Finally, my first McLaren
Discussion
After a Porsche Boxster, then the last 2.5years in an Audi R8 V10 Plus (incredible) I’ve just bought my first McLaren 570s Spider.
Fire Black, MSO titanium sports exhaust, 10 spoke stealth light weight wheels. carbon interior and alcantara.
Pick it up end of March and taking it straight to Paintshield for PPF.
Insane test drive. Completely different car to the R8. Hatfield McLaren have been great to deal with.
Fire Black, MSO titanium sports exhaust, 10 spoke stealth light weight wheels. carbon interior and alcantara.
Pick it up end of March and taking it straight to Paintshield for PPF.
Insane test drive. Completely different car to the R8. Hatfield McLaren have been great to deal with.
Edited by kingkelly on Friday 15th March 22:03
- they are rather nippy
So ive had my McLaren 570s Spider for two days, also the hottest days of the year so far un the UK, so good timing.
The R8 was great to drive and instant power, loud and a comfy ride. It felt well built and turned a few heads. You could tell it had years of engineering and refinement.
The McLaren is a different league in my opinion. I would say as fast as the R8 in acceleration but a much bigger head turner. Ive never had so many people stop and take photos and ask questions. It feels like a proper super car. The handling is like nothing else, sometimes it feels like you’ve got an angry tiger on a lead. The noise is on a par with the R8, however ive got the MSO titanium exhaust. Having the ability to drop the roof just brings a whole new level to the car.
Both are great cars and i enjoyed 3years in my R8. But im definitely a McLaren fanboy now. And it hasn’t broken down, contrary to service rumours.
The R8 was great to drive and instant power, loud and a comfy ride. It felt well built and turned a few heads. You could tell it had years of engineering and refinement.
The McLaren is a different league in my opinion. I would say as fast as the R8 in acceleration but a much bigger head turner. Ive never had so many people stop and take photos and ask questions. It feels like a proper super car. The handling is like nothing else, sometimes it feels like you’ve got an angry tiger on a lead. The noise is on a par with the R8, however ive got the MSO titanium exhaust. Having the ability to drop the roof just brings a whole new level to the car.
Both are great cars and i enjoyed 3years in my R8. But im definitely a McLaren fanboy now. And it hasn’t broken down, contrary to service rumours.
I’m intrigued. I currently have a 2018 R8 V10 Plus, my fourth second generation R8 so you could say I like them.
Went to see a 570S today and was pleasantly surprised. My concerns with McLarens have always been basic tech compared to the Germans (this is a daily driver and I use the tech all the time) and build quality.
Having seen it first hand the tech is very basic compared to the R8, but it is serviceable.
The build quality surprised me. It didn’t have the solidity of the Audi (nothing does really) and it had a rattle from one of the sun visors (which will be an easy fix) but it felt very solid and with no other noises on the road.
The driving positon is the best I’ve ever experienced (by some margin compared to the R8) and the seats were really comfortable.
I didn’t find the engine to have anywhere near the R8’s charisma. It’s not bad sounding, but the R8 is about as good as it gets so it’s always going to be difficult moving on from that (and why I keep going back to them). But despite 40hp less than the R8 it felt faster to me because it’s so much more torquey...it just punches down the road relentlessly.
The chassis was superb. Feels very very solid and the thing that stood out was the ride quality, but British cars tend to be really good at that anyway.
I really liked it, it’s made me decide I am probably having a McLaren next.
Did you buy yours new or used? I’m trying to decipher what values are going to do as these have slipped down into the £90k’s now, whereas I’m looking at newer cars so I really don’t want the floor in the next 6-12 months to be a whole lot lower than where it is now!
Went to see a 570S today and was pleasantly surprised. My concerns with McLarens have always been basic tech compared to the Germans (this is a daily driver and I use the tech all the time) and build quality.
Having seen it first hand the tech is very basic compared to the R8, but it is serviceable.
The build quality surprised me. It didn’t have the solidity of the Audi (nothing does really) and it had a rattle from one of the sun visors (which will be an easy fix) but it felt very solid and with no other noises on the road.
The driving positon is the best I’ve ever experienced (by some margin compared to the R8) and the seats were really comfortable.
I didn’t find the engine to have anywhere near the R8’s charisma. It’s not bad sounding, but the R8 is about as good as it gets so it’s always going to be difficult moving on from that (and why I keep going back to them). But despite 40hp less than the R8 it felt faster to me because it’s so much more torquey...it just punches down the road relentlessly.
