RE: Chris Harris video: McLaren MP4-12C

[RichB]

Gene Vincent said:

I have text'd a mate the picture, about an hour ago, reply?.. "I'd dress up as a nun and let the pope fk me for that!"

Confirms what I thought about Ferrari types

[Gorbyrev]

Davey S2 said:

Gorbyrev said:

Though the MP4-12C costs, near as makes no difference, the same as a 458 Italia does not mean it is a direct competitor. Sales figures for the MP4 clearly illustrate that there is a market for a car as flexible as this. The 458 is, perhaps, the more focused blat day companion, a weekend car. The MP4 is more than that.

Whilst I've unfortunately not driven either car I dont agree that they arent direct competitors. In fact I cant think of 2 other cars that arent such direct competitors since the early Impreza and Evo.

That is a fair point but I wonder if it might actually prove what I am saying. On one level they are both 2.0l turbo jap saloons with hairy performance and 4wd. But they are quite different in execution. I have a neighbour with an Evo VI with 17,000 on the clock, he has had it from new. The 4500 mile service intervals, the pin sharp steering, its appetite for tyres all mean it is an occasional driver (that and and the S8 he has on the drive!) but the guys I know with Skoobs use them everyday. Though on one level they were competing for the same customers for similar money, on another their difference in approach meant one lot are doing the weekly shop in their Impreza (another neighbour on his 5th or 6th STi) whilst the Evo is a more challenging daily companion, coming out on special occasions.

[Davey S2]

Gorbyrev said:

Davey S2 said:

Gorbyrev said:

Though the MP4-12C costs, near as makes no difference, the same as a 458 Italia does not mean it is a direct competitor. Sales figures for the MP4 clearly illustrate that there is a market for a car as flexible as this. The 458 is, perhaps, the more focused blat day companion, a weekend car. The MP4 is more than that.

Whilst I've unfortunately not driven either car I dont agree that they arent direct competitors. In fact I cant think of 2 other cars that arent such direct competitors since the early Impreza and Evo.

That is a fair point but I wonder if it might actually prove what I am saying. On one level they are both 2.0l turbo jap saloons with hairy performance and 4wd. But they are quite different in execution. I have a neighbour with an Evo VI with 17,000 on the clock, he has had it from new. The 4500 mile service intervals, the pin sharp steering, its appetite for tyres all mean it is an occasional driver (that and and the S8 he has on the drive!) but the guys I know with Skoobs use them everyday. Though on one level they were competing for the same customers for similar money, on another their difference in approach meant one lot are doing the weekly shop in their Impreza (another neighbour on his 5th or 6th STi) whilst the Evo is a more challenging daily companion, coming out on special occasions.

But if you were in the market for a fast 4 door jap turbo you would have had a short list of these two.

[MGJohn]

Zo, come early March, who will cross the line first down under? The McLaren or the Ferrari ... ?

Maybe only behind that young German chap in his fast can of a soft drink ...

Money where your mouth is time fast approaches ...

I'll still take the McL... or possibly the ...
.

[E39sandy]

Another great video Chris so much better than those baffoons on Top Gear you are a natural on the screen more videos please.

[alexpa]

Yes please

[Justices]

mollymoo said:

..frankly I'd feel like a bit of a tit stepping out of a 458 in Sainsbury's car park but the Macca is nicely understated.

Bar the 12's fancy doors of course.

[Dr Imran T]

A bit late I know.. Great video that, some nice shots and good commentary. Keep up the good work

[toppstuff]

I think the simple fact for many people ( at least me anyway, but I don't think I am alone in feeling this ) is that , to be honest, while I have experience of Ferrari and Lamborghini's ( had both 430 Scuderia and Gallardo's "borrowed" for the odd weekend ) I must admit to feeling like a bit of a tit when I am driving one. The first time I drove a 430 Spider to the local Sainsbury, I expected to feel awesome but actually felt a bit embarrassed.

The McLaren does not have the same effect.

And girls would like it more I am sure. I find the kind of women I like, do NOT go for the kind of people who want a (usually red) Ferrari. But the McLaren is fine.

Go figure.

Bottom line - the McLaren is the supercar for people who do not want to look like a tit.

It is'nt scientific, it is entirely subjective I know, and no doubt plenty of people simply would not understand it. But there it is..

[jimslops]

toppstuff said:

I think the simple fact for many people ( at least me anyway, but I don't think I am alone in feeling this ) is that , to be honest, while I have experience of Ferrari and Lamborghini's ( had both 430 Scuderia and Gallardo's "borrowed" for the odd weekend ) I must admit to feeling like a bit of a tit when I am driving one. The first time I drove a 430 Spider to the local Sainsbury, I expected to feel awesome but actually felt a bit embarrassed.

The McLaren does not have the same effect.

And girls would like it more I am sure. I find the kind of women I like, do NOT go for the kind of people who want a (usually red) Ferrari. But the McLaren is fine.

Go figure.

Bottom line - the McLaren is the supercar for people who do not want to look like a tit.

It is'nt scientific, it is entirely subjective I know, and no doubt plenty of people simply would not understand it. But there it is..

