570S Spider - looking to buy

[djwhittaker14]

Morning, I'm looking to get into McLaren ownership and am set on a sports series car. Has anyone viewed, had a PPI or previously owned this linked vehicle:
https://thesupercarrooms.co.uk/supercar/26283/

I love the spec and am aware of the common pitfalls (paint corrosion, door hinges, minor electrical issues such as windows not raising on door closure and battery not correctly looked after).

Concerns with this particular one are low mileage (seals and other issues as a result) and some service history gaps (no service for first 3 years but only covered 400miles). Any help appreciated.

[TTB]

Looks a nice car, launch editions were generally nicely specced and the alcantara is so much better than the leather interior IMHO.
I'd get it independently inspected - They're in Worcs so Litchfield in Tewkesbury would be a good start or Mc Brum/Thorney. Litchfirld inspected my LE 570 and found a couple of small issues such as a weeping shock and a bush on one of the suspension arms that were sorted prior to me buying it.

I'd not be too worried about the initial service as looks like it's been purchased and stored the first few years and some decent miles after that. Do you know which dealers did the servicing - might be worth a call to them with the reg and ask them what else was done? Any warranty claims over the periods in question?

[Honeywell]

I looked at it today. Seems a very nice example to me and I liked the colour more in person than I expected. Tasteful spec level. I am tempted. Very nice dealer, gave me 2 hours of time showing me their impressive stock/storage inventory. Gave me very good customer service vibes. It's on quite old tyres is about my only gripe. I'd like it but I am just a bit under researched under confident on pricing.

Edited by Honeywell on Wednesday 30th September 19:02

[djwhittaker14]

Thanks for the reply and the photos. Assuming you haven't organised or had a PPI done yet? What did the brake discs, door hinges and paint look like around the wheel arches and shut lines (any bubbling/corrosion). Was there any movement on the price (please PM me if you can). I am probably going to wait until February/March now as if I buy now it will just be sitting in the garage over winter. If this was 5k less though I could be tempted out of that idea.

[Chrisatronic]

Orange is very desirable so I'd say it's priced about right with those miles. The fact its sat unused for 4 years (the first ones aswell?) is super weird, but it's been used since so wouldn't necessarily make it 'bad'.

I would say it's priced right IF it's sorted. Without a proper inspection it could well have many thousands of issues you just can't pick up as a regular Joe on a show floor. It only takes a couple shocks/hinge/bush etc. and you've got a big old bill, get it inspected.

[Honeywell]

It's got a tiny bit of corrosion on both doors at the bottom forward corner but its going in for paint to sort that tomorrow.

The dealer has a large workshop handling multi million pound super cars so it comes with their inspection and six month warranty - its kind of been effectively inspected and sorted prior to purchase. It is on SOR. I was impressed with the set up and it was the main owner who spent two hours with me as a new walk in customer and I am not doubting they deliver a quality product. It's probably one of the cheapest things they have in inventory and as I say, I got two hours and a full tour with the boss.

Obviously I am looking at similar cars from private and dealer alternatives and they look a bit cheaper but then as we all know you can buy cheap and end up with big bills and a long time away and heartache. The car was specced by McLaren as a launch version of about 6 different specs so it's their idea of what a good sensible spec would be. I thought the Alcantara, Paint and Paladium grey bits worked beautifully. It's a a bit on the flash side but it's not garish and just opening and closing the door did make me smile.

Not sure where the market is headed with ten year old McLarens but I am reasonably confident on a ten year time horizon that this era of totally non-hybrid pre GPF fast cars will only become more scarce and hold their value fairly well. A BMW M3 with a few options is already at £100k...

Edited by Honeywell on Wednesday 30th September 19:42

[Honeywell]

I'm not sure why I'm encouraging other buyers to outbid me! But I do believe in the wisdom of crowds and often I have learned a great deal on these forums before buying other cars. I think I could be very happy with this car although I have been set on an Emira for a while. This extra stretch with the scissor doors, no roof and the V8 start up does seem to me to quite something for the extra dosh. I need to sleep on it for a few days. I do want the car primarily for driving pleasure not bling (I live in Mid Wales so have the driving roads of dreams and no traffic cops).

[Chrisatronic]

A dealer marking their own home work means nothing, genuinely. Nothing worse than handing over 100k for a new toy and sending it back a week later with a snagging list when they're suddenly not that bothered to fix things.

[Zorbathegreek]

Honeywell said:

It's got a tiny bit of corrosion on both doors at the bottom forward corner

This initially looked like a tiny bit to begin with until the bodyshop started removing loose paint. On 2nd photo you can see the paint bubbling along the leading edge of the panel (hidden part of panel). Insist that they provide photos of the repair process as evidence that it has all been repaired.



Click on this photo for a higher-res image. It will show how far the corrosion has extended along the edge of panel.

[samoht]

Chrisatronic said:

Orange is very desirable so I'd say it's priced about right with those miles.

Agree, price is mid market for a low mileage with a nice colour and decent spec (wheels, 12 speaker audio).
It looks like the right price for this car; if you wanted to spend a bit less I'd consider something with more miles.

Chrisatronic said:

A dealer marking their own home work means nothing, genuinely.

This in spades. Just because it's "been through their workshop" doesn't mean they'll necessarily have got the owner's agreement to spend ££££ replacing brake discs/pads, suspension bushes or shocks which might be 'marginal' or towards the end of their lives.
There are very few truly major problems with these cars, just lots of "little" things each with a big bill to sort, so knowing where your car is on all these things will easily outweigh the cost of arranging an independent inspection before signing on the dotted line.

Honeywell said:

Not sure where the market is headed with ten year old McLarens but I am reasonably confident on a ten year time horizon that this era of totally non-hybrid pre GPF fast cars will only become more scarce and hold their value fairly well.

Agree, the Sports Series came down a tad from 2022-23 and then settled and have been holding value for the past couple of years. I don't see the fundamental values going down; albeit cars will need maintenance to stay at the same condition, and you lose money in the dealer spread. But if you went out to buy a car just like this in three or five years time, I don't see the asking prices being that different.

Honeywell said:

I think I could be very happy with this car although I have been set on an Emira for a while. This extra stretch with the scissor doors, no roof and the V8 start up does seem to me to quite something for the extra dosh. I need to sleep on it for a few days. I do want the car primarily for driving pleasure not bling (I live in Mid Wales so have the driving roads of dreams and no traffic cops).

Engine mass is carried much lower in these with the longitudinal layout and dry sump, too. While the purchase cost and maintenance costs will be higher, it'll probably depreciate less than an Emira so TCO may not be that different.

[Smooth Smith]

I echo the above. Seems about the right price for a Spider in a good colour with those miles, and a similar price to what they were 2 years ago at a dealer. I'd definitely want a PPI from one of the specialists before spending that kind of money though, regardless of how thorough their own in house inspection is. Just not worth the risk.