Got a bee in my bonnet
Discussion
I'm not in a position to make a purchase yet, but seriously considering a 570s in a couple of years time. I imagine the initial large payout is the hardest part of ownership, but assuming that large pile of cash is available, what is the likely real cost of ownership? My thinking is that once you can get past the initial purchase price, depreciation etc. isn't a big deal over 3 or 4 years before updating/moving on etc. For example, is it likely that having forked out around £130k for a low mileage car, there would still be in excess of £100k residual? (Unless of course I put 50k miles on it!)
Has anyone here upgraded after a few years and calculated their loss? Not that I would actually see it as a 'loss' as such, more like cost per smile mile.
Has anyone here upgraded after a few years and calculated their loss? Not that I would actually see it as a 'loss' as such, more like cost per smile mile.
Hard to say, but look at the value of the earliest 12Cs now - I don't see a 570S falling much past this in the next 5 years. Could be wrong though 
Running costs are similar to other entry-level supercars. Allow £5-6k a year once the factory warranty has expired. Reliability seems to be better the newer you go (sounds like a TVR model - early customers were beta testers). Otherwise McLarens are very good on consumables such as fuel and tyres unless you're a track demon.
Running costs are similar to other entry-level supercars. Allow £5-6k a year once the factory warranty has expired. Reliability seems to be better the newer you go (sounds like a TVR model - early customers were beta testers). Otherwise McLarens are very good on consumables such as fuel and tyres unless you're a track demon.
I've worked on the values of the 570s roughly tracking their main competitors (the 911 Turbo and R8 V10), not as secure as a 'GT' Porsche but better than the R8 V8 has done. Residual values will be mostly driven by the wider economy rather than any specific 'McLaren' factor beyond that IMHO.
Servicing costs are not obscene but remember that McLarens come with a 3 year factory warranty. After that the annual warranty cost becomes a significant (and arguably essential) expense so that's something to extra to consider when looking at older cars.
Servicing costs are not obscene but remember that McLarens come with a 3 year factory warranty. After that the annual warranty cost becomes a significant (and arguably essential) expense so that's something to extra to consider when looking at older cars.
Thanks for the info to date. Did any of you owners buy with the intention to replace your model within a certain time frame to minimise your loss? If so, what sort of figures were you hoping to achieve from a sale/part exchange and in what time frame?
I wondered how the figures would compare to buying new on a finance package over a 3 or 4 year period, then handing the car back.
On another note, I currently drive a Noble M12 3R and thought a 570s would be a great natural progression from a driving perspective. Would that follow in your opinion?
I wondered how the figures would compare to buying new on a finance package over a 3 or 4 year period, then handing the car back.
On another note, I currently drive a Noble M12 3R and thought a 570s would be a great natural progression from a driving perspective. Would that follow in your opinion?
I would have said your next natural progression would be to a Lotus Evora 400, and then get the Komotec 430 upgrade....really makes the car. The other alternative and more like your Noble will be a Lotus Exige V6...both of these will give you 90% of the McLaren experience for a 1/3rd of the cost.
McLaren's are a definite step up again but have so much performance that it is difficult to really use it on the road, at least in the UK.
Day in day out, I prefer driving my Evora, but it is a fantastic contrast to get into my 12C...this year on our annual "boys" Europe road trip I am taking my Evora...
McLaren's are a definite step up again but have so much performance that it is difficult to really use it on the road, at least in the UK.
Day in day out, I prefer driving my Evora, but it is a fantastic contrast to get into my 12C...this year on our annual "boys" Europe road trip I am taking my Evora...
bernhund said:
Thanks for the info to date. Did any of you owners buy with the intention to replace your model within a certain time frame to minimise your loss? If so, what sort of figures were you hoping to achieve from a sale/part exchange and in what time frame?
I wondered how the figures would compare to buying new on a finance package over a 3 or 4 year period, then handing the car back.
I can't help you there as my 570s purchase was my first step into 'supercar' territory and was bought in full with the knowledge that it would loose money, but without any science to support any real figures of just how much or how long I'm going to keep it. 3 to 4 years from now is too difficult to predict with enough certainty to dictate anything specific IMHO. The finance figures are a decent guide for what the predicted depreciation could be and buying on finance certainly works for some people, only you will know what's the best way for you to fund such a purchase.I wondered how the figures would compare to buying new on a finance package over a 3 or 4 year period, then handing the car back.
bernhund said:
On another note, I currently drive a Noble M12 3R and thought a 570s would be a great natural progression from a driving perspective. Would that follow in your opinion?
