Feeling the love

Feeling the love

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Discussion

12pack

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

169 months

Saturday 8th August 2020
quotequote all
Nice spirited drive in the 650 spider with well-warmed tires today. 2 years and 4 track days later I’m REALLY getting to mesh with the car better than I ever have with any other, brake-steer and all. The way it holds the line on bumpy roads, all four tyres planted but still letting me know what’s going on, is amazing. The car feels relaxed, not darty, but still instantly does what you want it to.

On the way back, top down, C-black paint glimmering - the car was veritably mobbed at each stop. A few too many non-maskers for my liking, but certainly a lot of people out there cellphones out, peering into the interior. Nice to see the car is still appreciated despite the neg posts and YT videos about McLaren.

Edited by 12pack on Saturday 8th August 15:40

WilliamWaiver

439 posts

46 months

Saturday 8th August 2020
quotequote all
Good to hear..I'm told they are growers and not the sort of car you "get" with a tame 20 min test drive.

If the 650S is that good I can see why the rave about the 675LT.

My 430 scuderia is like a totally different car to the F430 I had before and hence twice the money price tag.
I'm told its at least the same recipe with the LTs if not more

justin220

5,347 posts

205 months

Saturday 8th August 2020
quotequote all
I'm yet to get any negative comments or reactions when out in my 540C. It seems the McLaren are universally loved, other than on pistonheads

r o n n i e

366 posts

177 months

Saturday 8th August 2020
quotequote all
justin220 said:
I'm yet to get any negative comments or reactions when out in my 540C. It seems the McLaren are universally loved, other than on pistonheads
Definitely.

Often get negative treatment in Ferrari, want to pull out of a junction??? Enjoy the wait. In the 911, sometimes good, sometimes not. In the McLaren, never that resentment.

At kids school the boys coming running screaming with excitement when I pick up in the Mac. Ok they are 6 year olds but still the joy on the faces is such a positive.

RSbandit

2,616 posts

133 months

Saturday 8th August 2020
quotequote all
Yeah my experience has been universally positive people really seem to love McLarens...coming back from the Ring last month through Belgium was pretty amazing, people tooting horns lots of thumbs up and windows down egging me on to drop a few cogs and give it the beans..I obliged of course!

650spider

1,476 posts

172 months

Sunday 9th August 2020
quotequote all
r o n n i e said:
justin220 said:
I'm yet to get any negative comments or reactions when out in my 540C. It seems the McLaren are universally loved, other than on pistonheads
Definitely.

Often get negative treatment in Ferrari, want to pull out of a junction??? Enjoy the wait. In the 911, sometimes good, sometimes not. In the McLaren, never that resentment.

At kids school the boys coming running screaming with excitement when I pick up in the Mac. Ok they are 6 year olds but still the joy on the faces is such a positive.
Yup...exactly the same for me also.

Never had the reaction I get when out and about in previous Porsche or Ferraris...negligible interest in the Porsche as they are absolutely everywhere and look the same, the Ferrari was at best 50 / 50 wk hand or thumbs up.

The McLaren 100% every single trip attracts fully positive attention, chats, requests to sit in, pictures etc...quite remarkable to be fair, and was originally a bit of a shock to the system.

Not yet managed a fuel stop without a minimum 10 minute chat with someone whom migrates over to have a look.

It makes it all the more strange for the dislike of McLaren on PH.

WilliamWaiver

439 posts

46 months

Sunday 9th August 2020
quotequote all
It seems to me that most people don't really know McLaren cars at all.
If your lucky they have heard of the F1 or P1 but they certainly don't know the range.
Due to the mystique and rarity they assume they cost £millions and let's face it with those doors they do look it !

It has the potential to be a top end premium brand the general public think it is if only they sorted their act out.



Edited by WilliamWaiver on Sunday 9th August 17:38

PistonGuy66

769 posts

54 months

Sunday 9th August 2020
quotequote all
650spider said:
r o n n i e said:
justin220 said:
I'm yet to get any negative comments or reactions when out in my 540C. It seems the McLaren are universally loved, other than on pistonheads
Definitely.

Often get negative treatment in Ferrari, want to pull out of a junction??? Enjoy the wait. In the 911, sometimes good, sometimes not. In the McLaren, never that resentment.

At kids school the boys coming running screaming with excitement when I pick up in the Mac. Ok they are 6 year olds but still the joy on the faces is such a positive.
Yup...exactly the same for me also.

Never had the reaction I get when out and about in previous Porsche or Ferraris...negligible interest in the Porsche as they are absolutely everywhere and look the same, the Ferrari was at best 50 / 50 wk hand or thumbs up.

The McLaren 100% every single trip attracts fully positive attention, chats, requests to sit in, pictures etc...quite remarkable to be fair, and was originally a bit of a shock to the system.

