McLaren 720s

[spareparts]

So... EVO's verdict is out. Ouch.

EVO said:

"It makes the 661bhp Ferrari 488 GTB look like a bit of a bargain at just over £183k, especially given how it conjures more excitement from a similar engine and a remarkably adept chassis"

Top Trumps alone do not make a supercar - certainly not at this price point. The McLaren DNA is evident throughout their range of cars: incredibly fast, but just devoid of excitement. And after 5 mainline cars (MP4/540/570/650/675) they all demonstrate the same characteristic DNA: fast, high tech, but slightly boring. The clinical approach set by Ron Dennis appears to be all pervasive.

http://www.evo.co.uk/mclaren/19291/mclaren-720s-re...

Harsh or fair?

[Craigwww]

No run of the mill Mclaren has ever really turned my head more than a cursory glance (12C, 650S, 570s). When I see one drive past, I don't get that little pang of excitement like I do when I see most Ferrari's or Lambos. I really want to love them, it isn't a conscious decision, it's a lack of emotional response that most of my car mates also share with regards to Mclaren. It's a bit like seeing a Lotus or Maserati, you will notice it but there's little in the way of 'wow factor'.

I haven't seen a 720 in the flesh yet so perhaps that may elicit more of a brain boner.

This may be a bit controversial but I see Mclaren as the 'Old Man's Supercar'... I can see myself in one when I hit my mid 50s maybe but while I'm still in my 30's the usual suspects are what I desire. Although I did try and order an AMG GT-R which I would have over any standard model Mclaren at the moment.

[RamboLambo]

Craigwww said:

No run of the mill Mclaren has ever really turned my head more than a cursory glance (12C, 650S, 570s). When I see one drive past, I don't get that little pang of excitement like I do when I see most Ferrari's or Lambos. I really want to love them, it isn't a conscious decision, it's a lack of emotional response that most of my car mates also share with regards to Mclaren. It's a bit like seeing a Lotus or Maserati, you will notice it but there's little in the way of 'wow factor'.

I haven't seen a 720 in the flesh yet so perhaps that may elicit more of a brain boner.

This may be a bit controversial but I see Mclaren as the 'Old Man's Supercar'... I can see myself in one when I hit my mid 50s maybe but while I'm still in my 30's the usual suspects are what I desire. Although I did try and order an AMG GT-R which I would have over any standard model Mclaren at the moment.

Interestingly I see it as a young mans / next generation car. Maybe you mean discerning and sophisticated rather than old
A lot of us were brought up with Lambo's and Ferrari's as our bedroom poster cars but the younger generation don't seem to have that emotional attachment. There is certainly less loyalty in the world these days.
McLaren is still the new kid on the block and the 720S is really futuristic and setting new supercar benchmarks in terms of performance

When I talk to my kids and their friends about new cars they get far more excited about McLarens than anything else out there

[Yipper]

Not a huge surprise, tbf. McLarens are just Porsches for people with a bit more money. Fast but dull.

[spareparts]

Craigwww said:

No run of the mill Mclaren has ever really turned my head more than a cursory glance (12C, 650S, 570s). When I see one drive past, I don't get that little pang of excitement like I do when I see most Ferrari's or Lambos. I really want to love them, it isn't a conscious decision, it's a lack of emotional response that most of my car mates also share with regards to Mclaren. It's a bit like seeing a Lotus or Maserati, you will notice it but there's little in the way of 'wow factor'.

Part of the problem is that the 540/570/650/675 all basically look the same - and the price disparity is over 100%. Build quality is also shockingly poor for what one expects of the brand (teutonic/OCD/perfect).

From behind the wheel, the steering is slow (relative to a Ferrari or Porsche) and the throttle pedal very insensitive (the opposite to a Ferrari). So the car feels dull on the road.

As Bernie replied to Eddie at the last TopGear episode -
EJ - "Mclaren?"
Bernie - "Trying too hard."

[isaldiri]

spareparts said:

Part of the problem is that the 540/570/650/675 all basically look the same - and the price disparity is over 100%. Build quality is also shockingly poor for what one expects of the brand (teutonic/OCD/perfect).

From behind the wheel, the steering is slow (relative to a Ferrari or Porsche) and the throttle pedal very insensitive (the opposite to a Ferrari). So the car feels dull on the road.

Funnily enough the above is exactly the thing that irritates me about a modern Ferrari. Super quick steering ratio and very short throttle are 2 things I couldn't stand about the 458 as it was for me a hugely artificial trick to make the car seemingly more exciting. The Mclaren rack is no slower than Porsche and now with electronic power assist on the Porsche, the steering is unquestionably better with more feel as well imo (more feel doesn't mean more steering weight just to be clear).

And as far as build quality, shockingly poor is what I'd use for Ferrari rather than Mclaren tbh..Mclaren could do better for sure but Ferrari bad they are a long way from..

[RamboLambo]

isaldiri said:

Funnily enough the above is exactly the thing that irritates me about a modern Ferrari. Super quick steering ratio and very short throttle are 2 things I couldn't stand about the 458 as it was for me a hugely artificial trick to make the car seemingly more exciting. The Mclaren rack is no slower than Porsche and now with electronic power assist on the Porsche, the steering is unquestionably better with more feel as well imo (more feel doesn't mean more steering weight just to be clear).

And as far as build quality, shockingly poor is what I'd use for Ferrari rather than Mclaren tbh..Mclaren could do better for sure but Ferrari bad they are a long way from..

Hear hear.

The hydraulic steering on the McLaren is nicely weighted, good balance and feedback and pin point accurate IMHO. I found the 458 far too light, too quick and very twitchy at the same time as having little feel or feedback.

The McLaren build quality in my 2 cars is superb. Quality look and feel to all the components and materials and to date solid as a rock.
That's not something I ever felt with my previous Ferrari's sadly but just accepted.

McLarens seem too good because of how well they are engineered and maybe more focus has been directed to their road cars than F1 for the time being.

McLarens are not to everyone's liking but as a piece of engineering and product nothing else compares IMHO.

And what's even better currently is you don't have to pay a premium just for the badge yet they are rarer and generally perceived by the public as being the more exclusive/higher brand.
Win win chicken dinner as far as I'm concerned

[Shazbat]

Yipper said:

Not a huge surprise, tbf. McLarens are just Porsches for people with a bit more money. Fast but dull.

Lol, not sure what you've been smoking the last 30 years but the focused 911 of pretty much any generation has always, ALWAYS totally smoked the equivalent ferrari or lambo of the day. Only in the Speciale and LT do we finally have a car that can truly rival a Rennsport car for pure driver appeal. And then of course there's the CGT ... completely out on its own, not even an F1 or an F50 can hold a candle to it.

[red_duke]

RamboLambo said:

McLarens are not to everyone's liking ... yet they are rarer and generally perceived by the public as being the more exclusive/higher brand

Where is your evidence for that?

[TP321]

red_duke said:

Where is your evidence for that?

Most people still don't know what a McLaren is....

[RamboLambo]

red_duke said:

Where is your evidence for that?

Virtually everyone who speaks to me about the cars.

My neighbours have seen a whole list of Ferrari's and Lambo's come and go over the years but nothing has had the same response as the Mclarens ?

Rarer and more exclusive is a FACT and the higher brand perception is from feedback like "wow you really have gone to the top now, is it a P1 and did you win the Euromillions"

Maybe its the mystique and rarity of the brand but in my experience the overwhelming response from people is in favour of the McLarens.

Lets face it Ferrari's and Lambos are two a penny and common as mcuk

[Pau1]

RamboLambo said:

Lets face it Ferrari's and Lambos are two a penny and common as mcuk

That's funny, I saw your long sold Performante on the road yesterday, remember, one of only 5 or something in the UK. Anyway, it was looking fantastic as ever. I'm yet to see a 720 in the flesh but for me, it just doesn't look pretty, the 675 LT & 570GT is their best looking so far IMHO.

[tuscaneer]

RamboLambo said:

Virtually everyone who speaks to me about the cars.

My neighbours have seen a whole list of Ferrari's and Lambo's come and go over the years but nothing has had the same response as the Mclarens ?

Rarer and more exclusive is a FACT and the higher brand perception is from feedback like "wow you really have gone to the top now, is it a P1 and did you win the Euromillions"

Maybe its the mystique and rarity of the brand but in my experience the overwhelming response from people is in favour of the McLarens.

