Living with a McLaren 650s Spider as an (almost) daily
Discussion
jtremlett said:
So, you're using the 650 daily and the 360 is an occasional sunny Sunday morning, roof down, jaunt for the hell of it.
Only way the roof is going down on my 360 is with an angle grider 
Desert Dragon said:
I find the comparison between 360 and 650 very interesting. 650s coming across as a 2 seat 2wd 911 turbo in a Saville Row suit.
Whats 650s like to get in and out of Davek on a cold wet day? Any embarrassing or difficult moments getting in and out?
It's fine. The novelty of the doors does wear off quite quickly - but you develop a knack for getting in / out pretty quickly (I'd say getting out is easier than getting in for some reason). My car has comfort entry on the seat (goes back as far as possible when you open the door to get out), but not on the steering wheel.Whats 650s like to get in and out of Davek on a cold wet day? Any embarrassing or difficult moments getting in and out?
davek_964 said:
It's fine. The novelty of the doors does wear off quite quickly - but you develop a knack for getting in / out pretty quickly (I'd say getting out is easier than getting in for some reason). My car has comfort entry on the seat (goes back as far as possible when you open the door to get out), but not on the steering wheel.
Oops. Thought you had a Spider for some reason.davek_964 said:
I'd really like to take the 650 on a track - either at the next supercar weekend or before, and I think I'd get to know its capabilities a lot more if I did - but stories of chocolate discs and £12k replacement costs (plus the risk that it would void warranty claims) makes me a bit nervous.
You really should do it - it will change your perspective of the car. It makes a big difference getting the tyres fully warmed up on a nice asphalt track. You may not know it but on our typical concrete aggregate roads, traction control is continuously cutting power - even if the light isn't always flashing. Its like realizing your house pet is actually a TIGER.And if you're just going out to explore the capabilities and not really racing - you shouldn't have to worry about the discs. Just do a half day with a few breaks.
Edited by 12pack on Thursday 17th October 11:02
davek_964 said:
It's fine. The novelty of the doors does wear off quite quickly - but you develop a knack for getting in / out pretty quickly (I'd say getting out is easier than getting in for some reason). My car has comfort entry on the seat (goes back as far as possible when you open the door to get out), but not on the steering wheel.
Gotta say, I'm really impressed with how easy it is to get in & out of mine - once upon a time I had a VX220 which as MILES harder. It helps no end that you can sit on the sill on the way in and use the sill as a push point for your hand as you get out. I try hard to not rake myself across the seat bolster on the way in and also not to kick the dash as I swing my foot in - perfectly possible @ 6' once you are used to the car, but inexperienced passengers sometimes make me wince. The doors help too .... flip side being that you really need to open the door ALL the way up (unlike a conventional door where you can open say 75% and sneak out of the gap.
speedick said:
Gotta say, I'm really impressed with how easy it is to get in & out of mine - once upon a time I had a VX220 which as MILES harder. It helps no end that you can sit on the sill on the way in and use the sill as a push point for your hand as you get out. I try hard to not rake myself across the seat bolster on the way in and also not to kick the dash as I swing my foot in - perfectly possible @ 6' once you are used to the car, but inexperienced passengers sometimes make me wince.
The doors help too .... flip side being that you really need to open the door ALL the way up (unlike a conventional door where you can open say 75% and sneak out of the gap.
Indeed if I was to rationalize the "need" for the doors (as opposed to their simply being cool), its that while you do have to open them fully, they take less room than a fully open conventional door - which you would need to have to get over the sill. I actually prefer the 12C/650 sill vs. the newer versions, because you have the option to back into sitting on the sill before sliding in.The doors help too .... flip side being that you really need to open the door ALL the way up (unlike a conventional door where you can open say 75% and sneak out of the gap.
I've developed a habit of putting my hand against the bolster when I get in and out, so I'm not rubbing on it at all.
McLaren have told me that the leaking roof has been fixed by reseating the seal - will be tested tomorrow morning. Headlights have been adjusted - although I suspect that may not make much difference because only the passenger side was slightly low according to the mechanic, so that was the only adjustment.
