Flemke - Is this your McLaren? (Vol 5)

[dobly]

flemke said:

. For me, the now-ancient NSX is more involving and fun to drive on public roads than the modern cars are.

Cue my standard question - is the NSX factory refresh going to happen, or will you get the work done in the UK or the USA?

[greygoose]

flemke said:

Yes, overhyped by McLaren and Porsche. Ferrari did not say anything about the 'Ring because they don't allow their factory cars to set times anywhere except on their own circuit, where of course no other manufacturers are allowed to set times. Unfortunately it appears that the market for almost all expensive sports cars favours Vmax, lap-time, fast-shifting paddles and extreme looks over real-world driver involvement and aesthetics. For me, the now-ancient NSX is more involving and fun to drive on public roads than the modern cars are.

To be fair to the supercar makers this happens at most levels of the car industry with increasing BHP figures in every AMG Mercedes, M BMW, RS Audi etc and then below that for Honda Type Rs, Ford RS etc. Either the car companies are way off track or the buying public like the bragging rights of playing Top Trumps about the spec of their cars. More driving pleasure may be obtainable from a far lower powered Caterham or Ariel Atom but the market remains pretty tiny for such products.

Perhaps the Bugatti profits lie in their tie up with Lego so those with shallower pockets can own one!

[flemke]

dobly said:

flemke said:

. For me, the now-ancient NSX is more involving and fun to drive on public roads than the modern cars are.

Cue my standard question - is the NSX factory refresh going to happen, or will you get the work done in the UK or the USA?

What a headache that turned out to be.
I decided that another long-term project was not worth the effort that the Refresh Program would probably entail. They are not geared up for owners who are based outside Japan, let alone owners who have zero ability to communicate in Japanese. I have the car back on the road now and will have the work done by people who know what they're doing, albeit without the imprimatur of the Refresh Program.

[flemke]

greygoose said:

flemke said:

Yes, overhyped by McLaren and Porsche. Ferrari did not say anything about the 'Ring because they don't allow their factory cars to set times anywhere except on their own circuit, where of course no other manufacturers are allowed to set times. Unfortunately it appears that the market for almost all expensive sports cars favours Vmax, lap-time, fast-shifting paddles and extreme looks over real-world driver involvement and aesthetics. For me, the now-ancient NSX is more involving and fun to drive on public roads than the modern cars are.

To be fair to the supercar makers this happens at most levels of the car industry with increasing BHP figures in every AMG Mercedes, M BMW, RS Audi etc and then below that for Honda Type Rs, Ford RS etc. Either the car companies are way off track or the buying public like the bragging rights of playing Top Trumps about the spec of their cars. More driving pleasure may be obtainable from a far lower powered Caterham or Ariel Atom but the market remains pretty tiny for such products.

Perhaps the Bugatti profits lie in their tie up with Lego so those with shallower pockets can own one!

Agreed. I am not gainsaying the volume car manufacturers' business case for more BHP, quicker 0-60 and Nordschleife times, flappy paddles, and increasingly ugly designs, I am just regretting that this seems to be what their markets prefer.

[damolong]

There was a dark blue F1 at Blenheim yesterday at Salon Prive. Don’t suppose it was yours Flemke?

[flemke]

damolong said:

There was a dark blue F1 at Blenheim yesterday at Salon Prive. Don’t suppose it was yours Flemke?

No. A few years ago I got roped into taking the car to a show, but normally I do not participate in them, especially the pretentious ones.

[Petrus1983]

flemke said:

damolong said:

There was a dark blue F1 at Blenheim yesterday at Salon Prive. Don’t suppose it was yours Flemke?

No. A few years ago I got roped into taking the car to a show, but normally I do not participate in them, especially the pretentious ones.

The pricing to get into Blenheim was ridiculous. Even if I had that sort of money I still wouldn’t go. I’ll stick to my Goodwood days.

[damolong]

flemke said:

No. A few years ago I got roped into taking the car to a show, but normally I do not participate in them, especially the pretentious ones.

Thanks. I did think it wouldn't perhaps be your thing. There was also a P1 next to it in what looked like an identical colour.

[damolong]

Petrus1983 said:

The pricing to get into Blenheim was ridiculous. Even if I had that sort of money I still wouldn’t go. I’ll stick to my Goodwood days.

I didn't think £40 was that bad. Close access to lots of nice stuff including Zondas, Rimac, Brabham, Miura etc

[Petrus1983]

damolong said:

I didn't think £40 was that bad. Close access to lots of nice stuff including Zondas, Rimac, Brabham, Miura etc

Damn - I must have got it completely wrong - the link from their Facebook advert took you to a page with wildly different prices. A friends son wanted to see the Zondas as he’s car mad - but I saw circa £400 adults and £180 for kids!! Fail.

I’ll be there next year!!

[thegreenhell]

damolong said:

flemke said:

No. A few years ago I got roped into taking the car to a show, but normally I do not participate in them, especially the pretentious ones.

Thanks. I did think it wouldn't perhaps be your thing. There was also a P1 next to it in what looked like an identical colour.

