Living with a McLaren 650s Spider as an (almost) daily
Discussion
davek_964 said:
ferdi p said:
IMI A said:
Makes sense to me and totally intuitive. One door cf and closes like its plastic the other ali or steel with typical porsche thunk!
Most have soft-close so they close like a modern kitchen drawer!
Just a little Ferrari joke !!
btw, I had the soft close hinges fitted at my 1st service on my old 650, my wife needed them unfortunately!
IMI A said:
Well its been written and spoken about re CGT by Porsche themselves. One mans nonsense another mans opinion 
Well I don't want to further hijack davek's thread and I really try not to be a prat to people who don't ask for it (you know who I'm referring to usually on another part of ph ) but.....I am lucky enough to have the car under discussion and know about 6 other owners offhand and lack of build quality is pretty much the last criticism one would level at that car. Build quality is imo a bit more than about how a door thunks shut...isaldiri said:
IMI A said:
Well its been written and spoken about re CGT by Porsche themselves. One mans nonsense another mans opinion
Well I don't want to further hijack davek's thread and I really try not to be a prat to people who don't ask for it (you know who I'm referring to usually on another part of ph ) but.....I am lucky enough to have the car under discussion and know about 6 other owners offhand and lack of build quality is pretty much the last criticism one would level at that car. Build quality is imo a bit more than about how a door thunks shut...
I only mentioned it as an example of recalibrating what we think good build quality is especially with new construction techniques and use of lw materials as in many ways the Mcls are the CGTs for the masses and owners may perhaps have to recalibrate what they believe constitutes good build quality.. Again pls do not read too much into this as I’m talking more about the carbon tub and it’s associated benefits at the heart of the car. I know the tubs themselves are very different. I spent a fair bit of time sitting down with carbotech in 2008/9 in Austria looking at their then new carbon tub manufacturing tech as they were thinking about listing.
Any way back on topic it doesn’t sound like Davek is a million miles away from an amazing car experience. It’s a shame Mcl can’t seem to improve by 10-20%. It’s just the last mile where they seem to let themselves down a bit but that final mile is the most important. Sounds like 2018 and 2019 720s coming out of the factory 100% sorted so that’s good to hear.
PS when can I have a p ride
davek_964 said:
But for some reason, I still don't know how long I'll keep the car. I still don't want to sell the Ferrari - even though I've only used it once in the last 2 months (I should probably check it's still in the garage!). I'm not sure why this is - the car is brilliant - if you ignore the niggles it's had - it should be a car that I want to keep until it (or I) disintegrate from old age. But I haven't reached that point yet.
It might be the cost. I sank a lot of my capital into the car, and I'm aware that it's value is dropping faster than a Boeing 737 - but I knew that before I bought it, so I don't really think it's that. Maybe it's that I'm worried about the running costs - most things are "free" other than the servicing - but that's because of the warranty, which isn't exactly cheap. But again, I knew that - and the warranty is paid until August 2021 so I'm not really expecting any nasty surprises for almost 2 years - and if I decide that's too much, I could swap to Thorney which is half the cost.
Maybe I just haven't had the car long enough to properly fall for it. I can't imagine selling it - I can't think of anything that could replace it - so in that respect, I guess I do appreciate it. But that magical spark that some cars have (including my recently neglected 360) is still missing for me. I hope it turns up soon.
Could there be an element of rose tinted spectacles regarding the 360? Try switching cars for a week.It might be the cost. I sank a lot of my capital into the car, and I'm aware that it's value is dropping faster than a Boeing 737 - but I knew that before I bought it, so I don't really think it's that. Maybe it's that I'm worried about the running costs - most things are "free" other than the servicing - but that's because of the warranty, which isn't exactly cheap. But again, I knew that - and the warranty is paid until August 2021 so I'm not really expecting any nasty surprises for almost 2 years - and if I decide that's too much, I could swap to Thorney which is half the cost.
Maybe I just haven't had the car long enough to properly fall for it. I can't imagine selling it - I can't think of anything that could replace it - so in that respect, I guess I do appreciate it. But that magical spark that some cars have (including my recently neglected 360) is still missing for me. I hope it turns up soon.
Secondly, see how you feel after summer 2020. If you still aren't smitten with the McLaren, then it isn't right for you.
I can also confirm that my 720S is rock solid with no rattles or squeaks. It's had zero faults, errors, glitches etc in 16 months from new. Simply no issues at all. (Inaccurate fuel gauge aside.)