Not yet managed a fuel stop without a minimum 10 minute chat with someone whom migrates over to have a look.

It makes it all the more strange for the dislike of McLaren on PH.
Haha i know what you mean about the fuel stop! When i took the wifes 650 spider out the other day,i had a chat with a really nice old boy in our local garage, and it turned out he used to work at a company that made F1 parts! We were chatting for ages.

r o n n i e

366 posts

177 months

Sunday 9th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
It seems to me that most people don't really know McLaren cars at all.
If your lucky they have heard of the F1 or P1 but they certainly don't know the range.
Due to the mystique and rarity they assume they cost £millions and let's face it with those doors they do look it !

It has the potential to be a top end premium brand the general public think it is if only they sorted their act out.



Edited by WilliamWaiver on Sunday 9th August 17:38
Spot on. They need to avoid ruining that mystique.

WilliamWaiver

439 posts

46 months

Sunday 9th August 2020
quotequote all
r o n n i e said:
Spot on. They need to avoid ruining that mystique.
Well they are certainly cutting production numbers going forward.
720S spider is build to order only
I think sport series production has stopped altogether in prep for new hybrid model.
Still seems to be new 600LTs kicking around having visited a number of mac dealers recently ??

It seems ferrari and McLaren have swapped over in that respect and its now ferrari pumping out volume and new models like no tomorrow to please shareholders

EvoSid

1,102 posts

64 months

Monday 10th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
It seems to me that most people don't really know McLaren cars at all.
If your lucky they have heard of the F1 or P1 but they certainly don't know the range.
Due to the mystique and rarity they assume they cost £millions and let's face it with those doors they do look it !

It has the potential to be a top end premium brand the general public think it is if only they sorted their act out.



Edited by WilliamWaiver on Sunday 9th August 17:38
Damn it I had decided not to look for a 570S as my next car for various reasons but mainly the unreliability stores and the fact the dealer is a 500 mile round trip .
But now you are making me think that it might be the better bet than the Cayman GT4 I was thinking of instead
Time tot start looking at the classifieds and keep fingers crossed that the we get planning permission of the new garage


Bispal

1,620 posts

152 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
Good to hear..I'm told they are growers and not the sort of car you "get" with a tame 20 min test drive.

If the 650S is that good I can see why the rave about the 675LT.

My 430 scuderia is like a totally different car to the F430 I had before and hence twice the money price tag.
I'm told its at least the same recipe with the LTs if not more
Yes....The 675LT simply beggars belief! 60% improved parts over the 650s and 50% different and bespoke engine components. And the 650s is incredible to start with! I bumped into one of the development engineers who worked on he 675LT, the stories he told me and the extra lengths they went to to make the 675LT special is astounding, the attention to detail and design and development staggering. Which its why its the most immersive and absorbing car I have ever driven.






WilliamWaiver

439 posts

46 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
Bispal said:
Yes....The 675LT simply beggars belief! 60% improved parts over the 650s and 50% different and bespoke engine components. And the 650s is incredible to start with! I bumped into one of the development engineers who worked on he 675LT, the stories he told me and the extra lengths they went to to make the 675LT special is astounding, the attention to detail and design and development staggering. Which its why its the most immersive and absorbing car I have ever driven.
Did I read that the engine in particular was tweaked so much its basically a P1 without the electrics.

I'm closing in on a few unadvertised cars that match my MSO spec requirements but owners are reluctant to give them up sub £250k yet other more basic cars are advertised for as little as £210k.
I may have to compromise on spec but on the plus side I would have a spare £40k.

The only slight reservation i have with the car is the sound compared to a N/A engine. I know it pops and bangs on both up and downshifts when driven hard and its hot but I've been told 200 cel sports cats make it sound even better so that would be first upgrade.

Glad your actual experience of the car mirrors my thoughts from a few short drives from kind owners

Bispal

1,620 posts

152 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
Bispal said:
Yes....The 675LT simply beggars belief! 60% improved parts over the 650s and 50% different and bespoke engine components. And the 650s is incredible to start with! I bumped into one of the development engineers who worked on he 675LT, the stories he told me and the extra lengths they went to to make the 675LT special is astounding, the attention to detail and design and development staggering. Which its why its the most immersive and absorbing car I have ever driven.
Did I read that the engine in particular was tweaked so much its basically a P1 without the electrics.

I'm closing in on a few unadvertised cars that match my MSO spec requirements but owners are reluctant to give them up sub £250k yet other more basic cars are advertised for as little as £210k.
I may have to compromise on spec but on the plus side I would have a spare £40k.

The only slight reservation i have with the car is the sound compared to a N/A engine. I know it pops and bangs on both up and downshifts when driven hard and its hot but I've been told 200 cel sports cats make it sound even better so that would be first upgrade.

