First McLaren

[BlackR8]

Palmball said:

I stumbled across McLaren a few weeks ago after inadvertently going out in a 570S when initially going to look at something else at an independent. It blew me away to be honest, the other car (Italian and red) didn't even get a look in.

Afterwards, at a main dealer, I also insisted I needed a 24hr+ test drive because I'm a fussy f*cker and, after a being used to relatively good engineering precision from the German brands, I needed to make sure this British kit car was up to scratch before pushing the button. I was surprised how difficult it was to get my local dealer to agree to this. I buy a lot of cars and am well versed in how to behave as a serious buyer but I was apparently the first person ever to ask for such a thing with my local dealer. In the end we reached an agreement and I got my extended test drive, but it was not easy....worked out for them in the end as I bought a car from them. Hatfield are not my local dealer, and I hear they are decent so you may have better luck there.

So far so good. It's my daily driver yet nothing has broken, dropped off or stopped working. The brand has this reputation of flakiness and I'm just waiting for it to live up to this....coming from all sorts of Porsches, BMW's, Audi's and Mercs it's fair to say my expectations of the McLaren brand are low but it has exceeded my expectations, in most areas.

Everything would point to the newer cars being the best made / least problematic so my view is to buy the newest you can afford (even at the expense of miles) and then just get on and enjoy a level of driving interaction that is probably unsurpassed elsewhere.

Thanks for the insight. I think i will have to try my luck with the dealer and see what they say.
Looking right across the range there is something really appealing about a 12c or 650s at their current price points but don't want to go for the best value proposition at the expense of missing out on the advancement and different driving dynamics that come with the 570s. Only way to tell is drive them back to back

[Palmball]

mickpsu said:

Yep, I’m having what I would call some niggles, but can be forgiven. Interior trim rattling, DAB radio poor, clunking sound from rear, intermittent window closing issue, plus some other stuff. It’s going into McBristol next month to get the issues sorted.

Did you once have an XKR-S? I think we exchanged messages some years ago.

Good memory, yes I did! Really liked that car too, still remember it very fondly. Always had a feeling of it wanting to kill you

Sounds like a couple your issues can now be crossed off the list which is good news.

Interesting you mention rattles as that's one area I was most concerned about because I have some kind of mental problem and simply cannot cope with them (really, I do wish I wasn't like this). So much so I have educated myself how to tear cars apart to fix them, and I have all sorts of (bloody expensive) noise cancelling products and lubricants to help with the job.

I've been very lucky with the 570S as there have been very few noises - both doors needed a bit of titivating with cables in the doors banging on the inner skin, so I've had both door trims off to fix them. Being experienced in this across many car brands, it has showed that even in comparison to the Audi R8's (which were also subjected to fair bit of fettling), the McLaren is actually very well and logically constructed. I was genuinely impressed with how it's put together.

So, if anyone ever wants to know how to remove the door trims on a 570S....I can help

[anonymous-user]

Palmball said:

Good memory, yes I did! Really liked that car too, still remember it very fondly. Always had a feeling of it wanting to kill you

I also had an XKR-S in French Racing Blue. Yep, it came close to killing me, when in the wet it would get it's tail out far too easily. I feel much safer in the 720s than the Jag. The Jag was f'ing dangerous (but fun).

[M838T]

TB993tt said:

Mine does this quite often, I'm pretty sure it is the sensor/system which is designed to stop you trapping your fingers in it which is just a bit too sensitive and causes it to shut off like you say, I lean my body away to the left if this happens and that seems to do the trick

This is indeed the finger trap sensors which can be overly sensitive, to save opening up the car to turn on the ignition again....

Press and hold the hidden finger pad door lock sensor in upper panel of side intake (12C/650/675 and early Sport Series) or press hold the hidden round lock button in upper side of side intake (later sport series and 720) - this will put the window up without having to get back in the car. I think 720 remotes may the window raise function, press and hold the lock button.

Factory are aware of the issue and looking into improvements, as they are with other well known niggles. A lot of work has been taking place recently in Woking to sort out well known issues before cars leave the gate.

[anonymous-user]

CyCy said:

Doesn't even have to be cold. Just for a long enough period for the: "Aero" button and your Active mode selections to go back to default when restarting the car, which would mean the airbrake goes, by default, back into its automatic setting, thereby dropping when you set off.

Was usually overnight for me, but I did get it sometimes when leaving parking lots, or driving off from street parking if I'd been out to dinner or lunch.

Let me know how you get on!

