Discussion
Hi,
I am toying with the idea of a 12c, simply love the design and on paper they seem too good to be true. I have been in a few different sport/super cars in the last few years and always found that they were great but just not a car to live with. either to harsh on the ride, not comfortable enough for long trips, too unreliable, too hairy in the wet/cold not user friendly enough for a spirited but novice driver.
seeing values drop into my price range now it has become even more of a temptation to put myself behind the wheel of one. so my questions to you all are:
what should i know before i drive/own one
what are the average annual running costs doing roughly 5k miles per year
are there options that you need on one of these
do you think that the current market price is sturdy or big drops still coming
can it really be lived with everyday and be as comfortable and easy to use in slow driving.
how many of them were actually built
which dealers should i be speaking to
which dealers should i not be speaking to
what to look out for when i inspect a car
sorry if there is a thread already like this one out there, but if it exists please point me to it.
cheers
nick
I am toying with the idea of a 12c, simply love the design and on paper they seem too good to be true. I have been in a few different sport/super cars in the last few years and always found that they were great but just not a car to live with. either to harsh on the ride, not comfortable enough for long trips, too unreliable, too hairy in the wet/cold not user friendly enough for a spirited but novice driver.
seeing values drop into my price range now it has become even more of a temptation to put myself behind the wheel of one. so my questions to you all are:
what should i know before i drive/own one
what are the average annual running costs doing roughly 5k miles per year
are there options that you need on one of these
do you think that the current market price is sturdy or big drops still coming
can it really be lived with everyday and be as comfortable and easy to use in slow driving.
how many of them were actually built
which dealers should i be speaking to
which dealers should i not be speaking to
what to look out for when i inspect a car
sorry if there is a thread already like this one out there, but if it exists please point me to it.
cheers
nick
Go for it you'll love it!
Yes there were some early problems, but Mclaren have sorted them really well.
Realistic running costs all in (excluding potential depreciation) have to be around £3-4K a year. Rear tyres £500 (expect 6000 miles max with fun road use), £1500 average service, insurance (decent) £1500 + Odds & Sods
Here's a good source of info: http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-mp4-12c/...
Be warned though! Once you've owned one, there's not a lot out there to compete when it comes to change, apart from another one!
Yes there were some early problems, but Mclaren have sorted them really well.
Realistic running costs all in (excluding potential depreciation) have to be around £3-4K a year. Rear tyres £500 (expect 6000 miles max with fun road use), £1500 average service, insurance (decent) £1500 + Odds & Sods
Here's a good source of info: http://www.mclarenlife.com/forums/mclaren-mp4-12c/...
Be warned though! Once you've owned one, there's not a lot out there to compete when it comes to change, apart from another one!
Every week or two http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Just scroll down through this section
Just scroll down through this section
Hi Nick,
Looking at the cars you own or have owned, you will find the 12C very easy to live with
I use mine daily without any issues and have done 4k miles in 4 months now. But most of my miles are outside of town I have to admit.
The multiple settings suspension will get you by with the softness you want.
Running cost are close to what Andy suggests. May be slightly higher. Make sure to get the (extended) warranty (add £3k per year to the total).
But the 12C will be cheap to maintain compared to your Gallardo !
Options: carbon interior, upgraded wheels and sports exhaust I would say are the minimum.
Market value... Has been debated at length on here... Should stay reasonably steady now.
I would say about 3,000 12C built and 300 in the UK but I might be wrong.
Dealers: I have had very good experience of both McLaren Birmingham and London. Alastair Bols has also been genuinely fantastic in helping me understand the cars. I would buy from a McLaren approved dealer. I have found specialist to be as expensive if not more expensive and not provide the advantages of the main dealers.
Inspection: I have found the quality of the seals to be variable on early cars. Check if the car has been tracked (unless you are going to). McLaren makes it a requirement to inspect cars before and after to keep warranty alive, so they will know. And if they say they do not, then it is probably that it has been tracked !
Have you driven one yet ?
Looking at the cars you own or have owned, you will find the 12C very easy to live with
I use mine daily without any issues and have done 4k miles in 4 months now. But most of my miles are outside of town I have to admit.
The multiple settings suspension will get you by with the softness you want.
Running cost are close to what Andy suggests. May be slightly higher. Make sure to get the (extended) warranty (add £3k per year to the total).
But the 12C will be cheap to maintain compared to your Gallardo !
Options: carbon interior, upgraded wheels and sports exhaust I would say are the minimum.
Market value... Has been debated at length on here... Should stay reasonably steady now.
I would say about 3,000 12C built and 300 in the UK but I might be wrong.
Dealers: I have had very good experience of both McLaren Birmingham and London. Alastair Bols has also been genuinely fantastic in helping me understand the cars. I would buy from a McLaren approved dealer. I have found specialist to be as expensive if not more expensive and not provide the advantages of the main dealers.
Inspection: I have found the quality of the seals to be variable on early cars. Check if the car has been tracked (unless you are going to). McLaren makes it a requirement to inspect cars before and after to keep warranty alive, so they will know. And if they say they do not, then it is probably that it has been tracked !
Have you driven one yet ?
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