540C Built and ready

[MadMacMcMad]

batman25 said:

Hi MadMac, the car looks terrific, very tasteful colour scheme, class, beauty and a bit of racy aggression I am looking at buying one of these and wondering about the noise, how does it compare with the 570S? Also, how is it going after 3 weeks, any more thoughts?

It still remains the best car I have ever driven. I have just returned from LeMans and it was faultless and amongst Lambos, Astons et all on the site, drew the most admiring attention.

In sport and track modes you do get a very nice noise out the back. And an infectious pop on gear change. Inside the car it is quiet though. I had the loudest Aston in Berkshire before this, so it is a welcome change. Some might like it louder though. Personally, it's a perfect balance.
The sports exhaust does not offer a power increase, just more noise. So in my mind it's an option not worth ticking.
I took a 570 out for a test drive and the sound is the same as the 540. Unless you spend £3K to have less baffle that is.
I do not know how the sports exhaust works. For the money, I assume it bypasses the silencers with butterflys when pushing on. Otherwise, you might get fed up with a constant drone.
We will wait for a sports exhaust owner to enlighten us.
Hope that helps.
If you go the 540 route, you will not be disapointed. The 570 brakes put me off as there was too much travel before they bite when cold. Again we'll wait for a 570 owner to put me right.

[Carl_Manchester]

I have to say, one look at the options list shows that Mclaren have played a blinder with this car.

You really dont need to tick many boxes on the options list with this car and thats a refreshing change.

I really dont want to like the car in white and yet I am drawn to it like a knat to a blue light.

[M12 Tom]

MadMac, lovely car. Just finalising my spec this week. Have you used the front lift much? Thinking about skipping that option but dealer thinks I'm mad.

[MadMacMcMad]

M12 Tom said:

MadMac, lovely car. Just finalising my spec this week. Have you used the front lift much? Thinking about skipping that option but dealer thinks I'm mad.

I have the lift on mine, but I have a slightly raised garage, so use it all the time.
I manage to get over speed bumps without using it, but it's only a matter of time before I come across one that's too high and then the nose lift will be a god send.

Honestly, if you ever want to take it on a ferry, then get the nose lift.

[alexoctagon]

What a cracking looking machine MadMac, so you've had it 3 months now, any more thoughts?

[MadMacMcMad]

Brilliant. Love driving it.
I have had a couple of little issues that Ascot sorted straight away, but all has been well for the last couple of months.
This was my first dip into Mclaren ownership and it has been a very pleasant one.
the car is extremely fast, but usable power. I wonder how much of the available power do 650 and 675 owners actually get to use on the roads, as I find I run out of road very quickly with my pitifull 533BHP.

I hope to get to meet a few of you in due course. I would like to hear the sports exhaust on the 570/540, just to compare.

[f1ten]

There are so few of these on the road so far / how many 570 and 540 have been delivered ?

[tyrrell]

My 570 is week 43 completion and I have been given a Vin number of 1766 so there must be less than 1750 worldwide at the moment.

[tuffer]

Having driven a 570GT last week I think the 540 with a base spec is a pretty good way to go, you get all the looks, ample performance and save about £40K over a well spec'd 570. At c£135K I can see the appeal, at £175K I could not.

[tuffer]

tuffer said:

Having driven a 570GT last week I think the 540 with a base spec is a pretty good way to go, you get all the looks, ample performance and save about £40K over a well spec'd 570. At c£135K I can see the appeal, at £175K I could not.

I take that back, even a half decent spec takes it to £150K.

[TP321]

The 540 was in Evo this month. They dont rate if over the 570s, eventhough it is cheaper

[naboo]

tuffer said:

Having driven a 570GT last week I think the 540 with a base spec is a pretty good way to go, you get all the looks, ample performance and save about £40K over a well spec'd 570. At c£135K I can see the appeal, at £175K I could not.

There's a few 'must haves' things like the security pack, tracker, etc. The interior's worth upgrading on both models even thought the 570's base spec's slightly better than the 540, then there's paint as only 3 colours are no cost options. I'd say budget £10k and watch it creep to £15k on either car and you've got a well specced car. For me the saving between the 540/570 was worthwhile, I like the more day to day focus of the 540, I gather GT is even slightly 'softer' albeit in a McLaren sort of way. That said I would hope the 570's better in some respects, ( it should be it costs more! ), but I doubt the differences will be noticeable on the M25.

[tuffer]

naboo said:

There's a few 'must haves' things like the security pack, tracker, etc. The interior's worth upgrading on both models even thought the 570's base spec's slightly better than the 540, then there's paint as only 3 colours are no cost options. I'd say budget £10k and watch it creep to £15k on either car and you've got a well specced car. For me the saving between the 540/570 was worthwhile, I like the more day to day focus of the 540, I gather GT is even slightly 'softer' albeit in a McLaren sort of way. That said I would hope the 570's better in some respects, ( it should be it costs more! ), but I doubt the differences will be noticeable on the M25.

But it is pretty poor when a £125K car has manually adjustable seats, mind you the buttons for the electric seats on the GT were nearly unusable.

[TP321]

tuffer said:

But it is pretty poor when a £125K car has manually adjustable seats, mind you the buttons for the electric seats on the GT were nearly unusable.

Why does a 2 seater require electric seats, when its sole purpose is speed and poise? Electric seats just add weight and height

[sone]

TP321 said:

tuffer said:

But it is pretty poor when a £125K car has manually adjustable seats, mind you the buttons for the electric seats on the GT were nearly unusable.

Why does a 2 seater require electric seats, when its sole purpose is speed and poise? Electric seats just add weight and height

I never get the electric seat issue, I adjust my seat once in a blue moon, I suppose if it's multiple drivers and you have memory seats that's different but not a deal breaker on any car for me!

[DaveGB]

sone said:

TP321 said:

tuffer said:

But it is pretty poor when a £125K car has manually adjustable seats, mind you the buttons for the electric seats on the GT were nearly unusable.

Why does a 2 seater require electric seats, when its sole purpose is speed and poise? Electric seats just add weight and height

I never get the electric seat issue, I adjust my seat once in a blue moon, I suppose if it's multiple drivers and you have memory seats that's different but not a deal breaker on any car for me!

Electric seats also often sit higher, to allow fitting of motors. Much rather manual and sit lower.

Re weight of electric seats , one could of course spend thousands on carbon bits to offset the difference <whistle>

[f1ten]

Given a boxster needs 10k of spec in not surprised to read that. I'm keen to drive one and see what ifs like. I'm hoping it doesn't excite me like a 458...

I see all 570s for sale at the moment have a decent premium as I can't see that they have over 20k of spec ? I guess price to pay for being in early on ownership.

[Sarnie]

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

For sale?

Edited by Sarnie on Thursday 6th July 12:14

[tyrrell]

Looks like it, what will come next I wonder?

[V8Chris]

Looks stunning. I am based in Sunningdale and looking at moving from Aston to McLaren if you want to meet up for a beer let me know!