Glad your actual experience of the car mirrors my thoughts from a few short drives from kind owners
The 675LT sounds awesome, believe me it really does. Different to other cars but still superb. Good luck with your search.



anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
Did I read that the engine in particular was tweaked so much its basically a P1 without the electrics.

I'm closing in on a few unadvertised cars that match my MSO spec requirements but owners are reluctant to give them up sub £250k yet other more basic cars are advertised for as little as £210k.
I may have to compromise on spec but on the plus side I would have a spare £40k.

The only slight reservation i have with the car is the sound compared to a N/A engine. I know it pops and bangs on both up and downshifts when driven hard and its hot but I've been told 200 cel sports cats make it sound even better so that would be first upgrade.

Glad your actual experience of the car mirrors my thoughts from a few short drives from kind owners
Trust me, the 675LT sounds great from behind when being followed. For some reason McLarens sound quiet when sat inside - general consensus is that the carbon tub suppresses the sound inside the cabin. My 720S has the sports exhaust and sounds a little subdued inside, but my mate who was following was pissing himself laughing at the noise it makes. We swapped cars so I could follow and have a listen - the sound is very different on the outside. It’s never going to match a NA V8, but still very satisfying.

BlackR8

459 posts

78 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
12pack said:
Nice spirited drive in the 650 spider with well-warmed tires today. 2 years and 4 track days later I’m REALLY getting to mesh with the car better than I ever have with any other, brake-steer and all. The way it holds the line on bumpy roads, all four tyres planted but still letting me know what’s going on, is amazing. The car feels relaxed, not darty, but still instantly does what you want it to.

On the way back, top down, C-black paint glimmering - the car was veritably mobbed at each stop. A few too many non-maskers for my liking, but certainly a lot of people out there cellphones out, peering into the interior. Nice to see the car is still appreciated despite the neg posts and YT videos about McLaren.

Edited by 12pack on Saturday 8th August 15:40
Having recently purchased a McLaren I concur that for me anyway it so far lives up to the numerous journo reviews. I have not driven it yet to anywhere near its full potential but the basics of great steering feel, sense of occasion, dual personality (comfy daily to absolute animal!) are all evident in my early impressions. The general reaction from the public has so far been very positive too.

WCZ

10,544 posts

195 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
WilliamWaiver said:
It seems to me that most people don't really know McLaren cars at all.
If your lucky they have heard of the F1 or P1 but they certainly don't know the range.
Due to the mystique and rarity they assume they cost £millions and let's face it with those doors they do look it !

It has the potential to be a top end premium brand the general public think it is if only they sorted their act out.



Edited by WilliamWaiver on Sunday 9th August 17:38
100%

I've seen people say "wow look at that mclaren f1" or p1 when a 570s has gone past

RSbandit

2,616 posts

133 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
Had that happen recently too my 570s getting mistaken for a P1, I explained the P1 is about 10 times the price they still seemed impressed with mine nonetheless! As someone mentioned earlier there is a certain mystique to Mclaren I doubt that most (non car) people would believe you could buy one for less than £100k tbh

anonymous-user

55 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
WCZ said:
100%

I've seen people say "wow look at that mclaren f1" or p1 when a 570s has gone past
I was asked a few days ago if my 720S was a P1. Sometimes it gets a bit unnerving when I am being closely tailgated by drivers taking photo’s in heavy traffic. Since I had the custom paint job done, and with the recent bright sunshine, the car attracts a huge amount of attention - more than I have ever experienced in the previous 720S. Women look into the car expecting to see George Clooney driving it, but the look of disappointment when they spot a middle-aged, bald fat bloke in the driving seat is priceless. One chap asked if I would turn gay and marry him and he would divorce the missus.

I’ve only had the one 5 knuckle shuffle gesture in sixteen months of ownership.

12pack

Original Poster:

1,549 posts

169 months

Tuesday 11th August 2020
quotequote all
MAC 720S said:
I was asked a few days ago if my 720S was a P1. Sometimes it gets a bit unnerving when I am being closely tailgated by drivers taking photo’s in heavy traffic. Since I had the custom paint job done, and with the recent bright sunshine, the car attracts a huge amount of attention - more than I have ever experienced in the previous 720S. Women look into the car expecting to see George Clooney driving it, but the look of disappointment when they spot a middle-aged, bald fat bloke in the driving seat is priceless. One chap asked if I would turn gay and marry him and he would divorce the missus.

I’ve only had the one 5 knuckle shuffle gesture in sixteen months of ownership.
Indeed interesting - the guys peer intently at the front of the car to discern what it is. But the ladies peer intently through the windshield trying to discern who's driving...