570s spider pause.....
Discussion
...in two ways - firstly, after putting a deposit down in lockdown, my car fund went south so I had to come out of the deal.
But am now re-looking, and test drove a 570s and a 458 (both spiders) yesterday. 570s drive was less useful as traffic and poor route..... in standard modes, there was a pretty strong turbo lag (for a modern car). I assume people learn to drive around this very effectively(by dropping aa few gears so it's on song before opening up, etc.). This is not knocking the car- it was great, but that coupled with a less dynamic drive and an overall less special experience than I'd been expecting is making me wonder, and some experiences from others who have actually had the opportunity to drive them properly would help..... 458 had no lag as one would expect, and was brisk. But this is beetling around a Midlands city outskirts for 15 mins, so not representative of either car.....
So am unsure what to do now!
But am now re-looking, and test drove a 570s and a 458 (both spiders) yesterday. 570s drive was less useful as traffic and poor route..... in standard modes, there was a pretty strong turbo lag (for a modern car). I assume people learn to drive around this very effectively(by dropping aa few gears so it's on song before opening up, etc.). This is not knocking the car- it was great, but that coupled with a less dynamic drive and an overall less special experience than I'd been expecting is making me wonder, and some experiences from others who have actually had the opportunity to drive them properly would help..... 458 had no lag as one would expect, and was brisk. But this is beetling around a Midlands city outskirts for 15 mins, so not representative of either car.....
So am unsure what to do now!
xcentric said:
...in two ways - firstly, after putting a deposit down in lockdown, my car fund went south so I had to come out of the deal.
But am now re-looking, and test drove a 570s and a 458 (both spiders) yesterday. 570s drive was less useful as traffic and poor route..... in standard modes, there was a pretty strong turbo lag (for a modern car). I assume people learn to drive around this very effectively(by dropping aa few gears so it's on song before opening up, etc.). This is not knocking the car- it was great, but that coupled with a less dynamic drive and an overall less special experience than I'd been expecting is making me wonder, and some experiences from others who have actually had the opportunity to drive them properly would help..... 458 had no lag as one would expect, and was brisk. But this is beetling around a Midlands city outskirts for 15 mins, so not representative of either car.....
So am unsure what to do now!
What settings were you in, in the 570s?But am now re-looking, and test drove a 570s and a 458 (both spiders) yesterday. 570s drive was less useful as traffic and poor route..... in standard modes, there was a pretty strong turbo lag (for a modern car). I assume people learn to drive around this very effectively(by dropping aa few gears so it's on song before opening up, etc.). This is not knocking the car- it was great, but that coupled with a less dynamic drive and an overall less special experience than I'd been expecting is making me wonder, and some experiences from others who have actually had the opportunity to drive them properly would help..... 458 had no lag as one would expect, and was brisk. But this is beetling around a Midlands city outskirts for 15 mins, so not representative of either car.....
So am unsure what to do now!
Manual or Auto?
Normal, Sport or Track for the performance and handling?
How are you planning to drive the car? The reason I ask is that based on your test drive description, didn’t sound like you were putting the car through it’s paces.
The Italians are designed to feel like more than they are, but the Mac is more than it feels - especially when just pooling around. You could also try a 650 spider for a stronger mid range.
The Italians are designed to feel like more than they are, but the Mac is more than it feels - especially when just pooling around. You could also try a 650 spider for a stronger mid range.
planning to drive it progressively on the road, not looking to track it. It was left in standard settings all test drive (salesman not 'able' to alter it) and I think this was the main issue. Immediacy of the 458 was great, but am reasonably sure the Mc should have that if in the right mode. Am asking for another test drive with a bit more flexibility this time.....
Sarnie said:
What settings were you in, in the 570s?
Manual or Auto?
Normal, Sport or Track for the performance and handling?
Shocking to admit, but in 18 months / 9k miles of ownership I think I've only put the engine in Track twice, and not sure I've ever driven with the handling in Track.Manual or Auto?
Normal, Sport or Track for the performance and handling?
Suppose I should try it the next time I take the car out really!
xcentric said:
planning to drive it progressively on the road, not looking to track it. It was left in standard settings all test drive (salesman not 'able' to alter it) and I think this was the main issue. Immediacy of the 458 was great, but am reasonably sure the Mc should have that if in the right mode. Am asking for another test drive with a bit more flexibility this time.....
