Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)

[tankplanker]

flemke said:

Reason that I asked is that you mentioned the desirability of taking weight out of the car. The Black Series is supposedly 70kg lighter than standard.

Have you ever driven the standard SLS? If so, how did you find it to the Black Series?

[E65Ross]

SpeckledJim said:

Shmee said:

hyphen said:

On the Senna, I notice the exhausts pointing up, what is there to stop anything falling in/filling with rainwater and so on?

As soon as you start it up, the air flow will fire it all out, just like the 918

All over your paintwork. 'Triff.

Where else would you like the rainwater to be when you're out driving in the rain?

[flemke]

tankplanker said:

flemke said:

Reason that I asked is that you mentioned the desirability of taking weight out of the car. The Black Series is supposedly 70kg lighter than standard.

Have you ever driven the standard SLS? If so, how did you find it to the Black Series?

Yes, a few years ago. I kind-of liked it, but I seem to recall that the steering seemed too quick for a "GT" car. The Black Series is a different sort of car, inherently different handling, and the steering ratio is fine for it.

[SpeckledJim]

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

Shmee said:

hyphen said:

On the Senna, I notice the exhausts pointing up, what is there to stop anything falling in/filling with rainwater and so on?

As soon as you start it up, the air flow will fire it all out, just like the 918

All over your paintwork. 'Triff.

Where else would you like the rainwater to be when you're out driving in the rain?

Once water has sat in the exhaust for a while soaking up the soot and other nasties, I wouldn't like it splattered onto a £1m car or a £1k car.

It's a stupid design for any car. Exotic or not.

[E65Ross]

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

Shmee said:

hyphen said:

On the Senna, I notice the exhausts pointing up, what is there to stop anything falling in/filling with rainwater and so on?

As soon as you start it up, the air flow will fire it all out, just like the 918

All over your paintwork. 'Triff.

Where else would you like the rainwater to be when you're out driving in the rain?

Once water has sat in the exhaust for a while soaking up the soot and other nasties, I wouldn't like it splattered onto a £1m car or a £1k car.

It's a stupid design for any car. Exotic or not.

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

[SpeckledJim]

E65Ross said:

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

I wouldn't necessarily write about it on the internet, but if I had a 918, took it out for the day, and the first thing it did after lunch was spit hot dirty water over its own carefully valeted backside I'd think something along the lines of "this is a poor design". Maybe using some other short words for emphasis.

[E65Ross]

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

I wouldn't necessarily write about it on the internet, but if I had a 918, took it out for the day, and the first thing it did after lunch was spit hot dirty water over its own carefully valeted backside I'd think something along the lines of "this is a poor design". Maybe using some other short words for emphasis.

And it definitely does get dirty water on there, does it?

[SpeckledJim]

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

I wouldn't necessarily write about it on the internet, but if I had a 918, took it out for the day, and the first thing it did after lunch was spit hot dirty water over its own carefully valeted backside I'd think something along the lines of "this is a poor design". Maybe using some other short words for emphasis.

And it definitely does get dirty water on there, does it?

I haven't got a 918, so I don't know. Since we're in here, I'm sure someone can comment first hand.

[hurstg01]

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

I wouldn't necessarily write about it on the internet, but if I had a 918, took it out for the day, and the first thing it did after lunch was spit hot dirty water over its own carefully valeted backside I'd think something along the lines of "this is a poor design". Maybe using some other short words for emphasis.

And it definitely does get dirty water on there, does it?

I haven't got a 918, so I don't know. Since we're in here, I'm sure someone can comment first hand.

Still think my answer on the other thread is the answer

hurstg01 on the McLaren Senna Thread said:

The collected water is fed to the £6k+ carbon drink to push water bottle in the cockpit, just like when a water butt collects drain water for you to then use on your garden

[Robster]

Any thoughts on new updated senna ?

[AlmostUseful]

How have they updated it already? I didn’t think any had been delivered yet!

[Shmee]

AlmostUseful said:

How have they updated it already? I didn’t think any had been delivered yet!

It's only that they are now showing what the carbon body looks like, that's been on the options list for all customers. The car has not been 'updated'.

[flemke]

Robster said:

Any thoughts on new updated senna ?

As AlmostUseful says, there is no updated version per se.
There has been a bit of recent publicity previewing a hitherto-unseen car that will be at the Geneva Auto Show. That car is different in that it has "visual carbon fibre" bodywork and is further tarted up. Its function is to demonstrate the range of cosmetic options that are available on the car. It is pretty ghastly, although no doubt it will appeal to some people.

[hondafanatic]

flemke said:

As AlmostUseful says, there is no updated version per se.
There has been a bit of recent publicity previewing a hitherto-unseen car that will be at the Geneva Auto Show. That car is different in that it has "visual carbon fibre" bodywork and is further tarted up. Its function is to demonstrate the range of cosmetic options that are available on the car. It is pretty ghastly, although no doubt it will appeal to some people.

I really don't have an eye for design beyond the norm. But looking at that ^^^^ is there anything about it that works? I just look at it and wonder what they were thinking? It looks like it's been designed in bits and nobody talked to each other and how did they produce that, stand back and go with it?

So what did they see that I've completely missed?

[TIGA84]

hondafanatic said:

I really don't have an eye for design beyond the norm. But looking at that ^^^^ is there anything about it that works? I just look at it and wonder what they were thinking? It looks like it's been designed in bits and nobody talked to each other and how did they produce that, stand back and go with it?

So what did they see that I've completely missed?

Aero, downforce, mechanical grip.

It's all there for a reason, however, that's come at the expense of aesthetics.

Look at this years Sauber. Its silhouette is an F1 car, but look at the details on the aero, the sheer amount of winglets and odd shapes that are bolted on. Pretty its not, but each bit is functional. Sadly for McL performance has been the primary objective, rather than looks. I think it'll be something very special on track, which is really where its been designed for.

[hyphen]

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

E65Ross said:

I haven't heard any 918 complaints about this, so I'm not sure if this is really going to be an actual issue to be honest!

I wouldn't necessarily write about it on the internet, but if I had a 918, took it out for the day, and the first thing it did after lunch was spit hot dirty water over its own carefully valeted backside I'd think something along the lines of "this is a poor design". Maybe using some other short words for emphasis.

And it definitely does get dirty water on there, does it?

I haven't got a 918, so I don't know. Since we're in here, I'm sure someone can comment first hand.

I have 2. Frozen snow currently filled up in both exhausts, I turned it on as suggested but nothing spat out of the exhaust as was told above. I've left them running.

I think some grit flying around from the council sprayer may also have got in there so should melt it right???

[K50 DEL]

Ashley1111 said:

Thanks for the response so far guys.
Have dropped an email to MSO to see if there is anyone specific for SLR work. Used to deal with Nigel Unsworth when he was at the SLR centre at Brooklands but he is off doing his own thing now.
Movit isn’t a name I am familiar with so will do some research there, thanks for that.
SICOM (also in Germany) is another name that seems to have come up a couple of times now when discussing with others so need to give them both a buzz if MSO can’t come up with something sensible.
Please keep suggestions / contacts coming though if anyone springs to mind.

Oh, and Flemke, really appreciate the insight into one of the only modern superstars cars I am very unlikely to ever experience.

Have you spoken to Ed or Christian at Christian Lewis cars in Bedford?
He has an SLR722 I believe, though I have a dim memory of Ed saying that parts were almost universally McLaren only, but he might have a source for things like brakes.

[hyphen]

hondafanatic said:

flemke said:

As AlmostUseful says, there is no updated version per se.
There has been a bit of recent publicity previewing a hitherto-unseen car that will be at the Geneva Auto Show. That car is different in that it has "visual carbon fibre" bodywork and is further tarted up. Its function is to demonstrate the range of cosmetic options that are available on the car. It is pretty ghastly, although no doubt it will appeal to some people.

I really don't have an eye for design beyond the norm. But looking at that ^^^^ is there anything about it that works? I just look at it and wonder what they were thinking? It looks like it's been designed in bits and nobody talked to each other and how did they produce that, stand back and go with it?

So what did they see that I've completely missed?

I don't mind that, although a bit much for a daily driver

I think it looks a lot better when in 2 colours, both this and the youtubed blue and black look better than the spy shots. McLaren have made the hate worse by making the test car all black which is the worst colour it could be.

Edited by hyphen on Thursday 1st March 10:10

[GiveItSomeWellie]

flemke said:

As AlmostUseful says, there is no updated version per se.
There has been a bit of recent publicity previewing a hitherto-unseen car that will be at the Geneva Auto Show. That car is different in that it has "visual carbon fibre" bodywork and is further tarted up. Its function is to demonstrate the range of cosmetic options that are available on the car. It is pretty ghastly, although no doubt it will appeal to some people.

I still think it looks more pleasant than the P1 Senna edition, and that's coming from someone who can't warm to the Senna but loves the P1

[SpeckledJim]

I'm not convinced by the 'function over form' argument for why it looks so awful.

It's not the first car built primarily for function. Every race car is built (effectively) purely for function.

Yet it's by some margin the ugliest car ever sold for more than, say, £20,000. Including the Bentley Bentayga.