The chassis was superb. Feels very very solid and the thing that stood out was the ride quality, but British cars tend to be really good at that anyway.
I really liked it, it’s made me decide I am probably having a McLaren next.
Did you buy yours new or used? I’m trying to decipher what values are going to do as these have slipped down into the £90k’s now, whereas I’m looking at newer cars so I really don’t want the floor in the next 6-12 months to be a whole lot lower than where it is now!
It’s a very different driving experience. You are on the floor quite literally in this and with the roof off the exhaust note is more of a bhurppp bhurrrrrp than the orchestra of the R8. The roof and the doors are the winner for me, along with the MSO exhaust system. The turbo lag is noticeable but i actually quite like that. When you pull forwards in traffic you can give it some throttle without launching yourself into the car in front.
Tech is very simple but pretty solid. These cars are a few years old now so most software issues have been ironed out. A big deal for me was having McLaren Hatfield open. It means any issues and i can easily drop the car off. Plus they have been brilliant for service, cannot fault them.
I bought a new 570s but got a good discount, with extras mine was 195k+. Got it down to below standard RRP of 165. So now have a new 19 plate and a GFV of a very good sum.
Every time you get in this car you really have to drive it, whilst the R8 could be effortless.
See if McLaren will give you one for an extended weekend test drive?
Tech is very simple but pretty solid. These cars are a few years old now so most software issues have been ironed out. A big deal for me was having McLaren Hatfield open. It means any issues and i can easily drop the car off. Plus they have been brilliant for service, cannot fault them.
I bought a new 570s but got a good discount, with extras mine was 195k+. Got it down to below standard RRP of 165. So now have a new 19 plate and a GFV of a very good sum.
Every time you get in this car you really have to drive it, whilst the R8 could be effortless.
See if McLaren will give you one for an extended weekend test drive?
Congrats on the car I had a gen 1 facelift V10 plus and currently in a V12 Vantage S, love both of them two v different cars. Currently toying with getting back into a gen 2 V10 plus but the McLaren itch is v strong tbh and undoubtedly needs scratching prob with a 570S. I’m hoping to get some time in one in the near future but it’s probable there’ll be no turning back after that !
Palmball said:
I’m intrigued. I currently have a 2018 R8 V10 Plus, my fourth second generation R8 so you could say I like them.
Went to see a 570S today and was pleasantly surprised. My concerns with McLarens have always been basic tech compared to the Germans (this is a daily driver and I use the tech all the time) and build quality.
Having seen it first hand the tech is very basic compared to the R8, but it is serviceable.
The build quality surprised me. It didn’t have the solidity of the Audi (nothing does really) and it had a rattle from one of the sun visors (which will be an easy fix) but it felt very solid and with no other noises on the road.
The driving positon is the best I’ve ever experienced (by some margin compared to the R8) and the seats were really comfortable.
I didn’t find the engine to have anywhere near the R8’s charisma. It’s not bad sounding, but the R8 is about as good as it gets so it’s always going to be difficult moving on from that (and why I keep going back to them). But despite 40hp less than the R8 it felt faster to me because it’s so much more torquey...it just punches down the road relentlessly.
The chassis was superb. Feels very very solid and the thing that stood out was the ride quality, but British cars tend to be really good at that anyway.
I really liked it, it’s made me decide I am probably having a McLaren next.
Did you buy yours new or used? I’m trying to decipher what values are going to do as these have slipped down into the £90k’s now, whereas I’m looking at newer cars so I really don’t want the floor in the next 6-12 months to be a whole lot lower than where it is now!
One thing you have to take into consideration is the ride height!.. When I had the V10+ you can drive them anywhere at any speed, they are so useable.Went to see a 570S today and was pleasantly surprised. My concerns with McLarens have always been basic tech compared to the Germans (this is a daily driver and I use the tech all the time) and build quality.
Having seen it first hand the tech is very basic compared to the R8, but it is serviceable.
The build quality surprised me. It didn’t have the solidity of the Audi (nothing does really) and it had a rattle from one of the sun visors (which will be an easy fix) but it felt very solid and with no other noises on the road.
The driving positon is the best I’ve ever experienced (by some margin compared to the R8) and the seats were really comfortable.