If you drive it in Auto/ Normal/Normal then it will be sedate, quite and lethargic. Which is probably what you want in and around town.It will become a different car in Manual/Sport/Sport.........and more so in Track/Track in the right environment.
thanks all. McBirmingham say no to another test drive!
Not quite sure what to do now. I agree sedate and pedestrian around town in good, and I like the fact you can flick the paddles to go into manual mode and then it reverts to auto for you - but without having used any of the other modes, it was a bit of an underwhelming event, and not what I'd expected..... so wanted to try it with one changed settings but getting refusal from the sales manager. I am guessing C-19 fears. Not too impressed with them however.
Not quite sure what to do now. I agree sedate and pedestrian around town in good, and I like the fact you can flick the paddles to go into manual mode and then it reverts to auto for you - but without having used any of the other modes, it was a bit of an underwhelming event, and not what I'd expected..... so wanted to try it with one changed settings but getting refusal from the sales manager. I am guessing C-19 fears. Not too impressed with them however.
Your test drive experience sounds very similar to my first test drive - although I had more flexibility in how I used the car, I came away with the same feeling as you. I actually posted at the time, but will summarise here :
I intended to part ex my Ferrari 360. The test drive was a route chosen by the dealer - there were a few open country roads but some town stuff too - and I was surprised how "ordinary" it felt. It was very fast - but really did feel like a car your gran could drive to the shops. I did stay in Auto, but can't remember if the settings were normal / normal - they probably were. It was completely not what I expected - when people post that they've bought McLaren's unseen / not driven - I wonder whether they'll get the same shock I did when I test drove.
I came away quite sure that the car couldn't replace the Ferrari - it just didn't feel anything like as much fun. But, in the end the man maths meant I managed to do the deal by part exchanging my AM Vantage - it felt like the McLaren was more suited to replace that. Before I did that, I had a second test drive - this time down a road I know well - I did stay in auto, but tried the different settings, and most of it was in Sport / Sport.
I haven't driven a 458 - I considered them when I bought my McLaren because the 360 is one of the best cars I've ever owned, and I'm pretty sure the 458 would be even better. But, I just couldn't get over the fact that they were significantly more expensive for older cars with higher mileages - and although the 458 is a great looking car, it's the McLarens I looked at more.
My 360 was more of an instant buzz than the McLaren is - and I think that's still true, even now - and I suspect the same would be true of a 458. I think that's probably something you'd notice on a test drive.
But the McLaren can also be pretty amazing - I think its "softer" abilities can hide that a bit with first impressions, even though it's actually very useful.
I doubt you'll be disappointed whichever you choose.
(And the 360 has gone now, so the McLaren did actually replace it in the end)
I intended to part ex my Ferrari 360. The test drive was a route chosen by the dealer - there were a few open country roads but some town stuff too - and I was surprised how "ordinary" it felt. It was very fast - but really did feel like a car your gran could drive to the shops. I did stay in Auto, but can't remember if the settings were normal / normal - they probably were. It was completely not what I expected - when people post that they've bought McLaren's unseen / not driven - I wonder whether they'll get the same shock I did when I test drove.
I came away quite sure that the car couldn't replace the Ferrari - it just didn't feel anything like as much fun. But, in the end the man maths meant I managed to do the deal by part exchanging my AM Vantage - it felt like the McLaren was more suited to replace that. Before I did that, I had a second test drive - this time down a road I know well - I did stay in auto, but tried the different settings, and most of it was in Sport / Sport.
I haven't driven a 458 - I considered them when I bought my McLaren because the 360 is one of the best cars I've ever owned, and I'm pretty sure the 458 would be even better. But, I just couldn't get over the fact that they were significantly more expensive for older cars with higher mileages - and although the 458 is a great looking car, it's the McLarens I looked at more.
My 360 was more of an instant buzz than the McLaren is - and I think that's still true, even now - and I suspect the same would be true of a 458. I think that's probably something you'd notice on a test drive.
But the McLaren can also be pretty amazing - I think its "softer" abilities can hide that a bit with first impressions, even though it's actually very useful.
I doubt you'll be disappointed whichever you choose.
(And the 360 has gone now, so the McLaren did actually replace it in the end)
I tend to agree I'll not be disappointed - probably - but it's a lot to risk in case I am! Just had the sales manager on the phone - "someone coming later, someone else tomorrow, blah de blah" - may be true, but as I explained, it needs to grab me and I need to see its sporty side not just its mellow side. So we'll see if he comes back with anything. "We use demonstrators not used cars" - have you got a demonstrator - "no cos the model's not made any more" - for goodness sake......
