2014 McLaren 650S Spider | PH Review
The vast majority of 650S buyers will choose the Spider; only fair we assess that too!
Is there anything left to say about the McLaren 650S? Well, we've not really touched on the Spider yet and most of our driving impressions thus far focus on experience of the coupe at Ascari Race Resort rather than on-road performance. Happily our return from there was in a Spider, killing two birds with one stone.
In as much as an all-carbon 650hp, 200mph-plus supercar can be considered relevant to driving on the public road the Spider probably makes a slightly better case than the coupe. At £215,250 it's exactly £20,000 - and a modest 40kg - more than the fixed roof car but it seems that extra dent in your wallet and a fractional performance deficit are your only sacrifices. We're talking two tenths off the 0-125mph time - now 8.6 seconds - and a top speed that's now just 204mph rather than 207mph. Shucks, eh? Buyers would seem to accept these are prices worth paying, 12C production ending up 80 per cent Spider and McLaren expecting a similar split for 650S.
The two arguments against a roofless version of a coupe would typically be styling and loss of structural integrity. The former is subjective of course but it's only on the lighter colours that you really notice the joints in the folding roof when raised and the F1 airbox style fairings mean it's more a targa than true roadster when down. There are a couple of functional advantages though - one being that you can drop the rear screen/wind deflector whether the roof is up or down and enjoy a bit more noise. And the area beneath the tonneau can actually be used as storage if you're going to keep the roof up; shaped bags are available to maximise this.
Price to pay
And the supposed sacrifice in stiffness? The soggier handling from softer spring rates, trading wind in the hair fun for on-limit poise? McLaren says there is none and the Monocell is equally stiff with or without roof. To put that claim to the test we found the lumpiest, bumpiest, most tortuous stretch of tarmac in the whole of Spain (fact!) and drove up and down it several times in an attempt to locate a shake, squeak or shimmy. There was none. Even thumped through potholes in the Track chassis mode the usual tell tales of wobbling mirrors and steering column shudders were notable by their absence. We suffer for our art here at PH. But, basically, even if you have it painted pastel pink the conclusion would be that nobody can accuse you of buying a girls' car if you opt for a Spider over a Coupe. Which is a relief, eh?
If the 650S has a problem on the road it's simply that the gulf between its performance abilities and any notion of a safe, sociable or legal speed is so vast as to be rather frustrating. See the vid below; what felt merely 'brisk' at the wheel looks rather more so on reflection.
Faced with such realities what's the owner of a 650hp supercar left with, other than dropping the roof and soaking up the sun and hopefully some admiring glances along the way? Not much, which is why for many the Spider is the more appealing option.
On the nose
The 650S is not a small car but that increased front-end response, sharper steering and the overall stiffness make it feel something like a very, very potent Lotus Elise when you've got the roof down. If the coupe is the serious supercar the Spider has a little more accessibility in letting you appreciate the kind of visceral pleasures such things should offer. McLaren's clever mix and match system of separate dials for chassis and powertrain settings mean it can be tuned to suit mood and conditions too, allowing a softer chassis for bumpy roads but still with the engine and gearbox in maximum attack Track mode if you want.
One thing to watch though - in the Normal setting the ProActive Chassis Control dampers can blow through their travel in high-speed compressions and result in expensive sounding interfaces between the car's underside and the road surface. It's something we've experienced previously on bumpy UK roads in 12Cs too, meaning the additional damping support in Sport is often the preferred setting if you're doing anything other than pootling. Track is there if you want it and a bigger step than before but little value beyond curiosity for most road driving.
Increased emotion and engagement are objectives McLaren keeps returning to with the evolution from 12C to 650S and nowhere do you feel that more than in the Spider. Wind in the hair and the blare of exhaust rather than contrived induction noise through the Intake Sound Generator are just as effective here as increased spring rates, improved steering response and 25 extra horsepower. The Coupe is a more cohesive aesthetic whole and retains a more purist sense of purpose. But, truth be told, you'll probably have more taste of the 650S experience in the Spider and the functional compromises are negligible.
SPECIFICATION | MCLAREN 650 S
Engine: 3,799cc V8 twin-turbo
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto (SSG), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 650@7,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 500@6,000rpm
0-62mph: 3.0 sec
0-125mph: 8.6sec
Top speed: 204mph
Weight: 1,370kg (dry)
MPG: 24.2mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 275g/km
Price: £215,250 (For options details and costs see pricelist)
Not sure should the lottery win happen, that i would have bought one . but liked it regardless
upon release i wasnt sure of the 650s front end, even though i love the P1
but the more i see of this car, the more im warming to it
maybe by the time depreciation has brought it to a more affordable level. the styling will have had what i think of the BMW effect, whereby i hate the updates but over time grow to prefere them
'If the 650S has a problem on the road it's simply that the gulf between its performance abilities and any notion of a safe, sociable or legal speed is so vast as to be rather frustrating.'
Having driven the 12c and 458 I struggle to understand how owners enjoy the performance offered and keep their licence.
Live outside the UK. No one outside well, in reality England are more obsessed with swift car movement than England.
Well done MC Laren on another great car. All effort no on Project 13 to go 911 baiting.
'If the 650S has a problem on the road it's simply that the gulf between its performance abilities and any notion of a safe, sociable or legal speed is so vast as to be rather frustrating.'
Having driven the 12c and 458 I struggle to understand how owners enjoy the performance offered and keep their licence.
1. They are adding the McLaren to existing garage of cars and usually have time to use race tarcks or even own their own
2. The guy who owns his singular supercar changing from porsche to ferrari etc... usually runs at track days and weekends
3. Middle East where they cruise in tehn latest "cool suit of clothes" i.e. trying to out wealth each other.
So in most cases they have the money and ability to drive it at its limit if they so wish when ever they wish
I owned a F355 for a while and had no trouble sticking to speed limits but tried some private track days and totally enjoyed the car at speed and also bizarrely at 30 mph as well. Its not all about foot to the floor driving in these cars, but it is teh ability to that is the point.
PS the 650S still looks ugly even if it drives better - MP4-12C spyder for me thanks
'If the 650S has a problem on the road it's simply that the gulf between its performance abilities and any notion of a safe, sociable or legal speed is so vast as to be rather frustrating.'
Having driven the 12c and 458 I struggle to understand how owners enjoy the performance offered and keep their licence.
Just do not get it I do not like the current look of the current crop of supercars.
If you squint then all the McLarens look similar which looks similar to the 458 which looks similar to new baby Lambo.
They all look like they have been designed for a play-station game and not in a good way.
Where has the beauty of Ferrari and the individual look of Lambo gone.
Is there truly a breath taking beautiful Ferrari any more and there has never been a beautiful McLaren road car.
Oh for the curves and shape of a Dino or the aggression and curves of a 288 GTO or even a BB.
Question what was the last beautiful curvaceous super car ? I do not count Aston in on this as they are purely GT cars not outright super sports cars plus they still build beautiful looking cars if a bit samey.
Personally I think the last sexy Ferrari was the 355 GTB.
Just do not get it I do not like the current look of the current crop of supercars.
If you squint then all the McLarens look similar which looks similar to the 458 which looks similar to new baby Lambo.
They all look like they have been designed for a play-station game and not in a good way.
Where has the beauty of Ferrari and the individual look of Lambo gone.
Is there truly a breath taking beautiful Ferrari any more and there has never been a beautiful McLaren road car.
Oh for the curves and shape of a Dino or the aggression and curves of a 288 GTO or even a BB.
Question what was the last beautiful curvaceous super car ? I do not count Aston in on this as they are purely GT cars not outright super sports cars plus they still build beautiful looking cars if a bit samey.
Personally I think the last sexy Ferrari was the 355 GTB.
1. They are adding the McLaren to existing garage of cars and usually have time to use race tarcks or even own their own
2. The guy who owns his singular supercar changing from porsche to ferrari etc... usually runs at track days and weekends
3. Middle East where they cruise in tehn latest "cool suit of clothes" i.e. trying to out wealth each other.
So in most cases they have the money and ability to drive it at its limit if they so wish when ever they wish
I owned a F355 for a while and had no trouble sticking to speed limits but tried some private track days and totally enjoyed the car at speed and also bizarrely at 30 mph as well. Its not all about foot to the floor driving in these cars, but it is teh ability to that is the point.
PS the 650S still looks ugly even if it drives better - MP4-12C spyder for me thanks
Not so sure on your list of owners. Just returned from living in Switzerland where there were more Ferraris and other supercars than you could shake a stick at. Mostly driven quite slowly on sunny days by grey-haired men!
http://www.car-wallpapers.ws/panoz/Panoz-Esperante...
http://www.gulum.net/arabalar/resimler/Panoz-Esper...
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