MP4-12C - latest situation and owners' opinions
Discussion
Some months back there was a lot of discussion about early problems with the MP4, with some owners selling their cars and other cancelling their orders.
Were the problems sorted by Mclaren? Are those people that held onto their cars or received their cars without probelms, happy? Having had some time with the MP4, what are your thoughts?
Were the problems sorted by Mclaren? Are those people that held onto their cars or received their cars without probelms, happy? Having had some time with the MP4, what are your thoughts?
Good questions OP. A few people suggested there was a software patch for the IRIS coming Q1 this year. Another couple suggested McLaren engineers were focusing on the Convertible version of the car and the Coupe had taken a back seat.
The only thing I've seen come out of McLaren is the 5 "HS" cars. Wonder what position Coupe owners are in at the moment?
The only thing I've seen come out of McLaren is the 5 "HS" cars. Wonder what position Coupe owners are in at the moment?
traxx said:
Had mine for 3 months and done 1,000 miles
Not had any issues with the car
Just a few annoying things - like when you have shopping on the passenger seat it keeps warning about the seatbelt
my 407 does that. don't think it is that exceptional a problem I imagine its easily sorted by just unplugging the sensor.Not had any issues with the car
Just a few annoying things - like when you have shopping on the passenger seat it keeps warning about the seatbelt
Had mine since September as well, and covered 4000 miles so far.
Had all the normal documented issues, plus a few more which have been sorted over time. However I am currently without my car due to some issues with the A/C system leaking water into the cabin and meaning all the carpets have had to be replaced - not overly happy TBH.
Had all the normal documented issues, plus a few more which have been sorted over time. However I am currently without my car due to some issues with the A/C system leaking water into the cabin and meaning all the carpets have had to be replaced - not overly happy TBH.
MP4 said:
Had the car since September. All early issues are sorted and no issues at all now.
Doris as we call her is promised in June.
I have covered 2600 miles now. I love the car.
Better drivers car than 458 imop but less storage.
Sold mine,but very happy with my 458, far better drivers car imho Doris as we call her is promised in June.
I have covered 2600 miles now. I love the car.
Better drivers car than 458 imop but less storage.
I had a test drive in an MP4 last week down some country roads. The car felt very user friendly and refined and sounded quite good actually. I found the gearbox levers quite annoying as other than being quite small, you have to wait for the levers to click before the next gear was selected. In the Ferrari, its far easier. However, once I got used to it, it was ok. I found the spoiler of the air-brake rather irritating as it blocks your rear vision under hard breaking. This is probably not something I would appreciate under fast driving, ie on a track assuming I was being tailgated by another car.
It didnt sound too much like a turbo either as the engine tone has obviously been doctored up. However, there was some jerkiness at lower speeds and when letting go of the accelerator after hard acceleration, there is a slight delay in the power being cut off. That felt a bit dodgy at first, but again i'd imagine that would take getting used to as this can be common on some Turbo cars.
The chassis felt very solid and had high limits, but the car definitely lacked the rawness of say a Scuderia or a GT3. Its definitely more of a 458 competitor and I can surely imagine it being appropriate as an everyday user (circumstances permitting) and less so of a track day special.
Overall I was impressed but I can clearly see how road testers conclude that it lacks the soul of a Ferrari. The MP4 felt efficient almost in an Audi like way. For some, that may be re-assuring, but for others, that may lack excitement...
It didnt sound too much like a turbo either as the engine tone has obviously been doctored up. However, there was some jerkiness at lower speeds and when letting go of the accelerator after hard acceleration, there is a slight delay in the power being cut off. That felt a bit dodgy at first, but again i'd imagine that would take getting used to as this can be common on some Turbo cars.
The chassis felt very solid and had high limits, but the car definitely lacked the rawness of say a Scuderia or a GT3. Its definitely more of a 458 competitor and I can surely imagine it being appropriate as an everyday user (circumstances permitting) and less so of a track day special.
Overall I was impressed but I can clearly see how road testers conclude that it lacks the soul of a Ferrari. The MP4 felt efficient almost in an Audi like way. For some, that may be re-assuring, but for others, that may lack excitement...
Have had my Mclaren Orange one for 3 weeks now and love it! Have previously owned Ferrari 360, 430 and 550 so feel qualified to make a comparison. The first thing that struck me was the great forward vision and central-feeling driving position. The change in character as you move through the handling and transmission modes is phenomenal. In normal mode in auto, certainly the car can be jumpy at low revs as the auto mode rapidly moves up gears - I drive in manual and sport transmission around town and find it far more useable in traffic than previous cars.
On the open road, lag is virtually absent and the sheer acceleration and road stability lead you to speeds far in excess of what you believe you are doing. Cornering is phenomenal with the car feeling like its on rails at road speeds - it is a different sensation to anything I've ever driven before.
Of course it is irritating that the iris system isn't there yet but I believe completely that it will be worth the wait and that in general Mclaren will continue to upgrade the firmware and software of the car as they make refinements and will backfit these as a matter of course. The doors do require a firm pull or push to close but you soon get used to it.
Finally, the very positive attention you get from the public is something I just didn't experience with previous cars. I am getting used to people photographing the car whenever I refuel and wandering over to ask questions.
On the open road, lag is virtually absent and the sheer acceleration and road stability lead you to speeds far in excess of what you believe you are doing. Cornering is phenomenal with the car feeling like its on rails at road speeds - it is a different sensation to anything I've ever driven before.
Of course it is irritating that the iris system isn't there yet but I believe completely that it will be worth the wait and that in general Mclaren will continue to upgrade the firmware and software of the car as they make refinements and will backfit these as a matter of course. The doors do require a firm pull or push to close but you soon get used to it.
Finally, the very positive attention you get from the public is something I just didn't experience with previous cars. I am getting used to people photographing the car whenever I refuel and wandering over to ask questions.
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