600 LT Spyder questions

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

I am tempted to take a brave pill and try my favourite Mclaren - the 600LT Spyder.

I really know nothing about Mclaren options and what are a must have as such that is my first question please?

As for other questions and I know it should not be a concern when buying a supercar but I like to go in eyes open, as such can I get some help with the following please:
1. Annual tax?
2. Servicing, how often, typically how much with Mclaren?
3. Warranty extension, what is the yearly cost please and is it a good warranty or does it only cover certain aspects?
4. MPG when cruising on the motorway at like 75-85mph, I tend to do a lot of miles in my cars so it is always welcome when a supercar can return 30+ mpg on a long trip when just cruising in top gear.
5. People who own or have owned the 600LT have they been generally pretty good reliability wise?
6. What things to look out? Hear a lot of rumours about issues like corrosion and bad panel fit, any truth etc?


My current cars are 458, 991 GT3, 987 Spyder, Exige 410. I will probably keep the 458, love it so much but I was wondering if anyone here owns or has owned a 458 or 991 GT3 and moved to the 600 LT and could provide a comparison please?

I really want the Spyder as my man maths says it can essentially turn the GT3, Exige and Spyder all into one car, my biggest worry is I can see me missing that engine from the GT3, total masterpiece. Plus Spyder has the advantage of drop down rear window and roof down, so can enjoy the exhaust.

[Implus1]

Fridaypassion in his other thread is probably best placed to answer some of your questions

He has had a 458 and a 991.1 GT3 RS and the comparison with the 600LT on the latter is posted in his thread I believe

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[DRZ]

Gibbo205 said:

Hi there

I am tempted to take a brave pill and try my favourite Mclaren - the 600LT Spyder.

I really know nothing about Mclaren options and what are a must have as such that is my first question please?

As for other questions and I know it should not be a concern when buying a supercar but I like to go in eyes open, as such can I get some help with the following please:
1. Annual tax?
2. Servicing, how often, typically how much with Mclaren?
3. Warranty extension, what is the yearly cost please and is it a good warranty or does it only cover certain aspects?
4. MPG when cruising on the motorway at like 75-85mph, I tend to do a lot of miles in my cars so it is always welcome when a supercar can return 30+ mpg on a long trip when just cruising in top gear.
5. People who own or have owned the 600LT have they been generally pretty good reliability wise?
6. What things to look out? Hear a lot of rumours about issues like corrosion and bad panel fit, any truth etc?


My current cars are 458, 991 GT3, 987 Spyder, Exige 410. I will probably keep the 458, love it so much but I was wondering if anyone here owns or has owned a 458 or 991 GT3 and moved to the 600 LT and could provide a comparison please?

I really want the Spyder as my man maths says it can essentially turn the GT3, Exige and Spyder all into one car, my biggest worry is I can see me missing that engine from the GT3, total masterpiece. Plus Spyder has the advantage of drop down rear window and roof down, so can enjoy the exhaust.

Hi there

Annual tax for my GT is £520 inc the premium for the first few years. I am 99% sure the 600LT is the same.

Servicing is annual and is tick tock between a little and a big service, plus there are bigger services every few years when for example the coolant is replaced. Thorney do it a little differently as you can see here: https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/product/mclare...

Warranty cost depends on if it is currently in warranty and how old the car is. Up to 5 years old and in warranty is £2985 for a year. Lapsed, that cost rises to £3335. Over 5 years but less than 10 and in warranty is £3570, lapsed is £3885.

I have seen 37.7mpg on a 70mph cruise in my GT which is the 4.0L engine, realistically 30mpg+ is achievable at a steady cruise in any of these cars.

Fridaypassion's thread is a good read on 600LT, there are a few others here as well. I've not owned one (yet) but I know a couple of people with them. Their experiences are generally good, mostly minor-ish niggles and bodywork corrosion. Of course there are people out there with more severe issues but then all cars can have problems... Corrosion is a genuine problem and is common enough that you should expect just about every car to either have or have had corrosion issues. The way McLaren fix them means it is almost inevitable that the problems will come back eventually. The paint warranty is now only 5 years so my advice would be to buy as new a car as you can, from a main dealer, and go over it in forensic detail - McDealers are almost definitely not going to point out corrosion defects to you when in for a service for example.

[Gibbo205]

Implus1 said:

Fridaypassion in his other thread is probably best placed to answer some of your questions

He has had a 458 and a 991.1 GT3 RS and the comparison with the 600LT on the latter is posted in his thread I believe

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Spotted it after I posted this thread, I also know Jon too, I've read his thread, just as him I love the 458 so that is 99.9% staying, had it three and half years now and added 15,000 miles, so it is now on 26,000 trouble free miles, don't bother with warranty either as 458's are generally well behaved (fingers crossed) and the servicing is like £1000 a year with Ferrari.

