Well here it is - the 720S

Well here it is - the 720S

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Discussion

WDISMYL

235 posts

88 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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DT398 said:
So Mr JWW seems a bit luke warm after a short drive on the road. In my experience that's what these techno-fest bonkers fast cars seem to deliver. Laugh out loud ridiculous acceleration, cornering and braking and after that, "well, it's awesome but......" What's next, the 820s?
I understand what you are trying to say but isn't it also contradictory from a PH point of view? I just don't buy into the "wasn't it better in the good old days when cars were cars" - like we are witnessing with the fad to revert back to a stick shift. Maybe we should still be using a manual crank to turn the engine rather than a stop/start button.....?

McLaren are progressing at warp speed - but that isn't a good thing? I should still be hankering after my DIablo, whose switch gear looked like a child had made it, the warning lights would come on randomly and the roof leaked in the rain? The false machismo of it wanting to kill you if you mistreated it?

For us older chaps Ferrari and Lamborghini have been imprinted in our brains through years of marketing etc to evoke the emotion that McLaren supposedly doesn't have. It's a psychological illusion.

My teenage son hasn't been exposed to that bias and puts McLaren streets ahead.

Quickmoose

4,495 posts

124 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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WDISMYL said:
I understand what you are trying to say but isn't it also contradictory from a PH point of view? I just don't buy into the "wasn't it better in the good old days when cars were cars" - like we are witnessing with the fad to revert back to a stick shift. Maybe we should still be using a manual crank to turn the engine rather than a stop/start button.....?
There is plenty to celebrate about the progress of high performance cars in terms of capability, build quality, pure stats, design and engineering.
Suggesting a manual box is a fad, and somehow as backwards as starting the engine with manual crank, rather lets you down imo.
Following your train of thought...with the warp speed progress we're witnessing to continue, you'll be fine with fully autonomous vehicles then?, or would you revert back to a manual steering wheel?, using your feet to go faster or slow down by pressing a switch? you want decide which gear to be in? have gears at all?

There is nothing to be ashamed of y enjoying being FULLY immersed in the act of driving. Auto wipers, auto lights, electric windows, ipads in place of buttons/dials, continually smaller glass houses...these things are what's wrong with driving

WDISMYL

235 posts

88 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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True.

The gear stick comment was to provoke a reaction and to make the point that you have to draw the line somewhere. I perfectly well understand why some people still want one.


I do think when the negativity can be summed up simply by replacing the comments with "because it isn't a Ferrari or Lambo" is past its sell by date.




Edited by WDISMYL on Wednesday 3rd May 14:05

DT398

1,745 posts

149 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
WDISMYL said:
I understand what you are trying to say but isn't it also contradictory from a PH point of view? I just don't buy into the "wasn't it better in the good old days when cars were cars" - like we are witnessing with the fad to revert back to a stick shift. Maybe we should still be using a manual crank to turn the engine rather than a stop/start button.....?

McLaren are progressing at warp speed - but that isn't a good thing? I should still be hankering after my DIablo, whose switch gear looked like a child had made it, the warning lights would come on randomly and the roof leaked in the rain? The false machismo of it wanting to kill you if you mistreated it?

For us older chaps Ferrari and Lamborghini have been imprinted in our brains through years of marketing etc to evoke the emotion that McLaren supposedly doesn't have. It's a psychological illusion.

My teenage son hasn't been exposed to that bias and puts McLaren streets ahead.
I actually made the point as an owner of a 650 Spider, so I know what McLaren are trying to achieve and they are doing incredibly well. I remember at the launch night that there was a lot of talk from McLaren about the 720s being a step up in terms of driver involvement, feel and excitement and I guess what I'm saying is I don't see this coming through in any of the reviews. It's just bonkers fast, vastly too capable for most situations on the road and, by some accounts, not that great aurally. Overall, then it's the 650s turned up to 11, which is fine but not for me in the end. YMMV

MDL111

6,958 posts

178 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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isaldiri said:
Streetrod said:
Your comment about the "pro" guys, with the greatest respect what evidence do you have to back that statement up?
Just reading some of the various nonsense written over the years it gets far far too predictable. Mclaren - technologically competent but clinical, Ferrari - passion/history etc, Porsche GT car - doesn't understeer like the last one (which we were told doesn't understeer anymore when it came up). The supreme test of a car is dirfting it on a circuit screaming 'wow wow wow' at the camera. It's all very lazy journalism imo and I'm pretty convinced most of the time the reviewers have made their mind up about a car long before actually driving the thing.

