Anyone keep McL outside? Ok to do so?
Discussion
I've got a relatively largeish, semi private driveway that I was planning to build a garage on, but the neighbours and the council thought otherwise. So I am considering whether I can get away with owning a McLaren, 540 or 12C, but keeping it outside on the driveway all the time. What's the consensus on McLarens and outdoor weather conditions? Its sad to think that I couldnt get a supercar again just because I cant build a garage. I could buy a car cover I suppose, to help with weather damage, but maybe its just me but they don't half look naff.
Hi, whats the issue?
I am a McLaren owner and an architect. You have permitted development rights and most of the time you can build a garage as long as it is not forward of the front of the house (principle elevation). Even then you can always apply for planning and the proposals will be judged on merit. If you are in a conservation area you will need planning anyway as you have no permitted development rights as they would have been removed under article 4.
I happen to leave my 12C outside, I just use it at weekends and in the week it is kept in an outdoor Carcoon. I have now got used to this and it is only an issue if you fancy a spontaneous mid-week drive.
If you can give me further details on the garage I can try and give you some further advice.
I am a McLaren owner and an architect. You have permitted development rights and most of the time you can build a garage as long as it is not forward of the front of the house (principle elevation). Even then you can always apply for planning and the proposals will be judged on merit. If you are in a conservation area you will need planning anyway as you have no permitted development rights as they would have been removed under article 4.
I happen to leave my 12C outside, I just use it at weekends and in the week it is kept in an outdoor Carcoon. I have now got used to this and it is only an issue if you fancy a spontaneous mid-week drive.
If you can give me further details on the garage I can try and give you some further advice.
I saw your thread elsewhere with the plans. Here is my suggestion. Just create a second crossover, build it level with the road for drainage and but a green roof / terrace / garden on top. Will hide the garage nicely and hopefully please your neighbour. Of course it will still require planning.
Thanks Bispal I've responded to garage design in the other thread.
On the car-outside topic, do you put it in a carcoon as you're worried about the car's ability to be stored outside, or is it more of a way to keep it clean?
Those vents on the 12C aside the rear window, do they go into the engine bay? What worries me is that these are designed for air ventilation of a hot engine, and dont do well with dispersing rain water. May lead to rain water collecting/remaining on some components, possibly leading to accelerated corrosion/wear. Any views?
On the car-outside topic, do you put it in a carcoon as you're worried about the car's ability to be stored outside, or is it more of a way to keep it clean?
Those vents on the 12C aside the rear window, do they go into the engine bay? What worries me is that these are designed for air ventilation of a hot engine, and dont do well with dispersing rain water. May lead to rain water collecting/remaining on some components, possibly leading to accelerated corrosion/wear. Any views?
kryten22uk said:
Thanks Bispal I've responded to garage design in the other thread.
On the car-outside topic, do you put it in a carcoon as you're worried about the car's ability to be stored outside, or is it more of a way to keep it clean?
Those vents on the 12C aside the rear window, do they go into the engine bay? What worries me is that these are designed for air ventilation of a hot engine, and dont do well with dispersing rain water. May lead to rain water collecting/remaining on some components, possibly leading to accelerated corrosion/wear. Any views?
No problem,On the car-outside topic, do you put it in a carcoon as you're worried about the car's ability to be stored outside, or is it more of a way to keep it clean?
Those vents on the 12C aside the rear window, do they go into the engine bay? What worries me is that these are designed for air ventilation of a hot engine, and dont do well with dispersing rain water. May lead to rain water collecting/remaining on some components, possibly leading to accelerated corrosion/wear. Any views?
To repeat for those on this thread:-
I did think of sideways but access could be difficult as the site would rise across the garage doors. I also think the street elevation would be fine if properly designed. If you can make the levels work the side access works, with the roof garden and the hedge to the front.
Regarding the Carcoon its to keep the car hidden mainly and also to protect it. Its a very good purchase for £500, supposedly 10p a week in electricity but I cant confirm that, if its £1-2 a week its fine by me.
The vents are over the plastic parts, I did consider that too but the water does not seem to collect on the engine and disperses and drains to the sides, you have to assume the master engineers at McLaren thought of all this :-)
I spoke to someone at McLaren a few weeks ago who knows someone who keeps their 12C in a muddy field, in the open and they live down a dirt track! Don't think the elements are the problems, its the passers by that worry me......
My 12C lives outside and is an everyday car together with my Disco.
Sometimes it literally gets used everyday, other times it may sit for a few days if I need to be carting lots of stuff or more than 1 passenger.
If i'm leaving home at 6:30am and its minus 2-3 degrees, it defrosts just as quick as the Disco, cabin heats up quicker (not surprising as internal volume is waaay smaller) and its really no different.
If you're happy keeping a BMW/Ford/Toyota/any mainstream brand car outside then you should be equally happy keeping a Macca outside IMHO.
Q. What is your concern about keeping it outside?
Sometimes it literally gets used everyday, other times it may sit for a few days if I need to be carting lots of stuff or more than 1 passenger.
