600LT v 720S

[davek_964]

I'm dubious about values firming up. Reducing production is a good thing, and would certainly help - but they now seem to be offering PCP deals that make buying a car for cash look slightly insane - hence killing residuals in a different way.

[garystoybox]

I think it’s irrational to expect depreciation levels to change. Regardless of production cuts the market and buyers now accept and expect Mclaren cars to depreciate more than their peers. It’s just how it is, created by Mclarens need to increase production to keep investors happy. A very short sighted business model. Its elementary marketing to know that discounting devalues a brand to a point where it never recovers - hence no discounts on Rolex, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, etc and why they list as the top brand names. However, for the used buyer it does mean that these undoubtedly wonderful cars are available at a discount to their competitors. It will be very interesting to see where Mclaren are in 2-3 years time.

[RT964]

garystoybox said:

I think it’s irrational to expect depreciation levels to change. Regardless of production cuts the market and buyers now accept and expect Mclaren cars to depreciate more than their peers. It’s just how it is, created by Mclarens need to increase production to keep investors happy. A very short sighted business model. Its elementary marketing to know that discounting devalues a brand to a point where it never recovers - hence no discounts on Rolex, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, etc and why they list as the top brand names. However, for the used buyer it does mean that these undoubtedly wonderful cars are available at a discount to their competitors. It will be very interesting to see where Mclaren are in 2-3 years time.

Agreed - just imagine what wonderful deals there will be on the glut of 600LT's that will hit the market in 24 months time once the current PCP deals get to the end of their term ...

[Crazy4557]

garystoybox said:

I think it’s irrational to expect depreciation levels to change. Regardless of production cuts the market and buyers now accept and expect Mclaren cars to depreciate more than their peers. It’s just how it is, created by Mclarens need to increase production to keep investors happy. A very short sighted business model. Its elementary marketing to know that discounting devalues a brand to a point where it never recovers - hence no discounts on Rolex, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, etc and why they list as the top brand names. However, for the used buyer it does mean that these undoubtedly wonderful cars are available at a discount to their competitors. It will be very interesting to see where Mclaren are in 2-3 years time.

I completely agree with you hence my recent addition of a McLaren via a stonking PCP deal. The value in 2 years time for me is irrelevant and my car will have done every single one of the 14k miles I've signed up for. Hopefully, it will be such good value that I'll be a mug not to buy it.

[R.Sole]

Crazy4557 said:

I completely agree with you hence my recent addition of a McLaren via a stonking PCP deal. The value in 2 years time for me is irrelevant and my car will have done every single one of the 14k miles I've signed up for. Hopefully, it will be such good value that I'll be a mug not to buy it.

Could you explain how with the GFV being so unrealistically high will help you buy it come end of term?

[Rocketreid]

[quote=Bispal]Just get a 675LT, its a lot closer to the bottom of its depreciation curve and a lot rarer. Much better proposition with cash. Almost the entire car is CF, 60% of the car parts are bespoke to the 675 as are 50% of the engine components. It gives the feeling of a real road racer. Dynamically its razor sharp and the quicker you go the better it gets. Under 100 coupes & spiders in the UK.

I just had the same dilemma and discounted the 600LT as it doesn't have the active aero / suspension, does not have many bespoke parts and is unlimited production. Plus (in my eyes and I know this is subjective) its not as attractive as the 675. That's not to say I wouldn't have one. If the 675 didn't exist it would be my choice. The 720 while being ballistically quick & comfy & an awesome machine is the standard production car in much the same way the 12C & 650S were and doesn't have the appeal, to me, that a ltd production 'special' car did. Plus 675 has a huge analogue rev counter, that's the icing on the cake.

Being a fellow 430 CUP owner I know you appreciate cars that are designed to be the pinnacle of the range and are rare & unique. Combine this with a cash purchase and I think a 675LT is where you should be looking. I am very pleased with mine it has the engagement & connection that the 430CUP gives me that is missing in all other paddle shift cars I have driven.

Good luck with the search.

Cheers,

Been sorely tempted with a 675LT as it incorporates all the best bits of a 720s but more track focused.

Did have a good look at the Napier Green one at McBrum but would prefer a newer car really

[RSbandit]

Crazy4557 said:

I completely agree with you hence my recent addition of a McLaren via a stonking PCP deal. The value in 2 years time for me is irrelevant and my car will have done every single one of the 14k miles I've signed up for. Hopefully, it will be such good value that I'll be a mug not to buy it.

Can you elaborate on the terms of the PCP as I'm intrigued to see how good it is? And yes if the future value in 2 yrs time is v high to allow for an attractive PCP deal now it will be v expensive for you to purchase it outright when that time comes no?

[RT964]

RSbandit said:

Can you elaborate on the terms of the PCP as I'm intrigued to see how good it is? And yes if the future value in 2 yrs time is v high to allow for an attractive PCP deal now it will be v expensive for you to purchase it outright when that time comes no?

The best deal I got quoted last week was £10k in, £1500 per month for 24 months, 5k miles per year, hand the car back at the end (The GFV was around £155k). These deals are against specific cars and each dealership has a set number of cars. Once those cars are sold (which I think they all are), then the deals get a little less attractive.

Given there are 2nd hand cars around now at £170k-ish at 6 months old, there is no way you'd want to pay the GFV off and own the car in 24 months time, you're much better off handing your car back and, if you want to stay in a 600LT, you do a new deal on any one of the multitude of cars that will be on the market at that point with a purchase price that will (in my opinion) be a long way south of £150k.

[Crazy4557]

RSbandit said:

Can you elaborate on the terms of the PCP as I'm intrigued to see how good it is? And yes if the future value in 2 yrs time is v high to allow for an attractive PCP deal now it will be v expensive for you to purchase it outright when that time comes no?

£10k deposit and £1550.00 pm based on 7k miles pa with a GFV of £141k. My view is that they won't be worth anything like that number based on residual performance to date. List on my car was £220k+ but I would of got a handsome discount so circa £190 - 200k so I haven't got a fantastic deal but better than if I was to have bought outright IMO.
If I can pick it up at the end of the term by buying directly at anything much less than the GFV then I could be in for a decent deal and of course, having owned it from new means it's worth slightly more to me as I know how it's been treated.

[notax]

I was recently in the same position as the OP - except that I owned a gorgeous 12c spider which had depreciated like a stone. I think the 12c must be nearing the bottom of its depreciation curve, but decided to take advantage of the massive depreciation across the McLaren range by moving up the food chain. For very similar costs I could have bought a 600LT, 720s or 675LT. For the reasons posted above by others I opted for the 675LT - rare compared to the others, has already depreciated significantly and best of all widely regarded as one of the best supercars available. This was my choice...

[RSbandit]

That is stunning!

[RSbandit]

Crazy4557 said:

£10k deposit and £1550.00 pm based on 7k miles pa with a GFV of £141k. My view is that they won't be worth anything like that number based on residual performance to date. List on my car was £220k+ but I would of got a handsome discount so circa £190 - 200k so I haven't got a fantastic deal but better than if I was to have bought outright IMO.
If I can pick it up at the end of the term by buying directly at anything much less than the GFV then I could be in for a decent deal and of course, having owned it from new means it's worth slightly more to me as I know how it's been treated.

Thanks for that so looking at £47k to run for 2 yrs...OK that's a bit more than I thought tbh make sure you make the most of the car!

[Obafemi09]

Crazy4557 said:

If I can pick it up at the end of the term by buying directly at anything much less than the GFV then I could be in for a decent deal and of course, having owned it from new means it's worth slightly more to me as I know how it's been treated.

I don't think you will be able to do this, I might be wrong but I asked McLaren about this very scenario and they said it was highly unlikely you could do that...

[Bispal]

notax said:

I was recently in the same position as the OP - except that I owned a gorgeous 12c spider which had depreciated like a stone. I think the 12c must be nearing the bottom of its depreciation curve, but decided to take advantage of the massive depreciation across the McLaren range by moving up the food chain. For very similar costs I could have bought a 600LT, 720s or 675LT. For the reasons posted above by others I opted for the 675LT - rare compared to the others, has already depreciated significantly and best of all widely regarded as one of the best supercars available. This was my choice...

Congrats, looks amazing in blue, what blue is it? Loving my LT so rare and full of purpose.

[BlackR8]

notax said:

I was recently in the same position as the OP - except that I owned a gorgeous 12c spider which had depreciated like a stone. I think the 12c must be nearing the bottom of its depreciation curve, but decided to take advantage of the massive depreciation across the McLaren range by moving up the food chain. For very similar costs I could have bought a 600LT, 720s or 675LT. For the reasons posted above by others I opted for the 675LT - rare compared to the others, has already depreciated significantly and best of all widely regarded as one of the best supercars available. This was my choice...

One of the nicest 675LT's I have seen, congrats looks stunning.

[anonymous-user]

There’s a white 600LT Spider in stock at Glasgow which qualifies for the deal if anybody is still looking

[JiggyJaggy]

Genuinely having the same dilemma myself. Loads of people seem to say the 600Lt is more suited to a track based driver and speed/track enthusiast, whereas the 720s is more for everyday use and comfort?

Difficult one as they are similar price point (pre-owned) and both look so damn good!

[RT964]

JiggyJaggy said:

Genuinely having the same dilemma myself. Loads of people seem to say the 600Lt is more suited to a track based driver and speed/track enthusiast, whereas the 720s is more for everyday use and comfort?

Difficult one as they are similar price point (pre-owned) and both look so damn good!

Drive them both and see what you think and how they would fit into your style of driving and how you would use the car.

I drove a 600LT last weekend and was amazed at how composed and refined it was on A and B roads. Not driven a 720S to be able to compare, but the ride in the 600LT with handling in Normal was very similar to the ride in my 991 GTS with the PDCC in standard. With handling in Sport, the 600LT was more composed than the 911 with the PDCC "on". Performance-wise, the 911 wouldn't see which way the 600LT had gone

[Rocketreid]

JiggyJaggy said:

Genuinely having the same dilemma myself. Loads of people seem to say the 600Lt is more suited to a track based driver and speed/track enthusiast, whereas the 720s is more for everyday use and comfort?

Difficult one as they are similar price point (pre-owned) and both look so damn good!

I think the 600LT may be more fun on track and perhaps more forgiving on the brake wear because it is that bit lighter and the 720s will be going so much faster on the straights . Certainly on road the 720s’s trick suspension has the edge

They are at similar price points used but the looks of the 600LT are imo better , a good dilemma to choose from though !!

[430SD_LP640]

JiggyJaggy said:

Genuinely having the same dilemma myself. Loads of people seem to say the 600Lt is more suited to a track based driver and speed/track enthusiast, whereas the 720s is more for everyday use and comfort?

Difficult one as they are similar price point (pre-owned) and both look so damn good!

I had same dilemma and in the end I chose 600LT. I like the look of 600LT and the long tail bit and the front nose that are full of carbon (all 3 exterior packages need to be ticked). You need to drive both to feel them. I bought 600LT for a weekend toy and track day toy so I couldn’t care less about daily drive - which obviously 720S wins. 600LT without nose lift up is extremely low - 9mm ground clearance. So you probably need to be careful about the road condition. A small pothole will scrap the front end carbon if you drive too fast over it. I have tracked 600LT several times and on the tracks 600LT and 720S have almost identical results by average people. (If you think you beat 99% on track, then it is a different matter.) Lower weight can fully offset disadvantages of lower output and the lack of smart suspension and the active aero on tracks. You can see some sample records on fastestlaps.com. 720s’ active aero is ok but I already have Performante which imho works far better as a total package. Lastly, 600LT engine in track mode with full pedal pressed behaves in a completely different manner - that’s where it beat 675LT (I owned 675LT before) and 720s. I am not talking about the statistics I am talking about the way it accelerates. This is actually what brought me over the line to buy 600LT.

If you want a car for DD, go for 720s. 600LT suspension is too rough for daily drive and the senna seat (it is a piece of art and a must for a 600LT) is just too difficult to get in and out on daily basis. 9mm ground clearance combined with fiddly nose lift operation makes things even worse.