McLaren MP4 12C Customer Days
Discussion
Toddled along to one of these at the factory. Good presentations, great to see the factory and cars on display BUT the new car seems souless to me - admittedly I haven't driven it! Looks more like I'd expect a Honda supercar to look than (say) a Ferrari/Lambo etc. Must be the first of these types of days of been on were there didn't seem to be an audible buzz of excitement when the car was revealed in the metal.
I appreciate that this isn't quite the right Forum but seemed the nearest to it.
Anyone else been?
I appreciate that this isn't quite the right Forum but seemed the nearest to it.
Anyone else been?
I went.
Have to say I was as impressed as I expected to be by the car.
Having been to the factory before I was aware of their attention to detail and the thought that goes into focussing the car around the driver.
I find the styling classical rather than exciting, almost understated in fact. I rather like the fact it's not trying too hard to be visually stunning at the expense of being a brilliant drive.
I think the styling will age well rather than date quickly (which i think will happen to the 458)
when the Macca F1 was launched it was said to look boring. 20 years on it's a classicly beautiful car. I think the same is true of the MP4 12c (terrible name though!)
Have to say I was as impressed as I expected to be by the car.
Having been to the factory before I was aware of their attention to detail and the thought that goes into focussing the car around the driver.
I find the styling classical rather than exciting, almost understated in fact. I rather like the fact it's not trying too hard to be visually stunning at the expense of being a brilliant drive.
I think the styling will age well rather than date quickly (which i think will happen to the 458)
when the Macca F1 was launched it was said to look boring. 20 years on it's a classicly beautiful car. I think the same is true of the MP4 12c (terrible name though!)
Harsh said:
I went.
Have to say I was as impressed as I expected to be by the car.
Having been to the factory before I was aware of their attention to detail and the thought that goes into focussing the car around the driver.
I find the styling classical rather than exciting, almost understated in fact. I rather like the fact it's not trying too hard to be visually stunning at the expense of being a brilliant drive.
I think the styling will age well rather than date quickly (which i think will happen to the 458)
when the Macca F1 was launched it was said to look boring. 20 years on it's a classicly beautiful car. I think the same is true of the MP4 12c (terrible name though!)
I'd go along with all of that and have no doubt it will be stunning to drive. But, will it be one of those cars that you get out of proclaiming it's 'better' than (say) the latest Ferrari only to then turn round and buy the, (possibly) more flawed but more characterful Ferrari. Will opening the garage and seeing the Macca parked there give you that buzz - which, to me at least, is a vital part of owning cars of this ilk.Have to say I was as impressed as I expected to be by the car.
Having been to the factory before I was aware of their attention to detail and the thought that goes into focussing the car around the driver.
I find the styling classical rather than exciting, almost understated in fact. I rather like the fact it's not trying too hard to be visually stunning at the expense of being a brilliant drive.
I think the styling will age well rather than date quickly (which i think will happen to the 458)
when the Macca F1 was launched it was said to look boring. 20 years on it's a classicly beautiful car. I think the same is true of the MP4 12c (terrible name though!)
Ah well, all ifs and buts. Looking forward to finding out that's for sure.
Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 14th July 14:57
I went down last week, whilst I felt the look of the car did not have the buzz of the 458, I love the technical details. The interior design, hydraulic suspension, door opening etc all have a real appeal. Whilst it may not be a head turner in the way the italians are it is sure to be a great "ownership" experience.
In some ways it is probably a bit like the Jaguar XKR / Aston Vantage / DB9 comparison. Whilst the Jag is (IMO) the better car, every time you drive it you will always have the nagging doubt that you should have bought an Aston.
In some ways it is probably a bit like the Jaguar XKR / Aston Vantage / DB9 comparison. Whilst the Jag is (IMO) the better car, every time you drive it you will always have the nagging doubt that you should have bought an Aston.
I wasn't going to bother posting/sharing this up on a particular thread. But i will add my MP4 12C story to this thread if the OP doesn't mind. If you do let me know and i will delete.