How did you find it when you set it in supercar mode? Heartwarming and epic? I'm not buying it as a great car to go down the shops in!
How did you find it when you set it in supercar mode? Heartwarming and epic? I'm not buying it as a great car to go down the shops in!
reading some more on here, and a good summary was that it's a 'Jekyll and Hyde' car - compliant and mellow below 3.5k revs, an animal above that. But I've only experienced it in the mellow phase (ok, one push on the motorway to get into the outside lane, but not sustained above 3k) and that's what I need to experience to confirm, I think.
xcentric said:
How did you find it when you set it in supercar mode? Heartwarming and epic? I'm not buying it as a great car to go down the shops in!
On my second test drive, mostly sport / sport on a twisty road I knew - I thought it was excellent. I thought that it <might> replace the 360 in time - which it has.It does sound like you need a longer test drive with a bit more freedom to use the car.
These showroom/test drive restrictions are a real barrier to buying a car at the moment. I guess there is so little McLaren dealer stock around that the dealers can afford to be fussy.
I wish I'd been in a position to look at getting one 18 months ago - not only would the buying process have been far easier and more enjoyable but the choice of cars was far wider and the prices lower!
Oh well, "He who hesitates ..." !
I wish I'd been in a position to look at getting one 18 months ago - not only would the buying process have been far easier and more enjoyable but the choice of cars was far wider and the prices lower!
Oh well, "He who hesitates ..." !
There's a sort of 'hesitate and lose' pressure, for sure - not much availability, and a nice colour combo and spec - but need to love it before I can commit, and happy enough to get to that stage and then get another car then. Am pretty sure the flow of used ones will increase as people move to Arturas, lockdown eases, etc.
drcarrera said:
I wish I'd been in a position to look at getting one 18 months ago - not only would the buying process have been far easier and more enjoyable but the choice of cars was far wider and the prices lower!
McLaren prices have gone up? Is it April 1st? 
xcentric said:
There's a sort of 'hesitate and lose' pressure, for sure - not much availability, and a nice colour combo and spec - but need to love it before I can commit, and happy enough to get to that stage and then get another car then. Am pretty sure the flow of used ones will increase as people move to Arturas, lockdown eases, etc.
I don't know how much difference the Artura will make. Doesn't interest me one tiny bit - and I don't think I'm alone in that. I think it's a different mindset to get into that than just upgrading to a "newer" McLaren.I wonder how much difference the end of lockdown will make - I kind of get the impression that people are beginning to realise they own damn good cars and don't want to get rid of them - and particularly those of us who own spiders, the jump to a 720 spider is enormous price wise and not remotely tempting.
Seems a bit odd that the salesman wouldn't have wanted to demonstrate all of the car's ability.
I am with you, in comfort mode they are quick but very docile, I certainly wouldn't buy one on that mode alone. In the drive I had the salesman demonstrated all the modes before we swapped seats. These cars seem to go from mundane niceness to snarling animal at the switch of the mode dial.
I would say try another dealer, but that's a lot easier said than done.
I am with you, in comfort mode they are quick but very docile, I certainly wouldn't buy one on that mode alone. In the drive I had the salesman demonstrated all the modes before we swapped seats. These cars seem to go from mundane niceness to snarling animal at the switch of the mode dial.
I would say try another dealer, but that's a lot easier said than done.
davek_964 said:
Your test drive experience sounds very similar to my first test drive - although I had more flexibility in how I used the car, I came away with the same feeling as you. I actually posted at the time, but will summarise here :
I intended to part ex my Ferrari 360. The test drive was a route chosen by the dealer - there were a few open country roads but some town stuff too - and I was surprised how "ordinary" it felt. It was very fast - but really did feel like a car your gran could drive to the shops. I did stay in Auto, but can't remember if the settings were normal / normal - they probably were. It was completely not what I expected - when people post that they've bought McLaren's unseen / not driven - I wonder whether they'll get the same shock I did when I test drove.
I came away quite sure that the car couldn't replace the Ferrari - it just didn't feel anything like as much fun. But, in the end the man maths meant I managed to do the deal by part exchanging my AM Vantage - it felt like the McLaren was more suited to replace that. Before I did that, I had a second test drive - this time down a road I know well - I did stay in auto, but tried the different settings, and most of it was in Sport / Sport.
