Why is 600LT steering not a patch on 675LT?
Discussion
jerrytlr said:
mogg said:
Could you give some indication of how much it costs for a McLaren dealer to check alignment / geo ?
Thanks.
Cost me £600 at a McLaren dealer last year, made a noticeable difference. Thanks.
Alignment on my 570GT cost me £244 at V a year ago. There are some covers that need removing to gain access, so it inevitably involves more work than doing say an MX-5.
Co-incidentally I was listening to Iain Litchfield being interviewed on a podcast today and in a discussion about alignment he specifically brought up the 600LT as being a car which they can improve steering response by tweaking the alignment away from the somewhat conservative factory settings (a bit over 23 minutes in).
Steering weighting up with lateral load is significantly driven by caster angle, I'm not sure if there's any difference in factory settings or range of adjustment between the 600 and 675, but that could be the difference in feel between the two cars driven. Negative camber tends to aid steering response, as does toe in.
Co-incidentally I was listening to Iain Litchfield being interviewed on a podcast today and in a discussion about alignment he specifically brought up the 600LT as being a car which they can improve steering response by tweaking the alignment away from the somewhat conservative factory settings (a bit over 23 minutes in).
Steering weighting up with lateral load is significantly driven by caster angle, I'm not sure if there's any difference in factory settings or range of adjustment between the 600 and 675, but that could be the difference in feel between the two cars driven. Negative camber tends to aid steering response, as does toe in.
samoht said:
Alignment on my 570GT cost me £244 at V a year ago. There are some covers that need removing to gain access, so it inevitably involves more work than doing say an MX-5.
Co-incidentally I was listening to Iain Litchfield being interviewed on a podcast today and in a discussion about alignment he specifically brought up the 600LT as being a car which they can improve steering response by tweaking the alignment away from the somewhat conservative factory settings (a bit over 23 minutes in).
Steering weighting up with lateral load is significantly driven by caster angle, I'm not sure if there's any difference in factory settings or range of adjustment between the 600 and 675, but that could be the difference in feel between the two cars driven. Negative camber tends to aid steering response, as does toe in.
As I said earlier, shall try to find my alignment sheet but I think I am actually running toe neutral on my 600 or maybe a little toe out as the factory settings are not to my liking and on weighting well its never something that has ever crossed my mind in the car, it just feels natural, just never been a complaint, I will note on my wider wheel/tyre setup for track does make the steering heavier but still natural and I can't really say if I prefer or dislike it, it just works and feels fine. Co-incidentally I was listening to Iain Litchfield being interviewed on a podcast today and in a discussion about alignment he specifically brought up the 600LT as being a car which they can improve steering response by tweaking the alignment away from the somewhat conservative factory settings (a bit over 23 minutes in).
Steering weighting up with lateral load is significantly driven by caster angle, I'm not sure if there's any difference in factory settings or range of adjustment between the 600 and 675, but that could be the difference in feel between the two cars driven. Negative camber tends to aid steering response, as does toe in.
Getting the toe, camber and castor spot on is most important and based on my findings going more toe neutral or even a little out does improve it.
4l3x said:
Bispal said:
I have driven my 675LT immediately back to back with a friends 600LT. I am a 675LT fan boy so I openly admit bias and a lot of that is to do with aesthetics. However, putting all that aside and objectively comparing driving dynamics the 600LT feels like a 'toy' version or very good 'fake' of a 675LT. It just doesn't have that final bit of special sauce. I'm not taking anything away from it, objectively its better than almost any other car on the road, I just think the 675LT is more than a sum of its parts and has some special magic.
When we returned to my mates house the first thing he did (even before making me a coffee!) was call Alastair Bolls and buy a 675LT, over the phone, he didn't even like the colour. His 600LT went on SoR on the Monday. He changes his cars more often than his Y fronts, he's had the 675LT 2 years now.
As for the turning circle, you get used to it and IMHO every supercar should have a quirk, like sitting on the sill to reverse a Countach, doing a 5 point turn in a 675LT becomes a spectacle for all passers by to enjoy. A supercar without a quirk might as well be a Golf R.
Thanks, this is useful feedback. On steering feel, there are lots of comments about alignment/tyres etc, but I know what an aligned vs non aligned car feels like but I'm not sure this was it as they both felt dialled in. The 675LT simply felt heavier at normal/slower speeds - just moving along in traffic, like its power steering isnt quite so assisted - more of a go kart feel at lower speeds than the 600LT. Did your driving echo any of my experience that the 675LT steering has a heavier more weighted feeling?When we returned to my mates house the first thing he did (even before making me a coffee!) was call Alastair Bolls and buy a 675LT, over the phone, he didn't even like the colour. His 600LT went on SoR on the Monday. He changes his cars more often than his Y fronts, he's had the 675LT 2 years now.
As for the turning circle, you get used to it and IMHO every supercar should have a quirk, like sitting on the sill to reverse a Countach, doing a 5 point turn in a 675LT becomes a spectacle for all passers by to enjoy. A supercar without a quirk might as well be a Golf R.
mogg said:
Yes, I have now received a quote of £250 from my dealer to check and adjust front toe. Camber adjustments can be more extensive labour wise, hence probably significantly more cost.
They are overcharging, £250 to make simple toe adjustments is an absolute joke, they are literally having your pants down as its not even 1hr work unless every adjuster is seized which is unlikely.Find a specialist with a Hunter machine, any decent alignment garage with proper equipment can align any brand of car, including super cars, there is no black magic to it, the job in itself is very simple.
Gibbo205 said:
mogg said:
Yes, I have now received a quote of £250 from my dealer to check and adjust front toe. Camber adjustments can be more extensive labour wise, hence probably significantly more cost.
They are overcharging, £250 to make simple toe adjustments is an absolute joke, they are literally having your pants down as its not even 1hr work unless every adjuster is seized which is unlikely.Find a specialist with a Hunter machine, any decent alignment garage with proper equipment can align any brand of car, including super cars, there is no black magic to it, the job in itself is very simple.
Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff