540C Built and ready
Discussion
I ordered a 540C last July. I went and had a look at it delivered to Ascot yesterday.
It is Storm Grey with orange calipers and orange and black leather interior.
I am a little biased, but it is the most stunning vehicle I have ever seen. More than anything else on offer in the show room. IMHO far better looking than the 650 and not as angry as a 675.
No decent pics yet, but I should be collecting mid next week, so can post after.
I believe it is the first 540C in Berkshire... Or that might be sales spiel.
It is Storm Grey with orange calipers and orange and black leather interior.
I am a little biased, but it is the most stunning vehicle I have ever seen. More than anything else on offer in the show room. IMHO far better looking than the 650 and not as angry as a 675.
No decent pics yet, but I should be collecting mid next week, so can post after.
I believe it is the first 540C in Berkshire... Or that might be sales spiel.
koorby said:
I'm leaning towards a basic spec 540C as well, the 30HP difference between the 570S is not going to be noticed for road use and the two cars are indistinguishable apart from two fins missing on the rear diffuser.
If you don't mind me asking how did you spec up the 540, and which options would you consider essential? My 'poverty pack' spec is hovering around the £137k mark and that includes alcantara interior.
Only options I went for...If you don't mind me asking how did you spec up the 540, and which options would you consider essential? My 'poverty pack' spec is hovering around the £137k mark and that includes alcantara interior.
Nose lift, parking sensors, special paint (Storm grey). These are the must haves. Tot 131K
However, I also have full leather black interior with orange highlights on seats/dash and tied in with orange calipers.
The latter is not essential, but makes a beautiful car, stunning.
I am sorry about the quality of these. I must have had a couple too many red wines last night.
The full spec of this car also includes
Soft close doors
McLaren designed leather/alcantara interior and coloured matched calipers to tie in the orange interior.
So, nearer £137K....
Bought the car through McLaren Ascot. Chris is brilliant to deal with and knows his stuff.
The full spec of this car also includes
Soft close doors
McLaren designed leather/alcantara interior and coloured matched calipers to tie in the orange interior.
So, nearer £137K....
Bought the car through McLaren Ascot. Chris is brilliant to deal with and knows his stuff.
Edited by MadMacMcMad on Wednesday 25th May 16:20
These are all pictures of my car.
131K is my original spec with the essentials.
Parking sensors, Nose lift and storm grey paint. Everything else was standard.
I would have been very happy with that. But,there are a few cosmetic extras subsequently added. The interior with Alcantara/leather and orange highlights, orange calipers and soft close doors. These will take you to 137K.
My apologies for the confusion, it all made sense when I typed it.
131K is my original spec with the essentials.
Parking sensors, Nose lift and storm grey paint. Everything else was standard.
I would have been very happy with that. But,there are a few cosmetic extras subsequently added. The interior with Alcantara/leather and orange highlights, orange calipers and soft close doors. These will take you to 137K.
My apologies for the confusion, it all made sense when I typed it.
So after a week of ownership.
I have only done a couple of hundred miles but first impressions are it drives better than it looks. And it looks stunning.
The steering is immediate and feels like a go cart. The power is awesome. I know many on here have 650+ HP, but I can't imagine using that sort of power on the roads.
The 540 has steel brakes, which after test driving the 570 with carbon feels immediate and far more suited to the roads. My car is destined to be on track once or twice in my ownership, so pleased I didn't tick that box.
The interior is minimal, not unnecessarily cluttered and the Iris system is a joy to use.
I have owned Astons, Caterhams, Noble, TVR and this car would embarrass them all.
Not much of a review, but best car I have owned and cannot imagine how I could better it.
I am looking forward to getting a little closer to 650 and 675 as some on here rave about the interior over the 540/570. I would like their opinions on mine.
I have only done a couple of hundred miles but first impressions are it drives better than it looks. And it looks stunning.
The steering is immediate and feels like a go cart. The power is awesome. I know many on here have 650+ HP, but I can't imagine using that sort of power on the roads.
The 540 has steel brakes, which after test driving the 570 with carbon feels immediate and far more suited to the roads. My car is destined to be on track once or twice in my ownership, so pleased I didn't tick that box.
The interior is minimal, not unnecessarily cluttered and the Iris system is a joy to use.
I have owned Astons, Caterhams, Noble, TVR and this car would embarrass them all.
Not much of a review, but best car I have owned and cannot imagine how I could better it.
I am looking forward to getting a little closer to 650 and 675 as some on here rave about the interior over the 540/570. I would like their opinions on mine.
tyrrell said:
What's the standard stereo system like please
I don't need it thumping, but it is perfectly OK for me. There are only front speakers. I assume there are rear ones in the upgrade, but quite honestly you don't need it.Regarding insurance. You do not need a tracker, so I didn't buy the security pack, just individually selected nose lift and parking sensors. A lot cheaper.
batman25 said:
Hi MadMac, the car looks terrific, very tasteful colour scheme, class, beauty and a bit of racy aggression 
I am looking at buying one of these and wondering about the noise, how does it compare with the 570S? Also, how is it going after 3 weeks, any more thoughts?
It still remains the best car I have ever driven. I have just returned from LeMans and it was faultless and amongst Lambos, Astons et all on the site, drew the most admiring attention. I am looking at buying one of these and wondering about the noise, how does it compare with the 570S? Also, how is it going after 3 weeks, any more thoughts?In sport and track modes you do get a very nice noise out the back. And an infectious pop on gear change. Inside the car it is quiet though. I had the loudest Aston in Berkshire before this, so it is a welcome change. Some might like it louder though. Personally, it's a perfect balance.
The sports exhaust does not offer a power increase, just more noise. So in my mind it's an option not worth ticking.
I took a 570 out for a test drive and the sound is the same as the 540. Unless you spend £3K to have less baffle that is.
I do not know how the sports exhaust works. For the money, I assume it bypasses the silencers with butterflys when pushing on. Otherwise, you might get fed up with a constant drone.
We will wait for a sports exhaust owner to enlighten us.
Hope that helps.
If you go the 540 route, you will not be disapointed. The 570 brakes put me off as there was too much travel before they bite when cold. Again we'll wait for a 570 owner to put me right.
M12 Tom said:
MadMac, lovely car. Just finalising my spec this week. Have you used the front lift much? Thinking about skipping that option but dealer thinks I'm mad.
I have the lift on mine, but I have a slightly raised garage, so use it all the time.I manage to get over speed bumps without using it, but it's only a matter of time before I come across one that's too high and then the nose lift will be a god send.
Honestly, if you ever want to take it on a ferry, then get the nose lift.
Brilliant. Love driving it.
I have had a couple of little issues that Ascot sorted straight away, but all has been well for the last couple of months.
This was my first dip into Mclaren ownership and it has been a very pleasant one.
the car is extremely fast, but usable power. I wonder how much of the available power do 650 and 675 owners actually get to use on the roads, as I find I run out of road very quickly with my pitifull 533BHP.
I hope to get to meet a few of you in due course. I would like to hear the sports exhaust on the 570/540, just to compare.
I have had a couple of little issues that Ascot sorted straight away, but all has been well for the last couple of months.
This was my first dip into Mclaren ownership and it has been a very pleasant one.
the car is extremely fast, but usable power. I wonder how much of the available power do 650 and 675 owners actually get to use on the roads, as I find I run out of road very quickly with my pitifull 533BHP.
I hope to get to meet a few of you in due course. I would like to hear the sports exhaust on the 570/540, just to compare.
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