Discussion
So I was invited to drive the new GT. I received an email detailing limitations such as no driving convictions or accidents in the last 5 years.
As I have both I informed them I couldn’t attend - which was a shame as I was interested in the car but certainly wouldn’t order one without driving it first.
However a day later they said was ok to go ahead.
I turned up to McLaren Bristol raring to go. I then started to sign the requisite paperwork. I then got to the issues with regards accidents etc which was still on the form. I did tell them I couldn’t go ahead with that but they said that it was ok to strike them out. Reading further down the form I was required to pay £10,000 excess in case of an accident... I thanked them for their time but certainly wouldn’t agree to that. They did offer me a ride but as I intend to drive the car and not have a chauffeur seemed a stupid offer.
None of this was down to Bristol staff but the special team that McLaren have put together.
You may have guessed by now that I have no intention of buying this or any other McLaren
As I have both I informed them I couldn’t attend - which was a shame as I was interested in the car but certainly wouldn’t order one without driving it first.
However a day later they said was ok to go ahead.
I turned up to McLaren Bristol raring to go. I then started to sign the requisite paperwork. I then got to the issues with regards accidents etc which was still on the form. I did tell them I couldn’t go ahead with that but they said that it was ok to strike them out. Reading further down the form I was required to pay £10,000 excess in case of an accident... I thanked them for their time but certainly wouldn’t agree to that. They did offer me a ride but as I intend to drive the car and not have a chauffeur seemed a stupid offer.
None of this was down to Bristol staff but the special team that McLaren have put together.
You may have guessed by now that I have no intention of buying this or any other McLaren
Seems a slightly OTT reaction IMHO.
Yes, not a great customer experience but as you said yourself, not put together by McBristol and whilst I'd be a bit peeved I wouldn't let it stop me from years of driving enjoyment. You're buying a car you love to drive, not a customer driving experience.
Yes, not a great customer experience but as you said yourself, not put together by McBristol and whilst I'd be a bit peeved I wouldn't let it stop me from years of driving enjoyment. You're buying a car you love to drive, not a customer driving experience.
With the vast availability and access to machinery these days it is so different.
In the old days you had no chance of driving a supercar unless you actually bought it, there were hardly any cars around and dealers were very thin on the ground. Exactly how I got my first Ferrari, and I had no idea what it would be like until I was on my way home..
In the old days you had no chance of driving a supercar unless you actually bought it, there were hardly any cars around and dealers were very thin on the ground. Exactly how I got my first Ferrari, and I had no idea what it would be like until I was on my way home..
imclueless said:
I wouldn’t buy a car that I hadn’t driven - would you?
If the company puts obstacles in the way of purchasing their latest and greatest (sic) why would you want to deal with them?
There are plenty of excellent cars out there
They should have let you on and to be fair I can understand their 10k excess but they should have been up front about this.If the company puts obstacles in the way of purchasing their latest and greatest (sic) why would you want to deal with them?
There are plenty of excellent cars out there
Still waiting for call back on extended test drive for 720s. Contacted Mcl over a year ago. IMO I don't think they do loans like Porsche because they do not trust their own products to behave on an extended loan. By contrast Porsche sent me a 992 for a week as soon as they had demonstrators. Did't buy but was very impressed with the 992 as a daily and not even an eye lid batted by dealer in disappointment I did not purchase as they're in it for the long term.
Mcl have much to learn in terms of buying experience especially considering the list price of new cars and how difficult the current market is for supercars. My main thing is can I get in an out of the car easily without crawling out on my hands knees aged 50 lol if living with it! Thats the beauty of Porsche offerings so easy to live with if a bit dull by comparison.
imclueless said:
I wouldn’t buy a car that I hadn’t driven - would you?
Totally agree but you said "....I have no intention of buying this or any other McLaren" which relates to all McLaren's which you can drive. imclueless said:
If the company puts obstacles in the way of purchasing their latest and greatest (sic) why would you want to deal with them?
There are plenty of excellent cars out there
Again, agree obstacles are not at all helpful but personally for me, my focus is on owning and driving my dream car for years over one incident where I had a bad experience at a test drive, especially as you've not given them the opportunity to rectify their error. A complaint in a constructive but firm manner might be more favourable vs. a blanket "not dealing with them ever" but each to their own.There are plenty of excellent cars out there
Desert Dragon said:
imclueless said:
I wouldn’t buy a car that I hadn’t driven - would you?
If the company puts obstacles in the way of purchasing their latest and greatest (sic) why would you want to deal with them?
There are plenty of excellent cars out there
They should have let you on and to be fair I can understand their 10k excess but they should have been up front about this.If the company puts obstacles in the way of purchasing their latest and greatest (sic) why would you want to deal with them?
There are plenty of excellent cars out there
Still waiting for call back on extended test drive for 720s. Contacted Mcl over a year ago. IMO I don't think they do loans like Porsche because they do not trust their own products to behave on an extended loan. By contrast Porsche sent me a 992 for a week as soon as they had demonstrators. Did't buy but was very impressed with the 992 as a daily and not even an eye lid batted by dealer in disappointment I did not purchase as they're in it for the long term.
