RE: Driven: McLaren MP4-12C Spider

[sgq89]

vz-r_dave said:

toppstuff said:

gaucimiura said:

sgq89 said:

I'd still take the Ferrari 458 every single day of the week. The performance difference is nominal, the Ferrari is 100 times better looking in my opinion, both inside and out, and I'd look forward to getting in it. To me, this just looks like a big Lotus, pretty bland styling. Good luck to you if you have one, but doesn't move me in the slightest. Car design in general is at an all time low I feel!

Couldn't agree more. The MP4 does nothing for me. Don't know why exactly because the Mac F1 still ranks as one of the finest cars ever conceived and created. The MP4 just seems to lack soul. A car like this should move you just by looking at it. Also, I worry when you can start choosing how your car sounds from a list of three options. I know most modern supercars' exhaust notes are tuned but surely a car should sound how it sounds? A car as a PC. Upload the updates as and when. Give me a 458 every time. Or even an 355.

Nope. I have precisely the opposite view. Totally the reverse.

I would never buy a modern Ferrari. Ever. Just don't like the image. Don't the like the whole Tifosi, bella machina, rosso red with creme, pasta carbonara , ciao baby bks that goes with the brand.

McLaren every time for me. Built by no-nonsense men in a factory in Surrey. Stiff upper lip, carry on chaps, upwards and onwards.

In short, McLaren are Ron Dennis in a grey suit, or Andy Green in his RAF overalls.

Ferrari is Borat in a lime green mankini and Sheikh Abdul Muhammed in Ferrari world in Abu Dhabi. Or 14 year old boys that never grow up.

McLaren every time. No contest.


Back on topic - I must say that this is not Chris Harris' finest work. He seems to have phoned it in.

Well said that man, I like both but some of the comments from previous are clearly from those that have not driven or likely sat in either. It is a gorgeous car and its fantastic that McLaren are out there stealing some market share from the Italians.

Its incredible how you can get bashed for having an opinion around here. I am merely talking about looks and styling, for me there is literally no contest, the Ferrari wins. That doesnt mean I dream of sticking on a pair of mirrored aviators and blasting round city streets wanting everyone to look at me like most ferrari drivers do. Having an opinion on a brand as a whole is a different arguement. I agree to a degree about how Ferrari give a poor image of the potential customer, but you could say the same about Aston Martin drivers who all think they are the gentlemanly James Bond type. They're not. If we're talking about brand, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Mclaren, Lamborghini, they all have down sides. They only that don't right now are probably Jaguar and Maserati.

[DanDC5]

This has just overtaken the new Vanquish as my 1st choice of lottery win purchase.

[Ollywood]

Mike Gill said:

Don't like convertibles at the best of times and I think the coupe asthetically looks better but if it's as good as Harris says it is I do admire it!

In the rain forest that is the west country at the moment I'd save the £20k and put that towards running it and some day trips / track days surely?!

If they are right and the convertible will be more popular I wonder 20k saving in the coupe will also translate into a quicker price depreciation. Then again if the coupe is rarer car it might keep its value.

Also I thought the very early models couldn't get the power upgrade...

[andyps]

Ollywood said:

If they are right and the convertible will be more popular I wonder 20k saving in the coupe will also translate into a quicker price depreciation. Then again if the coupe is rarer car it might keep its value.

Also I thought the very early models couldn't get the power upgrade...

All reports I have seen say the power upgrade is free for all cars sold to date, some of the other upgrades won't be available as they are more hardware related.

[leeson660]

gaucimiura said:

sgq89 said:

I'd still take the Ferrari 458 every single day of the week. The performance difference is nominal, the Ferrari is 100 times better looking in my opinion, both inside and out, and I'd look forward to getting in it. To me, this just looks like a big Lotus, pretty bland styling. Good luck to you if you have one, but doesn't move me in the slightest. Car design in general is at an all time low I feel!

Couldn't agree more. The MP4 does nothing for me. Don't know why exactly because the Mac F1 still ranks as one of the finest cars ever conceived and created. The MP4 just seems to lack soul. A car like this should move you just by looking at it. Also, I worry when you can start choosing how your car sounds from a list of three options. I know most modern supercars' exhaust notes are tuned but surely a car should sound how it sounds? A car as a PC. Upload the updates as and when. Give me a 458 every time. Or even an 355.

+1 does absolutely nothing for me. Each to their own though

[Repent]

El Guapo said:

No, it's not just you.

Personally, imitation or electronically forged sound is a massive no-no. Routing actual induction noise into the cabin, largely upon us thanks to an increase in the required/evolved levels of build quality and engine refinement, gets the nod from me. Its a fine solution to a problem progress has spawned.

[Cheib]

Garlick said:

NRS said:

So McLaren aren't allowed to update their car over time (it should be great straight away), but PH is allowed to add things later,

We'll add another video next week, but don't worry as we'll be offering all this weeks viewers the chance to upgrade...at a cost.

Anything to do with the fact the Drive channel has a video of the MP4-12C Spider already this week ?

[Carl_Docklands]

jl34 said:

Fabulous car. However what crap journalism!!
Read Steve Sutcliffe report in Autocar, he manages to convey the emotions felt when experiencing this car. Chris Harris is not driving a Porsche so is incapable of putting his personal preferences aside for the benefit of us less fortunate readers

Check the long(ish) video Chris Harris did on the Mp4-12C coupe, this review is more about what is different between that car and this rather than, a full review.

An operatic version of Ave Maria plays at the end, if that is not enough emotion for you then well, you might as well give up driving now and get a bicycle.

For those who feel the Mp4-12C does not sound good, check the first 25 seconds of this video, it pricks the hairs on my neck every time i load it up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KizbiSkTAo

Edited by Carl_Docklands on Monday 22 October 19:29

[GALLARDOGUY]

This or an aventador in 18 months time will be my next car.

[murraynt]

Looks even better than the original imo.

Is there any where i could get this picture in a higher res for my desktop?

[anonymous-user]

Carl_Docklands said:

For those who feel the Mp4-12C does not sound good, check the first 25 seconds of this video, it pricks the hairs on my neck every time i load it up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KizbiSkTAo

Edited by Carl_Docklands on Monday 22 October 19:29

Oh god.... I think I just had a trouser mishap.

Have now gone from really really want a 12C to actually NEED a 12C.

[NorthernBoy]

I think that it's beautiful. I dropped my order for the coupe last year, and haven't really regretted it, but I can see myself getting one of these once (if) the waiting list comes down next year.

I've not spent that much on a car before, but this one, at that price, makes a lot of sense to me. There's nothing that I think I'd rather spend £200k on.

[Ftumpch]

toppstuff said:

Ferrari is Borat in a lime green mankini and Sheikh Abdul Muhammed in Ferrari world in Abu Dhabi. Or 14 year old boys that never grow up.

Yep, gotta agree with this, at least post-about when they stopped building the 355 and 550.

Oh well, I'd be one of the 80-odd percent that buys the convertible. It's just like the coupe... but you can take the roof off! who'd have thought?

Somewhat disappointed that it's an electric roof though. In my book English roadsters are supposed to have a clip-on tonneau cover only, all the more reason to press on even harder when it starts raining.

[bullies180]

Really, a song from 1996 is the best you can do? Come on I've been into the prodigy since 91, would you like some albums since then that will change your life. From the nineties... K&D sessions....

[GALLARDOGUY]

???

[robm3]

I saw a Macca Spider yesterday in Sydney. Was Burgundy Red and I'd have to say a little disapointing in that colour. The back looked rather poorly done too.

A rare case of a car looking better in photos than real life for me.