12c - First Thoughts
Discussion
garyhun said:
davek_964 said:
In fact, the thing that makes me hesitate most about seriously looking now is the 540C which I was unaware of until the visit on Saturday. That's smack bang at the same price as early used 12Cs (plus options, obviously) - which means I might prefer to see how that hits 12C values before buying one, but also..... I could spend a bit extra and have a shiny new one!
I suspect I will conclude that for now, I'll keep what I've got but that when it comes time to change a McLaren is likely to be my next car.
I've ordered a 540 but have to say a used 12C Spider still looks a very tempting buy. I'm going to keep an eye on those until I have to fully commit to my order .. but I do like the idea of having a totally new car to my specification.I suspect I will conclude that for now, I'll keep what I've got but that when it comes time to change a McLaren is likely to be my next car.
As Mikey says, it will be far easier to judge once 540/570 demo cars become available to drive.
RamboLambo said:
650S spiders are different gravy. Unbelievable how much an improvement there is subjectively. McLaren really did hit the nail on the head with it, something that may well take time to sink in with the general public and uneducated 
I was amazed how much the extra stiffness makes to the handlingAndyDubbya said:
Hey chaps, I'm not even picking up my 12C til Friday, don't pee on my chips just yet!
Hey, don't worry 12C is an awesome car and far better value for money so if you are working to a budget I appreciate it would be hard to justify the additional expense. My mate who has infinitely more money than me and a fleet of supercars has just bought a 12C himself as he couldn't justify the 50% hike in price to a used 650S.
You pays your money you make your choices.
Not another car in the 12C price range that comes even close to it including 458
isaldiri said:
Or.....it's not about justifying the difference in price for some but actually liking the way the 12c drives more......build quality apart for the same price i would absolutely not swap cars.
...and build quality for my late 12C is bang on; not bettered by the 650. I strongly prefer the 12C and will not be buying a 650 
davek_964 said:
TISPKJ said:
Ha ha ..... conservatory is where you sit with your sunday paper when your old !
360 = 60k
vantage = 30k
another 10-15k and your good to go start looking.
doors have been commented on by friends however when open they take only the same space as a normal car door would, not sure during opening, I park mine outside anyway and push in the garage for safety.
Next ?
My 360 isn't red, and I think £60k would be a tad optimistic. It's a very good car though - particularly after the expensive service it had this year! - so with current prices it must be worth £50k....360 = 60k
vantage = 30k
another 10-15k and your good to go start looking.
doors have been commented on by friends however when open they take only the same space as a normal car door would, not sure during opening, I park mine outside anyway and push in the garage for safety.
Next ?
I decided I should take a proper look at these to see if it's really a direction I want my car ownership to be heading for. Went to McLaren Ascot on Saturday afternoon to have a decent look around. Very helpful staff, and a very helpful owner of an orange 12C there too.
Although I have liked these for a while I must admit I knew nothing about them. But I did like what I saw very much. Strangely, the amount of power they make is a small negative in my opinion - my 996 turbo was mentally fast and that was probably slightly under 500bhp. Adding 100bhp+ to that - and only driving two wheels - seems a tad excessive!
So, I am currently giving it some thought. The garaging would be a problem - even pushing the car in would be a bit of a challenge I think. And at the moment I am still very happy with the 360 and the Vantage - both of which would need to be sold if I wanted to swap, and I'm not sure I'm ready to do that at the moment. I may need to wait until I feel like it's time for those cars to go, and it may feel like a more natural progression. On the other hand, I have called my insurers today to see just how much my insurance would go up if I did do that.
In fact, the thing that makes me hesitate most about seriously looking now is the 540C which I was unaware of until the visit on Saturday. That's smack bang at the same price as early used 12Cs (plus options, obviously) - which means I might prefer to see how that hits 12C values before buying one, but also..... I could spend a bit extra and have a shiny new one!
I suspect I will conclude that for now, I'll keep what I've got but that when it comes time to change a McLaren is likely to be my next car.
How are you finding yours a couple of weeks in?
I'm away on hols for a couple of weeks so car is being detailed and then protection wrapped with Xpel so will be ready on my return ...... Can't wait
Picked up my new, to me, 12C at the weekend...now done 200 miles and am getting to grips with the car. Overall excellent, but it will take a while to fully exploit it and a suitable track.
For me the looks of the 12C won the day...just do not like the front of the 650S. No doubt the 650S is a bit better in a number of ways but I am struggling to find much wrong with the 12C. I do not understand the comments about how teutonic and dull the cars are...sure they are very capable and this is largely due ot the electronics, but they are certainly not dull. I
I test drove a 458 before the 12C and came away unsold and that in most way my Evora S was a better drivers car. The 12C on the other hand is on a another level (not so tactile), but then it ought to be given its new and second hand price.
For me the looks of the 12C won the day...just do not like the front of the 650S. No doubt the 650S is a bit better in a number of ways but I am struggling to find much wrong with the 12C. I do not understand the comments about how teutonic and dull the cars are...sure they are very capable and this is largely due ot the electronics, but they are certainly not dull. I
I test drove a 458 before the 12C and came away unsold and that in most way my Evora S was a better drivers car. The 12C on the other hand is on a another level (not so tactile), but then it ought to be given its new and second hand price.