The gap between what reviewers say about a car and the actual owner experience of driving it is imo getting further and further apart.
kinda agree, it seems like most half decent journalists could write the reviews they give for newly launched cars just based on the press release and maybe one walk round the car / sitting in it to look at the interior. the petrolicious / smokingtyre-one-take stuff on usually older cars is a lot more entertaining to watch for me.

might be just me though as to me somehow most new cars seem a bit derivative - faster, (sometimes) different looking but generally similar to the last iteration now that they all have double-clutch, active aero, electronics etc. Also doesn't help that there are now so many "super" cars that it is no longer a real event when a new model/version is launched

probably just getting old

GarageQueen

2,295 posts

247 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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isaldiri said:
Just reading some of the various nonsense written over the years it gets far far too predictable. Mclaren - technologically competent but clinical, Ferrari - passion/history etc, Porsche GT car - doesn't understeer like the last one (which we were told doesn't understeer anymore when it came up). The supreme test of a car is dirfting it on a circuit screaming 'wow wow wow' at the camera. It's all very lazy journalism imo and I'm pretty convinced most of the time the reviewers have made their mind up about a car long before actually driving the thing.

The gap between what reviewers say about a car and the actual owner experience of driving it is imo getting further and further apart.
I completely understand what you are saying, but for me the key is the group test where we really get to see what the reviews think and where the car sits in reality to the rest of the market.

RamboLambo

4,843 posts

171 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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I would take the you tubers videos with a pinch of salt TBH. They openly admit that they had a long hard night the night before and were feeling the worst for wear the next day, mmmm.
Anyway beyond their wild partying into the early hours and hangovers they are young lads looking to get as many hits as they can on their channels and nothing else. Trying to compete or copy the rave reviews from professional journalists is hardly going to achieve this for them

Yes they love the "look at me" type car with lairy wraps and ridiculously loud exhaust pipes but beyond that not one of them displays any technical knowledge or driving skill to talk of.

I guess if McLaren had slammed it on the ground, put 22" wheels on it with baked bean can exhausts and a camo wrap they would of loved it.

What I don't get is that in the videos you can clearly see their level of excitement which is not mirrored in their comments although I kind of see where they come from on the "too good" comment because it is simply amazing as an engineering feat.

I think McLarens are for the more discerning and sophisticated customer and you need to drive them for more than a day to truly appreciate how good they are. They are cars that grow on you rather than reveal everything on the first date and then become boring

Targarama

14,635 posts

284 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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RamboLambo said:
I would take the you tubers videos with a pinch of salt TBH. They openly admit that they had a long hard night the night before and were feeling the worst for wear the next day, mmmm.
Anyway beyond their wild partying into the early hours and hangovers they are young lads looking to get as many hits as they can on their channels and nothing else. Trying to compete or copy the rave reviews from professional journalists is hardly going to achieve this for them

Yes they love the "look at me" type car with lairy wraps and ridiculously loud exhaust pipes but beyond that not one of them displays any technical knowledge or driving skill to talk of.

I guess if McLaren had slammed it on the ground, put 22" wheels on it with baked bean can exhausts and a camo wrap they would of loved it.

What I don't get is that in the videos you can clearly see their level of excitement which is not mirrored in their comments although I kind of see where they come from on the "too good" comment because it is simply amazing as an engineering feat.

I think McLarens are for the more discerning and sophisticated customer and you need to drive them for more than a day to truly appreciate how good they are. They are cars that grow on you rather than reveal everything on the first date and then become boring
I've seen a few of those youtube videos now and the thing they are commenting on is the lack of personality or 'event' from driving the new model. Of course McLaren has focused on making the fastest/best handling/pretty good looking car. In doing so it is probably not possible to have so much of the theatre you get in a Ferrari or TVR. I owned TVRs for many years and just sitting at the traffic lights or burbling through town is giggleworthy, McLarens don't have that. Lambos (mostly) do. Not sure how they add it without losing some of the other positive aspects of the McLarens though.

FWIW I will probably end up with another TVR alongside my 570GT at some point. I bet most 720S owners will have something else tasty and fun tucked away at home too - negating the comments by these youtubers in reality.

