MP4-12C photos and review/comparison

MP4-12C photos and review/comparison

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Discussion

MP4

373 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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Thank goodness sense at last on PHlaugh

GFWilliams

4,941 posts

208 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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MP4 said:
Thank goodness sense at last on PHlaugh
hehe I've always loved them, but haven't experienced one since the problems have been fixed. I had a ride back from London in LFB's car and there were a fair few messages popping up.

It's bloody quick though and with two customer car specs, the 12C is a little bit quicker than a 458. I personally prefer the 12C because of the interior. The McLaren is so nice and simple. The 458 just confuses me!

Maff

Original Poster:

611 posts

268 months

Friday 2nd December 2011
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RJames said:
Spotted Matt's MP4-12C driving in Twyford today, although it didnt look like Matt at the wheel?!

Looks fantastic, and sounded awesome to. Only thing Matt the drivers side rear light was flickering?
Yes that was my car, a friend was driving it this afternoon.
Yep I seem to have now lost my rear light and brake light completely, it started flickering earlier today and is now not working at all. Another trip to the dealers!

MP4

373 posts

240 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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Matt who is your dealer? I am with London and Ben is brilliant:-)

Has your car had the 8.2 software upgrade?

ANDYCLAX

191 posts

165 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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Maff said:
RJames said:
Spotted Matt's MP4-12C driving in Twyford today, although it didnt look like Matt at the wheel?!

Looks fantastic, and sounded awesome to. Only thing Matt the drivers side rear light was flickering?
Yes that was my car, a friend was driving it this afternoon.
Yep I seem to have now lost my rear light and brake light completely, it started flickering earlier today and is now not working at all. Another trip to the dealers!
Hopefully you havent had the 8.2 yet,as they completely change the rear light clusters,a manufacturing problem that didnt give them enough ventilation so some have been failing with condensation,mine is been done as we speak,but i havent had this problem as the car lives in a heated garage.

ANDYCLAX

191 posts

165 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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APOLO1 said:
I was also fortunate to attended Dunsfold on Tuesday. Happy to confirm all of the above. The car is absolutely amazing.

Interestingly my 21 year old son ( just completed the 2011 season in Formula Renault 2.0.) described the performance of the MP4-12C as similar to that of his race car.

Regarding the comparison with the 4.0 RS. Two very different types of car,

Looking forward to Q-2-12
of course there are only 25 RHD cars anyway,and you wouldnt want to use it everyday like a 12c,but it might be fun to make the formula renault road legal if you want the performance a different way.

APOLO1

5,256 posts

195 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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I don't see the connection with the 25 RHD cars, that the 4.0 RS is not a daily driver. Perfectly usable , I use mine most days.

The reference to the Renault F2 was to that of acceleration.

ANDYCLAX

191 posts

165 months

Saturday 3rd December 2011
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APOLO1 said:
I don't see the connection with the 25 RHD cars, that the 4.0 RS is not a daily driver. Perfectly usable , I use mine most days.

The reference to the Renault F2 was to that of acceleration.
What i meant was the gt3rs4 is a limited run car thats all sold out,i suppose comparable to a 12c ,but you cannot get one ,wereas there are going to be 1000,s of 12c,s.In the long run the gt3 will be a collectors item ,as for my comment on the renault it was just a bit of fun,i sort of had the idea it wouldnt go round the corners as quick!!
Im pleased you use yours on a daily basis,too many of these cars dont get used anywhere near enough,i wrongly assumed that the 12c would be more of a DD for people over the gt3.I was only going on the 28 years ownership of 911,s and 3 months in a 12c to form my opinion ,but i have to admit its a car i havent driven yet so i will defer to you.

Edited by ANDYCLAX on Saturday 3rd December 17:03

Andyuk911

1,979 posts

210 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Maff, how was your meeting with the Sales Director the other week, did you use a stick during lunch ?argue

Maff

Original Poster:

611 posts

268 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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No mine has not had the 8.2 upgrade yet, hopefully going in Wednesday for that along with all the other upgrades. My business partners is currently back at the factory having his upgrades completed, along with a re-spray for the paint quality issues that affected some very early cars due to a chemical reacting with the paintwork in the rear quarter window assembly.

I had a very good day at the factory last week, got to see the new production center (MPC) which is very impressive, however the F1 division at the MTC interested me the most, that was mind blowing, I could have spent hours there! Lunch with the sales director was also useful, to be fair to McLaren (the company and the people) they really do care about their product and quality, and that comes across very well from seeing the factory and speaking to the people building the car. Its also good they have put their hands up regarding the issues with the first 60 or so cars, and made the decision to stop delivering cars until those are fixed. Interesting to see the quality of the components going into the car which was pretty much the best there is. Just a shame they had the teething issues to start with on both the software and some hardware. The only thing the factory lacked a little of was soul, but hopefully given time this will come after a few more models and years!

Looking forward to what else McLaren are doing in the future, and not just on the car front.

tjob

782 posts

152 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Maff can you pm me please, not sure if you got mine

delta037

416 posts

174 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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For a factory with soul try Morgan in Malvern which I visited in 2010. Brilliant and quite the opposite feel of McLaren which I went round in 2009, but both companies' ethos is the same - to be the best at what they do - and they are equally proud of their product. Morgan positively welcome photography, Woking a big No No!

Guyr

2,210 posts

283 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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delta037 said:
Morgan positively welcome photography, Woking a big No No!
Maybe thats because they weren't worried about leaking the secrets of the Morgan F1 team smile

MP4

373 posts

240 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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luvin it laughlaugh

tony993

341 posts

216 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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Good to hear another positive review. However, when I drove the car earlier in the year I hated the way the brake pedal felt - loads of pedal travel & very squelchy. I should just add that I did a few hard stops from high speed & the car stopped very quickly & I felt very much in control but I prefer a rock hard pedal that barely moves. Maybe they've done some work on this - I hope so.

My only other big complaint was the seats. I wanted to adjust the seat so the front would come up & support my legs but there's no adjustment for this.

Overall, I loved the car. If I had one I think I'd use it nearly every day.

ANDYCLAX

191 posts

165 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
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tony993 said:
Good to hear another positive review. However, when I drove the car earlier in the year I hated the way the brake pedal felt - loads of pedal travel & very squelchy. I should just add that I did a few hard stops from high speed & the car stopped very quickly & I felt very much in control but I prefer a rock hard pedal that barely moves. Maybe they've done some work on this - I hope so.

My only other big complaint was the seats. I wanted to adjust the seat so the front would come up & support my legs but there's no adjustment for this.

Overall, I loved the car. If I had one I think I'd use it nearly every day.
Tony,the brake pedal is still the same,but you do learn quickly how to modulate it,on my 997turbo it is also hard with a short travel (ceramics),but now i prefer the 12c,i think it will come into its own when i track it next year.What i can tell you is that on a hard run i have yet to get a spongy pedal,somethink i could get on the same run with the turbo even though my 12c has iron rotors.As to the seats,they are very porsche like and suit some people more than others,ive found that because the steering wheel has so much ajustment,its best for me to have the seat as upright as on a rallycar,and on a long distance drive they have been very comfortable.PS,so far ive used it everyday,other than on the school run!

cc8s

4,210 posts

204 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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Just arrived! I am smittent by it - it is so focused!

Beefmeister

16,482 posts

231 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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We demand more images!! Forthwith!!!

cc8s

4,210 posts

204 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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I have to be careful of the angles as it's my friends' car.








tjob

782 posts

152 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
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Where abouts up north is this? Saw one the same as this today, pm if you want biggrin