Discussion
Hi All,
I have been looking at the 12C recently as it is a thing of utter beauty and from what I can gather is a joy to drive! My only concern is those silly bloody doors, look like they would be a nightmare anywhere other than my own drive. Multi story parking must be a painful/damn near impossible. Also I am 6ft 4 and 18 stone, I have a feeling I might struggle getting in and out(fit fine into a 458!).
So can anyone who has or does own one give me their thoughts please.
Thanks!
I have been looking at the 12C recently as it is a thing of utter beauty and from what I can gather is a joy to drive! My only concern is those silly bloody doors, look like they would be a nightmare anywhere other than my own drive. Multi story parking must be a painful/damn near impossible. Also I am 6ft 4 and 18 stone, I have a feeling I might struggle getting in and out(fit fine into a 458!).
So can anyone who has or does own one give me their thoughts please.
Thanks!
Zanderman said:
Hi All,
I have been looking at the 12C recently as it is a thing of utter beauty and from what I can gather is a joy to drive! My only concern is those silly bloody doors, look like they would be a nightmare anywhere other than my own drive. Multi story parking must be a painful/damn near impossible. Also I am 6ft 4 and 18 stone, I have a feeling I might struggle getting in and out(fit fine into a 458!).
So can anyone who has or does own one give me their thoughts please.
Thanks!
The doors are a thing of beauty but can be a problem in tight spaces and by tight I mean you need about 3ft minimum each side of the car to open safely.I have been looking at the 12C recently as it is a thing of utter beauty and from what I can gather is a joy to drive! My only concern is those silly bloody doors, look like they would be a nightmare anywhere other than my own drive. Multi story parking must be a painful/damn near impossible. Also I am 6ft 4 and 18 stone, I have a feeling I might struggle getting in and out(fit fine into a 458!).
So can anyone who has or does own one give me their thoughts please.
Thanks!
As for getting in and out due to your size you can adapt the way in which you get in and out, I'm only 5ft 5" so no problem but I sit on the sill first then swing myself round, I've seen others enter a couple of different ways, just try it.
Hi, the doors take up less space than a conventional door. I have never had an issue getting in and out but I am shorter than you, passengers your height have been fine. There is a comfort entry setting where everything moves back if you want. Suggest you just go and see a used one in a showroom and try. The swipe to open takes a bit of practice on the early cars and the doors do need quite a shove to close but its worth it for the drama and you can always open via the keyfob.
I'm 6' and very wide - I find the doors ok. There is an art to getting in and out of it and using the swipe doors, but personally that's part of the charm to me. It does take a bit of practice to find your own style!
Mine's an early build but have no problem with the door closing and don't have to slam it shut. Given its got hydraulics in there to lift and hold the doors up, of course there is a need to push the doors down to close - so they don't just fall down.
All small beer to having *those* doors!
Mine's an early build but have no problem with the door closing and don't have to slam it shut. Given its got hydraulics in there to lift and hold the doors up, of course there is a need to push the doors down to close - so they don't just fall down.
All small beer to having *those* doors!
If the car has comfort entry it moves the seat right back and the steering column up. Thats great but , especially if the car has memory seats and most do, you can quickly move the seat right back on exit and quickly move it right back to your preferred position. This makes it pretty easy to get in and out
The doors don't use a lot of sideways space but open in an unusual arc so need thinking about.
They are very cool though
The doors don't use a lot of sideways space but open in an unusual arc so need thinking about.
They are very cool though
My 12C shares daily duties with my Disco. The only reason i take the Disco is if i need to carrying a lot of stuff or more than 1 person.
Parking in supermarket car parks etc I just look for a space at the end of a row adjacent to the flower bed to give more room to open the door. Multistory's I just go to the top where there's more space. Occasionally i have to park in a narrow space between 2x cars and I just park with the passenger side slightly closer to the white line and ensure its the adjacent car's passenger side as well.
Comfort entry is BRILLIANT, I don't know whether all cars have it but its worth checking.
Parking in supermarket car parks etc I just look for a space at the end of a row adjacent to the flower bed to give more room to open the door. Multistory's I just go to the top where there's more space. Occasionally i have to park in a narrow space between 2x cars and I just park with the passenger side slightly closer to the white line and ensure its the adjacent car's passenger side as well.
Comfort entry is BRILLIANT, I don't know whether all cars have it but its worth checking.
Wilmslowboy said:
yes the doors can be a PITA
yes you have to be careful how close you park next to pillars, walls etc
yes you have to be aware not to park where an inconsiderate person can park too close to you
yes its best to push the seat as far back before getting out/in
however remember .......
yes you have to be careful how close you park next to pillars, walls etc
yes you have to be aware not to park where an inconsiderate person can park too close to you
yes its best to push the seat as far back before getting out/in
however remember .......
You want deez doors...
http://youtu.be/Ww14oxjkT50
Edited by SELON on Friday 15th April 19:11
Thanks for all the responses, just to be clear I love the way the doors look and operate just seemed to me they would be anightmare in most normal situations.Looks like that may not be the case, just go to see if I can squeeze my big ass into one and more importantly get out without looking like a complete dick!
I will go and check one out. I never thought I would say this but I am more excited about the prospect of this than the 458 and its a fair bit cheaper as well!
I will go and check one out. I never thought I would say this but I am more excited about the prospect of this than the 458 and its a fair bit cheaper as well!
Zanderman said:
I will go and check one out. I never thought I would say this but I am more excited about the prospect of this than the 458 and its a fair bit cheaper as well!
From your profile I see you're in Wiltshire. I recommend you go to McLaren Birmingham, you'll get treated far more professionally (in my experience) than if you went to one of the others that you might have chosen.NB. A new sister dealership to McBirmingham is due to open in Bristol in the summer. If you do buy one McBristol could well be quite handy for you.
A 458 was always my dream car, but after a test drive I was massively disappointed...I got back in my daily driver Evora which to me was and is a much better drive...although obviously not as quick in a straight line. I then drove a 12c which to me was a far better car, so I bought one. It's still an event to drive, and as you say, a complete bargain.
CTE said:
A 458 was always my dream car, but after a test drive I was massively disappointed...I got back in my daily driver Evora which to me was and is a much better drive...although obviously not as quick in a straight line. I then drove a 12c which to me was a far better car, so I bought one. It's still an event to drive, and as you say, a complete bargain.
The 2 cars do split opinion and its down to personal preference.First time I drove a 12C in 2012 I thought wow this thing is quick and I'm going to lose my licence without knowing it but it lacked the drama of the 458. then I drove a Lamborghini performante and thought the 458 was fairly subtle. Its all relative and they each have their own merits.
When I drove a late 2013 12 C spider 2 years later I was more impressed and thought what a lovely car which certainly was on a par with the 458 overall.
But when I drove the 650s spider I was blown away by the added feel, sound, excitement that they had added in making it an easy winner over the 458 IMHO. The carbon tub really makes the McLaren the only spider supercar you can have IMHO, its such a big advantage not to have the scuttle shake and rattles etc that the 458 and even now 488 still have
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