McLaren really has come an exceptionally long way in a very short space of time. It's easy to forget that the first drives of the MP4-12C (as it was then) took place in early 2011. Since then we've seen that car updated to the 12C and then 650S, with the 675LT too. Those in addition to the P1 and Sports Series cars. It's arguably not ideal for customers who can't have the latest, greatest McLaren for long, but the speed of progress is staggering.
See, it can do supercar drama
Inevitably though the non-limited cars will depreciate, so here we are just a few years later with an original MP4-12C. That really was a clumsy name, wasn't it? While the styling does look a little ordinary in light of the P1-esque 650S update, there's a lot to recognise from this in the current McLarens; it's really not that old, after all!
That will be the same with all 12Cs though; what's special about this particular McLaren Orange car is the price. It's offered at £98,500, which is the first time we've seen a new-era McLaren at five figures. Of course it's a still a great deal of money, but it's definitely worth talking about.
Because that's the sort of money people pay for a 370hp 911 Targa, and now it's enough for a modern, 600hp supercar. And while the MP4-12C might not have been spot-on from the outset, there's still some really significant technology in it: the carbon fibre tub, the Proactive Chassis Control and the Brake Steer to name three. It will, of course, be terrifically fast as well.
Downsides? There are a couple. It's left-hand drive, which will automatically disqualify it for some people. Even with the McLaren's very good visibility, that will make it trickier in the UK. Moreover, the interior won't be to all tastes, with almost-tan leather not the best match for the orange paint. It is also one of the higher mileage 12Cs available.
So yes, about the interior...
But perhaps more pressing than those concerns is the knowledge that right-hand drive cars are deprecating too.
This
older 12C has more miles on it than the orange car but is just over £10K more expensive. Worth the extra? Or is the appeal of a sub-£100K McLaren strong enough?
Finally, there's the Ferrari question. New or used, the 12C will always be up against the Ferrari 458. The most affordable 458 currently in the PH classifieds is £120,000, also left-hand drive but with nearly 20,000 miles. A tough decision...
In addition, how much further can they fall? There must be a little more depreciating to do given how new the cars are, particularly with the 458 and 12C having now been replaced. Whichever you get and whatever you pay, it promises to be a brilliant supercar. Let's just hope they get cheaper for a couple more years yet...
MCLAREN MP4-12C
Engine: 3,799cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed SSG twin-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 600@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 443@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: 279g/km
First registered: 2013
Recorded mileage: 14,000
Price new: £168,500
Price now: £98,500
See the original advert here