McLaren 570GT farewell: PH Fleet
The good and the bad of daily driving a supercar (spoiler: it's mostly good)
Of course the majority of the its time with us was spent with Dan, my 1,000 miles or so coming at the end of its term after he reluctantly surrendered the keys. And reluctantly is being polite... The Wales trip was the highlight, of course, so this report will have to focus on some of the less positive points of pseudo supercar ownership. This isn't ending on a downer, simply pointing out that the 570GT, and most cars like it, can be a bit of a pain to live with sometimes.
The parking sensors are automatically activated when the car dips under a certain speed, even if you've silenced them, regardless of if reverse has just been engaged or not. In traffic, this means they're going off nearly constantly as, even if you hit the button to stop them, you're up above and then down below the activation speed again and again. Cyclists, motorbikes, cars in another lane, cars in your lane; it doesn't take much to set them beeping. Of course you can turn them off completely, but you shouldn't have to.
The DAB reception was oddly inconsistent, compounded by a bizarre and unresponsive touchscreen that means you swipe for stations rather than scrolling. And the nav still isn't as good as some rivals, a bit awkward to programme and occasionally sluggish to respond. There's an argument to say those things don't matter in a 570hp supercar, but if this is meant to be the everyday usable McLaren then those areas do need to improve. Pleasingly the 720S has already shown signs of getting better, though the GT still lags behind something like a 911 or R8 in terms of interior intuitiveness.
While I'm moaning - there are positives, I promise - the nose lift occasionally made some very unpleasant noises when rising, though without any consistency - sometimes it would, others it wouldn't. And it would do it at different speeds, different temperatures and with steering lock both on and off. We didn't investigate any further - is this something any other owners have found?
When you are mooching around at low speed, you'll be aware of how wide the Sports Series is too: 2,095mm is a fair bit more than an R8's 1,940mm. And if your parking skills are as woeful as mine...
How far this sort of thing matters really depends on how you plan to use your £150,000 supercar. If you just want to bimble around with a minimum of fuss, while making loads of noise and looking cool, then an R8 is probably still the best. If you want subtlety with your speed, a 911 Turbo S remains unmatched. But, as we discovered in Wales, if you want to drive your supercar and revel in the experience, the McLaren is the car to have. It may not be as accommodating everyday, despite its GT billing, but it more than makes that back elsewhere.
There's an argument to say that the 570GT isn't far enough removed from the 570S to create a discrete model in the line up. And while it perhaps isn't as soothing as some of the alternatives, the additional practicality, tweaked styling (which I prefer) and more luxurious feel of the GT make it feel distinct enough to me. Personally an ideal specification would be a car that looks like a GT and drives like an S, which of course it isn't possible. The GT on the P Zero Corsas seems like the best compromise available.
All of this debate on spec, width and flipping DAB ignores the more valid point though: driving around in a McLaren, be it this or any other, is joyous. People point and wave, other drivers let you out of junctions and the experience feels fantastically special. The visibility, the control weights, the speed, the silly doors; there's a tangible sense of occasion that means no journey is forgettable, and it regularly feels worth every single penny. If not more.
Speaking of money, it's worth discussing the exact spec of GT08 MCL to conclude. Though I never told him as much, I admired the spec that Dan went with; subtle while still exciting, and distinctive without being in your face (the spec that is, not Dan). Though he spent more than £20K on options, when you can spend £3,490 on forged wheels it's easy to see how that adds up. I could probably do without the interior carbon, which would get it to a fraction over £175K, but the rest of the options felt more than worthwhile: despite the noise the nose lift was useful, I loved the colour combo and the exhaust added some theatre, albeit more for those outside than in.
Would I buy one? Absolutely. It could be better resolved as an everyday prospect, but all the reasons why you would want a supercar - the speed, the styling, the excitement, the sense of giddiness every time you approach it - are nailed on, and better than the rivals. That this is McLaren's first attempt at a more luxurious, less focused supercar bodes extremely well for the future, because this is fantastic.
Inspired? Buy a McLaren 570 GT here.
FACT SHEET - McLaren 570GT
Run by: Matt
On fleet since: April
Mileage: 7,947
List price new: £178,735 (Basic list price of £155,755, plus Elite Ice Silver paint £3,490, Super-Lightweight Forged wheels in Stealth £3,490 + £1,110, red brake calipers £900, Rocket Red badge set, Vehicle Tracking System £630, Sports Exhaust £3,240, Luxury Design 2 package in Saddle Tan and Carbon Black from By McLaren Designer Interiors £2,520, Carbon Fibre Interior Pack £2,500, GT Upgrade Pack £5,020, first aid kit and warning triangle £60)
Last month at a glance: Time to wave goodbye to our 570GT!
Previous updates:
The joy of specs
Taking delivery
570 GT videoblog
Enjoying the new supercar smell
It's no track car... but it's pretty good on track!
Off to the dealer to sort a few squeaks and rattles
Is it time to try the option tyre? Of Corsa!
Perfect road car? There is a case to be made!
