Does McLaren know its cars sound crap?
Discussion
Ok, ok, ok, before i get totally berated by the fanclub.... it’s not a BAD signature sound (look at the m4 for that) it’s just not inspiring, and granted i dont want overly fake pops and bangs, and yes i understand the impact of turbocharging, and yes SOME models sound better than others (675LT is certainly more raw, ignoring the fakeish cracks), BUT...
So many reviewers seem to share an opinion that McLarens are too clinical and lack the aural experience, as do many of my petrolhead friends. There is no denying the tech and capabilities of pretty much any car in their range blows away all competition, but if Merc and Ferrari can make reasonably sounding turbo V8s - does McLaren, maker of world class drivers supercars, not think this is important? Or are they already trying and this is the best they can do?
I’ll give them credit, the 570s is better than the 650s etc, but i’d really love to love a McLaren and buy one but it’s missing that personality i really want for a 150-250k car... and i think the sound is a good part of that.
So many reviewers seem to share an opinion that McLarens are too clinical and lack the aural experience, as do many of my petrolhead friends. There is no denying the tech and capabilities of pretty much any car in their range blows away all competition, but if Merc and Ferrari can make reasonably sounding turbo V8s - does McLaren, maker of world class drivers supercars, not think this is important? Or are they already trying and this is the best they can do?
I’ll give them credit, the 570s is better than the 650s etc, but i’d really love to love a McLaren and buy one but it’s missing that personality i really want for a 150-250k car... and i think the sound is a good part of that.
Edited by jimmybell on Tuesday 6th March 23:24
Sound is an important part of the overall driving experience for me personally and for that reason you will not beat a Naturally Aspirated engine.
One of the reasons I'm buying a V10 Huracan Performante.
Don't know a turbo charged car that gets remotely close to that V10 soundtrack
McLaren have introduced a MSO sports exhaust on the sport series now which helps but it will never bridge the gap to N/A.
Hopefully the next LT model will address this a bit more
One of the reasons I'm buying a V10 Huracan Performante.
Don't know a turbo charged car that gets remotely close to that V10 soundtrack
McLaren have introduced a MSO sports exhaust on the sport series now which helps but it will never bridge the gap to N/A.
Hopefully the next LT model will address this a bit more
Can totally appreciate what you’re saying. A bit of a weapon of a car you have incoming... ticks pretty much every box... and if you’re not a huge track driver a Performante Spyder could well be one of the best all round supercars ever (oddly for me having a bit of a convertible ‘moment’ recently). Wish i could of been on the list for one!
I think an engine has to be far more than just capable, in the same vane the latest 718 porker sounds like a golf R.
Perhaps McLaren want their cars to have ‘soul’ derived from technical ability rather than the engine, a fair stance, but it’s for that reason i’d be picking a Ferrari or Lambo over Mcl currently - they’re hard to love. There’s lots of chatter about the new Pista likely being somewhat muted by the presence of the 720s, but i’m confident the Italians will have put some time in to making it have some savage audible theatre that MCL just don’t seem to have nailed ... beyond a ballistic dyson.
I think an engine has to be far more than just capable, in the same vane the latest 718 porker sounds like a golf R.
Perhaps McLaren want their cars to have ‘soul’ derived from technical ability rather than the engine, a fair stance, but it’s for that reason i’d be picking a Ferrari or Lambo over Mcl currently - they’re hard to love. There’s lots of chatter about the new Pista likely being somewhat muted by the presence of the 720s, but i’m confident the Italians will have put some time in to making it have some savage audible theatre that MCL just don’t seem to have nailed ... beyond a ballistic dyson.
My 570 Spider has the new MSO option exhaust and it makes a far better sound than my old one with the sports exhaust option, my neighbours have commented how much louder this s new car is compared to the old one, people need to keep up 
McLaren do offer a much better sounding car its just they have only been available on the sport series the last eight weeks so most people don't know its available.
McLaren do offer a much better sounding car its just they have only been available on the sport series the last eight weeks so most people don't know its available. Can't disagree and I own one.
I had the standard exhaust when I purchased my 12C and fitted the sports and it sounds much better, hardly Lambo or Aston sound.... I think McLaren concentrated on the rest of the package and not the sound, sadly. That said it takes nothing away from the experience for me.
I had the standard exhaust when I purchased my 12C and fitted the sports and it sounds much better, hardly Lambo or Aston sound.... I think McLaren concentrated on the rest of the package and not the sound, sadly. That said it takes nothing away from the experience for me.
I think the sports exhaust is a must-tick option, i'm pretty sure the best sound i'd heard from a McLaren was the 570 with this at Goodwood last year. I think said sound was simply louder, which is a good start (as said it's not a BAD sound, so louder doesn't make it worse), i just wonder if they need to work on a different signature tone.
You hear a Ferrari drive by, you know it's a Ferrari - even with the 488's turbos. I guess you can identify the McLaren 'noise' but its somewhat nondescript - and considering it's a screaming V8 you'd kinda hope it to sound like one. It doesn't really celebrate the turbo noise (like a koenigsegg/bugatti etc), and it doesn't really sound any better than a 911 turbo.
You hear a Ferrari drive by, you know it's a Ferrari - even with the 488's turbos. I guess you can identify the McLaren 'noise' but its somewhat nondescript - and considering it's a screaming V8 you'd kinda hope it to sound like one. It doesn't really celebrate the turbo noise (like a koenigsegg/bugatti etc), and it doesn't really sound any better than a 911 turbo.