Clive Joy has a matching F1 and P1 in dark blue, so it could have been those. These were the two featured in Catchpole's Evo video a few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bziUYnN8Mg

[damolong]

Petrus1983 said:

Damn - I must have got it completely wrong - the link from their Facebook advert took you to a page with wildly different prices. A friends son wanted to see the Zondas as he’s car mad - but I saw circa £400 adults and £180 for kids!! Fail.

I’ll be there next year!!

As Flemke alluded to, it is a bit pretentious. And some of the ticket prices on earlier days are eye-watering. But it's good value on the Sunday if you choose the right option.

There were some nice cars there in a lovely setting. I also love Zondas, there were 4 there, including a Cinque.

[damolong]

thegreenhell said:

Clive Joy has a matching F1 and P1 in dark blue, so it could have been those. These were the two featured in Catchpole's Evo video a few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bziUYnN8Mg

Thanks, the plates were covered but that certainly looks like them, same colour wheels on the P1.

[Petrus1983]

damolong said:

As Flemke alluded to, it is a bit pretentious. And some of the ticket prices on earlier days are eye-watering. But it's good value on the Sunday if you choose the right option.

There were some nice cars there in a lovely setting. I also love Zondas, there were 4 there, including a Cinque.

Thanks for this. It really was to keep a friends son happy - I’m not really into watching static cars - hence my enjoyment of Goodwood over the years

[flemke]

damolong said:

As Flemke alluded to, it is a bit pretentious. And some of the ticket prices on earlier days are eye-watering. But it's good value on the Sunday if you choose the right option.

There were some nice cars there in a lovely setting. I also love Zondas, there were 4 there, including a Cinque.

An "exclusive garden party" held at Blenheim Palace by a company calling itself "Private Room" will never be my kind of thing. The one public show to which I have brought the car was at the Bournemouth International Centre and it was free to the public.

[S1KRR]

flemke said:

An "exclusive garden party" held at Blenheim Palace by a company calling itself "Private Room" will never be my kind of thing. The one public show to which I have brought the car was at the Bournemouth International Centre and it was free to the public.

Don't fancy a PistonHeads Sunday Service before you retire to pastures new?

I fear you would be more the centre of attention than the car though!


EDIT TO ADD

t563sk1 said:

Imagine footing the bill for this......

https://gtspirit.com/2019/09/02/iconic-mclaren-f1-...

Reading the link

3000 hours of work?
900 HOURS of which on the paint? Lets assume 3 people working on the car simultaneously. (Unlikely probably) 300 hours each? 2 months of 40 hour weeks? JUST FOR PAINT and presumably prepping?

Seems a bit excessive IMO. It's not like the car as damaged or seemingly needing a load of detail work...

Oh a guess at £200 per hour labour rate. £600K....

Edited by S1KRR on Monday 9th September 22:19

[moneymakestheworldgoaround]

Petrus1983 said:

damolong said:

I didn't think £40 was that bad. Close access to lots of nice stuff including Zondas, Rimac, Brabham, Miura etc

Damn - I must have got it completely wrong - the link from their Facebook advert took you to a page with wildly different prices. A friends son wanted to see the Zondas as he’s car mad - but I saw circa £400 adults and £180 for kids!! Fail.

I’ll be there next year!!

I only paid £30...?

5 Zonda's, an F1, a One-77, a couple F40's, the oldest Bentley in Existence, not to mention anything on the other side of the building...

[Petrus1983]

moneymakestheworldgoaround said:

I only paid £30...?

5 Zonda's, an F1, a One-77, a couple F40's, the oldest Bentley in Existence, not to mention anything on the other side of the building...

I’ve admitted to my friend I fked up

Did see a One-77 in the wild though

[flemke]

S1KRR said:

flemke said:

An "exclusive garden party" held at Blenheim Palace by a company calling itself "Private Room" will never be my kind of thing. The one public show to which I have brought the car was at the Bournemouth International Centre and it was free to the public.

Don't fancy a PistonHeads Sunday Service before you retire to pastures new?

I fear you would be more the centre of attention than the car though!


EDIT TO ADD

t563sk1 said:

Imagine footing the bill for this......

https://gtspirit.com/2019/09/02/iconic-mclaren-f1-...

Reading the link

3000 hours of work?
900 HOURS of which on the paint? Lets assume 3 people working on the car simultaneously. (Unlikely probably) 300 hours each? 2 months of 40 hour weeks? JUST FOR PAINT and presumably prepping?

Seems a bit excessive IMO. It's not like the car as damaged or seemingly needing a load of detail work...

Oh a guess at £200 per hour labour rate. £600K....

Edited by S1KRR on Monday 9th September 22:19

Less than a decade ago, a complete respray cost approx (IIRC) £60k - that sort of thing.

[cc8s]

I'm still slightly at a loss for why a 20-30 year old car, which has probably been fawned over, regularly, by the factory, should need a 'restoration'.

The same owner paid for similar treatment for his Zonda S through Pagani.

I'm split because, yes, it is a money-no-object world, so why not make it pretty, but it will take away some of the originality (to a certain extent) and I suspect would be largely needless.