What am I missing with the McLaren GT?
Discussion
I have been considering a new car for road trips and weekend use and had pretty much narrowed my list down to a 570s or 650s, preferably in spider form but not ruling out coupes. Budget is £85-90k. I have however noticed that GT s are now within budget.
I had previously ruled these out as I get the impression they are unloved compared to other models but not sure why. I get that the car was billed as a GT car, and therefore not as quite dynamic as a 650s, but, apart from the front end for me, it looks good, I like the interior, has later tech, is quick like all models, and with later 2020/21 cars now in budget.
I have watched a lot of the reviews on YT and most of them are positive. Harry likes it too. For me, I think it would be a good option. There won t be track use, as I have an M2 for that, so it would be weekend trips and road trips.
So, what am I missing? Is the GT really unloved compared to the older models and will it continue to depreciate as a result. I see that the 570 is still depreciating but has slowed down, whereas the 650s values seem to have risen over the last 12 months. I intend to keep the car for around 2 years so am I likely to lose a lot in this time? Will it be difficult to sell on in the future? What does the bottom of the market look like for these in 2-3 yrs?
Thanks in advance.
I had previously ruled these out as I get the impression they are unloved compared to other models but not sure why. I get that the car was billed as a GT car, and therefore not as quite dynamic as a 650s, but, apart from the front end for me, it looks good, I like the interior, has later tech, is quick like all models, and with later 2020/21 cars now in budget.
I have watched a lot of the reviews on YT and most of them are positive. Harry likes it too. For me, I think it would be a good option. There won t be track use, as I have an M2 for that, so it would be weekend trips and road trips.
So, what am I missing? Is the GT really unloved compared to the older models and will it continue to depreciate as a result. I see that the 570 is still depreciating but has slowed down, whereas the 650s values seem to have risen over the last 12 months. I intend to keep the car for around 2 years so am I likely to lose a lot in this time? Will it be difficult to sell on in the future? What does the bottom of the market look like for these in 2-3 yrs?
Thanks in advance.
bennno said:
Just looks a bit frumpy, it s a supercar dressed up as a GT.
Most buyers want a supercar that looks like a supercar and a GT that s effortlessly comfortable / well suited for long distance touring / holds its value even with more use.
This just sits somewhere in the middle.
I’m not fan of the front but I like the rest of the car. For my intended use, somewhere between a supercar and a GT sounds like a good option. I just don’t want to be stuck with car I can’t sell in a couple of years if there is limited demand for the GT.Most buyers want a supercar that looks like a supercar and a GT that s effortlessly comfortable / well suited for long distance touring / holds its value even with more use.
This just sits somewhere in the middle.
"I had previously ruled these out as I get the impression they are unloved compared to other models but not sure why."
When you come to sell, thats also what others will be thinking.
The only really attractive thing about the GT is the savage depreciation brings it into the same brackets as other older cars/marques......
Rear is decent but the front is a pig.
The reality is that is was released at the wrong time just after covid without a real purpose within the range.........
When you come to sell, thats also what others will be thinking.
The only really attractive thing about the GT is the savage depreciation brings it into the same brackets as other older cars/marques......
Rear is decent but the front is a pig.
The reality is that is was released at the wrong time just after covid without a real purpose within the range.........
650 spider would be the sensible option and unlikely to go down in value currently.
I have posted elsewhere about the GT and they do represent great value V anything else in the range, but they are unloved due to Mclaren trying to make them a Bentley and some horrendous interiors in the early cars, and questionable exterior paint colours.
I think in the right colour (Black / Black seems to work well) they can look great, probably needs lowering by 25mm as well.
But as said above will be difficult to sell on in 2 years ......... buy cheap and sell cheap may work.
I have posted elsewhere about the GT and they do represent great value V anything else in the range, but they are unloved due to Mclaren trying to make them a Bentley and some horrendous interiors in the early cars, and questionable exterior paint colours.
I think in the right colour (Black / Black seems to work well) they can look great, probably needs lowering by 25mm as well.
But as said above will be difficult to sell on in 2 years ......... buy cheap and sell cheap may work.
A GT would be my preference. Only slightly more expensive than the 570GT and far more practical and modern. And I actually like the looks.