Coming back from the Classic le mans this last Sunday. I was parked up in the Euro tunnel car park. While waiting for my train number to come up, my son and i noticed another sports car come into the car park. For about 5 minutes we were looking at it from a distance because we thought it was maybe an ascari type thing. Then my son thought he identified the little red crest on the nose so he went to investigate further. It was indeed the new Maclaren MP4 12C. Funny thing is that only the weekend before i saw Lewis Hamilton take one up the hill at Goodwood
While we were looking at the MP4 the drivers came back to it and were very friendly and answered our questions. As it happened this particular car was one of the 20 prototypes currently out there for testing. This one had just come back from Spain after heat/temperature testing. It was covered in aircraft type heat measurement strips. they said the car preformed very good.
Anyways, 10 minutes later my train number came up and i said my goodbyes and returned to my Ferrari. While i was on the train a while later to my surprise the MP4 pulled up behind me. I called over and said "so Ferrari crosses the line before Maclaren ey"
Then the same friendly guys from the car park became cagey with me, especially when i asked there opinion of the new 458 compared to the MP4. They said they had tested the two cars side by side, and the MP4 ran rings around the F458. They were being quite arrogant about it. I tell them that i did pick up on there change in tone towards me because they now knew i was a ferrari owner. I explained to them them that i was a petrol head and be it a ferrari, lambo or Porsche i did not care.
They seemed to realise that they were being cagey to the wrong man and began to warm up again. They explained that for all they knew i could have worked for Ferrari I mean come on....the 355 spider is 15 years old now so why the insecurities?
I continued to suggest that Maclaren should not alienate ferrari owners (among others)because it was clear that the new Maclaren was aimed at potential ferrari 458 owners. We continued to talk about F1 and how Lewis Hamilton was our faverate driver
We again all agreed and to cut a long story short, we were all ok again
A funny side bit to our journey over on the train. A mini bus full of French teenagers walked past both cars and Woolf whistled the Ferrari 355 spider. Then on the way back four of the teenagers asked me if they could make pictures of my car. I let them willingly, and even let them sit in the car while they had there pictures taken. I did point out to them in my broken french that the car behind was the new Maclaren, that passed straight over there heads
The drivers faces of the maclaren drivers said it all LOL!!
As we left the train and we said our goodbyes they would not bite on the motorway. they just tootled of.
An interesting encounter that day
Coming back from the Classic le mans this last Sunday. I was parked up in the Euro tunnel car park. While waiting for my train number to come up, my son and i noticed another sports car come into the car park. For about 5 minutes we were looking at it from a distance because we thought it was maybe an ascari type thing. Then my son thought he identified the little red crest on the nose so he went to investigate further. It was indeed the new Maclaren MP4 12C. Funny thing is that only the weekend before i saw Lewis Hamilton take one up the hill at Goodwood
While we were looking at the MP4 the drivers came back to it and were very friendly and answered our questions. As it happened this particular car was one of the 20 prototypes currently out there for testing. This one had just come back from Spain after heat/temperature testing. It was covered in aircraft type heat measurement strips. they said the car preformed very good.
Anyways, 10 minutes later my train number came up and i said my goodbyes and returned to my Ferrari. While i was on the train a while later to my surprise the MP4 pulled up behind me. I called over and said "so Ferrari crosses the line before Maclaren ey"
Then the same friendly guys from the car park became cagey with me, especially when i asked there opinion of the new 458 compared to the MP4. They said they had tested the two cars side by side, and the MP4 ran rings around the F458. They were being quite arrogant about it. I tell them that i did pick up on there change in tone towards me because they now knew i was a ferrari owner. I explained to them them that i was a petrol head and be it a ferrari, lambo or Porsche i did not care.They seemed to realise that they were being cagey to the wrong man and began to warm up again. They explained that for all they knew i could have worked for Ferrari
I mean come on....the 355 spider is 15 years old now so why the insecurities?I continued to suggest that Maclaren should not alienate ferrari owners (among others)because it was clear that the new Maclaren was aimed at potential ferrari 458 owners. We continued to talk about F1 and how Lewis Hamilton was our faverate driver
We again all agreed and to cut a long story short, we were all ok again A funny side bit to our journey over on the train. A mini bus full of French teenagers walked past both cars and Woolf whistled the Ferrari 355 spider. Then on the way back four of the teenagers asked me if they could make pictures of my car. I let them willingly, and even let them sit in the car while they had there pictures taken. I did point out to them in my broken french that the car behind was the new Maclaren, that passed straight over there heads
The drivers faces of the maclaren drivers said it all LOL!!
