Blue - 540/570

[Davidch]

Evening all,

Does anyone know the below car?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401316...

I went to see it yesterday and loved it! Pretty sure it’s the only colour I want.

Does anyone know the colour?

Anyone own one?

Tia

[Panamax]

Good choice IMO. It may be the entry McL but it's still got all the qualifications. Six years old so the price isn't exactly bargain territory but hit them with a low-ball cash offer and see what happens. If you can't drive that away this month for £5k les than the asking price I'll be surprised.

Inevitably the question of "warranty" will arise, so you need to get comfortable with the entire ownership prospect. The bottom line comes down to (a) where are you going to keep it, and (b) where are you going to go in it? No point owning a supercar if you're too frightened to take it out.

If you're not comfortable with the answers to those questions buy a brand new mid-engine car with warranty for the same money from another manufacturer. Does more or less the same thing, with a lot less worry.

[samoht]

I think it's Curacao blue. The other possibility might be Fistral, which looks similar but is metallic.

[Davyt]

Panamax said:

Good choice IMO. It may be the entry McL but it's still got all the qualifications. Six years old so the price isn't exactly bargain territory but hit them with a low-ball cash offer and see what happens. If you can't drive that away this month for £5k les than the asking price I'll be surprised.

Inevitably the question of "warranty" will arise, so you need to get comfortable with the entire ownership prospect. The bottom line comes down to (a) where are you going to keep it, and (b) where are you going to go in it? No point owning a supercar if you're too frightened to take it out.

If you're not comfortable with the answers to those questions buy a brand new mid-engine car with warranty for the same money from another manufacturer. Does more or less the same thing, with a lot less worry.

So pease tell us what this brand new other mid engined super car is ????????

[samoht]

Thoughts on that car...

It's a good spec for a 540C, it's got the extended shift paddles, mid grade audio, plus forged wheels and apparently carbon ceramic brakes (steel are standard on the 540C and it's rare to find CC optioned).

It's been used (5k miles between last two MoTs and 1500 since the last one in Oct), which is good as it's much less likely to give you trouble.

The price looks reasonable to me, although I'd aim to negotiate a few grand off in the current market.

This thread has a good ownership write-up of a 540C specifically https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... although I think the 570s are 95% similar.

I got a 570GT a year ago, https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... , happy to answer any questions you may have.

It's easy to fall in love and certainly it's good to buy a car you're really excited about. At the same time I'd recommend not getting carried away by one particular car, get it checked out.

Personally I'd want to get V Engineering to do a pre-purchase inspection, I'd be happy to buy on their recommendation. I'd then get it serviced with them and not worry about warranty.

[Davyt]

I’m gonna say get a car with Mc warranty, will work out cheaper in the end,,

[200Plus Club]

Looks a nice shade of curaçao blue?

[Frankychops]

thats 570 money isn't it?

[Panamax]

Davyt said:

So pease tell us what this brand new other mid engined super car is ????????

Porsche
Corvette
Lotus
all brand new with full factory warranty.

They're all real world alternatives to a 6-year old McLaren if the prospective buyer wants to be able to sleep at night.

Note: It was you who chose to to stick the word "super" into a context where I never used it.

[samoht]

Frankychops said:

thats 570 money isn't it?

Yeah, mostly 2016 cars so a couple of years older. £80k is the bottom of the market for 570s.

You could argue that the 30hp is neither here nor there, this car has forged wheels and ceramic brakes, if it's the colour scheme OP likes and a couple of years newer, it could be a good bet.

Worth noting that I'm fairly sure the 540C has a less 'aggressive' suspension / steering setup than the 570S too, I think in between the 570GT and 570S. I've not driven one but it could be a good compromise, depending what you're after.

Panamax said:

alternatives to a 6-year old McLaren if the prospective buyer wants to be able to sleep at night.

Personally I find peace of mind in living life to the full, leaving nothing on the table.

I'd think someone should buy a Porsche because they really want a Porsche, not because they really wanted something else but were too chicken to go for it.

[ex-devonpaul]

samoht said:

Personally I find peace of mind in living life to the full, leaving nothing on the table.

I'd think someone should buy a Porsche because they really want a Porsche, not because they really wanted something else but were too chicken to go for it.

I kind of agree - although it depends on your age and how much of your assets you want to risk on a nice car, especially if you have a family and a mortgage and limited income.

But I know what you mean, a while back I looked at Gallardos and R8s. The R8 was 90% of the car for 50% of the price and the G was really out of budget. But I knew deep down that whilst the R8 provides the same thrills, every time I got in it I would think "should have bought a Lambo".

In the end we went down the sensible route as we barely used the 2 seater we already had due to aged and infirm parents, and ended up with a Maserati, on the principle we could take them shopping in it and it would be cheaper to run than a 5 year old 612. Looking at the residuals when I sold it 6 years later at least I got the first bit right

[Davidch]

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback.

The dealer was actually very helpful. Took it on an extended test drive eml came on 😳.

It doesn’t have McLaren warranty!

I think it’s about 5k overpriced personally but it’s the colour I want!

Can’t find another in the colour I want!