But I'm not serial supercar owner, so it would/will be a special purchase. Value for money and useability on paper are good, and driving and performance is so far ahead of anything else we've owned that it would be a long time before we found it dull or bland.
There is some snobbery about them as "not a proper supercar" which puts people off who care about what others think, but that also means come resale time they have a smaller market, which is one reason they're so cheap.
Just think how unpopular they'd be if they'd really made it properly usable and done something stupid like a central driver's seat and 2 rear ones - people would be slating them as a ridiculously compromised design.
But I'm not serial supercar owner, so it would/will be a special purchase. Value for money and useability on paper are good, and driving and performance is so far ahead of anything else we've owned that it would be a long time before we found it dull or bland.
There is some snobbery about them as "not a proper supercar" which puts people off who care about what others think, but that also means come resale time they have a smaller market, which is one reason they're so cheap.
Just think how unpopular they'd be if they'd really made it properly usable and done something stupid like a central driver's seat and 2 rear ones - people would be slating them as a ridiculously compromised design.
TISPKJ said:
But as said above will be difficult to sell on in 2 years ......... buy cheap and sell cheap may work.
Yes, this is my worry really. On paper, it seems the ideal model for my intended use. I am going into it with my eyes open and am prepared for some level of depreciation, but I wouldn’t want to be stuck with a car once I have decided to sell it, and lose £25k in the process if there is a limited market for them.As you say, in terms of depreciation, a 650s spider seems the sensible option.
ex-devonpaul said:
But I'm not serial supercar owner, so it would/will be a special purchase. Value for money and useability on paper are good, and driving and performance is so far ahead of anything else we've owned that it would be a long time before we found it dull or bland.
There is some snobbery about them as "not a proper supercar" which puts people off who care about what others think, but that also means come resale time they have a smaller market, which is one reason they're so cheap.
I am in a similar position. It will be a special purchase and, with 620hp, I don’t think I would ever get used to the performance in reality. I think they look really good, front end aside, I like the interior, and none of the usual worries about scraping over speed bumps etc, even though most will have lift.There is some snobbery about them as "not a proper supercar" which puts people off who care about what others think, but that also means come resale time they have a smaller market, which is one reason they're so cheap.
I have a Tuscan too so i have been used to people telling me that they’re not very good and will break, but I couldn’t care less. 15 years in and it’s been very reliable.
It’s a nice decision to make, but not one that I want to get wrong.
I think there's a general (but far from universal) consensus that the 570GT is one of the best looking McLarens, and the GT not so much. And that affects demand for these sorts of cars.
The other thing is that almost any McLaren coupe has adequate luggage space for eg European touring, and is reasonably comfortable. So the GT doesn't exactly have a clearly distinct purpose (I guess it has a bit less road noise due to more sound insulation). BTW it's a Sports Series car, the chassis/cabin architecture is the same as the 570, just with the 4.0 engine.
As a general rule a slightly older car will hold a bit more value, as will a more performance-focused one.
I think if you like the look of the GT, if you want something a bit softer/quieter for long journeys, if you want a newer car and are happy to accept a little more depreciation with that, then there's no reason not to - it doesn't have square wheels or anything.
It's just a trade-off against the slightly older, more overtly sporting models which are around the same point in the marketplace.
samoht said:
The other thing is that almost any McLaren coupe has adequate luggage space for eg European touring, and is reasonably comfortable. So the GT doesn't exactly have a clearly distinct purpose (I guess it has a bit less road noise due to more sound insulation).
That's always been my view - McLarens are entirely useable as a GT - my 650 Spider is one of the most comfortable cars I've owned and I have no issue at all doing long distances in it. Also, don't rule out the Spider based on luggage capacity - if you run out of space you can use the roof compartment and essentially use it as a coupe on those rare occasions, although we find the front luggage compartment adequate.
davek_964 said:
samoht said:
The other thing is that almost any McLaren coupe has adequate luggage space for eg European touring, and is reasonably comfortable. So the GT doesn't exactly have a clearly distinct purpose (I guess it has a bit less road noise due to more sound insulation).
That's always been my view - McLarens are entirely useable as a GT - my 650 Spider is one of the most comfortable cars I've owned and I have no issue at all doing long distances in it. Also, don't rule out the Spider based on luggage capacity - if you run out of space you can use the roof compartment and essentially use it as a coupe on those rare occasions, although we find the front luggage compartment adequate.
My wife struggles with the Z4 Coupe for touring, the Gransport was fine with the rear seats. I get away with a 20kg suitcase when we fly, but most mornings start with "I wish I'd packed..."
Consequently the ability to lie a suit/frock hanger flat somewhere is highly desirable.
Some friends have come to visit for 4 days - they've brought their Discovery Sport as they couldn't fit everything in their Jag XF. And they left the dog with their son!
TISPKJ said:
Its not its based on the 720 tub with the IMO cheaper sports series dash and detuned engine.
GT tub:570S tub:
720S tub:
The most obvious difference is the roof; the 720S has a central spine allowing for its GT40-like cutaway doors to take some of the roof with them for easier entry and exit. The 570, by contrast, has a conventional roof with normal cant rails and a single central roof panel. The GT is like the 570 in this regard.
The GT doors also open like the 570, both fanning out wider than the 720s.
Less obviously, note the area at the base of the A-pillar on the inside, where it meets the scuttle. The GT and 570 have the A-pillars as separate pieces, jointed onto the tub; on the 720S the A-pillar flows into the tub with a continuous carbon-fibre surface.
Away from the tub itself, the GT has conventional springs with adaptive dampers, like the rest of the Sports Series; the 720S has ProActive cross-linked hydropneumatic suspension, like the 650S and DS before it.
Now, as we know all these models are fairly closely related to one another, so it's not entirely incorrect to describe the GT as related to the 720S. But from all I can see, it looks like a closer relative of the Sports Series, from suspension to door opening to the whole interior.
just building on those comments which I believe are 100% correct, the 720 tub (specifically lower half) is P11 so as per 12C and 650S, 675, P1 with a fairly high sill level at the A Post.
The 570 / 570GT / GT / GTS are P13 platform and have a lower sill level at the A Post.
The 720 scores over the early P11 cars with the door arrangement ((Coupe Only) OK or Spyder with the roof down) giving greater headroom to make access easier.
The P13 is easier to access than early P11's due to the lower sill.
I have to say luggage space on the 650S is passable, but only just.
Aesthetically, the GT / GTS are very good to my eye, the proper side intake vents and headlights look well and the storage is the best of any Woking product.
The 570 / 570GT / GT / GTS are P13 platform and have a lower sill level at the A Post.
The 720 scores over the early P11 cars with the door arrangement ((Coupe Only) OK or Spyder with the roof down) giving greater headroom to make access easier.
The P13 is easier to access than early P11's due to the lower sill.
I have to say luggage space on the 650S is passable, but only just.
Aesthetically, the GT / GTS are very good to my eye, the proper side intake vents and headlights look well and the storage is the best of any Woking product.
Ok so just correcting myself here, maybe its more like the 720 spider base / tub.
I was told by one of the respected McLaren service guys that a GT is basically a 720 underneath (obviously no active aero or suspension and steel brakes as std).
Wikipedia also confirms 720 "underpinnings".
I have not spent much if any time looking round the sports series range but are they not physically smaller (or is that just externally)
I was told by one of the respected McLaren service guys that a GT is basically a 720 underneath (obviously no active aero or suspension and steel brakes as std).
Wikipedia also confirms 720 "underpinnings".
I have not spent much if any time looking round the sports series range but are they not physically smaller (or is that just externally)
Edited by TISPKJ on Tuesday 18th November 08:03
They are all based on the "Monocell 2" carbon tub.
They just have different windscreen surrounds, pillars, roof structures and rear deck assembly's bonded on with structural adhesive in the body assembly phase of production to make them into whichever model is being produced.
The Sports series uses aluminium parts and the Super series has carbon fibre parts.
Obviously all the ancillarys, brakes, suspension systems and tune of the engine then all vary also model to model and this is realistically what makes them different.
They just have different windscreen surrounds, pillars, roof structures and rear deck assembly's bonded on with structural adhesive in the body assembly phase of production to make them into whichever model is being produced.
The Sports series uses aluminium parts and the Super series has carbon fibre parts.
Obviously all the ancillarys, brakes, suspension systems and tune of the engine then all vary also model to model and this is realistically what makes them different.
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