I haven't driven a 458 - I considered them when I bought my McLaren because the 360 is one of the best cars I've ever owned, and I'm pretty sure the 458 would be even better. But, I just couldn't get over the fact that they were significantly more expensive for older cars with higher mileages - and although the 458 is a great looking car, it's the McLarens I looked at more.
My 360 was more of an instant buzz than the McLaren is - and I think that's still true, even now - and I suspect the same would be true of a 458. I think that's probably something you'd notice on a test drive.
But the McLaren can also be pretty amazing - I think its "softer" abilities can hide that a bit with first impressions, even though it's actually very useful.
I doubt you'll be disappointed whichever you choose.
(And the 360 has gone now, so the McLaren did actually replace it in the end)
Never even saw one before I bought mine let alone sat in it or drove it. I bloody love it though!!!I intended to part ex my Ferrari 360. The test drive was a route chosen by the dealer - there were a few open country roads but some town stuff too - and I was surprised how "ordinary" it felt. It was very fast - but really did feel like a car your gran could drive to the shops. I did stay in Auto, but can't remember if the settings were normal / normal - they probably were. It was completely not what I expected - when people post that they've bought McLaren's unseen / not driven - I wonder whether they'll get the same shock I did when I test drove.
I came away quite sure that the car couldn't replace the Ferrari - it just didn't feel anything like as much fun. But, in the end the man maths meant I managed to do the deal by part exchanging my AM Vantage - it felt like the McLaren was more suited to replace that. Before I did that, I had a second test drive - this time down a road I know well - I did stay in auto, but tried the different settings, and most of it was in Sport / Sport.
I haven't driven a 458 - I considered them when I bought my McLaren because the 360 is one of the best cars I've ever owned, and I'm pretty sure the 458 would be even better. But, I just couldn't get over the fact that they were significantly more expensive for older cars with higher mileages - and although the 458 is a great looking car, it's the McLarens I looked at more.
My 360 was more of an instant buzz than the McLaren is - and I think that's still true, even now - and I suspect the same would be true of a 458. I think that's probably something you'd notice on a test drive.
But the McLaren can also be pretty amazing - I think its "softer" abilities can hide that a bit with first impressions, even though it's actually very useful.
I doubt you'll be disappointed whichever you choose.
(And the 360 has gone now, so the McLaren did actually replace it in the end)
I am the same as Jim, apart from i bought the 570s, click and collect, never driven one before.
I didnt consider it a gamble at all, whilst i appreciate all the motoring press reviews are subjective opinions, i cant remember reading anything but absolute praise, could they all be wrong???
Funnily enough one of the things that has impressed me the most is just how docile it can be, i think thats perfect, it still feels like an event because its just such a great place to be sat. Its comfortable, quiet and responsive enough if you prod at the throttle.
As others have said though, find a stretch of open road and wind it up and its different car altogther, yes it can be a little laggy but just change gear, i really dont understand that argument, throttle response isnt bad for a turbo car, but if you want direct throttle response a turbo probably isnt for you.
I would take Sarnie up on his very generous offer and if the dealer doesnt want to convince you with a further decent test drive, i would probably be looking elsewhere. I do appreciate the whole covid situation, but sounds to me like they are hiding behind that banner.
Mine has certainly met and exceeded expectations, i hope you get out for a decent ride in one.
I didnt consider it a gamble at all, whilst i appreciate all the motoring press reviews are subjective opinions, i cant remember reading anything but absolute praise, could they all be wrong???
Funnily enough one of the things that has impressed me the most is just how docile it can be, i think thats perfect, it still feels like an event because its just such a great place to be sat. Its comfortable, quiet and responsive enough if you prod at the throttle.
As others have said though, find a stretch of open road and wind it up and its different car altogther, yes it can be a little laggy but just change gear, i really dont understand that argument, throttle response isnt bad for a turbo car, but if you want direct throttle response a turbo probably isnt for you.
I would take Sarnie up on his very generous offer and if the dealer doesnt want to convince you with a further decent test drive, i would probably be looking elsewhere. I do appreciate the whole covid situation, but sounds to me like they are hiding behind that banner.
Mine has certainly met and exceeded expectations, i hope you get out for a decent ride in one.
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