Creaking dash couldn't be replicated but since they knew which panel it was, they've made sure it won't make noise again.
Mirror problem - and other niggles - couldn't be replicated.
Sounds like it will be ready to collect tomorrow. Hopefully with the points above fixed, but whether it will be niggle free, or have decent visibility at night I'm not sure yet.
McLaren have told me that the leaking roof has been fixed by reseating the seal - will be tested tomorrow morning. Headlights have been adjusted - although I suspect that may not make much difference because only the passenger side was slightly low according to the mechanic, so that was the only adjustment.
Creaking dash couldn't be replicated but since they knew which panel it was, they've made sure it won't make noise again.
Mirror problem - and other niggles - couldn't be replicated.
Sounds like it will be ready to collect tomorrow. Hopefully with the points above fixed, but whether it will be niggle free, or have decent visibility at night I'm not sure yet.
I very nearly bought a 360 spider a few years ago, and have to agree with the earlier comment. There really is no comparison, the Mac is light years ahead IMO. OK, I'm comparing to my 540, but the 360 felt big and cumbersome in comparison. The 540 feels much lighter on its feet. Much sharper
I also havent got bored of the doors yet.
Hopefully the dealer has sorted those issues properly and you can start enjoying it
I also havent got bored of the doors yet.
Hopefully the dealer has sorted those issues properly and you can start enjoying it
davek_964 said:
I've developed a habit of putting my hand against the bolster when I get in and out, so I'm not rubbing on it at all.
McLaren have told me that the leaking roof has been fixed by reseating the seal - will be tested tomorrow morning. Headlights have been adjusted - although I suspect that may not make much difference because only the passenger side was slightly low according to the mechanic, so that was the only adjustment.
Creaking dash couldn't be replicated but since they knew which panel it was, they've made sure it won't make noise again.
Mirror problem - and other niggles - couldn't be replicated.
Sounds like it will be ready to collect tomorrow. Hopefully with the points above fixed, but whether it will be niggle free, or have decent visibility at night I'm not sure yet.
I've been using my 650S Spider as a DD for four plus years now. Fortunately not had any of the issues you reference. Its been completely drama free.McLaren have told me that the leaking roof has been fixed by reseating the seal - will be tested tomorrow morning. Headlights have been adjusted - although I suspect that may not make much difference because only the passenger side was slightly low according to the mechanic, so that was the only adjustment.
Creaking dash couldn't be replicated but since they knew which panel it was, they've made sure it won't make noise again.
Mirror problem - and other niggles - couldn't be replicated.
Sounds like it will be ready to collect tomorrow. Hopefully with the points above fixed, but whether it will be niggle free, or have decent visibility at night I'm not sure yet.
Boxer50 said:
I've been using my 650S Spider as a DD for four plus years now. Fortunately not had any of the issues you reference. Its been completely drama free.
I'm hoping mine will be soon!Got the car back on Friday. Hasn't really rained much since then so can't be sure the leak is fixed - visibly, the seal still looks uneven between the roof panels so we'll see.
Also not driven down a dark road yet so the lights haven been tested either. I think the dashboard noise has gone although this morning seems to have been traded for a noise on the passenger side. Hard to say exactly where it's coming from, but I think it's roughly the passenger air vent area. If it continues, they can sort it at the service in December.
Took the car out for a run this morning - not really enough to be completely traffic free, but still managed a decent run. Great fun although I hope the speed camera signs were lying....
Still looks gorgeous.
Headlights are still crap. Maybe marginally less crap, but still crap. I don't really care whether they're pointing at the right level in whatever test they do - they are too low, and most of the light is too close to the front of the car when using high beam.
Don't know if it still leaks - it's finally stopped raining (at least, it hasn't rained very hard).
Noise from passenger side of the dash is definitely still there this morning (but as I said, that's not the noise they fixed, and that at least does seem to have gone).
And when I started the car today, it told me the rear right tyre pressure was low. I guess that's not a fault, since I was warned when I bought it that the car would start doing it as soon as it got to October. Given that it knows the pressure AND temperature of the tyres, it really should be capable of not throwing spurious error messages just because the temperature has dropped.
