458 Spider - 650S Spider ?
Discussion
Jappo said:
Went to the 570S launch at McLaren London (I have an LT Spider on order) and somehow left having bought a Volcano Red 650S Spoder, it was my Wife's fault actually - only time ever she's seen a car and just said "buy that!"
Uncanny.
When I first saw the 650S I got very exited about it, like a little kid.
I was still just at the "looking at it" stage and decided I needed to go up to McLaren London and get properly close to one. I had a Lambo at the time and a Ferrari before that and my other half had always been very matter of fact about my cars, she was happy for me but really she could take them or leave them.
So I thought "I'll take her, she'll keep my feet on the ground and stop me making any rash decisions".
We went up on the Saturday morning, I knew she wasn't particularly interested in seeing cars but I pointed out we could have a nice meal in the West End, do a bit of shopping and make a nice day of it.
When we got to the showroom it was shut! Didn't open on Saturday except by appointment but I stared in the window at the 650S slowly revolving on the turntable.
She stared in, used her hand to shield the glass reflections and went quiet for about 30 seconds, then turning to me with a rapt expression on her face she said:
"You have got to buy this car!"
We'll, what else could I do!
Bless her!
shabster said:
I've closed on the Storm Grey. I saw a sample in real life of the red leather and it's darker than the photos I saw, so think it will look great and make the car pop.
I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
Where are you getting the carbon wrapping done? Want to do the Turning vanes and mirror casings in my 12C. Thanks.I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
shabster said:
I've closed on the Storm Grey. I saw a sample in real life of the red leather and it's darker than the photos I saw, so think it will look great and make the car pop.
I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
Not too dissimilar to my Graphite Grey 12C when i bought her, but I've now changed the wheels to standard ones (I think they hark back to the F1) in Stealth Black, which gives a more menacing appearance.I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
Very nice Matt, congratulations.
Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
Dblue said:
Very nice Matt, congratulations.
Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
Beautiful.Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
Dblue said:
Very nice Matt, congratulations.
Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
Very nice ! The carbon ascents play off the mantis green really well. Really looking forward to getting mine. Should be delivered on the 9th the day after I get back from Easter Holidays..!Picked mine up just 8 days ago and after a 200 mile getting to know you session in the pennines and 3 days at Paintshield in Peterborough followed by a Wales trip at the weekend its already got 700 miles on in my hands
My car has about as much carbon as it could have ! Not sure I'd have had the balls if speccing it myself but it does look great in the metal. Was always going for a bolder colour from the outset but really really love the Mantis. Looks so good in bright sunshine especially.
I love the cabin and controls. The design is so clean and the steering wheel and driving position the best of any car I have ever owned.
100 IAN said:
shabster said:
I've closed on the Storm Grey. I saw a sample in real life of the red leather and it's darker than the photos I saw, so think it will look great and make the car pop.
I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
Not too dissimilar to my Graphite Grey 12C when i bought her, but I've now changed the wheels to standard ones (I think they hark back to the F1) in Stealth Black, which gives a more menacing appearance.I'm replacing the stealth 10 spoke wheels with 5 spoke diamond cut, and I'm having the airbrake and side intakes wrapped in a carbon finish (rather than adding MSO options that would be £7k on top), before wrapping the whole car in Suntek PPF.
Will get the car in ~2-3 weeks.
Excited !
But
Nice thread, I was faced with a similar decision having decided to replace my 360 spider..... 20,000 fun filled miles, sad to see her go.
I'm taking delivery of a Storm Grey 650s spider at the end of the month.
458 and 650 are both fantastic cars, I can't believe how technology has come on since my humble 360. Same feeling of raw power but with more poise... and the gear shifts in both were to die for after the agricultural F1 shifts on the 360. The differences were small (in my view) and for what it is worth this is how I decided:
I liked the noise of the 458 better, just not much better
I think the 650 just looks better (front and back)
I didn't like the everything on the steering wheel of the 458, it just felt too cluttered. I probably won't ever be driving so fast at a junction that I have to have indicators on the wheel because I can't take my fingers off it to indicate.
I have a friend who is a professional racing driver..... "its the closest thing to a GT3 car on the road"
I have had a Ferrari, I haven't had a McLaren
Lots of Ferrari's about , not many McLaren's
I wanted to buy British
The roof of the 458 means you can't see the engine
The 650's doors ;-)
All a bit "girly", but as I say there is so little to choose between them.
What about performance and handling ???? ......at this price point I expect both to be fantastic and given I don't take my own cars on the track, I don't ever expect to truly test (to the limit) either performance or handling on the road.
Just my opinions, for what they are worth.
I feel like a 10 year on Christmas Eve...... the end of the month can't come quickly enough.
SgtBilko
I'm taking delivery of a Storm Grey 650s spider at the end of the month.
458 and 650 are both fantastic cars, I can't believe how technology has come on since my humble 360. Same feeling of raw power but with more poise... and the gear shifts in both were to die for after the agricultural F1 shifts on the 360. The differences were small (in my view) and for what it is worth this is how I decided:
I liked the noise of the 458 better, just not much better
I think the 650 just looks better (front and back)
I didn't like the everything on the steering wheel of the 458, it just felt too cluttered. I probably won't ever be driving so fast at a junction that I have to have indicators on the wheel because I can't take my fingers off it to indicate.
I have a friend who is a professional racing driver..... "its the closest thing to a GT3 car on the road"
I have had a Ferrari, I haven't had a McLaren
Lots of Ferrari's about , not many McLaren's
I wanted to buy British
The roof of the 458 means you can't see the engine
The 650's doors ;-)
All a bit "girly", but as I say there is so little to choose between them.