I didn’t find the engine to have anywhere near the R8’s charisma. It’s not bad sounding, but the R8 is about as good as it gets so it’s always going to be difficult moving on from that (and why I keep going back to them). But despite 40hp less than the R8 it felt faster to me because it’s so much more torquey...it just punches down the road relentlessly.
The chassis was superb. Feels very very solid and the thing that stood out was the ride quality, but British cars tend to be really good at that anyway.
I really liked it, it’s made me decide I am probably having a McLaren next.
Did you buy yours new or used? I’m trying to decipher what values are going to do as these have slipped down into the £90k’s now, whereas I’m looking at newer cars so I really don’t want the floor in the next 6-12 months to be a whole lot lower than where it is now!
The McLaren, for me was a nightmare to drive. What I mean by this, I live in the countryside and I use country roads most of my time, which turned into such a headache. The car sits low and when rocking along back roads, a pothole or even poor tarmacking repairs become your worst enemy.
I was following my brother through a village which I didn't know, and all of a sudden came across a serious of speed humps, really sharp ones, and it did my head in. The last one I didn't see and the paint had faded from it, and I hit it as I was accelerating (hit about 20 mph), I thought I has wrecked my car!
The Mac, in my opinion is the better car overall, you cant compare, but just be aware of how delicate they can be with the state of our roads!.. and yes I had lift on my car.
sparkyb999 said:
……..
The Mac, in my opinion is the better car overall, you cant compare, but just be aware of how delicate they can be with the state of our roads!.. and yes I had lift on my car.
The nose lift is just too slow for speed ramps, useful for ferry ramps and if you have a steep drive but if you're driving along and see one of those huge traffic calming ramps, the lift won't be fully risen by the time you reach the ramp. Saying that, I don't find the 570s sits 'that' low. The Mac, in my opinion is the better car overall, you cant compare, but just be aware of how delicate they can be with the state of our roads!.. and yes I had lift on my car.
A few weeks ago we did a long weekend 2-up with full weekend luggage through the Highlands including Glenshee and the Lecht (at a reasonable pace) and never grounded once, but agree you do need to watch the nose on speed ramps
sparkyb999 said:
One thing you have to take into consideration is the ride height!.. When I had the V10+ you can drive them anywhere at any speed, they are so useable.
The McLaren, for me was a nightmare to drive. What I mean by this, I live in the countryside and I use country roads most of my time, which turned into such a headache. The car sits low and when rocking along back roads, a pothole or even poor tarmacking repairs become your worst enemy.
I was following my brother through a village which I didn't know, and all of a sudden came across a serious of speed humps, really sharp ones, and it did my head in. The last one I didn't see and the paint had faded from it, and I hit it as I was accelerating (hit about 20 mph), I thought I has wrecked my car!
The Mac, in my opinion is the better car overall, you cant compare, but just be aware of how delicate they can be with the state of our roads!.. and yes I had lift on my car.
Hmm, thanks for the heads up. Daily usability is important and I hope the way it deals with speed bumps isn't an issue for me....because I've just put a deposit on one, subject to an extended test drive this weekend. The McLaren, for me was a nightmare to drive. What I mean by this, I live in the countryside and I use country roads most of my time, which turned into such a headache. The car sits low and when rocking along back roads, a pothole or even poor tarmacking repairs become your worst enemy.
I was following my brother through a village which I didn't know, and all of a sudden came across a serious of speed humps, really sharp ones, and it did my head in. The last one I didn't see and the paint had faded from it, and I hit it as I was accelerating (hit about 20 mph), I thought I has wrecked my car!
The Mac, in my opinion is the better car overall, you cant compare, but just be aware of how delicate they can be with the state of our roads!.. and yes I had lift on my car.
The things I am looking out for on my extended test drive are boring items like how useful the tech is, how it deals with our broken roads and whether the things rattles or buzzes. Do these have trim rattles??
I had a brief test drive in one this week and it sure is different to anything else I've driven (typically the more sanitised German stuff). The engine feels laggy and it sounds pretty average when you're used to a N/A V10 but there were some eye wideningly good characteristics; the steering which you can literally think round a corner, the perfect driving position, the almost un-servo'd feeling of the progressive brakes...it'll take some getting used to but it's refreshing to try something different for a change.
The 'problem' with owning an R8 is exactly the fact it's not only very good, outstanding even in some areas like drivetrain, quality and tech, it really is a useable sports car, especially when it's your daily driver.
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