I’m awaiting a call back from the dealer re service history!

Would I be able to put a McLaren warranty on it even though it’s been serviced last 2 times by GVE?

[r o n n i e]

That’s a gorgeous looking car, can’t be that many in that colour either.

Good luck with your negotiations, hopefully you’ll wa good deal

[TBCTBC]

Davidch said:

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback.

The dealer was actually very helpful. Took it on an extended test drive eml came on ??.

It doesn’t have McLaren warranty!

I think it’s about 5k overpriced personally but it’s the colour I want!

Can’t find another in the colour I want!

I’m awaiting a call back from the dealer re service history!

Would I be able to put a McLaren warranty on it even though it’s been serviced last 2 times by GVE?

I think you can have it put back under a Mclaren warranty but it would need a full inspection?

Check the servicing in great detail - heard the odd horror story about that garage. Personally that would put me off but your attitude to risk may be different from mine.

Good luck!

Edited by TBCTBC on Monday 5th February 20:09

[Davidch]

I think if anyone posted the details I’ve posted..I would tell them to walk away! But that colour ….

The car would probably get used about 10 times a year if lucky so I can afford to be fussy really!

[Davyt]

I’d phone a few McLaren dealerships regard the Mc extended warranty just to make sure you can or can not get one on the car,, be prepared for a few different answers though

Edited by Davyt on Monday 5th February 20:40

[ex-devonpaul]

Davidch said:

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback.

The dealer was actually very helpful. Took it on an extended test drive eml came on ??.

It doesn’t have McLaren warranty!

I think it’s about 5k overpriced personally but it’s the colour I want!

Can’t find another in the colour I want!

I’m awaiting a call back from the dealer re service history!

Would I be able to put a McLaren warranty on it even though it’s been serviced last 2 times by GVE?

Easy for me to say sat in my armchair, but I'd be very wary..

Sure it is a nice colour, but there's an obvious fault, it is overpriced, vendor's own warranty, and I'd also be wondering why GVE weren't selling it if they'd been looking after it.

[PinkHouse]

Davidch said:

I think if anyone posted the details I’ve posted..I would tell them to walk away! But that colour ….

The car would probably get used about 10 times a year if lucky so I can afford to be fussy really!

PM me, I've got one in the same colour and spec with interior carbon, lift etc but it's a year newer and full McLaren service history and recent healthcheck from Mc Guildford. Thinking of upgrading to a 600 or 720s so I'm open to selling mine

[samoht]

Davidch said:

Guys, thanks so much for the feedback.

The dealer was actually very helpful. Took it on an extended test drive eml came on ??.

It doesn’t have McLaren warranty!

I think it’s about 5k overpriced personally but it’s the colour I want!

Can’t find another in the colour I want!

I’m awaiting a call back from the dealer re service history!

Would I be able to put a McLaren warranty on it even though it’s been serviced last 2 times by GVE?

Davidch said:

I think if anyone posted the details I’ve posted..I would tell them to walk away! But that colour ….

The car would probably get used about 10 times a year if lucky so I can afford to be fussy really!

I'm fairly sure the McWarranty situation is as follows

• Buy the car
• wait 90 days
• take it to a McLaren dealer for an inspection (£400?)
• pay to fix any existing warranty-eligible issues on the car
• have the dealer service the car, unless it has proof of being up to date on servicing
• buy a 12 month warranty for c.£3k

A dealer may offer to PPI the car and then do you a warranty from the point of purchase on that basis. (i.e. bend the rules).

I attempted to take this route with my car, the McDealer PPI was expensive and not that illuminating and then they changed their mind and wouldn't sell me a warranty for 90 days. Other people have had better experiences though.

I don't believe a history of non-dealer servicing would preclude warranty; I imagine however if there's no proof the car's been serviced in the past 12 months you may have to shell out for a dealer service to get the warranty too.


To me you have two choices; walk away or get a pre-purchase inspection including diagnosis of what's up with the EML. With new engines costing £50k you can't really just take a punt. Equally, it might be something small, if you know what the car needs to be right you can make an informed decision. I'd strongly recommend V Engineering for a pre-purchase inspection, they really know these cars and really care, even when the car's worth a tenth of the P1s they specialise in.

Curacao is rare but not that rare, they do come up every 3 months or so IME. You may also find another of the hundreds of McLaren paint colours you like, with a bit more time.

In terms of value, the £75k 540s have steel brakes and mostly the cast wheels, are boring non-colours and are a year or two older, which probably explain some of the premium. I'd definitely want to negotiate but I suppose somewhere in the middle might be fair.

PinkHouse said:

PM me, I've got one in the same colour and spec with interior carbon, lift etc but it's a year newer and full McLaren service history and recent healthcheck from Mc Guildford. Thinking of upgrading to a 600 or 720s so I'm open to selling mine

^ worth talking to this guy, more details also here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by samoht on Monday 5th February 21:34

[Streetbeat]

Three simple letters would put me off, GVE.

Have a chat with Pinkhouse, thats a well sorted car.

Edited by Streetbeat on Tuesday 6th February 15:57