I’m sure other will chime in, but on my 650s:
Squeaks=0
Rattles=0
Headlights=not as good as the Tesla, but better than the Aston.
Door close with a nice thunk (my son always slams them and I have to remind him about the soft close).
Davek if you’re ever in the Manchester area, I’d love to take you out on a spirited drive... And I’d keep an eye on that tyre - you might have a slow puncture.
Squeaks=0
Rattles=0
Headlights=not as good as the Tesla, but better than the Aston.
Door close with a nice thunk (my son always slams them and I have to remind him about the soft close).
Davek if you’re ever in the Manchester area, I’d love to take you out on a spirited drive... And I’d keep an eye on that tyre - you might have a slow puncture.
So, today I decided it was time I forced myself to use this again:
Didn't get a decent run in, was stuck behind slow cars - although it definitely is the case that the steering is faster which I like.
On the other hand, it seems the windscreen washer has failed since I last used it. The Ferrari has been mostly reliable in the time I've owned it. Maybe the niggles are catching!
Didn't get a decent run in, was stuck behind slow cars - although it definitely is the case that the steering is faster which I like.
On the other hand, it seems the windscreen washer has failed since I last used it. The Ferrari has been mostly reliable in the time I've owned it. Maybe the niggles are catching!
Only used the 650 a couple of times last week - didn't use it at all at the weekend, and so today was the first I'd used it since Thursday last week. At least my plan to keep my mileage down slightly seems to be working.
The roof does seem leak free now - I'm surprised, but pleasantly so. And in fact, the car has remained mostly problem free so far.
It does seem to have developed a squeaking door today. It was fine first thing this morning, but now when I initially try to lift the door it squeaks quite badly from the bottom of the strut. It also feels a little like the door is reluctant to initially lift - as if it's being held down. I guess the strut might need replacing. It might be possible to squirt some lube on the strut I guess - I'll take a look at the weekend if I don't get a chance before.
I also noticed something odd with IRIS. I am using a USB stick and noticed that some of my albums were missing when I browse by artist. If I browse by album I can find them - it seems that it doesn't like something with the tagging, so about a dozen albums are listed under artist "The Music". A couple of them are compilations, but most aren't.
If I go back to using my ipod - which is using the same MP3 files - the artists are there, so that seems happy with the tagging. But for some reason, if I use an ipod then music doesn't seem to play again when I get in the car - it remembers the track but I have to tell it to play - but with a USB drive it simply works. Now that I know it isn't listing everything under artist, I can just browse the directory structure which works fine.
The door squeak is very minor - but annoying. A car that keeps having issues - combined with the fact that it's dark and raining (or at least wet) when I leave for work each morning, means that the inclination to use it gets less each day.
I think I own an amazing supercar. And at the same time, I'm finding it a pain in the arse. Every issue I've had is trivial - the squeaking door is hardly major, especially if it's just the strut. But I think it's more annoying that it's always a different issue. If it had one problem, then it could be fixed - even if it took several attempts. When it keeps having different problems, it makes it seem like it's just badly built and is never going to be problem free. But hopefully, I'm wrong about that.......
The roof does seem leak free now - I'm surprised, but pleasantly so. And in fact, the car has remained mostly problem free so far.
It does seem to have developed a squeaking door today. It was fine first thing this morning, but now when I initially try to lift the door it squeaks quite badly from the bottom of the strut. It also feels a little like the door is reluctant to initially lift - as if it's being held down. I guess the strut might need replacing. It might be possible to squirt some lube on the strut I guess - I'll take a look at the weekend if I don't get a chance before.
I also noticed something odd with IRIS. I am using a USB stick and noticed that some of my albums were missing when I browse by artist. If I browse by album I can find them - it seems that it doesn't like something with the tagging, so about a dozen albums are listed under artist "The Music". A couple of them are compilations, but most aren't.
If I go back to using my ipod - which is using the same MP3 files - the artists are there, so that seems happy with the tagging. But for some reason, if I use an ipod then music doesn't seem to play again when I get in the car - it remembers the track but I have to tell it to play - but with a USB drive it simply works. Now that I know it isn't listing everything under artist, I can just browse the directory structure which works fine.
The door squeak is very minor - but annoying. A car that keeps having issues - combined with the fact that it's dark and raining (or at least wet) when I leave for work each morning, means that the inclination to use it gets less each day.
I think I own an amazing supercar. And at the same time, I'm finding it a pain in the arse. Every issue I've had is trivial - the squeaking door is hardly major, especially if it's just the strut. But I think it's more annoying that it's always a different issue. If it had one problem, then it could be fixed - even if it took several attempts. When it keeps having different problems, it makes it seem like it's just badly built and is never going to be problem free. But hopefully, I'm wrong about that.......
Used the 650 again today - didn't actually want to, since the roads were wet when I left but for various reasons it was simpler.
As it happens, the main roads were completely dry which was a nice surprise - and I got a nice clear run in, which made me feel a bit more positive about the car.
Decided I needed to clear my head at lunchtime, so decided I needed petrol and would........ enjoy the journey there and back. I am conscious of the fact that the roads are pretty cold, and my traction control is crap - but even so, that was fun. I think I might need petrol again soon - it doesn't half burn the stuff at 70mph........
As it happens, the main roads were completely dry which was a nice surprise - and I got a nice clear run in, which made me feel a bit more positive about the car.
Decided I needed to clear my head at lunchtime, so decided I needed petrol and would........ enjoy the journey there and back. I am conscious of the fact that the roads are pretty cold, and my traction control is crap - but even so, that was fun. I think I might need petrol again soon - it doesn't half burn the stuff at 70mph........
Ha, I'd say it must have got under your skin a little bit and you must be enjoying it given the excuses you're finding to use it so much and the unscheduled trips to get fuel in your lunch break...
I appreciate the niggles must be frustrating though and doesn't seem to be anything major, just lots of little ones here and there, which possible gets more annoying when you just want everything to work and no issues - then I can imagine you would really fall for it properly, but this is probably holding you back a little at the moment. You're probably more sensitive to some of the niggles now too as looking out for things that you may not previously notice as much.
Hopefully you can get everything ironed out soon enough though in the December service and then you can be fully immersed in the driving and ownership experience.
I appreciate the niggles must be frustrating though and doesn't seem to be anything major, just lots of little ones here and there, which possible gets more annoying when you just want everything to work and no issues - then I can imagine you would really fall for it properly, but this is probably holding you back a little at the moment. You're probably more sensitive to some of the niggles now too as looking out for things that you may not previously notice as much.
Hopefully you can get everything ironed out soon enough though in the December service and then you can be fully immersed in the driving and ownership experience.
Yep, overall it is positive.
But when I left work the damn mirror failed to fold out again. Third time, very irritating.
It seemed like the window was slow dropping too, almost like the driver side was slow waking up, and just didn't have enough time to get the mirror out more than a little bit before the waking up / door open sequence finished.
I'll pay more attention each time I get in the car now to see exactly what happens next time.
But when I left work the damn mirror failed to fold out again. Third time, very irritating.
It seemed like the window was slow dropping too, almost like the driver side was slow waking up, and just didn't have enough time to get the mirror out more than a little bit before the waking up / door open sequence finished.
I'll pay more attention each time I get in the car now to see exactly what happens next time.
Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 6th November 17:58
Quick wash of the car, and found slight play in the passenger headlight. Might be coincidence I guess - but that is the one that was adjusted last month...... On the other hand, the lights are so crap that I suppose it doesn't really matter if they're moving around of their own accord........
Does look damn good clean though - hopefully it will stay dry tonight and tomorrow.
I've actually decided that I need to use the car more than I was planning, at least until the service. I want to find every niggle it has (and the list is getting longer) - and I want them fixed when they are servicing the car!
Does look damn good clean though - hopefully it will stay dry tonight and tomorrow.
I've actually decided that I need to use the car more than I was planning, at least until the service. I want to find every niggle it has (and the list is getting longer) - and I want them fixed when they are servicing the car!
Well, despite getting repeatedly annoyed with the niggles - and I really am! - this is the reality of owning this car:
I was supposed to work from home today. But having given the car a quick wash last night, it was gleaming. It stayed dry over night, and the roads were dry. So although it was dark, I had to scrape ice off the windscreen, the car was repeatedly telling me the roads were icy so I couldn't go fast anyway - I decided I'd rather work in the office today, purely so I could drive the car. I even considered turning around when I got to work so I could enjoy the drive back and still work from home, but decided that was a step too far!
Bit damp from the condensation / melting ice - but I know I don't post enough pics so :
Recieved a mail from McLaren Ascot yesterday, about an organised breakfast run in a few weeks time - looking forward to that (assuming it's not monsoon weather, which it often seems to be this Autumn!)
I was supposed to work from home today. But having given the car a quick wash last night, it was gleaming. It stayed dry over night, and the roads were dry. So although it was dark, I had to scrape ice off the windscreen, the car was repeatedly telling me the roads were icy so I couldn't go fast anyway - I decided I'd rather work in the office today, purely so I could drive the car. I even considered turning around when I got to work so I could enjoy the drive back and still work from home, but decided that was a step too far!
Bit damp from the condensation / melting ice - but I know I don't post enough pics so :
Recieved a mail from McLaren Ascot yesterday, about an organised breakfast run in a few weeks time - looking forward to that (assuming it's not monsoon weather, which it often seems to be this Autumn!)
Dave’s, read this thread on McLaren Life, it references someone adjusting headlamps on a 12C. I know the 650 has different lights but worth you looking if there is anything similar on your car
https://www.mclarenlife.com/threads/adjusting-head...
https://www.mclarenlife.com/threads/adjusting-head...
Thanks!
I had found a similar thread on there which seemed to imply that low beam can be adjusted, but high beam can't - but I'd not found that one. I'll take a look later.
Since I'm posting anyway, quick update :
Didn't use the car much over the weekend - was intending to go on a small Ferrari meet on Sunday (but probably in the McLaren) but although it was a gorgeous day in the end, it wasn't when I woke up at 5.30am - so I cancelled the alarm and went back to sleep.
I must admit, that part of the reason I didn't go was mileage concern. I have hit 2k since buying the car in August - I have a 250 mile round trip this coming Sunday which I'll probably use the McLaren for (although if I can't find an end space in the car park, we're going to have a problem!), and another ~100 mile round trip for a McLaren run the following weekend.
I don't really care about the mileage of the car - my assumption is it's going to be worth 50p if / when I come to sell it anyway, so if it's only worth 45p because it's got more miles on it - who cares. I don't care about the insurance either, since I can simply increase it - but the extended warranty is limited to 12k miles a year so I simply can't go over that - which is becoming frustrating.
I avoided using it for work yesterday (wet roads when I left, hence I stuck to the rules and used the Cayenne) - but did have to nip to the shops in the evening. Very short journey, but drove back with the roof down which was lovely - enough so that I used the 650 this morning and put the roof down again. Lovely run in - although the cleaner saw me arrive and has told me I'm insane for driving with the roof down in November.
Minor glitch the other day - no sound from IRIS. Second time it's done it, and had to reset it to get sound back. Need to be careful with that actually - I'd been driving for a while before noticing I had no sound and that means no speed camera warnings!
I had found a similar thread on there which seemed to imply that low beam can be adjusted, but high beam can't - but I'd not found that one. I'll take a look later.
Since I'm posting anyway, quick update :
Didn't use the car much over the weekend - was intending to go on a small Ferrari meet on Sunday (but probably in the McLaren) but although it was a gorgeous day in the end, it wasn't when I woke up at 5.30am - so I cancelled the alarm and went back to sleep.
I must admit, that part of the reason I didn't go was mileage concern. I have hit 2k since buying the car in August - I have a 250 mile round trip this coming Sunday which I'll probably use the McLaren for (although if I can't find an end space in the car park, we're going to have a problem!), and another ~100 mile round trip for a McLaren run the following weekend.
I don't really care about the mileage of the car - my assumption is it's going to be worth 50p if / when I come to sell it anyway, so if it's only worth 45p because it's got more miles on it - who cares. I don't care about the insurance either, since I can simply increase it - but the extended warranty is limited to 12k miles a year so I simply can't go over that - which is becoming frustrating.
I avoided using it for work yesterday (wet roads when I left, hence I stuck to the rules and used the Cayenne) - but did have to nip to the shops in the evening. Very short journey, but drove back with the roof down which was lovely - enough so that I used the 650 this morning and put the roof down again. Lovely run in - although the cleaner saw me arrive and has told me I'm insane for driving with the roof down in November.
Minor glitch the other day - no sound from IRIS. Second time it's done it, and had to reset it to get sound back. Need to be careful with that actually - I'd been driving for a while before noticing I had no sound and that means no speed camera warnings!
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