As we left the train and we said our goodbyes they would not bite on the motorway. they just tootled of.
An interesting encounter that day
Ferrari Spider. Interesting and amusing post. McLaren wheeled out some fairly senior bods to give us various talks at the factory and there is now doubt that they're all real enthusiasts and live and breath the car. To me though it's more to the AudiR8 end of the excitement scale than the Ferrari end (ie not very). I love all it's tech and detail side very much but, currently, my heart isn't screaming "I want one". I guess that may change when I drive it.
had a good look at the MP4 at Goodwood and at a factory visit last week. In a similar vein, really wanted to be blown away by the styling as much as the technical abilities. In my profession, I always advocate that form must follow function, but, it's still importnat to make the form create desire, and that's not happened yet. Maybe when have an opportunity to drive it, will not give two monkeys about what it looks like.
Slightly o/t was very impressed with the Mclaren technical centre, and loved how there seemed to be old f1 cars filling any available space as if they had too many to display. Old bits of slver in the cabinets weren't too bad either!
Slightly o/t was very impressed with the Mclaren technical centre, and loved how there seemed to be old f1 cars filling any available space as if they had too many to display. Old bits of slver in the cabinets weren't too bad either!
I like the styling, it’s grown up and less shouty, I think that it will appear to a certain type of buyer.
Too many 40 something’s get tagged with the mid life crises label when seen driving around in a red Ferrari.
I know its not relevant but I would be interested in what women think about this car and what it would say to them about its owner compared to the same guy in a 458
Too many 40 something’s get tagged with the mid life crises label when seen driving around in a red Ferrari.
I know its not relevant but I would be interested in what women think about this car and what it would say to them about its owner compared to the same guy in a 458
Edited by Streetrod on Wednesday 14th July 19:24
Streetrod said:
I like the styling, it’s grown up and less shouty, I think that it will appear to a certain type of buyer.
Too many 40 something’s get tagged with the mid life crises label when seen driving around in a red Ferrari.
I know its not relevant but I would be interested in what women think about this car and what it would say to them about its owner compared to the same guy in a 458
My g/f's quote was "it's a bit anonymous isn't it" She thinks Lambos are "all mouth and trousers" but loves Fezzas - as long as they're red. A woman of excellent taste - but then I would say that. Oh and she can put my Radical round the track quick enough for a mid grid position but thinks actual racing is "pointless". Hey ho.Too many 40 something’s get tagged with the mid life crises label when seen driving around in a red Ferrari.
I know its not relevant but I would be interested in what women think about this car and what it would say to them about its owner compared to the same guy in a 458
Edited by Streetrod on Wednesday 14th July 19:24
Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 14th July 20:03
Hmm love the arse on that in black. I agree the styling is a bit iffy but mainly I think all the months and years of seeing it but hardly anybody driving it is doing this car no favours. You want to see it, be able to buy it, and drive it in a short space of time to get the excitement up. This has been "out" so long now it's almost old news?!
My wife thinks it's a bit av too. She much prefers the 458 and typically prefers the Cali over all of them.
My wife thinks it's a bit av too. She much prefers the 458 and typically prefers the Cali over all of them.
Just to add my thoughts on the project.
McLaren MP4-12c at Festival of Speed.
Wasn't overly impressed with my first sighting of the car at FOS.
Watched it up the hill through the straight beyond Malcolm on Friday and it seemed to be porpoising over the bumps a bit too much.
On Saturday, with Lewis driving, it was misfiring badly up to the bridge!
Looked a little better on Sunday - but then I only saw it on the downward run AND I'm certainly not keen on that orange colour scheme!
Very little noise either - the perennial problem with all turbo engines, of course.
However, following avisit to McLaren's Technological Centre in Woking recently, the car seems to have fully redeemed itself.
It is a technically brilliant piece of kit. The silver and black version on display was stunning. The factory building in which the prototypes are assembled was spotlessly clean and the small team there were going about their business in unruffled and uncluttered fashion. A new factory for production cars is currently under construction and is scheduled to be finished early next year. All the staff were very enthusiastic and helpful.
