Living with a McLaren 650s Spider as an (almost) daily
Discussion
davek_964 said:
I was intending to try and get all the issues sorted at the service in December - but the list is now a bit long, and I don't want them keeping the car over Christmas / new year if I can avoid it. So I've mailed them with a list of faults this morning, and asked when I can drop the car off.
Hopefully, they can fix :
- The climate system which appears to have become sentient and no longer does what I want
- The driver side mirror which has now failed to fold out 4 times in total
- The headlight which seems to have been left slightly loose after being adjusted the last time they had it
- The fact that a candle would throw more light than high beam
- The rattle from the passenger door
Etc. etc.
3 of those items are connected to the doors. Quite common for door related elements to fail, especially AC due to the 'slam' required to close the doors. Can't remember if you have soft close fitted or not? If you don't then recommend you do, its £1k well spent. If You do have it then its obviously something else. Good luck getting the bits 'n' bibs sorted.Hopefully, they can fix :
- The climate system which appears to have become sentient and no longer does what I want
- The driver side mirror which has now failed to fold out 4 times in total
- The headlight which seems to have been left slightly loose after being adjusted the last time they had it
- The fact that a candle would throw more light than high beam
- The rattle from the passenger door
Etc. etc.
Bispal said:
3 of those items are connected to the doors. Quite common for door related elements to fail, especially AC due to the 'slam' required to close the doors. Can't remember if you have soft close fitted or not? If you don't then recommend you do, its £1k well spent. If You do have it then its obviously something else. Good luck getting the bits 'n' bibs sorted.
+1 for recommending the soft close doors.
I don't have soft close - I've never felt I needed it, since the doors seem to close OK without being slammed.
I guess it's an option - but I'm a bit reluctant to spend £1k if it's to solve the fact that the car isn't built well enough to be able to close doors normally.
I'll give it some thought.
ETA : Car is back with Ascot next week anyway - I'll ask them what they'll charge for it. Although if I do decide to get it, I may wait for the service and make sure there are no nasty surprises.
I guess it's an option - but I'm a bit reluctant to spend £1k if it's to solve the fact that the car isn't built well enough to be able to close doors normally.
I'll give it some thought.
ETA : Car is back with Ascot next week anyway - I'll ask them what they'll charge for it. Although if I do decide to get it, I may wait for the service and make sure there are no nasty surprises.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 19th November 08:42
davek_964 said:
I don't have soft close - I've never felt I needed it, since the doors seem to close OK without being slammed.
I guess it's an option - but I'm a bit reluctant to spend £1k if it's to solve the fact that the car isn't built well enough to be able to close doors normally.
I'll give it some thought.
ETA : Car is back with Ascot next week anyway - I'll ask them what they'll charge for it. Although if I do decide to get it, I may wait for the service and make sure there are no nasty surprises.
I think Thorney fit soft close doors. I guess it's an option - but I'm a bit reluctant to spend £1k if it's to solve the fact that the car isn't built well enough to be able to close doors normally.
I'll give it some thought.
ETA : Car is back with Ascot next week anyway - I'll ask them what they'll charge for it. Although if I do decide to get it, I may wait for the service and make sure there are no nasty surprises.
Edited by davek_964 on Tuesday 19th November 08:42
johnwilliams77 said:
Jeez - only a macca owner would say a thousand quid to close the doors softly is 'money well spent'......if only the doors works ok from the get go?!
I think it's unlikely I'll do it anyway - I paid attention to how I close the doors today, and they really don't slam. If that's enough to break everything, then frankly the car isn't fit for purpose. (Plus, according to Thorney's website it's £1,400 not £1000).Used the car again this morning, and although the heating system is still playing up it was only slightly playing up and mostly did what I want. Had a lovely drive into work with the roof down - it really is a brilliant car. I really hope McLaren can sort these annoying issues.
Had winter mode on this morning, and the traction did seem better than the last time I used it. I still didn't see any traction light on the dash, but reasonable acceleration was possible with no wheelspin. It is a funny mode though - it still seems ridiculously fast and would destroy the 360 in a straight line!
To be fair, at £1400 i wouldn't be rushing down to the dealer to get them fitted if my car didn't have it already, although i did just fit the McLaren titanium oil and water filler caps at a proper stupid price so who knows?
However, with your car going back in again, you may have a good bargaining chip in your top pocket.
My car ended up being at McLaren for 5 weeks for various reasons, and due to this, as a gesture, they fitted the carbon bits that i supplied (and had quoted me over £600 to fit) free of charge and also knocked cash off the warranty extension price.
If you were considering them, you may get a great deal to get soft close hinges fitted.
McLaren Glasgow have won dealer of the year for something like 4 of the last 5 years, so maybe they go the extra mile to make a client happy, but if you don't ask, you don't get....
However, with your car going back in again, you may have a good bargaining chip in your top pocket.
My car ended up being at McLaren for 5 weeks for various reasons, and due to this, as a gesture, they fitted the carbon bits that i supplied (and had quoted me over £600 to fit) free of charge and also knocked cash off the warranty extension price.
If you were considering them, you may get a great deal to get soft close hinges fitted.
McLaren Glasgow have won dealer of the year for something like 4 of the last 5 years, so maybe they go the extra mile to make a client happy, but if you don't ask, you don't get....
