RE: Driven: McLaren MP4-12C

[daveco]

stew-S160 said:

daveco said:

''Better than a 458? No, just different. And a whole bit faster. Everywhere.''

Why bother writing an article when you finish it with this nonsense? It's faster in every department, it has more boot space, is more economical...therefore it is the better car, no? Christ, who writes this guff...

Better in those aspects maybe, but they are not the whole car.

My personal choice, I'd pick the MP4-12C over a Ferrari any day.

Exterior and engine note aside, the article states the McLaren trumps the Ferrari and all other competitors on every other aspect. That would lead me to conclude it is the better car, and not just 'different'. The final sentence reads like a capitulation to Ferrari; i.e. 'best not upset the Italians so we can keep reviewing their cars'.

[off_again]

hornetrider said:

That's all very well (the review) - but what I want to know is this. Is it clinical?

How many times can you get the word clinical into a car review? Clearly more than I previously thought. In a bizarre turn of events, some commenters have said that the 458 is a bit clinical....

You cant win you know....

[supermono]

This is wonderful news, we're great us British we just seem to have forgotten it. But boy it irks me when i read about CO2 in these reviews. Anyway can't wait to see my first one on the road. Well done McClaren!

[chazwozza]

Hmm. Re-mortgage time...!! (just for the insurance!)

[Wanta996Gotta]

daveco said:

Exterior and engine note aside, the article states the McLaren trumps the Ferrari and all other competitors on every other aspect. That would lead me to conclude it is the better car, and not just 'different'. The final sentence reads like a capitulation to Ferrari; i.e. 'best not upset the Italians so we can keep reviewing their cars'.

They obviously dont want to upset the chaps at Ferrari though its obvious that Mclaren have wiped the floor with the 458 as a performance car in every department. Chaps at Maranello will be bringing the 458 Scud out sooner than what was expected or will be going back to the drawing boards.

[phazon]

Seen two in Guildford, an orange one a few months back that looked incredible, and a black one yeaterday which looked a little anonymous. Be interested to see what it looks like parked next to a red 458.

But the driving is what matters, and that sounds pretty stunning.

[Mr Whippy]

No manual?

I don't doubt this is a fantastic car, but does it really need to have no manual option? The last thing it sounds like it needs is to go faster with less effort from the driver!

I guess those who can afford one of these have their 'fun' cars (Atom, Caterfield etc?) as well though.

Dave

[hornetrider]

Wanta996Gotta said:

Chaps at Maranello will be bringing the 458 Scud out sooner than what was expected or will be going back to the drawing boards.

Indeed. And I wonder if there would be an MP4-12R in response?

[kambites]

I think the days of manuals in things like this, are pretty much past.

[Life Saab Itch]

adycav said:

All well and good, but is it any FUN?

Sounds like it could be a little po faced to me.

Sounds to me as if it's the proverbial "lady in the kitchen and a we in the bedroom".

ie: just as happy to pootle along as it is to do a trackday.

[MrKipling43]

hornetrider said:

Indeed. And I wonder if there would be an MP4-12R in response?

I reckon it's already prepped and ready so when Ferrari release the 458 Scud they can roll it out of the Woking factory and do one of these...

[Dick Seaman]

daveco said:

Exterior and engine note aside, the article states the McLaren trumps the Ferrari and all other competitors on every other aspect. That would lead me to conclude it is the better car, and not just 'different'. The final sentence reads like a capitulation to Ferrari; i.e. 'best not upset the Italians so we can keep reviewing their cars'.

It does, and Ferrari are notoriously sensitive to any criticism. (For 'criticism' read anything other than simpering hyperbole).

Ferrai should be worried about this car. The McLaren is at least the dynamic equal of the 458, and as such, will appeal to many drivers after the ultimate road performance who are a little uncomfortable with the Ferrari image.

[g3org3y]

article said:

clinical


clinical


clinical

If this was a German car, this would be considered to be a negative.

Works well, does the job but lacks passion/emotion/character?

[Mr Whippy]

kambites said:

I think the days of manuals in things like this, are pretty much past.

Scrubs all such cars off future 'want to own' list

Shame. I'd have a 360CS, or an M3 CSL, I like the kick of a decent robotised manual, but all these stealthy super fast seven ratios things just bore me to death. Talk about taking the event of changing gears out of driving these fantastic cars!

I go with clinical, for this, and all such future cars. It seems Lamborghini and Porsche are the only people who still 'get' fun supercars with their manuals, fast spinning NA motors etc etc... thank god for them!

Dave

[hornetrider]

MrKipling43 said:

hornetrider said:

Indeed. And I wonder if there would be an MP4-12R in response?

I reckon it's already prepped and ready so when Ferrari release the 458 Scud they can roll it out of the Woking factory and do one of these...

I would tend to agree. Strip around 100 kgs of creature comforts, squeeze a few extra horses, add a dash of carbon fibre and a juicy 50k to the bottom line... jobs a good 'un.

[TonyHetherington]

We all hoped it was going to be good. We all thought it would be.

But such a review from such a journalist really means this thing is something superbly special.

[Monty Python]

At the end of the day, how many people out there have the skill to get the best out of these cars? The Ferrari looks good, but for daily use I'm not sure I could accept the "hard" edge it has, and I don't like the way they've designed the instrument/steering wheel layout - it's far too cluttered. The McLaren may not look as flamboyant as the Ferrari, but it appears to offer more everyday useability, so I'd probably wave the patriotic flag and buy one (if I had the money..).

Oh to have to make the decision

[J B L]

Fantastic stuff!

I love to imagine what this car precludes for the future of McLaren. If this halo sells well, the next 5-6 years are going to be exciting in terms of new British metal.

[NoelWatson]

TonyHetherington said:

We all hoped it was going to be good. We all thought it would be.

But such a review from such a journalist really means this thing is something superbly special.

Don't a number of decent cars (GT-R, Evora) get stunning reviews when they first come out, only to be demoted in a group test in a year or so from launch?

[Scuffers]

Dick Seaman said:

Ferrai should be worried about this car. The McLaren is at least the dynamic equal of the 458, and as such, will appeal to many drivers after the ultimate road performance who are a little uncomfortable with the Ferrari image.

Agree with that...

up to recently, Ferrari had little real competition on this market, then VAG brought Lambo and gave the world the Gallardo - mass production budget supercar with VAG build and reliability, and now McLaren have launched this MP4-12c that basically out-performs the 458 across the board, with the spectre of a flagship model soon, Ferrari must be really concerned.