Potential 12C Purchase
Discussion
I’m looking at buying my first Mclaren. Absolute max I can afford is a 2012 12C coupe. Looking for any advice/guidance - is this an amazing machine that I will love or has the game moved on and a 5/6yr old 12C is looking tired?
Residuals seem to have stabilised to me so I don’t think I would take a bath over holding it for a few years, but keen to hear any expert views on that.
Thank you and happy new year!
Residuals seem to have stabilised to me so I don’t think I would take a bath over holding it for a few years, but keen to hear any expert views on that.
Thank you and happy new year!
Well there's plenty to choose from at the moment, and for the money there's little to compare them to. I've had two and not had anything to trouble me more than a split washer pipe and a perished rubber bush. Tons of performance, lots of positive reactions and smiles.
Some early cars were problematic, but largely the snags have been well identified and sorted. You do need a McLaren warranty if you can get one, covers for any eventuality.
There's a very useful buyer's guide put together by a 12C McOwner on here https://www.mclarenowners.org.uk/ with 330 other owners willing to help.
Some early cars were problematic, but largely the snags have been well identified and sorted. You do need a McLaren warranty if you can get one, covers for any eventuality.
There's a very useful buyer's guide put together by a 12C McOwner on here https://www.mclarenowners.org.uk/ with 330 other owners willing to help.
As you say, values have been pretty stable over the last year and are unlikely to drop further given the small numbers and collectible nature of these being the first proper road Mclarens.
Performance is realistically as much as you would ever need, especially as they have been progressively ‘upgraded’ during annual services so you would struggle to notice much difference with a 650s.
One thing you have to have, though, is a warranty. These cost £3.5k pa but Mclaren are very good about covering almost every issue under them (eg my whole hydraulic suspension was replaced this year when there was a small leak). Not worth the risk of buying, or keeping, without one.
FYI my 12c Spider (Volcano Orange) will be going up for sale shortly and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
Performance is realistically as much as you would ever need, especially as they have been progressively ‘upgraded’ during annual services so you would struggle to notice much difference with a 650s.
One thing you have to have, though, is a warranty. These cost £3.5k pa but Mclaren are very good about covering almost every issue under them (eg my whole hydraulic suspension was replaced this year when there was a small leak). Not worth the risk of buying, or keeping, without one.
FYI my 12c Spider (Volcano Orange) will be going up for sale shortly and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
Edthenova said:
I’m looking at buying my first Mclaren. Absolute max I can afford is a 2012 12C coupe. Looking for any advice/guidance - is this an amazing machine that I will love or has the game moved on and a 5/6yr old 12C is looking tired?
Owners will all tell you that residuals are strong, others perhaps not, I'd say ignore what people say and make up your own mind on whether you can afford it and if you are wrong would you be ok with it as well.I will say though given your above post and in no way am I trying to be condescending, the 12c might be £90-100k now but it is worth remembering that it has the running costs of a car twice that (which is basically what it cost new). Cost of entry isn't for me the only factor in deciding whether a car is affordable.
The car though I still think (albeit biased) is a tremendously capable car to drive and loses little to nothing vs anything else of it's type (highly electronics dependent modern sports car) even now.
isaldiri said:
Edthenova said:
I’m looking at buying my first Mclaren. Absolute max I can afford is a 2012 12C coupe. Looking for any advice/guidance - is this an amazing machine that I will love or has the game moved on and a 5/6yr old 12C is looking tired?
Owners will all tell you that residuals are strong, others perhaps not, I'd say ignore what people say and make up your own mind on whether you can afford it and if you are wrong would you be ok with it as well.I will say though given your above post and in no way am I trying to be condescending, the 12c might be £90-100k now but it is worth remembering that it has the running costs of a car twice that (which is basically what it cost new). Cost of entry isn't for me the only factor in deciding whether a car is affordable.
The car though I still think (albeit biased) is a tremendously capable car to drive and loses little to nothing vs anything else of it's type (highly electronics dependent modern sports car) even now.
As for other running costs 30mpg+ is easy on long m-way trips and insurance for my 12C is less than my daily driver Audi Avant! These are not expensive cars to run compared to other super and even sports cars as long as you renew the warranty annually.
Please look at the buyers guide as mentioned on an earlier post. You wont be disappointed the 12C is an awesome car, good luck with your search and remember there are only 280 RHD coupes and fewer spiders so its a very, very rare car compared to the competition.
Edited by Bispal on Monday 1st January 14:19
Bispal said:
The running costs are the warranty and service. £3,500 + £1,000 (ish) every year. And that is it.
Well and that's exactly my point. 1 year warranty and servicing on the 12c is roughly 2x the price of that on a car like the gt3 which does start life as a £~100k base car. And the 12c goes through quite a lot brakes faster especially OEM pads. And uses about 2x the fuel on track. isaldiri said:
Bispal said:
The running costs are the warranty and service. £3,500 + £1,000 (ish) every year. And that is it.