I would really love to own a 720 as it looks fantastic but it's just occurred to me this thread is just like the old TVR threads from years ago when we used to congratulate each other for making a lengthy journey without an engine failure, red light illuminating on the dash or body part falling off. Those cars were a quarter of the cost of most of the Macs so perhaps our forgiveness was a little more understanding and TVR's were truly hand built. I for one expect my cars to faultless especially when paying money in the hundreds of thousands. The niggles drove me away from TVR in the end I'm sure Mac would do the same. Real shame for what appears to be a fantastic product.
sone said:
I would really love to own a 720 as it looks fantastic but it's just occurred to me this thread is just like the old TVR threads from years ago when we used to congratulate each other for making a lengthy journey without an engine failure, red light illuminating on the dash or body part falling off. Those cars were a quarter of the cost of most of the Macs so perhaps our forgiveness was a little more understanding and TVR's were truly hand built. I for one expect my cars to faultless especially when paying money in the hundreds of thousands. The niggles drove me away from TVR in the end I'm sure Mac would do the same. Real shame for what appears to be a fantastic product.
Yeah, it's a real shame for you that you won't be buying a used 720 based on carping on the internet, never mind 
TB993tt said:
sone said:
I would really love to own a 720 as it looks fantastic but it's just occurred to me this thread is just like the old TVR threads from years ago when we used to congratulate each other for making a lengthy journey without an engine failure, red light illuminating on the dash or body part falling off. Those cars were a quarter of the cost of most of the Macs so perhaps our forgiveness was a little more understanding and TVR's were truly hand built. I for one expect my cars to faultless especially when paying money in the hundreds of thousands. The niggles drove me away from TVR in the end I'm sure Mac would do the same. Real shame for what appears to be a fantastic product.
Yeah, it's a real shame for you that you won't be buying a used 720 based on carping on the internet, never mind ferdi p said:
TB993tt said:
sone said:
I would really love to own a 720 as it looks fantastic but it's just occurred to me this thread is just like the old TVR threads from years ago when we used to congratulate each other for making a lengthy journey without an engine failure, red light illuminating on the dash or body part falling off. Those cars were a quarter of the cost of most of the Macs so perhaps our forgiveness was a little more understanding and TVR's were truly hand built. I for one expect my cars to faultless especially when paying money in the hundreds of thousands. The niggles drove me away from TVR in the end I'm sure Mac would do the same. Real shame for what appears to be a fantastic product.
Yeah, it's a real shame for you that you won't be buying a used 720 based on carping on the internet, never mind I hope that mine can have its niggle sorted out, because it is an excellent car - in fact, even taking the niggles into account - the most annoying thing with it is trying to avoid using it so that I can keep the mileage below 12k a year so it remains in warranty. That has to mean something!
There seem to be plenty of owners - particularly 12Cs - who are running without warranty, and think they are in a financially positive state as a result. So in general, they can't be that bad. Not sure I'd be willing to do that quite yet - but I am hoping that my niggles get sorted over winter, and I have a very exciting summer to look forward to.
TB993tt said:
sone said:
I would really love to own a 720 as it looks fantastic but it's just occurred to me this thread is just like the old TVR threads from years ago when we used to congratulate each other for making a lengthy journey without an engine failure, red light illuminating on the dash or body part falling off. Those cars were a quarter of the cost of most of the Macs so perhaps our forgiveness was a little more understanding and TVR's were truly hand built. I for one expect my cars to faultless especially when paying money in the hundreds of thousands. The niggles drove me away from TVR in the end I'm sure Mac would do the same. Real shame for what appears to be a fantastic product.
Yeah, it's a real shame for you that you won't be buying a used 720 based on carping on the internet, never mind sone said:
With respect it's a bit more than carping on the internet, its talking to people who are or have been owners!. The fact that I went and sat in a car and the door got stuck so I had to climb out the drivers side. It is being advised by technicians who work on these cars to "give it 12 months" before buying, so the gremlins get sorted ( when the 720 was first launched). It's a real shame, I want a 720 but the thought of having irritating niggles all the time would spoil the experience for me.
I've got a lovely 650 I could let you have. Never had a single issue 
ferdi p said:
Agreed, the one I bought did 17k miles in 18 months, never let the previous owner down & only niggle it had was a faulty passenger seat sensor & a cracked windscreen! Both sorted under warranty.
I had you're previous owner's second car and that is/was a somewhat different kettle of fish, in terms of both niggles and slightly more meaningful issues, so I guess as with Sone's comments regarding the TVRs (I too remember those days, love, hate relationship!) they are hand made and therefore it does seem to be slightly luck of the draw as to what you get.Charlie360 said:
ferdi p said:
Agreed, the one I bought did 17k miles in 18 months, never let the previous owner down & only niggle it had was a faulty passenger seat sensor & a cracked windscreen! Both sorted under warranty.
I had you're previous owner's second car and that is/was a somewhat different kettle of fish, in terms of both niggles and slightly more meaningful issues, so I guess as with Sone's comments regarding the TVRs (I too remember those days, love, hate relationship!) they are hand made and therefore it does seem to be slightly luck of the draw as to what you get.Did you sort the issues? Still got it?
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