What a star! You are correct, the clunk is the active spoiler dropping back into the parked position. Watched it this morning. Thats one niggle off the snagging list. It was the most concerning thing I had on my list as I thought it may be a mechnical issue with brakes or engine. Can sleep easy at night now. Thank you very much.

[CyCy]

mickpsu said:

What a star! You are correct, the clunk is the active spoiler dropping back into the parked position. Watched it this morning. Thats one niggle off the snagging list. It was the most concerning thing I had on my list as I thought it may be a mechnical issue with brakes or engine. Can sleep easy at night now. Thank you very much.

No worries dude. There are those concerns, then there's me, who always panicked assuming I left some sort of crap on the roof and it's just gone crashing into the spoiler, until I learned better

[RBT0]

Gents,
Need a bit of help re insurance (570S).

Aviva didnt want to quote
Classicline insurance >£1,500 - tracker required (according to the agent on the phone) but not clearly stated on policy (it says immobiliser or tracker)
Admiral >£1,200 - no tracker required but agent was not 100% sure...

Any suggestions? Quotes seems high to me? Any suggestions?

Did they quote for a 600LT or 720S? Lol

[av185]

NFU take some beating.

Most of my cars with them.

[dsl2]

570 Spider now less than £700 with Admiral, 47yrs old no claims ever Countryside postcode.

If you have no comparable car experience its likely going to be loaded for the first year to the £1200-£1500 mark.

[RBT0]

I have 9yrs no claim of which 4 and a half on a 981 Cayman GTS. Not countryside, small town.

[dsl2]

I came out of a (boring!) 981 Boxster GTS & despite lots of (Winning championships with no crashes!) racing experience in higher power to weight cars my first year was circa £1100 with Admiral for that reason as I understand it.

Still considering the price of the cars & associated repair costs, not too bad even at that.

[RBT0]

Thanks for these insights, not sure if they can track what car I’ve driven in the past but makes sense.

Now tell me, seriously next year is ir going to drop? Suspect need to change insurer at least...

[355spiderguy]

Admiral for me with 650spider for around £680..it went to that as if i brought another vehicle they could offer a multi car discount...it was a cheaper price for the other vehicle than i had been paying also.

They weren't fussed about a tracker.

[av185]

If you must use Admiral make sure you get confirmation in writing you are free to use an official McLaren dealer for any work in the event of a claim as they tend to favour cheap unofficial back street places.

Also make sure you specify ALL the optional extras on the car and confirm in writing preferably with a copy invoice of the the cars on the road cost new.

A bit of research will pay dividends and go in with your eyes wide open as it is quite clear that Admiral and the like are geared up for mainstream stuff and are basically clueless about higher end vehicles.

[The Surveyor]

av185 said:

NFU take some beating.

…..

Ditto here. My 570s is covered by NFU. I would certainly give them a call.

[av185]

The Surveyor said:

av185 said:

NFU take some beating.

…..

Ditto here. My 570s is covered by NFU. I would certainly give them a call.

I use a local NFU broker who provides an excellent service and also beat the initial insurance quote from NFUs main office.

[anonymous-user]

av185 said:

If you must use Admiral make sure you get confirmation in writing you are free to use an official McLaren dealer for any work in the event of a claim as they tend to favour cheap unofficial back street places.

It is illegal for any insurance company to force you to use their own preferred repair shop. They will try to coerce by saying that they won't provide a courtesy car whilst it is being repaired, but inevitably it is the repair shop which will provide the courtesy car anyway. Always use the proper dealer network for repairs, irrespective of what make and model it is.

[anonymous-user]

RBT0 said:

Gents,
Need a bit of help re insurance (570S).

Aviva didnt want to quote
Classicline insurance >£1,500 - tracker required (according to the agent on the phone) but not clearly stated on policy (it says immobiliser or tracker)
Admiral >£1,200 - no tracker required but agent was not 100% sure...

Any suggestions? Quotes seems high to me? Any suggestions?

Did they quote for a 600LT or 720S? Lol

I'm paying £2,300 PA for the 720S. It is a comprehensive cover which allows me to drive any other car with full cover (not just third party).

[CTE]

Mannings are very competitive and include unlimited trackdays and you don`t have to notify them...and service nice and personal. Similar to NFU pricing.

[Nomal]

RBT0 said:

Thanks for these insights, not sure if they can track what car I’ve driven in the past but makes sense.

Now tell me, seriously next year is ir going to drop? Suspect need to change insurer at least...

Just renewed with Admiral my 570S just over £800.00 no tracker full NCB .