What cars do women you like go for? Scanias?
I don't know what there is to be embarrassed about with driving a ferrari...

Edited by jimslops on Monday 27th February 12:37

[juansolo]

toppstuff said:

The first time I drove a 430 Spider to the local Sainsbury, I expected to feel awesome but actually felt a bit embarrassed.

You're embarrased by what you percieve other people will think about you in a Ferrari? You need to develop a thicker skin and enjoy it for what it is. If we all thought this way we'd all drive anonymous generic saloons. Where's the fun in that? The UK seems to be increasingly full of aholes. It's best to ignore them and focus on enjoying yourself instead.

[Gene Vincent]

juansolo said:

toppstuff said:

The first time I drove a 430 Spider to the local Sainsbury, I expected to feel awesome but actually felt a bit embarrassed.

You're embarrased by what you percieve other people will think about you in a Ferrari? You need to develop a thicker skin and enjoy it for what it is. If we all thought this way we'd all drive anonymous generic saloons. Where's the fun in that? The UK seems to be increasingly full of aholes. It's best to ignore them and focus on enjoying yourself instead.

Perhaps his toupe slipped!

[Diamond blue]

toppstuff said:

I think the simple fact for many people ( at least me anyway, but I don't think I am alone in feeling this ) is that , to be honest, while I have experience of Ferrari and Lamborghini's ( had both 430 Scuderia and Gallardo's "borrowed" for the odd weekend ) I must admit to feeling like a bit of a tit when I am driving one. The first time I drove a 430 Spider to the local Sainsbury, I expected to feel awesome but actually felt a bit embarrassed.

The McLaren does not have the same effect.

And girls would like it more I am sure. I find the kind of women I like, do NOT go for the kind of people who want a (usually red) Ferrari. But the McLaren is fine.

Go figure.

Bottom line - the McLaren is the supercar for people who do not want to look like a tit.

It is'nt scientific, it is entirely subjective I know, and no doubt plenty of people simply would not understand it. But there it is..

+1
This is exactly how I find the experience of owning and driving one.
Its too much of a show sometimes.
There's a place for something that is as special but not so shouty.Like the Mac.

[Munich]

D200 said:

Well before you make accusations about Ferrari ‘cheating’ you should have read up on this. McLaren had more engineers on setting up the car and were actually worse than Ferrari in these tests according to the mags!

OK, but then we must read different magazines. It is known that Ferrari have gone to extraordinary lengths in the past to get the results they want, but all I've read about McLaren in this respect (in Car or Evo) is that when they tested the McLaren, McLaren simply handed them a car and that was that. Maybe McLaren got their fingers burnt with this open approach and have changed their policy. Maybe McLaren have banned journalists from driving non-McLaren press cars? Maybe in all the design information McLaren "obtained" from Ferrari there was an additional piece of paper listing all the points on how one should let the press test ones road cars which McLaren didn't fully understand until after they launched the MP4-12C. Who knows?

D200 said:

And why on earth would you think McLaren would never cheat? Sure they were caught red handed cheating in F1 stealing Ferrari designs that won Lewis Hamilton his F1 title

but Ferrari aren't exactly angels in this respect either

[PiB]

wolves_wanderer said:

SonnyM said:

A review of Mr Harris' review:

http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/mclaren-mp4-12c-r...

My review of the review of Harris' review: Pointless.

I will say Harris didn't cover the more pedestrian aspects of the car like boot space, seat adjustment, owners manual, etc - which I actually find very interesting to learn about on super cars. I've been eager to learn more about the cars telemetry to the factory.

[ANDYCLAX]

PiB said:

I will say Harris didn't cover the more pedestrian aspects of the car like boot space, seat adjustment, owners manual, etc - which I actually find very interesting to learn about on super cars. I've been eager to learn more about the cars telemetry to the factory.

more boot space than a 997 tt,very good ajustable seats,many say they are as comfortable as any they have sat in.The Manual is leather bound and not designed to be kept in the car,as there is a lightweight one with all the essentials in it that clips under the passenger console.This is because there is no glovebox there as the cowl is so low to take the enormous windshield and only has room for the airbag.
As for the telemetry,this is not in operation at the moment as its linked to the IRIS (SATNAV)which is not ready till spring,due to last years japanese sunami

[ram17]

Great video for likewise a great car............like many others good job and keep em coming. Keep the shiny side up

[PiB]

ANDYCLAX said:

more boot space than a 997 tt,very good ajustable seats,many say they are as comfortable as any they have sat in.The Manual is leather bound and not designed to be kept in the car,as there is a lightweight one with all the essentials in it that clips under the passenger console.This is because there is no glovebox there as the cowl is so low to take the enormous windshield and only has room for the airbag.
As for the telemetry,this is not in operation at the moment as its linked to the IRIS (SATNAV)which is not ready till spring,due to last years japanese sunami

That's awesome! Thanks!

I like the lightweight onboard manual with just what you need it sounds - like what you get on an airplane or something.

It's with these other less obvious features in cars which I think one can tell a lot more about the spirit behind their design. My 993 p-car has peculiarities in the manual and dashboard layout I was not expecting. Sort of reflects an era and a way of thinking at the time.