If i'm leaving home at 6:30am and its minus 2-3 degrees, it defrosts just as quick as the Disco, cabin heats up quicker (not surprising as internal volume is waaay smaller) and its really no different.
If you're happy keeping a BMW/Ford/Toyota/any mainstream brand car outside then you should be equally happy keeping a Macca outside IMHO.
Q. What is your concern about keeping it outside?
100 IAN said:
Q. What is your concern about keeping it outside?
Perhaps irrational old-school notion that supercars need to be garaged. So was looking for a few real life examples to the contrary.There is always the issue of security and envy, which makes it preferable to be kept inside. I take it that this is what Bispal was referring to, and why he has it in the big condom thing.
kryten22uk said:
100 IAN said:
Q. What is your concern about keeping it outside?
Perhaps irrational old-school notion that supercars need to be garaged. So was looking for a few real life examples to the contrary.There is always the issue of security and envy, which makes it preferable to be kept inside. I take it that this is what Bispal was referring to, and why he has it in the big condom thing.
Temperature really isn't an issue as realistically what are UK extremes? Certainly much less than say Scandinavia in Winter and Dubai in summer and McLaren like all manufacturers today do extreme weather testing as part of the car's design & development. As I said previously, I've gone out at 6:30am with temperature well below zero and its no different to defrosting any other car I've owned.
Prolonged exposure to wet & damp conditions I can see people being concerned about, but I haven't seen or heard any owners reporting any problems in this regard. The cars are developed to equivalent standards of durability as you'd expect any reputable 'mainstream' brand to be, so for me I don't see a problem and haven't experienced one.
Interestingly a number of people do complain of condensation in their lights and I had this after my very 1st journey after collecting the car from the dealer, and a 2nd time after it had been unused indoors for a period of time and then taken outside. Could it be that the greater thermal variation from on warn/dry indoors to cold/damp outdoors is contributory to the problem ?
Security & Envy are separate matters and only you can decide whether its a necessity to hide/secure a desirable car for these reasons.
Just to say (sure BIS can confirm) but if its a wooden structure you don't need any planning permission, still not allowed in front of building line without some kind of consent I think, you can have up to 30m2 which is a 5.4 x 5.4 double garage for about £5k delivered and erected, you need to sort the base.
Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
100 IAN said:
Interestingly a number of people do complain of condensation in their lights and I had this after my very 1st journey after collecting the car from the dealer, and a 2nd time after it had been unused indoors for a period of time and then taken outside. Could it be that the greater thermal variation from on warn/dry indoors to cold/damp outdoors is contributory to the problem ?
Oh don't worry about the condensation on the lights. Especially the rear tail lights as it's been a problem since the first cars in 2011 on cars kept indoors (even temperature controlled garages apparently) or outdoors. When the light conks out just get it changed under warranty, I've lost the will to keep on going to the dealer to change them after merely a bit of water now.... 
Craigwww said:
The laquer used on CF when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods can turn cloudy/milky.
Surely the CF is painted with 'paint' like any other car, which then has a coat of lacquer (like any other car), so why should the lacquer turn cloudy/milky any differently to any other car?TISPKJ said:
Just to say (sure BIS can confirm) but if its a wooden structure you don't need any planning permission, still not allowed in front of building line without some kind of consent I think, you can have up to 30m2 which is a 5.4 x 5.4 double garage for about £5k delivered and erected, you need to sort the base.
Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
Unfortunately you do still need consent for a wooden garage, or even a car port, if its in front of the principle (usually front) elevation. The materials are....immaterial....Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
The rules used to state around 30sqm but they have changed now and you can probably have more but there are other rules concerning size and positioning, distance from boundary and heights etc.
If the building is temporary or portable it can get planning consent but still has to be to the rear of the property and cannot be extended past 2.5/5 years depending on classification. So there are no loopholes there either.
I have been thinking about this for a while and there are no rules for large vans / caravan / trailers / horse boxes and even closed motorsports trailers. So why not adapt a trailer and park in that. There must be a market for it.
I have seen many efforts for concertina garages, folding garages, blow up garages but no one has yet solved it. I think a well designed trailer type structure would do the trick. I just need to do more research and get it designed then everyone on PH can buy them from me :-) Anyone own a trailer company on here?
TISPKJ said:
Just to say (sure BIS can confirm) but if its a wooden structure you don't need any planning permission, still not allowed in front of building line without some kind of consent I think, you can have up to 30m2 which is a 5.4 x 5.4 double garage for about £5k delivered and erected, you need to sort the base.
Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
Interesting - I had no idea they were that cheap.Yours looks a bit more complicated and looks like will need a retaining wall as weel.
Just an idea and thought for others.
I currently squeeze my 360 into a concrete garage which is barely wider than the car - and because of where it is, it's also making my plans for a conservatory a bit tricky. At the bottom of my garden, I have a huge shed - about double garage width, but perhaps not quite as deep - on a concrete base. The idea that I could get rid of that and replace it with a wooden double garage for about £5k is very tempting. Especially since, removing the concrete garage makes the conservatory cost significantly cheaper (due to a simpler shape) - which means it basically pays for the garage anyway!
Time to measure up I think.......
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