Quick configurator result below, I feel like you could waste many good hours on there... Configurator doesn't have prices but I've opted for the GT Upgrade Pack, the same interior as Dan's (though I might change that), the diamond cut super-lightweight forged wheels, regular brakes with black calipers and the standard exhaust. There's carbon on the rear diffuser and a bit inside. The paint is Cobalt Violet and, deducting a few bits from Dan's spec, I think it's just over £170K. Have to say I'd be very tempted by a secondhand 650S as well, even if you should never make that comparison...
Cheers!
Matt
I'm personally really happy for them! I'd love their job! :-)
Also, is like to have the money to choose between those cars. Of all 3 the Audi would just go in the bin, with the Porsche closely following it. It'd be this or a Ferrari of some description with that sum of money.
Opens with a long description of tiny niggles with the inevitable comparison to the 911 and R8. Both from the same company with a fanatical national passion for swithgear and able to demand the absolute best from their suppliers because of their massive buying power. Tiresome. How does it rate against a 488, Lambo (likely the same issue) Stang, Ford GT, etc, etc as well.
Decent conclusion though and no mention of the extra seats in the 911. The car that cause Dan to stray!
As a 570GT owner - Parking sensors are certainly a bit on the sensitive side, but that has never been an irritation - just the occasional beep!
Nose lift - agree, it occasionally creaks for no apparent reason - and last week, decided it wasn't going to go back down using the controls, had to do the automatic drop by going over 41 or 2 or whatever it is.
What actually I DO find irritating is the window operation - it -pretty frequently - decides to drop windows for no fathomable reason, or not close up properly when the door is closed, necessitating re-entry and switching ignition back on to close.
And just like everyone else who has the electric seat version - wow, they are a fiddle, even after 8 months
And just like the article - I forgive it, because it's ace, and put the idiosyncrasies in the 'charm' section. Except the windows.
Quick configurator result below, I feel like you could waste many good hours on there... Configurator doesn't have prices but I've opted for the GT Upgrade Pack, the same interior as Dan's (though I might change that), the diamond cut super-lightweight forged wheels, regular brakes with black calipers and the standard exhaust. There's carbon on the rear diffuser and a bit inside. The paint is Cobalt Violet and, deducting a few bits from Dan's spec, I think it's just over £170K. Have to say I'd be very tempted by a secondhand 650S as well, even if you should never make that comparison...
Cheers!
Matt
I've enjoyed the story and can see me opting for the GT one day.
Stunning car.
Although I cant help thinking if it were my money, rather than drop a lot of Money in options (this one is actually quite modestly specced compared to many), I would rather dig a little deeper and go full fat 720S without options.
What is the service interval and service cost like on something like this?
How much Does Mclaren charge for a minor & major service?
Just FYI Dan and I are different people too. He specced the car and ran it for the most part but, when he left PH, I took on running the car. Tough job etc etc...
Matt
Opens with a long description of tiny niggles with the inevitable comparison to the 911 and R8. Both from the same company with a fanatical national passion for swithgear and able to demand the absolute best from their suppliers because of their massive buying power. Tiresome. How does it rate against a 488, Lambo (likely the same issue) Stang, Ford GT, etc, etc as well.
Decent conclusion though and no mention of the extra seats in the 911. The car that cause Dan to stray!
Ferrari 488 - Better than a 570S, perhaps better than a 720S even, a totally sensational car. I didn't mention it in this comparison because, at list price, they're £30,000 apart. Certainly however if the choice was there between a specced up Sports Series McLaren and the most basic 488 you could have, I wouldn't hesitate in taking the Ferrari. Powertrain is more exciting and I think the chassis might be even better too in how it deals with the road yet still makes you feel involved too.
Lamborghini Huracan - A 2WD version would be an interesting comparison here, and that engine of course is more attractive than ever. The idea of a RWD Lambo is very cool as well. I've only driven it briefly but it didn't feel as engaging a driver's car as the McLaren though. I'd have it over an R8 but not the McLaren
Not sure what you mean about putting a Mustang in there? As for anything else I'd have the 570GT over a DB11 (because I would prefer a luxurious sports car to a sporty luxury GT) and an AMG GT (although that doesn't seem a fair comparison). Can't think of anything else at the moment.
HTH!
Matt
As for the seats, they really are a pain. I think they weren't mentioned because I didn't let anyone else drive it so never had to move That and I think I'd repressed any memory of them...
Cheers,
Matt
My GT has been faultless since I bought it in July. 5,500 smiles so far. I had a reverse lamp problem, but that turned out to be caused by the person who took the splitter off to change my exhaust, so not McLarens fault.
I think this particular Pistonheads/Autocar has an odd spec. There are two things you must have, front lift and extended gearshift paddles (which means basic interior carbon pack). Everything else is fluff.
My GT has a bit of fluff which will make it stand out when it comes to resale time. I added a Larini exhaust so it sounds perfect now too. Total cost around the same as the car in this article.
Just add an Alp or two:
I've enjoyed the story and can see me opting for the GT one day.
Mclaren
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