Buying without driving?

[xcentric]

Clearly, not ideal.

But given the times we're in, would you? I've driven lots of performance cars, but not a McLaren - so whilst I'm very tempted to just get one, it's a lot of money for me and I'm wondering if I should let my head rule for a while...... found some good spec cars I like, but am assuming others will be around too going forwards.

Car in question is a 570s spider.....

[drcarrera]

I too am considering getting a 570 Spider but there's no way I'd get one without driving one first. If buying from a Mac dealer I guess I might consider, after having driven a different one, buying one having only looked at it rather than driven it. But I'm not that bothered at the moment anyway as for me personally I don't see the point of buying now for it to just sit in the garage for the next few months. I've already got three other cars for that!
I'll wait a while until I can at least visit dealers and have test drives, and if that means my purchase is put back a year then so be it.

[GT Two]

No way.

McLaren is a hand built car, there are definitely good ones and bad ones.

Have you been to the factory? A good day could be like walking through St Thomas's when the surgeons are on top of their game. A bad day could be like the worst Mcdonalds drive through that you have ever been to, straight after the staff xmas party. Think gherkins in your milkshake....

I would firstly check into the Warranty history, and also what has been claimed for during the life if the car. Then if all is well, I would want to drive it.

[xcentric]

I'll be buying from a Mc dealer (almost certainly) and so am not so sure warranty claims are so relevant (unless there is a real lemon!) but with a few years having had stuff fixed under warranty is ok with me.

If the specific one I bought was a nightmare then I'd be within my rights to return it so am less concerned about that - it's more the not having driven the model type at all that I was getting at.

Am thinking it's a bad idea - but am still perusing the classifieds keenly :-)

[dsl2]

If you're sold on the cars design & reviews I'd find the right spec & buy one, I've not heard of anyone complaining how they drive. They go /stop /steer & handle fabulously well.

My 570 Spider has been almost faultless (one minor trim part needed sorting) after close on 3 years & 9500 miles, I'm not paying for an extended warranty as I feel it will be wasted money judging from my experience thus far!

[Ferruccio]

Don’t.
You just can’t tell until you do.
I’ve been pleasantly/unpleasantly suprised over the years.

[Rocketreid]

If it’s from an authorised McLaren dealer then less of an issue but still an inspection is recommended.

If it was from a Porsche dealer I would definitely want to inspect and get an engineers report !!

[Wilmslowboy]

I bought both my 12c and 650s without driving them.

The 12c from someone I trusted and the 650s from a dealer.

Both were still under warranty and I had written confirmation they drove and stopped straight, without bumps, creaks and groans.


I always find visual condition much more subjective, so less need for a test drive, but more need for confirmation of cosmetic condition. In the case of the 650s I asked the dealer manager to explicitly inspect the car and report back on condition of trim, wheels and bodywork. He offered to call and walk me through it, I insisted on a email.

All was good.

[Bispal]

As much as i am a McLaren fan i would not buy a car of any type without driving at least one example first, with the exception of a cheapish run a round i did not intend to keep long.

I have driven many mclarens and, if there is an issue its more likely to be trim or electrical but not driving or performance.

I waited 2 years to get a drive in a 675LT before i bought one. A 570 is an awesome car to drive like a very fast elise and i would now buy one without a test drive but that's beacuse i have driven several.

I have a long list of cars i have come very close to buying and really wanted to buy but the test drive convinced me not to, including:-

GR Yaris
V8 Vantage
Alfa Gulia Quadrifoglio
Huracan Performante
991.1 GTS

All great cars, if you believe the reviews, but not for me, but could be for you, there is a saddle for every arse so you 100% have to try before you buy. Buy in haste regret at leisure....

[johnnyreggae]

drcarrera said:

I'll wait a while until I can at least visit dealers and have test drives, and if that means my purchase is put back a year then so be it.

Whilst we are all getting very impatient to splash the cash I get the sense your delay of a year is looking more like 6 or 8 weeks which hopefully means test drives after Easter with purchases in time for summer

[12pack]

I think you do need to drive. I was convinced I was going to go for a 570, but for a number of reasons after back-to-back long drives I ended up with a 650. Back then, those were 2 main Mac choices. These days you could even end up in a 600lt or a 720!