Love the Nobles and I do think it's a natural progression to be looking at the McLaren Sports Series. As above, there is quite a lot of 'Lotus' feel in the McLaren so going via an Exige is valid but for me they are too similar to the Noble for it to be an interim step to a Sports Series.From my own experience the only way to know if its a step in the right direction from a M12 is to drive one, speak with your local McLaren dealer and get as much time behind the wheel of a 540c or 570s as you can, only then will you know if the outlay is justified.
Thank you chaps. Part of the appeal for me, apart from wanting a 'driver's car', is that I'm attracted to rare beasts. I like the fact Lotus is (was) British but I'm not attracted to their look and though I like a driver's car, the look is still important. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I also feel the difference between a well sorted Noble and an Evora etc. is probably not that significant. Most sorted 3R's are running at about 400bhp per tonne. The McLaren is British, rare (Porsches, Ferraris and Lambos everywhere) and a significant step up from the Noble...I would hope. It ticks the boxes for me.
Another thing I must consider is my age and health. I never want to stop driving mad cars, but at 51 and not massively wealthy, I can't imagine there's a long list of cars I could own in the future before money and getting in and out of them causes a problem. I'd need to get it right. Knowing the way I am, though I'd have all good intentions of updating within a few years, I'd probably end up running a McLaren for 10 years and putting 6 figures on the clock! Life's too short you see.
Another thing I must consider is my age and health. I never want to stop driving mad cars, but at 51 and not massively wealthy, I can't imagine there's a long list of cars I could own in the future before money and getting in and out of them causes a problem. I'd need to get it right. Knowing the way I am, though I'd have all good intentions of updating within a few years, I'd probably end up running a McLaren for 10 years and putting 6 figures on the clock! Life's too short you see.
RamboLambo said:
12C at circa £100k as a car to keep has got to be a strong proposition. Done virtually all of its depreciation, was ahead of its time and is easy to get in and out of IMHO and very comfortable for a supercar
I have to say, there are some very nice 12C's for sale on PH. As far as I'm aware, performance is all pretty much equal across the range of Macs except the big big money models. The 12C looks as good as the later models, but did I read somewhere about a major expense issue they have?bernhund said:
I have to say, there are some very nice 12C's for sale on PH. As far as I'm aware, performance is all pretty much equal across the range of Macs except the big big money models. The 12C looks as good as the later models, but did I read somewhere about a major expense issue they have?
McLaren doesn't borrow Fiats part bin so components are bespoke to McLaren and not cheap. Early cars were rushed onto the market and had a few small issues but on the whole these should of been cleared up by now within the original warranty period with upgrades and new software etc so a good main dealer service history is imperative.Horror stories of gearboxes etc are confined to isolated cases due to lack of use and leaky seals but the internet being the internet makes it sound like an epidemic. Again unless you are buying a 2,000 mile 6 year old garage queen this should not be an issue on a regularly used and maintained car.
If you are worried get one with a McLaren warranty.
IMHO and experience these cars are not as brittle as the competitor supercars but that's not good propaganda for them
RamboLambo said:
McLaren doesn't borrow Fiats part bin so components are bespoke to McLaren and not cheap. Early cars were rushed onto the market and had a few small issues but on the whole these should of been cleared up by now within the original warranty period with upgrades and new software etc so a good main dealer service history is imperative.
Horror stories of gearboxes etc are confined to isolated cases due to lack of use and leaky seals but the internet being the internet makes it sound like an epidemic. Again unless you are buying a 2,000 mile 6 year old garage queen this should not be an issue on a regularly used and maintained car.
If you are worried get one with a McLaren warranty.
IMHO and experience these cars are not as brittle as the competitor supercars but that's not good propaganda for them
Horror stories of gearboxes etc are confined to isolated cases due to lack of use and leaky seals but the internet being the internet makes it sound like an epidemic. Again unless you are buying a 2,000 mile 6 year old garage queen this should not be an issue on a regularly used and maintained car.
If you are worried get one with a McLaren warranty.
IMHO and experience these cars are not as brittle as the competitor supercars but that's not good propaganda for them
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