Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)
Discussion
douglas111 said:
flemke said:
He has ridden in my car but declined my offer to drive it. In declining the offer, he said that he didn't like the responsibility of driving someone else's car. I don't know whether that sentiment might have been related to the fact that, an hour previously, he was driving someone's Carrera GT on a track and managed to spin it on his out-lap. 
As a passenger, he did comment that my car seemed to have a lot of power and a stable chassis. This was before I had changed the brakes.
Saying that, although he says he is happy for people to alter their F1s in whatever ways they see fit, it is a fact that I have taken my car away from the comfy, cross-country GT concept that was essential to his project.
Thanks Flemke, for all your responses. As a passenger, he did comment that my car seemed to have a lot of power and a stable chassis. This was before I had changed the brakes.
Saying that, although he says he is happy for people to alter their F1s in whatever ways they see fit, it is a fact that I have taken my car away from the comfy, cross-country GT concept that was essential to his project.
Does the original NSX fulfill both GT and sports car roles, or is that more a sports car only?
flemke said:
Good question. Yes, the NSX goes some of the way towards effectively combining the two roles. It's a sports car because of its light weight, fine chassis balance, emotive engine and superb gear change. It inclines towards GT because of its slowish steering, comfortable seats, excellent forward visibility, relatively quiet cabin and decent luggage space. If I were going to drive the French D roads from Calais to Cannes, I'd take it over any modern sports car.
Sounds like a very special car. I never really took much notice of it but you've sparked my interest.What would be your 2nd and 3rd choice for a sporting GT to transport you from Calais to Cannes?
Any thoughts on the Testarossa? I'm not a Ferrari nut by any means but I'd love to drive one having watched Harry Metcalfe's video (below) in which he also rates it as both a sports car and GT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XlPUQjmJyk
I just love the sound of that flat 12 engine (up there with the F1, for me) although I think it's a pretty ugly design from most angles.
Edited by douglas111 on Saturday 29th October 18:45
douglas111 said:
flemke said:
Good question. Yes, the NSX goes some of the way towards effectively combining the two roles. It's a sports car because of its light weight, fine chassis balance, emotive engine and superb gear change. It inclines towards GT because of its slowish steering, comfortable seats, excellent forward visibility, relatively quiet cabin and decent luggage space. If I were going to drive the French D roads from Calais to Cannes, I'd take it over any modern sports car.
Sounds like a very special car. I never really took much notice of it but you've sparked my interest.What would be your 2nd and 3rd choice for a sporting GT to transport you from Calais to Cannes?
Any thoughts on the Testarossa? I'm not a Ferrari nut by any means but I'd love to drive one having watched Harry Metcalfe's video (below) in which he also rates it as both a sports car and GT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XlPUQjmJyk
I just love the sound of that flat 12 engine (up there with the F1, for me) although I think it's a pretty ugly design from most angles.
First, it would violate my personal boycott of Ferraris.
Second, I'm not sure that the car would ever make it there without breaking down.
Third, the Testarossa is the epitome of why cars of the '80s are best forgotten. It is ugly as sin. It's the motoring equivalent to a mullet.
What would I choose instead? Off the top of my head, probably a Porsche of some type.
flemke said:
I would never want a Testarossa to drive to Cannes (or to anywhere else, for that matter).
First, it would violate my personal boycott of Ferraris.
Second, I'm not sure that the car would ever make it there without breaking down.
Third, the Testarossa is the epitome of why cars of the '80s are best forgotten. It is ugly as sin. It's the motoring equivalent to a mullet.
At least the driver doesn't have to look at the design once sat inside First, it would violate my personal boycott of Ferraris.
Second, I'm not sure that the car would ever make it there without breaking down.
Third, the Testarossa is the epitome of why cars of the '80s are best forgotten. It is ugly as sin. It's the motoring equivalent to a mullet.
Best to avoid driving past any glass buildings though. Edited by douglas111 on Monday 31st October 10:18
flemke said:
Porsche have had three recalls on the car, whereas McLaren have had none, just a software upgrade that gets done FOC at the first normal service. ]
I don't think that the absence of recalls is a proof of reliability... ask anyone who had a misting headlight problem in an mp4-12c.douglas111 said:
flemke said:
I would never want a Testarossa to drive to Cannes (or to anywhere else, for that matter).