Mcl have much to learn in terms of buying experience especially considering the list price of new cars and how difficult the current market is for supercars. My main thing is can I get in an out of the car easily without crawling out on my hands knees aged 50 lol if living with it! Thats the beauty of Porsche offerings so easy to live with if a bit dull by comparison.
Infact, my local dealer did provide me with a 24 hour test drive, before i purchased my first 570. I didnt ask for this beforehand, as to me, initially, a 30 min test drive is all i need to discover whether i like a car.
At this point (30 mins), i realised i liked the car, i needed to know whether i loved it... so i asked for a 24 hour drive and they gave me the car. 2 years on, the dealer has supported me well, and i am now on my 2nd car with them, with the 3rd on order. I suppose my point is build relationships with dealers and they in turn will look after you.
Really? I’ve had test drives in various “super cars “ Ferrari Lambo, Porsche none with a 10k excess. My original R8 we had a track day with no supervision and no insurance excess but may have had a warning about at own risk. This was a driving experience with a McL driver not being left on my own with a car for the day.
The issue is more pronounced for me as a fool ran a red light and wrote off my Tesla. His insurance paid up but he has found a witness and has put a claim for whiplash et al. Although direct line are fighting the case I still lost 20+ years ncb this makes me very wary about this ,type of thing.
I can’t afford 10k if some chump hits the car. My excess on my Porsche is £750 which I drive 50k miles per annum I can’t see the possible benefit of such a high excess for a 40 minute experience. McL could even insure the cars 3rd party as they have access to a decent body shop lol.
Now I have calmed down a bit having wasted a morning driving to the dealer I will be driving their demonstrator in the next month. They don’t require a 10k excess.....
In the meantime you can get off your high horses
The issue is more pronounced for me as a fool ran a red light and wrote off my Tesla. His insurance paid up but he has found a witness and has put a claim for whiplash et al. Although direct line are fighting the case I still lost 20+ years ncb this makes me very wary about this ,type of thing.
I can’t afford 10k if some chump hits the car. My excess on my Porsche is £750 which I drive 50k miles per annum I can’t see the possible benefit of such a high excess for a 40 minute experience. McL could even insure the cars 3rd party as they have access to a decent body shop lol.
Now I have calmed down a bit having wasted a morning driving to the dealer I will be driving their demonstrator in the next month. They don’t require a 10k excess.....
In the meantime you can get off your high horses
Edited by imclueless on Thursday 17th October 23:31
andrew said:
10k insurance excess elsewhere the very first time i drive a lambo. same with a rolls
it helps you to concentrate
When I test drove my (used) 650 the excess was £5k. I was told that part of the reason it's so high is to discourage people a bit from being over enthusiastic and driving beyond their abilities during the test drive.And to be honest, it didn't seem that unreasonable given the cost of the car.it helps you to concentrate
imclueless said:
The issue is more pronounced for me as a fool ran a red light and wrote off my Tesla. His insurance paid up but he has found a witness and has put a claim for whiplash et al. Although direct line are fighting the case I still lost 20+ years ncb this makes me very wary about this ,type of thing.
How did you lose 20yrs NCB if his insurance paid up? And if he has whiplash that will also come off his insurance...nowt to do with you surely...Edited by imclueless on Thursday 17th October 23:31
The McLaren dealer that i use 'lost' a 720 demo this year due to some buffoon over egging it whilst on loan and a similar story last year and now their insurance provider stipulates you cannot have unaccompanied extended test drives...and that is as an owner and known customer...so i understand their thoughts on a total random pitching up with points and accidents on their license wanting a runabout in their brand new £200k motor with no excesses or restrictions.
Not having a go... it just seems normal.
LotusJas said:
Complete over-reaction.
It is not unusual to have a 10k excess on a test drive, even with a 100% clean driving history. I've had that with Lambo and Ferrari. (Not McLaren though.)
The dealer is letting an unknown driver get behind the wheel of a supercar after all.
Ascot will let me have a test drive in their GT Demonstrator with a 5K excess - still daft.It is not unusual to have a 10k excess on a test drive, even with a 100% clean driving history. I've had that with Lambo and Ferrari. (Not McLaren though.)
The dealer is letting an unknown driver get behind the wheel of a supercar after all.
355spiderguy said:
How did you lose 20yrs NCB if his insurance paid up? And if he has whiplash that will also come off his insurance...nowt to do with you surely...
The McLaren dealer that i use 'lost' a 720 demo this year due to some buffoon over egging it whilst on loan and a similar story last year and now their insurance provider stipulates you cannot have unaccompanied extended test drives...and that is as an owner and known customer...so i understand their thoughts on a total random pitching up with points and accidents on their license wanting a runabout in their brand new £200k motor with no excesses or restrictions.
Not having a go... it just seems normal.
Thats ok - but Im not a random punter having gone to the GT event with Bristol Mclaren and expressed an interest since its first announcement. I wasn't going on a Extended unaccompanied drive just an "Experience" with a Mcl DriverThe McLaren dealer that i use 'lost' a 720 demo this year due to some buffoon over egging it whilst on loan and a similar story last year and now their insurance provider stipulates you cannot have unaccompanied extended test drives...and that is as an owner and known customer...so i understand their thoughts on a total random pitching up with points and accidents on their license wanting a runabout in their brand new £200k motor with no excesses or restrictions.
Not having a go... it just seems normal.
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