McLarens & Reliability
Discussion
There seems to have been a lot of discussion recently on McLarens and reliability. We have owned 7 over the past 7 years with 3 still in the garage.
From the recently article on karenable , our history is:
McLaren #1 – 2013 RHD 12C Spider: This is the only McLaren we have owned that had steel brakes. I made the mistake of washing it once and putting it away with the brake discs still wet. The right rear caliper froze on the disc and we had to flatbed it to the service center to get it released. Also upgraded the infotainment system from IRIS v1 to v2 as the v1 was pretty useless. Only other time this 12C saw the service center was for its annual service.
McLaren #2 – 2012 LHD 12C Coupe: The only issue I ever had with the 12C Coupe was a faulty left front tire sensor. I had to take the car in twice before it was finally rectified. For most of my ownership, this 12C lived in Germany and spent many high-speed hours on the autobahn.
McLaren #3 – 2014 LHD 12C Spider: The only issue we ever had with our final 12C Spider was a temperature sensor that needed replacing. The car was out of service for a day. Other than that, it only saw the dealership for its annual checkup. This 12C Spider was my daily driver for a bit over a year.
McLaren #4 – 2015 P1: We had two issues with the P1, a loose rear side turn signal light and the IRIS Infotainment System failed and needed to be replaced. Other than that, it was just routine annual service.
McLaren #5 – 2015 650S Spider: This car has been my daily driver for the last 3 ½ years. No issues and only time it has been back to the dealership is for its yearly service.
McLaren #6 – 2016 675LT Spider: This car has done a few 1,500 miles road trips and been driven hard up in the mountains. Never had a single issue and it only has seen the inside of the workshop for its annual services.
McLaren #7 – 2018 720S: Never had a single problem and it just had its first completely routine annual service.
From the recently article on karenable , our history is:
McLaren #1 – 2013 RHD 12C Spider: This is the only McLaren we have owned that had steel brakes. I made the mistake of washing it once and putting it away with the brake discs still wet. The right rear caliper froze on the disc and we had to flatbed it to the service center to get it released. Also upgraded the infotainment system from IRIS v1 to v2 as the v1 was pretty useless. Only other time this 12C saw the service center was for its annual service.
McLaren #2 – 2012 LHD 12C Coupe: The only issue I ever had with the 12C Coupe was a faulty left front tire sensor. I had to take the car in twice before it was finally rectified. For most of my ownership, this 12C lived in Germany and spent many high-speed hours on the autobahn.
McLaren #3 – 2014 LHD 12C Spider: The only issue we ever had with our final 12C Spider was a temperature sensor that needed replacing. The car was out of service for a day. Other than that, it only saw the dealership for its annual checkup. This 12C Spider was my daily driver for a bit over a year.
McLaren #4 – 2015 P1: We had two issues with the P1, a loose rear side turn signal light and the IRIS Infotainment System failed and needed to be replaced. Other than that, it was just routine annual service.
McLaren #5 – 2015 650S Spider: This car has been my daily driver for the last 3 ½ years. No issues and only time it has been back to the dealership is for its yearly service.
McLaren #6 – 2016 675LT Spider: This car has done a few 1,500 miles road trips and been driven hard up in the mountains. Never had a single issue and it only has seen the inside of the workshop for its annual services.
McLaren #7 – 2018 720S: Never had a single problem and it just had its first completely routine annual service.
I have had a 570S for 9 months and it has been perfect aside from one soft close door mechanism, which may have gotten upset with my mrs' penchant for slamming doors.
The 570 had handled DD, trips and track days with aplomb and never fails to put a smile on my face as well was just about everyone else!
The 570 had handled DD, trips and track days with aplomb and never fails to put a smile on my face as well was just about everyone else!
Really want to run a McLaren as my next car probably a 570GT but the 650S spider must also be considered given how much they’ve come down in price...the former probably the more ‘sensible’ option given they’re newer and overall cheaper to run but the open roof with basically no extra weight is compelling ...not ready to change from my V12VS yet but if I test drive a 650 I’d be afraid there would be no turning back! Drove a 570GT last yr and was well impressed.
Ok purely in the interest of balance, my 12c never had an issue for 5 years (34k miles)but in the last year of ownership, the car was not usable (i was stranded once and had to be recovered overseas which Mclaren's extended warranty did not cover) for about 5 months out of a 10 month span in the dealership waiting for warranty work.
