540 or MP4-12C

[MclaesLaren]

I have two cars on offer. Equally priced and approx same mileage.

Mind says 540, heart says MP4.

Which route to take?

[Am43]

What colours ? Both in or out of warranty ?

I’m tempted to say mp4 ,

[R8Reece]

What are you wanting from the car and what criteria is important to you?

Do you care about depreciation?
Are you going to track it?
Is it a short term or long term purchase?
How important are looks to you?
Do you care what others think i.e. 540C is bottom run of McLaren ladder

Personally I'd go with the 540C as I much prefer the looks, don't give a toss what others think, is a later model, don't intend to track and would be fast enough for me.

[davek_964]

I had a 540 for a couple of weeks while my 650 was in for work. Thought it was an excellent car, and better as a daily in a number of ways (entry / exit is easier, and I thought power delivery was more predictable).

I did miss my 650 - but a big part of that was because it's a spider.

I'm sure you'd be happy with a 540, and they are cheaper to run (at least, warranty cost is less). But I must admit, childish as it is - every time my air brake flips up, I'm glad I went super series.

[WilliamWaiver]

What a choice , both great cars but depending on spec I would go 12C.
Super series car v entry sport series.
12 C should give better cost of ownership from here on in if its been well sorted.
570S might be a closer call but either way its personal preference.
Get a well sorted high spec 12 C and I dont think you can go far wrong, even better if it was a spider

[caminator11]

12c for me. I think they look tremendous in the right spec and have aged beautifully.

[justin220]

I had the exact same dilemma a couple of years ago, and went to McLaren Glasgow all set to do a deal on a 12C.

However it was parked outside right next to a few 540/570S and I just preferred the look of the newer sports series. Very subjective I know. I was also swayed by the newer car, longer warranty and lower running costs.

Both brilliant cars, I don't think you can pick wrongly here.

[twinturban]

Prefer the 12C styling personally, better integrated design, less fussy it will age better I believe. Performance must be a significant step up over a 540. I'd only go for the Sports Series if you prefer the way it looks. If you're indifferent the 12C is a Super series. I guess there's a bigger question mark over reliability and niggles?

[davek_964]

twinturban said:

Prefer the 12C styling personally, better integrated design, less fussy it will age better I believe. Performance must be a significant step up over a 540. I'd only go for the Sports Series if you prefer the way it looks. If you're indifferent the 12C is a Super series. I guess there's a bigger question mark over reliability and niggles?

I think we're talking about a difference that is pretty meaningless on the road. 540 is hardly slow.

[twinturban]

Both have more performance than you need, that being the point. So the difference between crazy and ridiculous is not meaningless.

The 'plenty fast enough in the real world argument' leads you back to a Golf GTi.

Edited by twinturban on Friday 2nd October 16:31

[davek_964]

twinturban said:

Both have more performance than you need, that being the point. So the difference between crazy and ridiculous is not meaningless.

The plenty fast enough in the real world argument leads you back to a Golf GTi.

The difference between you and I though, is that as I previously posted - I own a 650, and I drove a 540 daily for a few weeks. So I have real experience of how much real difference it makes on the road, rather than simply stating an opinion based on pure speculation.

[WilliamWaiver]

It also depends on the ability of the driver but for me the hydraulic suspension of the super series gave me more confidence to push on

[davek_964]

WilliamWaiver said:

It also depends on the ability of the driver

Didn't think it would be long before somebody trotted that out.

[Rocketreid]

I have owned a 570s, had it for over 12 months but now have a 720s.

But I’m not sure the latest Super series cars are much better than the sport series, whatever better actually means!! So imo an older Super Series is not as good as the latest Sport series, with it’s Monocoque 2 tub etc.

The 540c will have a similar ride and performance to my 570 which was pretty epic.

Yes you will occasionally benefit from some of the handling characteristics of the Super, but tbh I didn’t notice much difference. McLaren’s are very plush and a 720s for some folks maybe more plush than a 540, but I don’t think an older series car with its restrictive access and older dash etc is better.

[MclaesLaren]

MP4 will be a keeper. Since it was first car in the lineup. Repair and maint is probably higher that 540, but since it will be used very little it can be acceptable. Locally there is only AD but I guess a yearly trip to Thorne Motorsport in UK will be a good combination of drive, pleasure and servicing the car.

[12pack]

As one who went in for a 570s and came out with a 650s spider, 12c all the way. It’s not the numerical performance, but the way it’s delivered (the mid range and the lunge at the top) that got my attention. Preferred the way the suspension keeps all corners on tarmac on rough roads as well.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/6-ways-the-mclare...

[twinturban]

Interesting read. I'd go Super Series based on this sentence alone:

"But not long after 6000rpm there’s a noticeable drop-off for the 570S, whereas in the 650S, it gets more exciting the more you crank it round."

[ghost83]

I see a 12c and a 570 everyday and I’d personally go 12c

[Matty3]

Both are absolutely brilliant cars.

Chose a 570s for a number of reasons:

Less complicated
Newer design
Cheaper renewable warranty once factory one expires.
Looks - subjective I know.

18 months ownership in only problem has been audio system.

They are superbly built cars whichever model you decide on - it will be epic

[RSbandit]

For me I preferred the 570s styling and the cheaper warranty costs (3k vs 4.5k). I’ve been out several times for some dawn raids with a 12c and 650s and some hard slip road accelerations against the 650s with no noticeable difference...the reality is all of these cars are ridiculously quick and the sports series ( with sports exhaust ) prob sounds a bit better than the first gen super series ...having said that the 12c/650s sounds way better than it’s given credit for...all great cars in any case , the feel good factor to McLaren ownership is well beyond the current purchase prices of sub £100k .