, than the F1 in the utilitarian sense.
All of the modern cars are less, or vastly less, rewarding to drive.
If I had to choose which car to take for a fun drive, other things being equal I would choose the F1 over the others 100 times out of 100.
As I got my cars for road use, driving them on circuit does not interest me that much, and I don't have the time for it anyhow. I used to spend a reasonable amount of time on circuits, but not lately.
All the modern McLarens are more competent, or vastly more competent, than the F1 in the utilitarian sense.
All of the modern cars are less, or vastly less, rewarding to drive.
If I had to choose which car to take for a fun drive, other things being equal I would choose the F1 over the others 100 times out of 100.
This may have been answered before, but what's the longest time you've owned a car for, and what was it? And what car have you covered the most miles in?
On average, how many miles do you drive per year.... And is the Audi A2 really still your daily driver? I think I saw a while ago you had either a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ghost or something.... I'd definitely be wanting that over the A2
And was that your F1 on the last series of top gear?
On average, how many miles do you drive per year.... And is the Audi A2 really still your daily driver? I think I saw a while ago you had either a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ghost or something.... I'd definitely be wanting that over the A2
And was that your F1 on the last series of top gear?
Edited by E65Ross on Tuesday 27th September 21:39
E65Ross said:
This may have been answered before, but what's the longest time you've owned a car for, and what was it? And what car have you covered the most miles in?
On average, how many miles do you drive per year.... And is the Audi A2 really still your daily driver? I think I saw a while ago you had either a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ghost or something.... I'd definitely be wanting that over the A2
And was that your F1 on the last series of top gear?
Longest I have owned a car would be 15 years with the F1. Most miles in one car would be CLS AMG, 111,000 mi.On average, how many miles do you drive per year.... And is the Audi A2 really still your daily driver? I think I saw a while ago you had either a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Ghost or something.... I'd definitely be wanting that over the A2
And was that your F1 on the last series of top gear?
I probably drove 20,000 mi last year. A2 is still my daily driver - great for dealing with the awful traffic of London, not worth much so no problem if it gets dinged, nice and light, good storage, holds 4 people. No, I have never had a Rolls.
Not my car in Top Gear. They have in the past asked for it, but I have said no because they have a reputation for damaging the cars kindly loaned to them by private owners.
In my humble opinion, any road legal car used on track soon shows up it's compromises. You quickly get to the point where you want something purely designed for the track.
Some quite humble race cars are able to lap as fast as a high performance road car. Often for a fraction of the cost of that road car you can get a real race car for " track" days, or even go racing.....
Some quite humble race cars are able to lap as fast as a high performance road car. Often for a fraction of the cost of that road car you can get a real race car for " track" days, or even go racing.....
Storer said:
In my humble opinion, any road legal car used on track soon shows up it's compromises. You quickly get to the point where you want something purely designed for the track.
Some quite humble race cars are able to lap as fast as a high performance road car. Often for a fraction of the cost of that road car you can get a real race car for " track" days, or even go racing.....
Indeed, my mate has a track Pug 205GTi, stripped, caged, bit more power, different brakes, suspension etc but he often laps quicker than M3's etc.Some quite humble race cars are able to lap as fast as a high performance road car. Often for a fraction of the cost of that road car you can get a real race car for " track" days, or even go racing.....
But....therein lies the beauty of the fast road cars....they're still quick, but useable on the road as well. They're compromised, of course, but there are the people out there willing to live with those compromises to mean they're nicer to use on a daily basis.
Flemke - interesting point RE the Audi A2....whilst on a totally different level I recently sold my 7 series and bought a (shudder) Toyota Corolla (main reason being to save money for house purchase) but I must admit it's nice not worrying about where I park it or worried if it gets the odd ding here or there. Really is a nice revelation to be honest! Will still keep on top of the servicing to keep it running well but aesthetically etc I couldn't really care a great deal less.
Would hate to think what it must feel like driving the F1 at times!
Joe911 said:
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.
It actually very clean water too and pumps out not only into the lake but to the marshland enabling good wildlife growth on the nature reserve next to the factory.
Interesting story... The water is so warm when it sits in the lake that in the first year they had a massive issue with mosquitoes breading and they ended up with the windows covered in them. Obviously this is not very 'McLaren' so they needed to introduce fish to the water to keep the bug population down.... the fish are flourishing extremely well and the bugs are well and truly under control.
Your not allowed to fish the lake though
.ps. Don't work there but friends do and managed to arrange to take my folks on a tour late last year. The building itself is as interesting as the cars they make, it really is.
Civpilot said:
Correct, it's for the cooling of the entire building production equipment alongside cooling the wind tunnel power source. And the wind tunnel itself also generates extra electricity for the factory so it's quite an amazingly sustainable building.
Not sure you can call a building that uses a wind-tunnel sustainable. 
Don't the lights go dim in Woking when they switch it on!
Yes - I was told the same thing about the lake/fish.
Joe911 said:
Not sure you can call a building that uses a wind-tunnel sustainable.
Don't the lights go dim in Woking when they switch it on!
Yes - I was told the same thing about the lake/fish.
Ha, That is true, but I hear the wind tunnel is actually very efficient as wind tunnels go and the fact that the extra energy it generates in it's operation goes back into the building is pretty well thought out.Don't the lights go dim in Woking when they switch it on!
Yes - I was told the same thing about the lake/fish.
...that is of course if it is used by McLaren these days
Civpilot said:
Ha, That is true, but I hear the wind tunnel is actually very efficient as wind tunnels go and the fact that the extra energy it generates in it's operation goes back into the building is pretty well thought out.
...that is of course if it is used by McLaren these days
How can a wind tunnel generate power?...that is of course if it is used by McLaren these days
flemke said:
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.
I quite agree - while my own (very) small collection is of much lower value and in a different area, I am aware that several are quite similar to each other and it might be nice to add something to experience a bit of contrast from time to time. Then I think about how little I drive the ones I have, and reconsider.thegreenhell said:
How can a wind tunnel generate power?
Sorry, I chose my words badly... I meant that the wind tunnel power generator is also used to generate extra electricity for the building. So the Tunnel itself does not, but the entire unit can be used to feed energy into the building.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... How are you getting on with the P1 now, Flemke?
Wait - I did drive it during the photo session - about 100 feet, I think.
I'm intrigued by the A2 to be honest...
As someone who used to run a Panda 100HP around London (no worries, low value), I can appreciate the reasons you have given as to why this is where you have chosen to sit for 20,000 miles pa and considerably longer than your sports cars, but why the A2 in particular? Was it just something that fitted the bill at the right place at the right time, and stuck with you? Or did you particularly want an A2 over other choices? If so, why?
As someone who used to run a Panda 100HP around London (no worries, low value), I can appreciate the reasons you have given as to why this is where you have chosen to sit for 20,000 miles pa and considerably longer than your sports cars, but why the A2 in particular? Was it just something that fitted the bill at the right place at the right time, and stuck with you? Or did you particularly want an A2 over other choices? If so, why?
hurstg01 said:
roystinho said:
Sweet collection. I notice all bar the HS have the stripe down the side, is that to be added on?
The HS has a white rear wing and white aero 'bits' on the nose Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff