Bought a 720s! My 1st "supercar" Wish me luck!!

[TB993tt]

650spider said:

True McLaren ownership experience / costs and not a post from someone who knew someone whose friend had one and it was crap and financially ruinous.

True "used" Mclaren ownership (yes I know this is PH the amateur car dealer's forum ) New or nearly new ownership is a little different financially.

[Kent Border Kenny]

12pack said:

Hope it’s not too early to say - Congrats.

Thanks. After my wife vetoed a beautiful orange one that a fellow PH poster was kind enough to show me at the weekend I'm getting a metallic grey one. I'm getting it back into the Mclaren warranty before I collect it, as although I've never taken a warranty out before, this seems like a car that I shoudl have it on, even at £5,400...

My R8 went yesterday, and I next have to work out how to retrieve my SL63 from the continent, as there seems little to no point in keeping that now.

If I do sell it, it'll be a real wrench, it's only done 800 miles from new.

[Kent Border Kenny]

650spider said:

I have just sold my 650 spider at full asking price.

Just an all round outstanding car and not entirely sure i have done the right thing.

Never missed a beat or caused even the slightest bit of grief; new owner has bought an absolute corker and shall defo be a McLaren convert going forward.

Depreciation was around £6k over 19months, and i had 2 services and 2 extended warranty costs which is all part of supercar ownership, so I do not factor these in. ( man math )

Used almost daily in all weathers, for long and short journeys, with each mile feeling as special as the first mile; the shine never once dulled.

True McLaren ownership experience / costs and not a post from someone who knew someone whose friend had one and it was crap and financially ruinous.

Will be back in a McLaren by March; current plans is a rather special 720 spider that should be available then, but also keeping a close eye on 675LT spiders for correct colour and spec coming on the market.

I shall see what a covid winter brings before deciding on which car.

For anyone considering McLaren ownership, there is no bad one; from 12c onwards they are all very special; life is a bit short to hold off...go for it.

I wonder if that's the one I'm buying.

[650spider]

Kent Border Kenny said:

I wonder if that's the one I'm buying.

I doubt it...its volcano oirange!

Enjoy your new purchase though...i am sure you shall love it.

[650spider]

TB993tt said:

650spider said:

True McLaren ownership experience / costs and not a post from someone who knew someone whose friend had one and it was crap and financially ruinous.

True "used" Mclaren ownership (yes I know this is PH the amateur car dealer's forum ) New or nearly new ownership is a little different financially.

I am in the lucky position I could purchase a new 720 spider if desired...i choose not to.

A new 720 spider would lose near the price of my about to depart mac in a year; thats just not my cup of tea.

Fair play to anyone whom does but you go into that with your eyes wide open and expect a spanking; no point in dwelling on it when it happens.

2 years or older with as near the spec that I would of ordered myself does me just fine.

Certainly has made my McLaren ownership experience even better not taking a large hit.

[ferdi p]

Kent Border Kenny said:

I wonder if that's the one I'm buying.

The grey one at AB?

[TB993tt]

650spider said:

TB993tt said:

650spider said:

True McLaren ownership experience / costs and not a post from someone who knew someone whose friend had one and it was crap and financially ruinous.

True "used" Mclaren ownership (yes I know this is PH the amateur car dealer's forum ) New or nearly new ownership is a little different financially.

I am in the lucky position I could purchase a new 720 spider if desired...i choose not to.

A new 720 spider would lose near the price of my about to depart mac in a year; thats just not my cup of tea.

Fair play to anyone whom does but you go into that with your eyes wide open and expect a spanking; no point in dwelling on it when it happens.

2 years or older with as near the spec that I would of ordered myself does me just fine.

Certainly has made my McLaren ownership experience even better not taking a large hit.

You're beginning to sound a little bit like WW/RL there

Of course I understand and empathise with what you are saying and I'm sure it rings true for many PH people I was just pointing out there are other "true" Mclaren depreciation experiences and they are not losing £6K in a year I would guess that sort of loss is a small minority and is really only valid if buy 3 year+ old cars, you did really well on the depreciation side.....but then you haven't been enjoying a 720S for the last couple of years either, horses for courses, one of my rich pals drives a four year old hybrid Cayenne and gets massive enjoyment out of his cheap motoring experience.

[Kent Border Kenny]

ferdi p said:

The grey one at AB?

Yes, that’s the plan.

[Kent Border Kenny]

TB993tt said:

You're beginning to sound a little bit like WW/RL there

Of course I understand and empathise with what you are saying and I'm sure it rings true for many PH people I was just pointing out there are other "true" Mclaren depreciation experiences and they are not losing £6K in a year I would guess that sort of loss is a small minority and is really only valid if buy 3 year+ old cars, you did really well on the depreciation side.....but then you haven't been enjoying a 720S for the last couple of years either, horses for courses, one of my rich pals drives a four year old hybrid Cayenne and gets massive enjoyment out of his cheap motoring experience.

After dropping a fortune on an SL63 that I’m still not sure why I bought, my £35,000 Range Rover Sport makes me pretty happy. Hard to lose a fortune on that.

[TB993tt]

Kent Border Kenny said:

ferdi p said:

The grey one at AB?

Yes, that’s the plan.

Lovely car, I had a 570S in Storm Grey with orange, looks superb and classy

[anonymous-user]

650spider said:

I have just sold my 650 spider....

WTF! Have you gone mad? I rate the 650S on a par with the 720S to the point where sometimes I think have I made a mistake in buying the 720S. I’ve been keeping an eye on the classifieds to see if any decent green low’ish mileage 650’s are up for sale. Maybe do a swap with some cash difference in my direction.

[AstonExige]

Really? I was looking at the 650s, was close to pulling the trigger on this when I still had the R8, got a couple of good pictures of them together...


But when I drove the 720?!?!....... it felt like night and day difference. And the 720s felt a lot more modern and up to date inside. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the 650s and if I hadn’t managed to justify the extra spend, I would’ve been very happy with one. And the 650 would’ve probably made more sense financially, being the older car it’s further down the depreciation curve, and this did play on my mind and why I put off driving a 720 for a while, but when I did?...... all the “this is more sensible” thoughts went out the window and were replaced with “life is too short” “bucket list item” “you can’t take it with you” type justification

[anonymous-user]

AstonExige said:

Really? I was looking at the 650s, was close to pulling the trigger on this when I still had the R8, got a couple of good pictures of them together...


But when I drove the 720?!?!....... it felt like night and day difference. And the 720s felt a lot more modern and up to date inside. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the 650s and if I hadn’t managed to justify the extra spend, I would’ve been very happy with one. And the 650 would’ve probably made more sense financially, being the older car it’s further down the depreciation curve, and this did play on my mind and why I put off driving a 720 for a while, but when I did?...... all the “this is more sensible” thoughts went out the window and were replaced with “life is too short” “bucket list item” “you can’t take it with you” type justification

It may be that I just fancy a change. I’ve covered nearly 20K miles and the 720S has become ‘normality’ - it’s too good as a DD, GT’ish (I know it sounds daft). But, I’m not convinced there is a “night and day” difference. There’s only 0.6 second difference to 124 mph. 1/4 mile is pretty much the same. Handling is similar. People bang on about the 720S magic carpet ride being the same as a Range Rover, but that’s bks - I’ve got an RR. If I had a 720S and a 650S in the garage, I think the 720S would be the DD and the 650S the weekend warrior.

[650spider]

MAC 720S said:

650spider said:

I have just sold my 650 spider....

WTF! Have you gone mad? I rate the 650S on a par with the 720S to the point where sometimes I think have I made a mistake in buying the 720S. I’ve been keeping an eye on the classifieds to see if any decent green low’ish mileage 650’s are up for sale. Maybe do a swap with some cash difference in my direction.

Hey mac

Think I have to be fair!

It is being collected in the next week or so and every single time I look at it, I do think about returning the deposit.

I try not to get into disputes with any other McLaren owners on here, but i don't get opinions that 'the model you have is good, but what I have is much better'.

My 650spider has been an utter joy to own, but i would never tell a 12c owner a 650 is much better than a 12c as i have never owned or driven one for 19months...i feel almost certain a 12c is also a fantastic car.

Just read Danks posts on his thread and tell me he is not loving that every bit as much as Aston loves his 720.

Very interesting to hear about your 720 to 650 consideration as you have had the t-shirt for the last 2 years, and here I am considering going the other way...your post has kinda thrown me.

On a previous post replying to Bispal, I said its impossible to enjoy a 675 / 720 spider more than I have enjoyed my 650 spider...it can only be different.

Maybe I am making a mistake...

[RSbandit]

I'm suprised you are changing too given how highly you spoke of the 650!

[anonymous-user]

650spider said:

Hey mac

Think I have to be fair!

It is being collected in the next week or so and every single time I look at it, I do think about returning the deposit.

I try not to get into disputes with any other McLaren owners on here, but i don't get opinions that 'the model you have is good, but what I have is much better'.

My 650spider has been an utter joy to own, but i would never tell a 12c owner a 650 is much better than a 12c as i have never owned or driven one for 19months...i feel almost certain a 12c is also a fantastic car.

Just read Danks posts on his thread and tell me he is not loving that every bit as much as Aston loves his 720.

