McLaren 12C

Author
Discussion

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Since I only collected my 2011 pre-owned McLaren 12C from McLaren Ascot in December last year, I thought I would share my ownership experiences with the PH community from almost the very start. The plan is to keep anyone who is interested on PH regularly updated on how I get on. I would certainly welcome contributions from other 12C owners as well as anyone generally interested in the car.

Here are a few pictures of my 12C just before I collected it from McLaren Ascot:






Taita

7,592 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Looks immense!

Phil Dicky

7,162 posts

262 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Lovely car OP

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Some further information on my 12C:

Colour: McLaren Blue
Date first registered: August 2011
Mileage to date: 17,200 miles
No. of former owners: 2
Full (McLaren official) service history
Warranty expiry date: December 2017

Optional extras:

Professional detail using Gtecniq applied at no cost
Paint protection film (Suntek) applied at cost
IRIS 2.0 infotainment fitted at cost
Reversing camera fitted at cost

Stat attack:

Engine: 8 cylinders / 3799cc twin-turbo
BHP / rpm: 616 / 7,500
LB FT / rpm: 442 / 3,000
Weight: 1434 kg
BHP / ton: 435
0-60 MPH: 3.1
Max MPH : 207

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Taita said:
Looks immense!
Thank you smile

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Phil Dicky said:
Lovely car OP
Thanks Phil

DaveH23

3,230 posts

169 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Gorgeous.

Didn't realise how big the inside sill was on these.

Vroom101

828 posts

132 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Congratulations on the new car! I think the 12C is aging quite well. I like that colour combination, especially with the silver wheels. Something to be said for supercars in non-in-yer-face colours.

How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?

Riccardino

589 posts

201 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Very nice color combo and very nice car.

Congratulations

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
12C plus and minus points to date:

Plus points: power; acceleration (when you really go for it the car is like a bloody rocket-ship - faster even than a Porsche 997 GT2 I used to own and that thing was RAPID); grip; braking (carbon discs); air brake; exceptional ride; steering; gearbox in manual mode; seating position; visibility; practicality (to a point); scissor doors; and, looks (subjective).

Minus points: engine note low down in the rev range (sounds like an almighty 4-cylinder and not an 8-cylinder); some turbo lag; gearbox in auto mode (from time-to-time); IRIS 1.0 infotainment (I upgraded to IRIS 2.0 which has made a big difference but the radio is still poor); the car's superior ride comfort does give the sensation that you are floating somewhat over the road rather than keyed into it; rattly turbine air vents; and, I'm still trying to get the hand of the swipe mechanism for the doors!

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
DaveH23 said:
Gorgeous.

Didn't realise how big the inside sill was on these.
Thanks. The handy thing about the wide inside sill is that you can sit on it before sliding yourself into the car!

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Vroom101 said:
Congratulations on the new car! I think the 12C is aging quite well. I like that colour combination, especially with the silver wheels. Something to be said for supercars in non-in-yer-face colours.

How do you plan to use it? Daily driver or special occasion/weekend car? Plenty of these get used regularly, with many on relatively high miles for a supercar. What are your impressions on the drive?
That's kind of you to say, thanks Steve. I spent an age trying to find a pre-owned 12C in dark blue (I have a thing for dark blue!) and when one came up with McLaren Ascot I jumped on it. I'm also not a huge fan of black or anthracite wheels (although each to their own) and think the silver wheels and tan interior complement the dark blue exterior well.

I plan to use the 12C on weekend trips, continental blasts (heading to the Le Mans test day in June) and the odd track day - Nurburgring, Castle Combe and Goodwood already booked. I'll keep the car regularly inspected and serviced with McLaren Ascot so the car is maintained in tip-top condition.

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Riccardino said:
Very nice color combo and very nice car.

Congratulations
Thanks Riccardo, I appreciate it.

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Took the 12C on a Saturday blast to Goodwood just before Christmas but on the way back home I got stuck briefly behind a slow car taking an age to get past a gritter lorry on the A3. Arrgghhh! Luckily no damage done but it did mean I swiftly booked the car in at McLaren Ascot to have paint protection film (suntek) installed.






MrMoonyMan

2,582 posts

210 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
That looks great, congratulations.

Nice choice of colour too. Those last pictures are the first time I've looked at one of these and noted the resemblance to the F1.

Enjoy! smile

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Looks a lovely car, and still looks current at years years old!

Andy665

3,599 posts

227 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Very subtle and all the better for it - did not like the 12C when it was announced but has aged really well

aspirated

2,539 posts

145 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
quotequote all
Looks very discreet, what made you choose one over a 458?

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
quotequote all
aspirated said:
Looks very discreet, what made you choose one over a 458?
Thank you. Three simple reasons why I chose the 12C over the 458:

1. Cost (my 12C was approx. 25-30k less expensive than equivalent 458)
2. Noise level - the 458 has a fantastically characterful engine (unlike the 12C) but I'd struggle to get on most of the track days I enjoy.
3. I really wanted to buy British for a change (traditionally I've bought German).

baronbennyt

Original Poster:

900 posts

95 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
quotequote all
The 12C at McLaren Ascot before having a full valet and professional detail using Gtecniq and application of Suntek paint protection film (nose, front wings, a-pillars, wing mirrors, side skirt and rear wheel arches).




Edited by baronbennyt on Sunday 26th February 11:06