Edited by 12pack on Sunday 14th February 11:51

[SSO]

xcentric said:

Clearly, not ideal.

But given the times we're in, would you? I've driven lots of performance cars, but not a McLaren - so whilst I'm very tempted to just get one, it's a lot of money for me and I'm wondering if I should let my head rule for a while...... found some good spec cars I like, but am assuming others will be around too going forwards.

Car in question is a 570s spider.....

If you can, I would definitely drive it.

That having been said, we've bought 8 out of 9 McLaren's without having a test drive in the car we have purchased.

[xcentric]

SSO said:

That having been said, we've bought 8 out of 9 McLaren's without having a test drive in the car we have purchased.

respect!

[Lee Jones Jnr]

I can't remember the last time that I bought a car that I had driven first.
Agree a deal, make sure its got a warranty, buy the car.

[petjam]

xcentric said:

If the specific one I bought was a nightmare then I'd be within my rights to return it so am less concerned about that - it's more the not having driven the model type at all that I was getting at.

In my experience getting them to acknowledge and stand by those rights is a monstrous challenge.

I bought a brand new 600LT Spider without a test drive, issues identified at collection, promised to fix and then they ignored me.

Had to get the solicitor involved and even then they tried their best to ignore me.

[Jules360]

I would definitely drive one first. I was convinced i wanted a 650S until the dealer let me have one for a day. Didn't get on with it, didn't like the gearbox at all and it gave me a real back ache after about 30 minutes. Bought the 458 Instead. Also had a 570S for a day, back ache was so bad i was dreading driving it back to the showroom. Maybe its just me, but never had the same issue in any Lambo or Ferrari, except the Huracan Performante with race seats.

[xcentric]

Jules360 said:

I would definitely drive one first. I was convinced i wanted a 650S until the dealer let me have one for a day. Didn't get on with it, didn't like the gearbox at all and it gave me a real back ache after about 30 minutes. Bought the 458 Instead. Also had a 570S for a day, back ache was so bad i was dreading driving it back to the showroom. Maybe its just me, but never had the same issue in any Lambo or Ferrari, except the Huracan Performante with race seats.

Interesting. The 458 spider is the other option I'm considering. Had almost decided to do Mc for 2 years then the Ferrari, but may have to wait and drive to see.....

[650spider]

xcentric said:

Jules360 said:

I would definitely drive one first. I was convinced i wanted a 650S until the dealer let me have one for a day. Didn't get on with it, didn't like the gearbox at all and it gave me a real back ache after about 30 minutes. Bought the 458 Instead. Also had a 570S for a day, back ache was so bad i was dreading driving it back to the showroom. Maybe its just me, but never had the same issue in any Lambo or Ferrari, except the Huracan Performante with race seats.

Interesting. The 458 spider is the other option I'm considering. Had almost decided to do Mc for 2 years then the Ferrari, but may have to wait and drive to see.....

As an alternative view, i still think the alcantara electric seats i had fitted to my 650 as being not only the comfiest seats any any sports car I have had, but to the best of my memory l, the comfiest in any car i have had.

Did think after approx 90 secs sitting in senna seats that they were a tad on the uncomfortable side and wondered what they would be like after a 300mile drive.

P1 seats seemed pretty snug.

[robsco]

I tend to buy without driving as a rule, I enjoy the romance of not driving the car until it arrives. I have purchased most things totally unseen; Maseratis, most of the TVRs, Morgan 3 Wheeler etc. The only time I’d ever say I really kicked myself was when I ended up lumbered with an Elan Plus 2 which had been “restored” by a toddler. With a modern McLaren, I would not hesitate.

PS - I assume you are asking this question because you are currently unable to drive a car due to Click & Collect only. This classes as a distance sale so you have a 14 day cooling off period. ETA - this needs to be clarified by the dealer.

Edited by robsco on Tuesday 16th February 10:15

[petjam]

robsco said:

PS - I assume you are asking this question because you are currently unable to drive a car due to Click & Collect only. This classes as a distance sale so you have a 14 day cooling off period.

That depends on how the car is financed, if paid in full remotely, then yes. However if finance is being utilised McLaren require for that to be signed in person, that removes the DSR coverage.