Lets face it Ferrari's and Lambos are two a penny and common as mcuk

utter bullst

[PurpleAki]

RamboLambo said:

Higher brand perception is from feedback like "wow you really have gone to the top now, is it a P1 and did you win the Euromillions"

Which just proves the point made above. People don't know what they are looking at! And that the styling is derivative

I'm sure McLaren's are extremely competent but their looks (P1/675LT aside), the use of the virtually the same engine across the range and the brand itself, do nothing for me whatsoever.

[traxx]

RamboLambo said:

McLarens are not to everyone's liking ... yet they are rarer and generally perceived by the public as being the more exclusive/higher brand

Really?

I would have said most of the public would place McLaren with Aston and Porsche
Nowhere near on a level with Ferrari

[Pioneer]

Craigwww said:

No run of the mill Mclaren has ever really turned my head more than a cursory glance (12C, 650S, 570s). When I see one drive past, I don't get that little pang of excitement like I do when I see most Ferrari's or Lambos. I really want to love them, it isn't a conscious decision, it's a lack of emotional response that most of my car mates also share with regards to Mclaren. It's a bit like seeing a Lotus or Maserati, you will notice it but there's little in the way of 'wow factor'.

+1

Exactly the same for me. I see one and I'm indifferent. For me that's the opposite feeling to what a Supercar should evoke. Seems to be the same with a lot of people I speak to. Even my 3 boys seem to have no real interest. For me I think of them as a fast, sensible supercar with good tech but so so dull. I'm in the market for something new and I've been trying to convince myself to at least go and see a 720 in the metal. But then I think why bother, plenty of other cars I already think are great aesthetically. I would rather compromise on tech and a few 10ths of a second to be sitting in something I love the look of.

Edited by Pioneer on Thursday 4th May 12:26

[MingtheMerciless]

I think this whole McLaren v the rest thing has become too polarised. The 720 S is a marmite car but no doubt has moved the game on a bit and Ferrari should be worried. Also, I think people are too harsh on the McLarens and the wow factor - but I will say this, while the McLarens after the 12C do have a wow factor imho which is up there with Ferrari, I can't be bothered trying to work out which one it is after I have worked out that it isn't a P1, when I see one. So marmite or not, it's good that the 720S looks different. I do hope however that all the ones that follow don't look like it in the same way that the 540C/540S/570S/650S/P1 all look like a set of those Russian dolls that open up to find an identical but slightly smaller one inside.

[AyBee]

The problem with the majority of McLarens (possbily 675LT excepted) is that they're too good. I dare say that the majority of people buying at this level will not be driving a £200k car daily and therefore they want excitement and drama from their weekend toy, not something blisteringly fast but ultimately capable of being used on a daily basis - for me, I'd rather save some money and get a Huracan or an Aventador, no where near as capable, but something that keeps me excited, makes me feel 5 when I get in the driver's seat.

[WCZ]

Shazbat said:

And then of course there's the CGT ... completely out on its own, not even an F1 or an F50 can hold a candle to it.

nonsense imo

[v12v8]

Interesting range of views here on McLaren as a brand and as a car manufacturer. Clearly McLaren are the new guys in town and to some do not have the heritage of Ferrari or Lamborghini. But remember both those brands had similar reactions when they established - Lamborghini was of course famous for tractors and the thought of it building cars was mocked. Look at Lamborghini 50 years later.

McLaren has some way to go, but interestingly the reason the car appealed to me was a) it was different in both terms of design and concept b) I can get in it (Lamborghini stop penalising us taller drivers!) c) not since I first drove a Lotus Esprit over 20 years ago has a car felt so magnetically attached to the road.

I'm a huge fan of Ferrari and Lamborghini (and even Porsche - still miss my 911) and could have easily bought from either brand instead of McLaren. But I didn't. And nor have many others. Is McLaren better? Of course not. Is it different? Yes. Is it a good looking car? That of course is subjective - personally I love it but I get the whole "laughing Buddha" criticism. Certainly the car gets a generally positive reaction wherever I drive it. Then again, being yellow it is hard to miss it.

I've had my car 8 weeks and done nearly 5,500 miles. And no I don't use it everyday. But I do use it and it brings a smile to my face every time I do. For those that haven't driven one, I urge you to at least have a go. You might be pleasantly surprised.