Well and that's exactly my point. 1 year warranty and servicing on the 12c is roughly 2x the price of that on a car like the gt3 which does start life as a £~100k base car. And the 12c goes through quite a lot brakes faster especially OEM pads. And uses about 2x the fuel on track. Bispal said:
I think that's good value for a rare supercar. Not used any brakes in my 12C, loads left after 12,00 miles and pads are not expensive at all, my 911 used loads of pads! And who cares about petrol when you are on track! I don't really understand your thinking on anything you have said so far. When you buy a McLaren you know what the warranty costs and all your costs are and you accept it. If you don't want to spend £4.5k pa running a supercar then get a 911 and spend £2,250 (or whatever), simple, just choose and get on with it but your man maths makes no sense if you are running a supercar as its an emotional purchase.
Maybe you need to drive your car harder. The oem pads last about 2 days on track and while I obviously accept the cost of petrol as one of those things while on track, when one ends up spending more on fuel alone than a summer trackday at Silverstone GP, I certainly notice it - perhaps you could care less about a £400+ fuel only bill, good for you in that case.My original post was simply to point out the second hand price of the 12c is not reflective of it's running costs. Nothing you have said so far has contradicted that and as you helpfully pointed out, the warranty and servicing are 2x that of a turbo s or Gt3. The OP explicitly stated the most he could afford was an early 12c, in that case the running costs are I think perhaps more of a factor. And as I'm actually trying to sell my early car it would in my interest to blindly parrot what you say but I actually do think it's something that is worth keeping in mind for the OP.
Edited by isaldiri on Tuesday 2nd January 10:19
neilsss2 said:
... and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
err...https://www.rybrook.co.uk/approved-used-cars/vehic...
Nano2nd said:
neilsss2 said:
... and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
err...https://www.rybrook.co.uk/approved-used-cars/vehic...
so much want!Nano2nd said:
neilsss2 said:
... and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
err...https://www.rybrook.co.uk/approved-used-cars/vehic...
At the OP
Prices seem to be fairly stable as you point out, when a lot hit the market the prices seem to drop a few thousand and when there are only a few, they stabilise. Fairly standard stuff, but as far as value for money they are great news, performance is awesome for around £100K ish (dependent on model and spec).
Running costs are a bit brutal with the warranty, service and parts cost, but honestly I don't care because I bloody love my car and I believe that I will only get one chance at life, so I will live it with a permanent smile please
. I have had little in the way of failures, mainly door lock issues, resolved with the soft close. I have had the odd gremlin, like most cars, but it is nothing really. Just be aware you will have a bill of £5K before fuel, tyres, insurance and consumables (if you track it). Oh and if you are interested in tracking, buy one with steel brakes 
.
I have tracked mine and it is just awesome, I have driven to Spain and back and guess what, yep awesome. I have driven around Scotland with 14 other McLarens and I believe it was erm, oh yes AWESOME. Most of the owners I have met are now new friends and these cars seem to get used by people and not locked up over winter.
Some must haves are sports exhaust, carbon interior, IRIS 2, (for me front and rear parking sensors), WARRANTY, PPF covering the vulnerable area's, soft close doors and then choose the colour you like (Volcano Red is the best obvs). The rest of the carbon bits are really nice to haves. I have carbon diffuser and full engine covers / bay, but not necessary IMHO.
Prices seem to be fairly stable as you point out, when a lot hit the market the prices seem to drop a few thousand and when there are only a few, they stabilise. Fairly standard stuff, but as far as value for money they are great news, performance is awesome for around £100K ish (dependent on model and spec).
Running costs are a bit brutal with the warranty, service and parts cost, but honestly I don't care because I bloody love my car and I believe that I will only get one chance at life, so I will live it with a permanent smile please
. I have had little in the way of failures, mainly door lock issues, resolved with the soft close. I have had the odd gremlin, like most cars, but it is nothing really. Just be aware you will have a bill of £5K before fuel, tyres, insurance and consumables (if you track it). Oh and if you are interested in tracking, buy one with steel brakes .I have tracked mine and it is just awesome, I have driven to Spain and back and guess what, yep awesome. I have driven around Scotland with 14 other McLarens and I believe it was erm, oh yes AWESOME. Most of the owners I have met are now new friends and these cars seem to get used by people and not locked up over winter.
Some must haves are sports exhaust, carbon interior, IRIS 2, (for me front and rear parking sensors), WARRANTY, PPF covering the vulnerable area's, soft close doors and then choose the colour you like (Volcano Red is the best obvs
). The rest of the carbon bits are really nice to haves. I have carbon diffuser and full engine covers / bay, but not necessary IMHO.Nano2nd said:
neilsss2 said:
... and will be very good value (the prices you see on PH are misleading as they aren’t selling at that level). It has 13.5k miles, is in lovely condition and will come with the extendable/transferable Warranty (currently runs to end May). I will accept £119k (which is a good £10k lower than the ones currently for sale, most of which don’t have a warranty).
err...https://www.rybrook.co.uk/approved-used-cars/vehic...
Bloody great value for such as awesome car though - almost tempted to do something stupid
garyhun said:
That’s a coupe though whereas neil has a Spider (although I know OP is looking at Coupe).
Bloody great value for such as awesome car though - almost tempted to do something stupid
ah yeah apologies missed that, i thought it seemed a bit expensive at £119k... that black one caught my eye the other day!Bloody great value for such as awesome car though - almost tempted to do something stupid
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