I guess my options is sell the two Porsches, or the GT3 and Exige (keep the 987 Spyder) all just sell all three.

[Gibbo205]

DRZ said:

Hi there

Annual tax for my GT is £520 inc the premium for the first few years. I am 99% sure the 600LT is the same.

Servicing is annual and is tick tock between a little and a big service, plus there are bigger services every few years when for example the coolant is replaced. Thorney do it a little differently as you can see here: https://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/product/mclare...

Warranty cost depends on if it is currently in warranty and how old the car is. Up to 5 years old and in warranty is £2985 for a year. Lapsed, that cost rises to £3335. Over 5 years but less than 10 and in warranty is £3570, lapsed is £3885.

I have seen 37.7mpg on a 70mph cruise in my GT which is the 4.0L engine, realistically 30mpg+ is achievable at a steady cruise in any of these cars.

Fridaypassion's thread is a good read on 600LT, there are a few others here as well. I've not owned one (yet) but I know a couple of people with them. Their experiences are generally good, mostly minor-ish niggles and bodywork corrosion. Of course there are people out there with more severe issues but then all cars can have problems... Corrosion is a genuine problem and is common enough that you should expect just about every car to either have or have had corrosion issues. The way McLaren fix them means it is almost inevitable that the problems will come back eventually. The paint warranty is now only 5 years so my advice would be to buy as new a car as you can, from a main dealer, and go over it in forensic detail - McDealers are almost definitely not going to point out corrosion defects to you when in for a service for example.

Thank you for the reply, 30mpg on runs very welcome, advantage of turbos I guess when your off boost.

The warranty cost seem quite expensive, so I'd be sure to try to negotiate something at purchase I think, try to get 2yr warranty included.

What is the cost on a little service and a big service please?

[DRZ]

I'm not certain but if my memory serves it is about £600/1200 plus the items that occur outside of the annual schedule like the coolant changes plus gearbox oil, spark plugs etc which are purely mileage dependent

[justin220]

DRZ said:

The paint warranty is now only 5 years so my advice would be to buy as new a car as you can, from a main dealer, and go over it in forensic detail - McDealers are almost definitely not going to point out corrosion defects to you when in for a service for example.

Just on that point, Glasgow have been brilliant with me, they've always spotted it starting before I have. In fact, it was in for its service recently and they picked up two spots during the final clean

[davek_964]

DRZ said:

The paint warranty is now only 5 years

Just to be clear, the paint warranty was always 5 years and the bodywork warranty was always 10 years - and, the bodywork warranty wording clearly states it covers 'perforation', which paint bubbling is not.

What has changed is that McLaren no longer fix the paint bubbling issue for a car over 5 years old, because they say that it's a paint issue.

Whether they were previously (until about a year ago) doing it on older cars under the bodywork warranty terms, or from goodwill is a matter of opinion.

Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 10th August 13:24

[Gibbo205]

Where abouts on the body work do these corrosion issues occur with the paint, so I know what to be looking out for?

[Streetbeat]

A lot will depend on your relationship with the dealer, walk in off the street having never used them and dont epxect them to jump through hoops. My dealer approved bodyshop has been very accomodating with my 2017 car.

Wings
Rear quarters
Inside the doors where the water drains, you will see a seam there.

[ituned]

Gibbo205 said:

Hi there

I am tempted to take a brave pill and try my favourite Mclaren - the 600LT Spyder.

I really know nothing about Mclaren options and what are a must have as such that is my first question please?

As for other questions and I know it should not be a concern when buying a supercar but I like to go in eyes open, as such can I get some help with the following please:
1. Annual tax?
2. Servicing, how often, typically how much with Mclaren?
3. Warranty extension, what is the yearly cost please and is it a good warranty or does it only cover certain aspects?
4. MPG when cruising on the motorway at like 75-85mph, I tend to do a lot of miles in my cars so it is always welcome when a supercar can return 30+ mpg on a long trip when just cruising in top gear.
5. People who own or have owned the 600LT have they been generally pretty good reliability wise?
6. What things to look out? Hear a lot of rumours about issues like corrosion and bad panel fit, any truth etc?


My current cars are 458, 991 GT3, 987 Spyder, Exige 410. I will probably keep the 458, love it so much but I was wondering if anyone here owns or has owned a 458 or 991 GT3 and moved to the 600 LT and could provide a comparison please?

I really want the Spyder as my man maths says it can essentially turn the GT3, Exige and Spyder all into one car, my biggest worry is I can see me missing that engine from the GT3, total masterpiece. Plus Spyder has the advantage of drop down rear window and roof down, so can enjoy the exhaust.

I own a 2020 600LT Spider and it is an absolutely awesome car. It is my second McLaren, the first being a new 570S Coupe I bought in 2017. I loved that car, but when it suffered some of the paint issues at 15 months old, I stupidly traded it in for a 991.2 Turbo. Suddenly I went from a car with lots of character to something without any. Fast but totally bland. This was quickly upgraded to a new model Vantage which was fun but I still missed my McLaren.

Fast forward a few months and I sourced a 10 month old 600LT Spider in the perfect spec for me. It is MSO sarthe grey with carbon packs 1 & 2, interior carbon, senna seats etc. My only concern was the senna seats, as I had a 981 Spyder as well and the sports carbon buckets were just too upright for me. I shouldn't have worried as the senna seats are amazing and I have covered 7 hours in a day without any aches or pains. In my opinion they are essential, as they lift the interior ambience to a different level.

The car has been faultless, just like my 570S was apart from the well known paint issue. It is 2 cars for the price of one, a GT3 rival and a great cruiser with the roof down. I've enjoyed it on track as well and its a very playful car with stunning steering and performance. The ride quality is something special for a car with apparently so little suspension travel. It doesn't really offer much performance below 3,500 rpm but is ballistic thereafter, and rushes to the redline at warp factor speed. I can't compare it to a GT3 but I do also own a 718 Spyder PDK which I really enjoy, but after driving the McLaren it feels a bit ordinary and the steering feels dead. That's how good the 600LT is.

In answer to your questions, the road tax for mine is £465, servicing is £1,200 for a 2nd year and the warranty extension is £2,865, which I think is acceptable. The mpg is amazing, with 30+ easily attainable when out for a roof off cruise stuck behind slow moving traffic. A mix of driving return 22-25mpg and track works reduces it to 6mpg. It is also a very relaxed cruiser, something I didn't expect with an LT, and the tall gearing keeps the noise levels down when driven in that style. Clearly there's no scuttle shake with the carbon tub.

As I said earlier, I've had no mechanical issues with either of my McLarens. The media unit feels old and I miss not having Apple CarPlay, but the upsides very much out weigh the downside. Panel fit is no worse than the new Vantage I owned, and the carbon fibre looks as high quality as anything I've seen on other expensive cars.

Would I swap it for a GT3? The answer is no. The benefit of managing to lower the roof in seconds and enjoy topless driving means more to me than having a track focused car. It does not have to be ragged on the road to provide supercar thrills and every mile is epic. I've no idea what I will replace it with in the future, but the residuals have strengthened since I bought mine. With a Ferrari 296 GTS likely to be £300k and a decent spec and an Artura Spider not far behind when they are eventually launched, I think a 600LT Spider looks great value in todays market.

I couldn't recommend one highly enough.

[ituned]

I just noticed you also own a 987 Spyder. I owned one for 4 years and really enjoyed it. I know everyone raves about the 987 Spyder's steering, but the 600LT's is even better in my opinion.

[Gibbo205]

ituned said:

I just noticed you also own a 987 Spyder. I owned one for 4 years and really enjoyed it. I know everyone raves about the 987 Spyder's steering, but the 600LT's is even better in my opinion.

Thank you for some great feedback, at the moment I have:
458 Italia
1978 Corvette Pace Car (odd I know but wanted a classic)
Lotus Exige 410 20th Anniversary
1995 E36 M3 Saloon
987 Spyder
991.1 GT3
GR Yaris

I recently sold an Aston 4.7 V8V also, was not using it.

If I go 600LT it will either replace the two porsches or the GT3 and Exige or all three which gives more than enough funds to cover buying a 600LT outright.

I am going to get some more track days done in the GT3 and Exige, enjoy them and then no doubt sell those cars and look at buying a 600LT, might wait and hope maybe the prices soften a little through Winter and buy then, now of course the prices on the cars I own will likely soften as well, but could maybe let the Spyder go sooner because as amazing as it is I simply don't drive it, just been reluctant to sell it because its a manual with buckets, ceramics, AC so a perfect spec in Spyder world.

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

On the Mclaren extended warranty, what does it cover?
I don't bother with extended on my 458 as it only covers the power train and is £2200 a year for a warranty which does not cover the common issues, shocks, corrosion etc, thankfully its been a largely trouble free experience with the 458.

On my GT3 the extended warranty pretty much covers the entire car bumper to bumper as such is great value.

So I just wondered is the Mclaren extended warranty covering stuff like batteries, corrosion or is it just powertrain?

[DRZ]

https://www.carcareplan.com/fulfilment/McLaren/Pol...

This is not including the 5 year paintwork warranty which exists separately.