First, it would violate my personal boycott of Ferraris.
Second, I'm not sure that the car would ever make it there without breaking down.
Third, the Testarossa is the epitome of why cars of the '80s are best forgotten. It is ugly as sin. It's the motoring equivalent to a mullet.
At least the driver doesn't have to look at the design once sat inside First, it would violate my personal boycott of Ferraris.
Second, I'm not sure that the car would ever make it there without breaking down.
Third, the Testarossa is the epitome of why cars of the '80s are best forgotten. It is ugly as sin. It's the motoring equivalent to a mullet.
Best to avoid driving past any glass buildings though. 
Tenebrae said:
flemke said:
Porsche have had three recalls on the car, whereas McLaren have had none, just a software upgrade that gets done FOC at the first normal service. ]
I don't think that the absence of recalls is a proof of reliability... ask anyone who had a misting headlight problem in an mp4-12c.The 918 is more technologically complicated than the P1. Nonetheless I think most of us would expect Porsche, with the experience and might of VAG behind it, to produce a million-dollar "hypercar" that did not require three recalls in the first year.
flemke said:
I think most of us would expect Porsche, with the experience and might of VAG behind it, to produce a million-dollar "hypercar" that did not require three recalls in the first year.
True, not that impressive, but it depends on what those three recalls were really about, how serious the issues, pre-emptive or reaction to break-downs, etc.Storer said:
Why is it that straight lines and sharp corners look wrong either inside or outside on a car??
This is a very good question. In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
and of course we have the classic racing stripe:
and side stripe:
The way that the straight yellow band creates tension with the blue curved upper parts of the bodywork here is brilliant:
I agree with you that, on the Testarossa, the combination of straights and curves is an abject failure, both inside and out.
Apparently one F1 chassis was fitted with xenon lights lifted from the Z1.
http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-p1-f1/54...
http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-p1-f1/54...
Monty Python said:
Apparently one F1 chassis was fitted with xenon lights lifted from the Z1.
http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-p1-f1/54...
For quite a few years McLaren have offered a headlamp upgrade. Mine has it. It's an improvement, but still it provides nowhere near the effectiveness of modern headlamps.http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-p1-f1/54...
flemke said:
douglas111 said:
flemke said:
whilst holding perhaps the most badly positioned steering wheel in automotive history:
...although nothing an experienced bus driver would shy away from Can't say the same of a nice Dino though.
flemke said:
This is a very good question.
In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
and of course we have the classic racing stripe:
and side stripe:
The way that the straight yellow band creates tension with the blue curved upper parts of the bodywork here is brilliant:
I agree with you that, on the Testarossa, the combination of straights and curves is an abject failure, both inside and out.
Painted straight line or trim lines look fine if carefully done.In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
and of course we have the classic racing stripe:
and side stripe:
The way that the straight yellow band creates tension with the blue curved upper parts of the bodywork here is brilliant:
I agree with you that, on the Testarossa, the combination of straights and curves is an abject failure, both inside and out.
It is the pressed straight lines or body contours that look wrong. It is probably something to do with nature. Very few straight line is nature and the eye see's beauty in nature!
flemke said:
This is a very good question.
In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
Was it is a conscious decision to keep the line solid at both ends, as opposed to the fading out of the red line? I noticed you had this on your P1 but wondered if it was still at the 'prototpe' (sticky tape?) stage.In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
There are a handful of P1s with pinstripes up the side and it is interesting to see a few varying styles.
cc8s said:
flemke said:
This is a very good question.
In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
Was it is a conscious decision to keep the line solid at both ends, as opposed to the fading out of the red line? I noticed you had this on your P1 but wondered if it was still at the 'prototpe' (sticky tape?) stage.In fairness, the occasional straight line looks good when it creates contrast with the curves. An example would be the side strake on the F1:
There are a handful of P1s with pinstripes up the side and it is interesting to see a few varying styles.
In general, I don't care for lines that come to a point, especially an acute point. By coming to a point they tend to disappear into vagueness and incertitude, which usually does not work.
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