Yipper

5,964 posts

91 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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The Macca 720S is the VW Golf R of the supercar world. Divides opinion right down the middle. Very fast (for its class), hugely capable, but rather dull, and not all that attractive to look at.

stoatage17

119 posts

87 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Cripes, there has been a lot said here, we all have our views. I have seen most of the reviews, and thought they were all valid in the main. Steve Sutcliffe, who i really respect, thought the car was great, full stop. JWW also loved the car and found it exciting and amazing, but he has a 675LT's and he maybe wants his followers to think the LT is as good or better and more exciting. Values of LT's have fallen as some have sold to buy this astonishing car. Also these reports are based on a brief ish go in the car, and as Matt Prior(another journo I respect) said, he thinks this may be the greatest supercar in world atm, but wants to do a proper test against the 488 before he makes his judgement. Could not agree more!
Have all these reports worried me about my September arrival? Hell no, I am even more excited. I am not Lewis Hamilton, and don't want an edgy car that, because of its edginess is "rewarding" everytime you get out of it alive. I want an all purpose Supercar that can fit almost any mood/ condition and do so brilliantly, without taking any other risks apart from the mad speeds this car will achieve .
Thats my view.
PS, I thought the PistonHeads review/video was very good

Edited by stoatage17 on Wednesday 3rd May 18:10

trawler

178 posts

196 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Streetrod said:
Your comment about the "pro" guys, with the greatest respect what evidence do you have to back that statement up?
Sorry to gate crash. Reading this section because I like interesting cars, especially ones I can't afford.

Several years ago I was on a days photo shoot with the pros. They didn't drive two out of the three cars, but you would never have guessed it from the published article.

sone

4,587 posts

239 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Great car but what will be the ruin of it is when there are lots for sale in 12months time, dealers are discounting new and then 5 minutes later the convertible and LT versions appear.
If I owned a 675 Lt I wouldn't give a stuff about the 720 even if it is quicker the Lts rarity will hold it in demand while the 720 becomes an alternative to the latest turbo S Porsche.
Still like one tho!

Steve

Thom

1,716 posts

248 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Drop that new powertrain in a 570S and call it a day.

TP321

1,480 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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If EVO are not keen, and saying that the 488 is a bargain, then it's GAME OVER.


TP321

1,480 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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sone said:
Great car but what will be the ruin of it is when there are lots for sale in 12months time, dealers are discounting new and then 5 minutes later the convertible and LT versions appear.
If I owned a 675 Lt I wouldn't give a stuff about the 720 even if it is quicker the Lts rarity will hold it in demand while the 720 becomes an alternative to the latest turbo S Porsche.
Still like one tho!

Steve
Wise words.

Streetrod

6,468 posts

207 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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TP321 said:
If EVO are not keen, and saying that the 488 is a bargain, then it's GAME OVER.
I cant believe it took you so long to chime in but as per usual you bring absolutely nothing to the party.......rolleyes

TP321

1,480 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Streetrod said:
I cant believe it took you so long to chime in but as per usual you bring absolutely nothing to the party.......rolleyes
What I bring to the "party" is the certain knowledge that in the motor world, history has a habit of repeating itself. And as I have been here from the very beginning with the 12C, it's a case of deja vu....

Sink your money into it, or worse pay a premium, and you will very soon see..

The 12c was also a great car and game changer - but it was simply not exciting enough, and nor is this by the sounds of it. And looks still divide opinion.

RamboLambo

4,843 posts

171 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
Is it the autocar review that's says its worth £100k MORE.

Like us the journalists have their favourites and different views.

You can put a big exhaust on a Vauxhall Corsa and make it drift but it doesn't make it a supercar.

Personally I think the 720S is a HYPERCAR in terms of both looks and performance but at supercar money. Too good possibly
Some will get it but others will just want to shout look at me

Streetrod

6,468 posts

207 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
TP321 said:
Streetrod said:
I cant believe it took you so long to chime in but as per usual you bring absolutely nothing to the party.......rolleyes
What I bring to the "party" is the certain knowledge that in the motor world, history has a habit of repeating itself. And as I have been here from the very beginning with the 12C, it's a case of deja vu....

Sink your money into it, or worse pay a premium, and you will very soon see..

The 12c was also a great car and game changer - but it was simply not exciting enough, and nor is this by the sounds of it. And looks still divide opinion.
OK this is getting boring now. Please have the guts to answer this question.

Why do you expend so much effort in trying to pull the McLaren brand down. If you say you have been here since the 12C then that’s over seven years almost exclusively on a singular rant, please please please tell us why?


stoatage17

119 posts

87 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Yipper said:
The Macca 720S is the VW Golf R of the supercar world. Divides opinion right down the middle. Very fast (for its class), hugely capable, but rather dull, and not all that attractive to look at.
Rather dull Yipper? In what way??