RE: Driven: McLaren MP4-12C

[AndrewD]

The review opens with the word "clinical" which worries me as I thought the 458 wasn't the most involving thing in the world either IMO, it was too easy to go very fast.

Not a huge fan of the looks, somebody said it looks like a 200k Lotus, I tend to agree.

[TonyHetherington]

NoelWatson said:

Don't a number of decent cars (GT-R, Evora) get stunning reviews when they first come out, only to be demoted in a group test in a year or so from launch?

Your two examples both won EVO car of the year, didn't they? (Definitely the Evora, and I'm fairly sure the GT-R too). Not a huge demotion

But I think the two things are separate. A very good review of a car doesn't necessarily mean it will be better than a rival that is also very good.

However, I'm just off to read Sutcliffe's view of the 458 vs MP4-12C...

[Wanta996Gotta]

Mr Whippy said:

Scrubs all such cars off future 'want to own' list

Shame. I'd have a 360CS, or an M3 CSL, I like the kick of a decent robotised manual, but all these stealthy super fast seven ratios things just bore me to death. Talk about taking the event of changing gears out of driving these fantastic cars!

I go with clinical, for this, and all such future cars. It seems Lamborghini and Porsche are the only people who still 'get' fun supercars with their manuals, fast spinning NA motors etc etc... thank god for them!

Dave

Oh really, new PDK'd 911s with launch control not using the same sort of tech? Porsche and Lambo need to change or will be left in the wilderness. The days of "just" giving your car more BHP to keep up with the competition are over.

[Scuffers]

TonyHetherington said:

NoelWatson said:

Don't a number of decent cars (GT-R, Evora) get stunning reviews when they first come out, only to be demoted in a group test in a year or so from launch?

Your two examples both won EVO car of the year, didn't they? (Definitely the Evora, and I'm fairly sure the GT-R too). Not a huge demotion

But I think the two things are separate. A very good review of a car doesn't necessarily mean it will be better than a rival that is also very good.

to a point, your right...

the press all fawned over the Evora, but it still did not sell (too expensive/not in the right market/etc.) whereas the GTR has sold in numbers.

with this Mclaren, I don't think they actually need the press to go on about it, it will sell itself.

[British Beef]

This car spells very bad news for Ferrari, Lamborgini and Noble.

I wonder what sort of discounts can be had on a top spec Gallardo now, as it is about 10 years obsolete next to this!!!

[brad.noble]

Saw one of these going down the M6, it was black and dark out so couldn't really appreciate it....

One comment though, English and LHD don't really go together do they?

[kambites]

brad.noble said:

One comment though, English and LHD don't really go together do they?

They do if you want to sell cars in the states and the rest of Europe.

[NoelWatson]

TonyHetherington said:

Your two examples both won EVO car of the year, didn't they? (Definitely the Evora, and I'm fairly sure the GT-R too). Not a huge demotion

But I think the two things are separate. A very good review of a car doesn't necessarily mean it will be better than a rival that is also very good.

However, I'm just off to read Sutcliffe's view of the 458 vs MP4-12C...

TonyHetherington said:

Your two examples both won EVO car of the year, didn't they?

I am talking about when the fuss has died down

[British Beef]

All the cars scored above the Evora and GTR are new entries. (even GT3 heavily changed)

Just illustrating that the game has moved on I guess!

[MrKipling43]

NoelWatson said:

I am talking about when the fuss has died down

Isn't every one of those cars above the GTR and Evora at least 12 months newer though?

[NoelWatson]

British Beef said:

All the cars scored above the Evora and GTR are new entries. (even GT3 heavily changed)

Just illustrating that the game has moved on I guess!

I didn't realise progress was that swift

[kambites]

MrKipling43 said:

Isn't every one of those cars above the GTR and Evora at least 12 months newer though?

And massively more expensive.

[TonyHetherington]

NoelWatson said:

I am talking about when the fuss has died down

From memory, the Evora and GTR won when they were brand new cars, and as such against their contemporaries. But the later ECOTYs they were just different iterations of a then 2 yr old car.

All new cars are bettering one another at such a rate at the moment that I don't think that's unusual.

The McLaren (to bring it a little back on topic!) is going to be, seemingly, the big, huge, massive, brilliant thing this year. But you can be sure there's a new 911 waiting in the wings to do something better, a Gallardo replacement in a couple of years, etc. etc.

[Asterix]

The Evora was a new model - the S version and the GT-R is therevised model as well.

[NoelWatson]

kambites said:

And massively more expensive.

Not sure why that is relevant

[ortontom]

brilliant news.....lets go get em...

[adycav]

Wanta996Gotta said:

Mr Whippy said:

Scrubs all such cars off future 'want to own' list

Shame. I'd have a 360CS, or an M3 CSL, I like the kick of a decent robotised manual, but all these stealthy super fast seven ratios things just bore me to death. Talk about taking the event of changing gears out of driving these fantastic cars!

I go with clinical, for this, and all such future cars. It seems Lamborghini and Porsche are the only people who still 'get' fun supercars with their manuals, fast spinning NA motors etc etc... thank god for them!

Dave

Oh really, new PDK'd 911s with launch control not using the same sort of tech? Porsche and Lambo need to change or will be left in the wilderness. The days of "just" giving your car more BHP to keep up with the competition are over.

At least Porsche still give the customer a choice.

If you want the tech-laden super fast gadget monster buy a Turbo (S).

If you want a more challenging, pure undiluted experience buy a GT3 (RS).

For the time being anyway.


I can't speak for Lambos - I don't know much about them as I know that I probably won't ever afford to buy/run one...

[kambites]

NoelWatson said:

Not sure why that is relevant

Really? You don't think you can make a car better if you put more money into it and that journalists are going to have a natural tendency to rate a better car higher, even if it is substantially more expensive?

[crostonian]

Without a doubt it seems the McLaren is a better car than the 458 on paper and on track, however which will make you smile more and give you a bigger buzz on a Sunday morning blast? I think ultimately purchase will be decided on which brand you are more comfortable with. I don't think anyone buys a £200k supercar with their head, the heart is a much bigger factor - sales figures will tell the truth I guess. I'm in the Latin camp whether it be Lambo or Ferrari, Ron vs Luca says it all for me.

[GravelBen]

British Beef said:

Just illustrating that the game has moved on I guess!

Or for the more cynical, illustrating that advertisers are much keener to give the mags money (and cars to thrash test) if said mags encourage the readers to buy the latest product from said advertiser instead of keeping the old one.