It's great to drive, and it looks fabulous. On the other hand, I'm not somebody who likes things being wrong with my car - and even if they're just minor niggles (or in the case of the tyres "they all do that sir") - it's a pain in the arse!
Don't know if it still leaks - it's finally stopped raining (at least, it hasn't rained very hard).
Noise from passenger side of the dash is definitely still there this morning (but as I said, that's not the noise they fixed, and that at least does seem to have gone).
And when I started the car today, it told me the rear right tyre pressure was low. I guess that's not a fault, since I was warned when I bought it that the car would start doing it as soon as it got to October. Given that it knows the pressure AND temperature of the tyres, it really should be capable of not throwing spurious error messages just because the temperature has dropped.
It's great to drive, and it looks fabulous. On the other hand, I'm not somebody who likes things being wrong with my car - and even if they're just minor niggles (or in the case of the tyres "they all do that sir") - it's a pain in the arse!
It looks like a spaceship. Reminds me of old days when Lotus was in its pomp with Esprit the sort of issues you're having. I think when you buy one of these you just have to ignore the warning lights bit like a modern day Land Rover or Ferrari product and re-adjust your expectations but it seems totally car dependent. Nice to hear on the thread others using them daily without a single fault!
davek_964 said:
IMI A said:
Nice to hear on the thread others using them daily without a single fault!
They need to start pretending they have some faults - might make me feel better davek_964 said:
And when I started the car today, it told me the rear right tyre pressure was low. I guess that's not a fault, since I was warned when I bought it that the car would start doing it as soon as it got to October.
What's that about? Are you saying you were told this is an issue with the car - or just that given that its colder outside - the pressure is now lower (PV=nRT)?12pack said:
davek_964 said:
And when I started the car today, it told me the rear right tyre pressure was low. I guess that's not a fault, since I was warned when I bought it that the car would start doing it as soon as it got to October.
What's that about? Are you saying you were told this is an issue with the car - or just that given that its colder outside - the pressure is now lower (PV=nRT)?I was told it's very common with these cars, and they have a lot of people phoning up / coming back to say there is a fault with the car - so basically, he was warning me in advance.
And sure enough..........
Even our Volvo does the tyre thing this time of year - it's very annoying - it doesn't show you the pressure just a warning. A quick pump with the foot pump cures it.
I think last year, I just put an extra PSI in. The odd thing it doesn't do all four at the same time, they came in over two weeks.
I think last year, I just put an extra PSI in. The odd thing it doesn't do all four at the same time, they came in over two weeks.
My Aston never had this problem. However, to be fair - when I hit a pothole and blew two tyres on the Aston, I got 100 yards down the road and had to stop because the car was pulling hard to the left. Got out, and found the LHS tyres were completely flat - drove another few hundred yards to find somewhere to dump the car.
Recovery came, and put the car on the back of the truck. When we got back home, reversed off the truck - and at that point, as I was about to reverse into my drive the display said : Check tyre pressures.
So maybe the Aston was a touch less sensitive than it needed to be!
Recovery came, and put the car on the back of the truck. When we got back home, reversed off the truck - and at that point, as I was about to reverse into my drive the display said : Check tyre pressures.
So maybe the Aston was a touch less sensitive than it needed to be!
davek_964 said:
IMI A said:
Nice to hear on the thread others using them daily without a single fault!
They need to start pretending they have some faults - might make me feel better However, whilst being inspected last week they determined corrosion on front wings and bonnet...now i am totally OCD when it comes to paintwork and cannot fathom where they discovered it that i didn't see it so apparently McLaren top trumps my OCD...so anyways its having them replaced this week along with the PPF whilst awaiting the workshop time.
That may annoy some but it doesn't faze me at all...means the car will come back proper mint.
They are fitting a few new carbon bits that i have bought for free as a gesture...
Result all round i feel.
The McLaren warranty is so value for money how it is utterly comprehensive especially running hand in hand with the no quibble paintwork warranty.
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