That said I don't think the reliability of the cars is all bad but neither is it necessarily all always problem free as some seem to be suggesting.
That said I don't think the reliability of the cars is all bad but neither is it necessarily all always problem free as some seem to be suggesting.
Edited by isaldiri on Monday 18th February 22:52
isaldiri said:
Ok purely in the interest of balance, my 12c never had an issue for 5 years (34k miles)but in the last year of ownership, the car was not usable (i was stranded once and had to be recovered overseas which Mclaren's extended warranty did not cover) for about 5 months out of a 10 month span in the dealership waiting for warranty work.
That said I don't think the reliability of the cars is all bad but neither is it necessarily all always problem free as some seem to be suggesting.
Nobody is suggesting all McLarens are problem free...……….but actual real life ownership experiences, from owners, is what potential buyers should want to read...…..not enough people post positive ownership feedback...…..forums are just full of people who have suffered issues and non owners perpetuating what they've read.That said I don't think the reliability of the cars is all bad but neither is it necessarily all always problem free as some seem to be suggesting.
Edited by isaldiri on Monday 18th February 22:52
I've had no problems at all across two McLarens over 3.5 years...…..do with that what you will, but it's a fact...….
Sarnie said:
Nobody is suggesting all McLarens are problem free...……….but actual real life ownership experiences, from owners, is what potential buyers should want to read...…..not enough people post positive ownership feedback...…..forums are just full of people who have suffered issues and non owners perpetuating what they've read.
I've had no problems at all across two McLarens over 3.5 years...…..do with that what you will, but it's a fact...….
You should know better. I've had no problems at all across two McLarens over 3.5 years...…..do with that what you will, but it's a fact...….
Facts have no place on the McLaren forum!
Sarnie said:
Nobody is suggesting all McLarens are problem free...……….but actual real life ownership experiences, from owners, is what potential buyers should want to read...…..not enough people post positive ownership feedback...…..forums are just full of people who have suffered issues and non owners perpetuating what they've read.
Agree but there seems to be very little middle ground between people insisting the cars are just a ticking time bomb and those insisting because their car has been fine every other car is also fine and people are making too much of a fuss out of nothing. Reality lies somewhere in between.Sarnie said:
I've had no problems at all across two McLarens over 3.5 years...…..do with that what you will, but it's a fact...….
Sure but as per my own car, the cars are fine until they are not.... and even when my car was running perfectly for years I was very aware that there were some very problematic cars. A good friend had 2 that just continually threw up problem after problem so I would not have used my own car as being problem free as being necessarily representative of the ownership experience.Edited by isaldiri on Tuesday 19th February 00:29
2012 12C 3.5 years ownership, 3 services, 1 door lock and 1 water pump.
No warranty now, because it's not worth it IMHO. Nice to read some balance from actual owners as you only seem to get the bad news stories on here.
The most expensive item seems to be the replacement PPF every 2 years........
No warranty now, because it's not worth it IMHO. Nice to read some balance from actual owners as you only seem to get the bad news stories on here.
The most expensive item seems to be the replacement PPF every 2 years........
Reliability ... yeah, you could be fine but then again the car might spend 5 months per year at the dealers. Personally the amount of stories i've heard over the last 4 years or so is definitely cause for concern vs. stories which I didn't hear concerning rival marques.
The biggest problem though surely is getting out of a Mac ? That and the long long wait times to have stuff serviced or fixed.
The biggest problem though surely is getting out of a Mac ? That and the long long wait times to have stuff serviced or fixed.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FRi1_827TKQ
And this is why I’m holding off buying a Macca. Really don’t want to play the McLaren lottery. Heard too many stories of the appalling McLaren customer service
Hope Phil now gets this sorted out
And this is why I’m holding off buying a Macca. Really don’t want to play the McLaren lottery. Heard too many stories of the appalling McLaren customer service
Hope Phil now gets this sorted out
I’m not aware of any marque that doesn’t have a multitude of horror stories. I own a Mac, an Aston and a Tesla among others. You would think I spend all my time at services centres. But I don’t. Heck the Tesla doesn’t even need any servicing.
But at least that means fewer people will buy these cars, so that I can stand out among all those reliable Honda’s and Toyota’s.
But at least that means fewer people will buy these cars, so that I can stand out among all those reliable Honda’s and Toyota’s.
Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff