The lower end of the Mclaren market

[andymc]

I have just started my search for an early car, sub £85000, the TH car would have been perfect but my timing was out, Targa Florio have just added this, could i get owner's thoughts?

https://www.targafloriocars.com/used/cars/mclaren/...

what are the essential/desirable options on the early cars?

[GT4RS]

Take everything they say with a pinch of salt.

[justin220]

Fantastic colour.

Don't know the car but that's a huge amount of car for the money IMO

[andymc]

That's what I thought, it wouldn't get you a new M3,am i missing anything?

[Superleg48]

Nice regular use mileage, which is reassuring. A car driven regularly will be better than a garage queen.

Good solid main dealer service history.

Amazing value at that price

Dealer Reputation….approach with a degree of caution.

Piece of Mind…invest a few hundred pounds in a pre-purchase inspection. Small change for the reassurance it will provide or the red flags it will highlight….

You are very close if not at warranty limit based on age. Become friendly with Thorney.

Should be a good example though with that use, as any issues or niggles will most likely have surfaced and been dealt with.

[CloudStuff]

andymc said:

I have just started my search for an early car, sub £85000, the TH car would have been perfect but my timing was out, Targa Florio have just added this, could i get owner's thoughts?

https://www.targafloriocars.com/used/cars/mclaren/...

what are the essential/desirable options on the early cars?

Could be a cut'n'shut?

[andymc]

Looks unnoticeable

[andymc]

GVE have one with 8k miles on it for not a lot more

[andrew]

CloudStuff said:

Could be a cut'n'shut?

i'd heard on here that the carbon fibrechassis was unbreakable !

[Superleg48]

andymc said:

GVE have one with 8k miles on it for not a lot more

I refer you to earlier point about garage queens.

[Rocketreid]

No doubt a lot of car for the money but unfortunately at these price points you start to encounter the so called Supercar dealers Specialising in Luxury and Performance Cars.

Very few are honest and most are best avoided with too many horror stories from buyers.

In any event though the history of the car is imperative and confirmation if it’s SOR or owned by them.

Agree for a full independent inspection and get them to agree to foot it if something bad turns up.

It’s unlikely that there will be much wrong but best be forewarned.

[Abacus21]

andymc said:

GVE have one with 8k miles on it for not a lot more

That one sold about a year ago but they keep the advert live to entice you to call and they can offer the others available.

[Abacus21]

andymc said:

I have just started my search for an early car, sub £85000, the TH car would have been perfect but my timing was out, Targa Florio have just added this, could i get owner's thoughts?

https://www.targafloriocars.com/used/cars/mclaren/...

what are the essential/desirable options on the early cars?

As much carbon as possible and Meridien DSP

[Superleg48]

Abacus21 said:

andymc said:

I have just started my search for an early car, sub £85000, the TH car would have been perfect but my timing was out, Targa Florio have just added this, could i get owner's thoughts?

https://www.targafloriocars.com/used/cars/mclaren/...

what are the essential/desirable options on the early cars?

As much carbon as possible and Meridien DSP

Never really understood why people desire cars dripping in carbon fibre. It’s benefit is purely aesthetic which for me the appeal of the aesthetic in no way is justified by the cost of the stuff. (with the exception of cars that use CF structurally, much of which you cannot see). The weight difference is bugger all for all this carbon dressing and in real terms provides zero benefit to performance. So it must be a vanity thing.

For those that check my garage, yes, I have a car that is fairly dripping in CF, so I may sound hypocritical, however the CF was not the reason I bought the car over any other. There were many other reasons why I ended up with that particular one. Frankly I would rather save a few Bob and buy the one that isn’t at a premium because of all the CF, but just as capable.

Maybe I am just old and don’t “get it”.

[andymc]

So I’d need to go McLaren approved used for a 2 year warranty unless I use Thorney

[CloudStuff]

andrew said:

CloudStuff said:

Could be a cut'n'shut?

i'd heard on here that the carbon fibrechassis was unbreakable !

Could be the 12CVLT

[Bispal]

andymc said:

I have just started my search for an early car, sub £85000, the TH car would have been perfect but my timing was out, Targa Florio have just added this, could i get owner's thoughts?

https://www.targafloriocars.com/used/cars/mclaren/...

what are the essential/desirable options on the early cars?

The most desirable option is a McLaren 12month warranty.

Make sure Iris 2 has been fitted
CF interior is nice
Don't bother about contrasting stitching, it reflects on the windscreen
CF exterior panels can all be bought used, just price appropriately
Same with wheels, all types available used.
I would stay away from Volcano & MSO colours for future paint matching issues if you need a repair.
Meridian not much better than standard and you wont get much radio reception whatever is fitted and end up using a radio player on your phone.

So warranty, warranty, warranty......

Buy privately from an owner with a transferable warranty or from a McLaren dealer with a warranty (and build a relationship) or from the only 'true' McLaren specialist seller, Alastair Bolls. I would be very wary of 'normal' specialists.

Good luck the 12C is an amazing car.

[Ferruccio]

andymc said:

That's what I thought, it wouldn't get you a new M3,am i missing anything?

Maintenance costs.

[Ferruccio]

Superleg48 said:

Never really understood why people desire cars dripping in carbon fibre. It’s benefit is purely aesthetic which for me the appeal of the aesthetic in no way is justified by the cost of the stuff. (with the exception of cars that use CF structurally, much of which you cannot see). The weight difference is bugger all for all this carbon dressing and in real terms provides zero benefit to performance. So it must be a vanity thing.

For those that check my garage, yes, I have a car that is fairly dripping in CF, so I may sound hypocritical, however the CF was not the reason I bought the car over any other. There were many other reasons why I ended up with that particular one. Frankly I would rather save a few Bob and buy the one that isn’t at a premium because of all the CF, but just as capable.

Maybe I am just old and don’t “get it”.

I thought that until I got a car with it.
I especially love it on the inside of the doors.
The price is absurd though if you’re specing a car new.
It’s even more absurd after you’ve see it being made in a car factory.

Edited by Ferruccio on Thursday 30th September 13:27

[mat205125]

Ferruccio said:

andymc said:

That's what I thought, it wouldn't get you a new M3,am i missing anything?

Maintenance costs.

Warranty costs