The cabin is fantastic - probably the best I have sat in, but gaining access is quite difficult for we, less gymnastic, types and this may rule out the car for several.
Clearly the proof of the pudding will be in the driving - so it remains to be seen how well it performs in the real world, but knowing McLaren a bit now, I'm sure it'll be right on the button (!) so to speak.
AND
The porpoising?- all to do with the first driver's suspension settings.
The misfire? - Lewis wanted all aids switched off so he could do some showboating. The engine was therefore placed into dyno. mapping - but nobody told traction control!
Noise? - an Inconel sports exhaust is now available.
This is still work in progress of course!
Can't wait to drive one.
Regards,
Clive
McLaren MP4-12c at Festival of Speed.
Wasn't overly impressed with my first sighting of the car at FOS.
Watched it up the hill through the straight beyond Malcolm on Friday and it seemed to be porpoising over the bumps a bit too much.
On Saturday, with Lewis driving, it was misfiring badly up to the bridge!
Looked a little better on Sunday - but then I only saw it on the downward run AND I'm certainly not keen on that orange colour scheme!
Very little noise either - the perennial problem with all turbo engines, of course.
However, following avisit to McLaren's Technological Centre in Woking recently, the car seems to have fully redeemed itself.
It is a technically brilliant piece of kit. The silver and black version on display was stunning. The factory building in which the prototypes are assembled was spotlessly clean and the small team there were going about their business in unruffled and uncluttered fashion. A new factory for production cars is currently under construction and is scheduled to be finished early next year. All the staff were very enthusiastic and helpful.
The cabin is fantastic - probably the best I have sat in, but gaining access is quite difficult for we, less gymnastic, types and this may rule out the car for several.
Clearly the proof of the pudding will be in the driving - so it remains to be seen how well it performs in the real world, but knowing McLaren a bit now, I'm sure it'll be right on the button (!) so to speak.
AND
The porpoising?- all to do with the first driver's suspension settings.
The misfire? - Lewis wanted all aids switched off so he could do some showboating. The engine was therefore placed into dyno. mapping - but nobody told traction control!
Noise? - an Inconel sports exhaust is now available.
This is still work in progress of course!
Can't wait to drive one.
Regards,
Clive
Lancerlot said:
On Saturday, with Lewis driving, it was misfiring badly up to the bridge!
The misfire? - Lewis wanted all aids switched off so he could do some showboating.
Looked a little better on Sunday -
Correction, Jenson Button drove it up the hill on Saturday The misfire? - Lewis wanted all aids switched off so he could do some showboating.
Looked a little better on Sunday -
So it misfired while jenson was driving.Lewis Hamilton drove it on the Sunday, so as you said, it looked better on the Sunday
I went to the same event, though a different time slot as we didn't get to see the blue or silver cars. I think we will all have to agree to disagree on the styling; that's a very subjective and personal decision. For me, didn't look quite right in orange but the photo of the silver car was more interesting so it seems to be very colour sensitive. Some of the external detailing / panel placement also struck me as a bit unresolved and needing more work.
The mood of my group was not at all a sense of wow, much more a meh, 's'ok I guess.
But their big big problem is on the inside. The cabin's simply just not good enough compared to the competition. They're explicitly pitching against 458 / 911T / Gallardo and the cabin fit, finish, and detail is more like a base spec VW with some alcantara and shagpile stretched over it. I know these are only the prototypes so there's more work to do, but they're deemed finished enough to show to prospects.
For me, there's always been a sense of "oh yes, you will be mine" when I've seen a high end car which I have eventually bought. That sense was completely absent for the MP4, and I can't see myself getting one.
The mood of my group was not at all a sense of wow, much more a meh, 's'ok I guess.
But their big big problem is on the inside. The cabin's simply just not good enough compared to the competition. They're explicitly pitching against 458 / 911T / Gallardo and the cabin fit, finish, and detail is more like a base spec VW with some alcantara and shagpile stretched over it. I know these are only the prototypes so there's more work to do, but they're deemed finished enough to show to prospects.
For me, there's always been a sense of "oh yes, you will be mine" when I've seen a high end car which I have eventually bought. That sense was completely absent for the MP4, and I can't see myself getting one.
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