What about performance and handling ???? ......at this price point I expect both to be fantastic and given I don't take my own cars on the track, I don't ever expect to truly test (to the limit) either performance or handling on the road.
Just my opinions, for what they are worth.
I feel like a 10 year on Christmas Eve...... the end of the month can't come quickly enough.
SgtBilko
shabster said:
Hi guys
So tonight I managed to get the 650S spider out on my favourite local roads and a real test vs the 458 Spider.
I would sum up as: much faster, very fun, but in a different way than the 458.
I definitely left with a big smile on my face and realise I can have fun with this car as much as the 458 spider, but the fun is a different kind of fun, so the cars are different. If I could I would own them both.
When on the juice hard:
1) the 650S when pushing it is notably quicker than the 458 - it takes your breath away when the boost kicks in and has torque in every gear.
2) much quicker braking - the airbrake seems to help too (and looks awesome in the rear view mirror)
3) the car is loud enough, especially with the roof down.
4) like the burbles and pops as the car decelerates and as you change down.
5) Ferrari has the better noise - screaming at speed. Vs me screaming at speed in the 650S !
6) prefer the larger (carbon) paddles in the 458
7) prefer the "normal" layout of the McLaren steering wheel and ammenity levers etc - vs on wheel indicators on 458 which still confuse me if trying to indicate whilst turning and scares my wife from driving it (not that I mind about that...)
8) prefer the brake/accelerator pedals in the 650S. 458 are so close together and narrow I have to wear my special driving shoes. Which I don't mind, but nice to have the option not to.
9) roof down - steady as a rock no scuttle shake. It never really bothered me in the 458 but would prefer not to have it, given the choice.
The ride out of London to Surrey in heavy traffic:
1) 650Snot as much of an event at low speeds. The 458 makes a lot of noise in race even at low speeds.
2) I find the ride similar in "normal" to the 458 with dampening on.
3) navigation fine but didn't find best traffic routes, stick to my TomTom
4) like roof operation whilst moving
5) like the lift - don't have to crawl over speed bumps
6) prefer Ferrari's way of putting into neutral (both paddles back) if a passer buy asks for a quick engine rev.
7) 650S got lots of nice attention around town.
8) I asked us to stop to refuel - geeky I know but loved getting the doors open at a petrol station and see people's faces.
Finally - a shout out to Simon S at McLaren London. McLaren take note - please build a sales force that is transparent, open and no "agenda" if you want sticky customers. Hire more Simons. He gave up his evening to drive me out there and won't have got home till gone 10pm. Plus we've had an open transparent dialog on the deals to be had. I don't need to have bought cars before to feel special.
So in summary I am now very tempted - I just need to get the deal where I want it to be, and decide if the "different kind of fun" is for me vs the 458 Spider I'm used to. As a petrolhead I adore them both
Cheers
Matt
Hi thanks for this, Did the car you drove have the sport exhaust upgrade?So tonight I managed to get the 650S spider out on my favourite local roads and a real test vs the 458 Spider.
I would sum up as: much faster, very fun, but in a different way than the 458.
I definitely left with a big smile on my face and realise I can have fun with this car as much as the 458 spider, but the fun is a different kind of fun, so the cars are different. If I could I would own them both.
When on the juice hard:
1) the 650S when pushing it is notably quicker than the 458 - it takes your breath away when the boost kicks in and has torque in every gear.
2) much quicker braking - the airbrake seems to help too (and looks awesome in the rear view mirror)
3) the car is loud enough, especially with the roof down.
4) like the burbles and pops as the car decelerates and as you change down.
5) Ferrari has the better noise - screaming at speed. Vs me screaming at speed in the 650S !
6) prefer the larger (carbon) paddles in the 458
7) prefer the "normal" layout of the McLaren steering wheel and ammenity levers etc - vs on wheel indicators on 458 which still confuse me if trying to indicate whilst turning and scares my wife from driving it (not that I mind about that...)
8) prefer the brake/accelerator pedals in the 650S. 458 are so close together and narrow I have to wear my special driving shoes. Which I don't mind, but nice to have the option not to.
9) roof down - steady as a rock no scuttle shake. It never really bothered me in the 458 but would prefer not to have it, given the choice.
The ride out of London to Surrey in heavy traffic:
1) 650Snot as much of an event at low speeds. The 458 makes a lot of noise in race even at low speeds.
2) I find the ride similar in "normal" to the 458 with dampening on.
3) navigation fine but didn't find best traffic routes, stick to my TomTom
4) like roof operation whilst moving
5) like the lift - don't have to crawl over speed bumps
6) prefer Ferrari's way of putting into neutral (both paddles back) if a passer buy asks for a quick engine rev.
7) 650S got lots of nice attention around town.
8) I asked us to stop to refuel - geeky I know but loved getting the doors open at a petrol station and see people's faces.
Finally - a shout out to Simon S at McLaren London. McLaren take note - please build a sales force that is transparent, open and no "agenda" if you want sticky customers. Hire more Simons. He gave up his evening to drive me out there and won't have got home till gone 10pm. Plus we've had an open transparent dialog on the deals to be had. I don't need to have bought cars before to feel special.
So in summary I am now very tempted - I just need to get the deal where I want it to be, and decide if the "different kind of fun" is for me vs the 458 Spider I'm used to. As a petrolhead I adore them both
Cheers
Matt
shabster said:
Yep, had the sports exhaust. Ended up buying a new 650S in storm grey in April, it has the sports exhaust too.
Thank you. I am considering a 2015 car that does not have the sports exhaust and I'm a little worried about the potential lack of sound. Does anybody have any experience of or has heard one without the sports exhaust.![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/uowWll1c.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/qLPDTg2O" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/qLPDTg2O.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/zz86OigP" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/zz86OigP.jpg)
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