CTE said:
Picked up my new, to me, 12C at the weekend...now done 200 miles and am getting to grips with the car. Overall excellent, but it will take a while to fully exploit it and a suitable track.
For me the looks of the 12C won the day...just do not like the front of the 650S. No doubt the 650S is a bit better in a number of ways but I am struggling to find much wrong with the 12C. I do not understand the comments about how teutonic and dull the cars are...sure they are very capable and this is largely due ot the electronics, but they are certainly not dull. I
I test drove a 458 before the 12C and came away unsold and that in most way my Evora S was a better drivers car. The 12C on the other hand is on a another level (not so tactile), but then it ought to be given its new and second hand price.
Unfortunately those comments were born from the tests of the early cars in 2010/11. All 12C are now updated to the latest specs (616bhp) and a lot of them have sports exhausts. With both of these, the 12C became a different car altogether. Much closer to what the 650S is. Having driven both, there is no difference in feel or "emotion"...For me the looks of the 12C won the day...just do not like the front of the 650S. No doubt the 650S is a bit better in a number of ways but I am struggling to find much wrong with the 12C. I do not understand the comments about how teutonic and dull the cars are...sure they are very capable and this is largely due ot the electronics, but they are certainly not dull. I
I test drove a 458 before the 12C and came away unsold and that in most way my Evora S was a better drivers car. The 12C on the other hand is on a another level (not so tactile), but then it ought to be given its new and second hand price.
Agree the early reviews of 12C have done the car no favours at all and unfortuntaley early adoptors took the brunt of that in massive depreciation. Good news for used car buyers obviously
With all the updates done the 12C was improved but unfortunately the stigma and perception still remains to a lesser extent.
hence why the cars are great value for money.
650S was right from day 1 and personally I love the P1 front end looks but despite the improved subjective feel, which I immediately noticed having driven one back to back with a late 12C, the values still seem to be a little soft.
I can only see this improving as people realise how good the car is and now production has pretty much stopped with circa 200 650S ( less than 12C ) in the UK
With all the updates done the 12C was improved but unfortunately the stigma and perception still remains to a lesser extent.
hence why the cars are great value for money.
650S was right from day 1 and personally I love the P1 front end looks but despite the improved subjective feel, which I immediately noticed having driven one back to back with a late 12C, the values still seem to be a little soft.
I can only see this improving as people realise how good the car is and now production has pretty much stopped with circa 200 650S ( less than 12C ) in the UK
How the values of the cars will hold up, and how the cars will be perceived might also depend on how McLaren manages the transition...
I do not know if you noticed, but they are starting to flood the market with used 650S cars directly from the assembly line or ex-demo or company cars...
You can notice them in the adverts on autotrader as they all have the same background (at the MTC) and very poor lighting that do not show the cars at their best...
And prices are starting to get low. £174 for a 650 coupe. That was £190 just a couple of months ago.
I do not know if you noticed, but they are starting to flood the market with used 650S cars directly from the assembly line or ex-demo or company cars...
You can notice them in the adverts on autotrader as they all have the same background (at the MTC) and very poor lighting that do not show the cars at their best...
And prices are starting to get low. £174 for a 650 coupe. That was £190 just a couple of months ago.
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TISPKJ said:
Great car and gets better the more you drive it and get used to it.
I'm away on hols for a couple of weeks so car is being detailed and then protection wrapped with Xpel so will be ready on my return ...... Can't wait
Just had mine done before we head off down the route de napoleon then on to Monaco next week.I'm away on hols for a couple of weeks so car is being detailed and then protection wrapped with Xpel so will be ready on my return ...... Can't wait
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/RaesNJfN[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/qa1uuPhL[/url]Edited by cwin on Wednesday 29th July 19:55
mb1 said:
How the values of the cars will hold up, and how the cars will be perceived might also depend on how McLaren manages the transition...
I do not know if you noticed, but they are starting to flood the market with used 650S cars directly from the assembly line or ex-demo or company cars...
You can notice them in the adverts on autotrader as they all have the same background (at the MTC) and very poor lighting that do not show the cars at their best...
And prices are starting to get low. £174 for a 650 coupe. That was £190 just a couple of months ago.
Yeah I think this is just a temporary blip just to move on the old stock and make room for 570S and 675LT. Cars are still relatively short in supply versus 458 and I see it as a good time to buy as I think they will bounce back up going into 2016 when supply will have completely dried up.I do not know if you noticed, but they are starting to flood the market with used 650S cars directly from the assembly line or ex-demo or company cars...
You can notice them in the adverts on autotrader as they all have the same background (at the MTC) and very poor lighting that do not show the cars at their best...
And prices are starting to get low. £174 for a 650 coupe. That was £190 just a couple of months ago.
I'm really optimistic both 12c and 650S prices will remain strong after the initial hit and so they should as they are such good cars
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