New 540 or used 12c

[Jumpingjackflash]

Good evenig,

I am considering buying my first McLaren. My choice is either a ex demo 540 with great options and three year warranty or a 12c with one year warranty. The 540 is £25k more expensive but is basically a new car. The monthly payments are the same due to PCP deal.

I can't make up my mind.

I like the 540 because it has a nicer interior, junior P1 styling, comprehensive spec and three year warranty however I might wish for the extra power and the car could still loose a chunk of money at £140k.

The 12c is lovely spec, faster, louder and may have lost most of its depreciation at £120k but worried about reliability.

Help!

[Active75]

Drive them both first. I chose the 540C. Preferred the Handling, Design, and Interior styling, Trips of 200 miles plus I find very comfortable.

[RamboLambo]

12C is better/faster car overall IMHO and will cost you far less to run over say 3 years even with an annual warranty added in if that's a concern.

Don't get me wrong I own both a 650S Spider and a 570S coupe but if I had to choose one it would be the SUPER series car for sure

[Jumpingjackflash]

Hello RamboLambo,

Can you tell me why you prefer the Super Series than the Sports series?

Thank you

[JiggyJaggy]

The MP4 is super quick. Personally reliability has not been an issue on the MP4. You will love either car.

[theRossatron]

You looking at Mclaren Glasgow?

I doubt you'll find the 540C lacking in power, I might be lame but I still find it up in the slightly terrifying scale.

[Jumpingjackflash]

I have three cars and juggling them is a becoming a real pain. I was thinking of turning three into one special car.

[RamboLambo]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Hello RamboLambo,

Can you tell me why you prefer the Super Series than the Sports series?

Thank you

Cars are quite different in character. Super series is definitely the next level up in terms of performance, comfort and luxury and a great all rounder.
Sports series feels more like a go kart and a bit more playful at lower speed. Definitely not engineered to the same level and it feels this is where they have saved a load of money - personally I don't mind a bit more noise, a bumpier ride and sense of speed but the missus doesn't and she only ever comes out in the 650S as she feels the 570S is the cheaper, less luxurious / poorer quality car. I know what she means and TBH I don't mind as it allows me to drive the 570S, lets say, a bit more enthusiastically without a screaming passenger.

Both great cars but you definitely have to drive them for a good period of time to realise the differences. 650S has a lot more grunt ( torque ) than the 12C so maybe the performance gap will be a little less noticeable 12C to 540 than 650s to 570S although the figures suggest its similar. The 570S is no slouch but I can definitely drive the 650s a lot faster on the exact same roads. Its ballistic in comparison

If you can find a good spec low mileage used 12C I think it will cost you less to own than a new lower spec 540 and have a bit more kudos.

Either way, whatever your end preference is, you will have one hell of a car. At the same price point McLaren blows the competition away IMHO.

A friend of mine recently bought a F430 coupe over a 12C purely for the sound and badge and openly admits that and agrees its inferior as a product
It really winds him up when people think mine is a £2m P1 lol

[Jumpingjackflash]

I have driven both cars and still can't decide. The test route is too short. I mentioned this to dealer but can't go further for insurance reasons. So they said.

Why do you think it will be cheaper to own?

Why do you think the 12c is better quality? I felt the 540 felt newer and better built.

I appreciate your feedback.

[RamboLambo]

Everyone sees it differently and you have to go with your gut feel rather than be swayed by others unless of course there is a massive wave of opinion telling you not to do it. The used 12C v new 540 debate will not be conclusive for sure. Whichever one makes you feel good is the right one but undoubtedly the 540 has far more to lose in value than a used 12C whose depreciation curve has bottomed out.

If you could make it work financially I would recommend going for a later 12C spider. Cars were well sorted by then and dropping the roof just heightens the experience with no compromise with a metal folding roof and carbon tub. Its almost 3 cars in 1

[naboo]

Jumpingjackflash said:

I have driven both cars and still can't decide. The test route is too short. I mentioned this to dealer but can't go further for insurance reasons. So they said.

Why do you think it will be cheaper to own?

Why do you think the 12c is better quality? I felt the 540 felt newer and better built.

I appreciate your feedback.

I doubt there's any difference in build quality although the smoother ride of the 12c may well give that impression. The lower sills on the 540's make access a lot easier and the revised doors take up less room which is a plus too especially with parking/garage spaces. My guess would be the 540's going to be cheaper to run, if only by virtue of the it being a younger car, all round I'd say it's the easiest of the bunch to live with on a daily basis. Tough call... ask for a longer test run, check service prices with a dealer, try and get a few more owners to tell all...