Mclaren can make their cars produce a lot of noise (different exhausts) but it's not an awfully nice sound. it's just one of the things it is though, even the 675 which sounds better than most other cars sounds about the same (blaring v8) inside the cabin. That said, I don't think the Ferrari v8s are that great either, OEM the speciale I didn't like the sound very much (loud again but irritating). Merc are the only ones that seemingly make a decent sounding v8 to my ear but the VAG NA V10 stomps the lot dead.
jimmybell said:
..................... they need to work on a different signature tone.
......
By your own admission, they do have a signature tone, it's just that you don't prefer it.......
People who buy a McLaren know what they're buying into, if my priority was a car that sounded like a Ferrari I'd have bought a Ferrari, ditto with the V10 scream from the Huracan or R8. McLarens have a very specific noise which can be louder depending on exhaust spec, but they will never sound like a rumbly Nascar V8 despite their V8 layout in the same way a 488 will never sound like a 355.
traxx said:
A few times when Ive been to the McLaren factory they have told us about how long they spent perfecting the exhaust sound
Either the haven't got a clue or what I think is more likely is that like with their car designs, they feel they are right and everyone else is wrong
This is effectively what i'm getting at.Either the haven't got a clue or what I think is more likely is that like with their car designs, they feel they are right and everyone else is wrong
yes yes - NA cars sound great, but surely with engineering prowess as great as McLaren's... this isn't their best?
I think the 675 just sounds more raw, thus more appealing. likely less sound deadening so you get more cabin noise too (i imagine a P1 is similar). No doubt the 750LT (or whatever it is to be) will be a nice improvement, but i'd rather see that raw induction noise in the base 720 with the sports exhaust as a minimum, they can then make a GT version with a subdued exhaust if thats for comfort.
I just wonder if the engineers and management at McLaren who create this sound have seen the feedback. Mostly feedback from 'pro' auto journos isn't that harsh, they have to maintain some brand relationship - though typically if a journo makes a comment remotely hinting about a negative of a top end supercar they are probably holding back. But as soon as you see the less pro response, whether that be joe public at shows, pub chat or even youtubers (that mclaren seems to love using for promotion), the feedback is much more clear.
The Surveyor said:
By your own admission, they do have a signature tone, it's just that you don't prefer it.
I guess, though i'm not the only one, i suspect i'm in the majority. Everyone likes different things, but there's usually good consensus on what is 'a nice sound' and what isn't, and whether a sound lives up to the supercar looks and performance it offers.Is that 'signature' now the standard for McLaren or is it a product of the current engine architecture? I kinda thought perhaps it was just a compromise to get the M838T engine going and give the brand a good building block to get established, but the new M840T seems to have the same aural compromise. Are they just the same block re-bored for new power? can't say i'm familiar with their engines.
traxx said:
A few times when Ive been to the McLaren factory they have told us about how long they spent perfecting the exhaust sound
Either the haven't got a clue or what I think is more likely is that like with their car designs, they feel they are right and everyone else is wrong
+1Either the haven't got a clue or what I think is more likely is that like with their car designs, they feel they are right and everyone else is wrong
they really make a big deal about how much they've refined everything to achieve a great sound but it's simply not a nice noise and swings sales away from them
jimmybell said:
.........
I just wonder if the engineers and management at McLaren who create this sound have seen the feedback. Mostly feedback from 'pro' auto journos isn't that harsh, they have to maintain some brand relationship - though typically if a journo makes a comment remotely hinting about a negative of a top end supercar they are probably holding back. But as soon as you see the less pro response, whether that be joe public at shows, pub chat or even youtubers (that mclaren seems to love using for promotion), the feedback is much more clear.
as before, they offer a range of different exhaust options, do you think they may have done that because they have listened to the feedback, rather than suggesting that they have ignored it?I just wonder if the engineers and management at McLaren who create this sound have seen the feedback. Mostly feedback from 'pro' auto journos isn't that harsh, they have to maintain some brand relationship - though typically if a journo makes a comment remotely hinting about a negative of a top end supercar they are probably holding back. But as soon as you see the less pro response, whether that be joe public at shows, pub chat or even youtubers (that mclaren seems to love using for promotion), the feedback is much more clear.
If you read (or watch) the tests of the 570 spider, one of the stand-out comments was that taking the roof off, or dropping the rear window allowed the driver to share the sound. Give one of those a try and see if it's any better.
The Surveyor said:
as before, they offer a range of different exhaust options, do you think they may have done that because they have listened to the feedback, rather than suggesting that they have ignored it?
If you read (or watch) the tests of the 570 spider, one of the stand-out comments was that taking the roof off, or dropping the rear window allowed the driver to share the sound. Give one of those a try and see if it's any better.
Whilst they may have identified a demand, doesn't mean it's entirely fixed If you read (or watch) the tests of the 570 spider, one of the stand-out comments was that taking the roof off, or dropping the rear window allowed the driver to share the sound. Give one of those a try and see if it's any better.
Here's to hoping the next round of sports series solves the problem. Is there a big difference between the 'Sports' and 'MSO SuperSports'? glowing review here from Mr Sutcliffe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8J7QEtirk
Though - he still describes it as sounding 'like a Ferrari', so his suggestion of a good McLaren noise is when it nearly replicates Ferrari's.
Perhaps the McLaren for me just doesn't exist yet.. let's see if they make the 570 based LT Spider version.
Yipper said:
You see it when you go to multibrand car shows every Summer.
Crowds will gather round the rev-offs for Lambos, Nissan GT-Rs and Astons, while largely ignoring the McLarens and Porkers.
Yep, nobody likes to hear a car with Asthma revving. I'd probably add Ferrari V12 to your list, though.Crowds will gather round the rev-offs for Lambos, Nissan GT-Rs and Astons, while largely ignoring the McLarens and Porkers.
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