Fifth Gear Mclaren MP4-12C vs Ferrari 458 Italia

[trev0006]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 04 July 2011 at 05:55

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Thanks for posting.

Interesting conclusion in that they almost didn't like the MP4-12C. What chance it's going to be a total flop?

[catman]

It was interesting how negative they were about it. I doubt if it will stop it selling though, it's a McLaren!

Tim

[deadslow]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Thanks for posting.

Interesting conclusion in that they almost didn't like the MP4-12C. What chance it's going to be a total flop?

'Almost didn't like' .............. har har ... they rubbished it, in every department!

[kentmotorcompany]

Bear in mind they are racing drivers, driving it liking racing drivers do on a track. I wonder what the everyday driver would think of it on the road?

They also mentioned "how Mclaren wants us to drive it" I'm guessing a very Ferrari biased test.

[greygoose]

kentmotorcompany said:

They also mentioned "how Mclaren wants us to drive it" I'm guessing a very Ferrari biased test.

All the tests in magazines have preferred the 458 so far, is everyone biased or is the McLaren not as good as its closest competitor?

[stephen300o]

kentmotorcompany said:

Bear in mind they are racing drivers, driving it liking racing drivers do on a track. I wonder what the everyday driver would think of it on the road?

I imagine if it was lairy for Plato and Needell, the average joe might find it a handfull too.

[Use Psychology]

i think what they are saying is that they don't want to put the effort in to learn the car's strengths and weaknesses and adapt their driving to them.

[GroundEffect]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-4e_0wvnNQ&fea...

Better quality version.

[jackh707]

are they at the top gear test track?

[greygoose]

Yes

[Rich_W]

Use Psychology said:

i think what they are saying is that they don't want to put the effort in to learn the car's strengths and weaknesses and adapt their driving to them.

If Tiff and Jason can get into every other supercar in the world and drift it or drive it fast without throwing themselves off. Then suggesting that you need to drive 1 supercar a completely different way is maybe missing the underlying point.

jackh707 said:

are they at the top gear test track?

Dunsfold is also McLaren's test track. They have a unit or 2 there So technically, this was a PRO-McLaren test

[GroundEffect]

They kept going on about driving aids even with TCS off...I thought you could turn everything off with a 'special' button on the Mclaren?

Even if that is the case....Ferrari for me please, in dark blue

[Rich_W]

GroundEffect said:

They kept going on about driving aids even with TCS off...I thought you could turn everything off with a 'special' button on the Mclaren?

As the 12C hasn't got a regular LSD. If you could turn ALL the aids off, wouldn't that mean the car just had a normal open diff? Which would presumably affect the predictability of the rear end?

[Ed.]

Surprising to see them have so much difficulty compared to Chris Harris last month.

[nouze]

Not surprised.

MP4-12C is a nanny state product, it let's you do what McLaren wanted you to do with it. I'm sure it also has an "early warning/child detection system" which puts its engine into limp mode whenever there is a chance of a child entering a road (min radius of 5 miles).

Ferrari is proper loops, it's not worried about hurting trees neither does it care about possibility of litigation. It exists because people like to do whatever they want, from time to time.

[ZeeTacoe]

I'm amazed how many people can test this car and come up with the same opinion yet all be wrong.

[trev0006]

I guess we can't just look at the stats and determine which is better. Its a must to drive both cars.

[Scottish_ninja]

ZeeTacoe said:

I'm amazed how many people can test this car and come up with the same opinion yet all be wrong.

haha, likewise.

[300bhp/ton]

Just watched it. Have to say I can't see why any would or even could complain at the outcome. The review was both subjective and objective and they offered rational and justification for their choices.