[Porsche911R]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Hello RamboLambo,

Can you tell me why you prefer the Super Series than the Sports series?

Thank you

They drive themselves lol most people like easier cars to drive which do everything.

I would take a 570s every day of the week over the superseries they are move involving to drive.

[The Surveyor]

The 12c has the prestige of being a 'super series' car albeit an older one, the 540c is the very bottom rung of the ladder. Bearing in mind the 540c won't be 'new' once you've driven it, youre left with choice between a used 12c or a used 540c. All of which would support the 12c.

Saying that, I bought a new 570s and haven't regretted it for a second...

[Jumpingjackflash]

Independent testing has shown that the performance figures for the 540 & 570 are a lot closer than the official figures. Top gear Magazine timed the 570 & 540 0-100mph. The official figures should suggest a one second difference however it was 6.1 and 6.3 seconds. There was only half a second 0-124mph. My dealer mentioned the torque curve on the 540 is "steeper" and therefore feels every bit is quick and easier in Traffic.

The 540 also has steal brakes which will be a lot lot cheaper to replace. The ceramics on a 570 are £13k!!!

[naboo]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Independent testing has shown that the performance figures for the 540 & 570 are a lot closer than the official figures. Top gear Magazine timed the 570 & 540 0-100mph. The official figures should suggest a one second difference however it was 6.1 and 6.3 seconds. There was only half a second 0-124mph. My dealer mentioned the torque curve on the 540 is "steeper" and therefore feels every bit is quick and easier in Traffic.

The 540 also has steal brakes which will be a lot lot cheaper to replace. The ceramics on a 570 are £13k!!!

I've driven 540/570, couldn't really tell the difference, one was orange, one grey! The 570GT has the steel brakes too btw... I had no idea the ceramics cost that much!!!

[Jumpingjackflash]

I was interested in a Ferrari 599 until I found out the ceramic breaks are £15k. Ceramic breaks were supposed to last a lifetime but they do not.

Andreas Preuninger Of Porsche said if you buy a GT3 for track work buy it with steel breaks due to the cost of replacing them. I'm sure the video is on YouTube.

[MOD500]

Was in same postion last Nov and went dealer demo 540. I reckon ask for longer test drive in both, you're spending big money and should be afforded proper wheel time in both

[Bispal]

I own a 12C and have driven the 570s & GT lots. I prefer the 12C, I prefer the looks inside and out. The 570/540 feels better at lower speeds, the gearbox is smoother and faster so it gives a nice initial impression. However by 40mph the difference has gone. The 12C is very very quick at the top end, a bit quicker than a 570 which is very quick too. I think the 12C has finished depreciating while the 540C will. A used 12C will have niggles so you need to keep buying the warranty. If you buy a 12C get the 2nd year warranty at a discount £2,500 instead of £3,500. Then factor in that £3,500 every year as you would be either foolish or a billionaire to run a 12C without a warranty, or a 540C for that matter.

Saying that its a personal choice and probably comes down to looks, neither is a wrong choice. Good luck with your search.

[SimonOcean]

I was also considering whether to buy a 570S or a 12C. I ended up buying the 12C. I particularly love the active aero on the 12C. It really is fun to see it working - popping up fast, and retracting equally fast as you brake into a bend. I find myself late braking just for the fun of seeing it work. Obviously you have to be careful / aware of other road users when you are playing around like this as you are travelling at a gazzillion miles and hour and they don't necessary expect you to appear from nowhere.

[The Surveyor]

naboo said:

Jumpingjackflash said:

Independent testing has shown that the performance figures for the 540 & 570 are a lot closer than the official figures. Top gear Magazine timed the 570 & 540 0-100mph. The official figures should suggest a one second difference however it was 6.1 and 6.3 seconds. There was only half a second 0-124mph. My dealer mentioned the torque curve on the 540 is "steeper" and therefore feels every bit is quick and easier in Traffic.

The 540 also has steal brakes which will be a lot lot cheaper to replace. The ceramics on a 570 are £13k!!!

I've driven 540/570, couldn't really tell the difference, one was orange, one grey! The 570GT has the steel brakes too btw... I had no idea the ceramics cost that much!!!

The ceramic brakes are supposed to last upto 100k miles, but regardless if you are buying a performance car you're better paying for the performance additions rather than the cosmetic. When I was looking, there was a dealer-spec 540c with MSO special paint, carbon bits, an enhanced leather interior which had a higher price than I paid for my dealer spec 570s. So steel brakes and the lower spec engine but for more money... why, and who would?

I also didn't buy a 540c because one day, I may want to sell it on and the 570s will hold it's value better than the 540c.