Very interesting to hear about your 720 to 650 consideration as you have had the t-shirt for the last 2 years, and here I am considering going the other way...your post has kinda thrown me.

On a previous post replying to Bispal, I said its impossible to enjoy a 675 / 720 spider more than I have enjoyed my 650 spider...it can only be different.

Maybe I am making a mistake...

It’s not the first time I have posted on PH my thoughts of 720S versus 650S. Chris Harris states that the 720S is the best supercar at the moment, but he has the driving skills to wring its neck and take it to a level that a mere mortal like me cannot. I don’t have the driving skills to properly compare the 650S with the 720S, but I do know that within UK road driving constraints, the smile-o-factor for both cars will be similar.

Don’t get me wrong, the 720S is a marvellous machine, but is it really that much more convincing than a 650S? 720S design is radical, but the 650S with its P1’esque front isn’t a pig.

I started to appreciate the 650S when I attended a MOC UK weekend jaunt around Wales last year. There was a chap named Neil with his Mantis Green 650S. I followed him most of the time, admiring the car and how it sounded.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 21st October 23:04

[AstonExige]

MAC 720S said:

AstonExige said:

Really? I was looking at the 650s, was close to pulling the trigger on this when I still had the R8, got a couple of good pictures of them together...


But when I drove the 720?!?!....... it felt like night and day difference. And the 720s felt a lot more modern and up to date inside. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the 650s and if I hadn’t managed to justify the extra spend, I would’ve been very happy with one. And the 650 would’ve probably made more sense financially, being the older car it’s further down the depreciation curve, and this did play on my mind and why I put off driving a 720 for a while, but when I did?...... all the “this is more sensible” thoughts went out the window and were replaced with “life is too short” “bucket list item” “you can’t take it with you” type justification

It may be that I just fancy a change. I’ve covered nearly 20K miles and the 720S has become ‘normality’ - it’s too good as a DD, GT’ish (I know it sounds daft). But, I’m not convinced there is a “night and day” difference. There’s only 0.6 second difference to 124 mph. 1/4 mile is pretty much the same. Handling is similar. People bang on about the 720S magic carpet ride being the same as a Range Rover, but that’s bks - I’ve got an RR. If I had a 720S and a 650S in the garage, I think the 720S would be the DD and the 650S the weekend warrior.

Maybe night and day was a bit of an exaggeration, but the 720 left me wanting to do whatever it took to get it, but the 650 I made excuses why I shouldn’t. Again, nothing wrong with the 650, I just didn’t get “that” feeling. No doubt it comes down to what you want out of a car and what floats your boat.

I’ve got a supercharged Exige and a Fireblade engined Westfield, my 720s is my go to for weekend, fun usage. Maybe if I used the car all week, every day, it would become a bit more normal, but that would be the case with any car.

[650spider]

RSbandit said:

I'm suprised you are changing too given how highly you spoke of the 650!

It happened due to a chance conversation about a pretty special 720 spider that shall be available in Feb / March.

Originally I dismissed it, but it played on my mind so I thought on a whim to advertise mines and late fate decide.

How come when you really need to sell something there won't even be so much as a phone call, yet when its toe in the water a buyer appears immediately?

Love the 650, and cannot recommend enough.

Almost hope the buyer changes his mind.

[Kent Border Kenny]

Given I’ve never driven either, you can give my thoughts the appropriate weight...

I quite quickly wrote off the sports series from consideration, didn’t want an MP12, so had to choose between a 720 and a 650 for my first McLaren.

The nice 650 spiders are around £90k, 720 Coupes around £130k, and 720 Spiders still over £200k.

I decided that I only wanted a Spider, and then decided that while the 650s might cost me £10-15k per year, the 720s is going to be over £30k if I keep it two or three years, which is likely.

No matter how much better it is, at the moment that’s too much for me.

I plan to drive the 650 for a year, but if / when it drops under £50k to change I’ll look again.

[Sarnie]

Kent Border Kenny said:

Given I’ve never driven either, you can give my thoughts the appropriate weight...

I quite quickly wrote off the sports series from consideration, didn’t want an MP12, so had to choose between a 720 and a 650 for my first McLaren.

The nice 650 spiders are around £90k, 720 Coupes around £130k, and 720 Spiders still over £200k.

I decided that I only wanted a Spider, and then decided that while the 650s might cost me £10-15k per year, the 720s is going to be over £30k if I keep it two or three years, which is likely.

No matter how much better it is, at the moment that’s too much for me.

I plan to drive the 650 for a year, but if / when it drops under £50k to change I’ll look again.

I can't see any nice £90k 650s spiders?