Newer 540c or older 12c?
Discussion
These are starting to look stunning value. I have paid more for an X5!!
Been looking at ads for a week or so and at this pricepoint you have 2012 12c’s or 2016 540c’s. This car is stunning to look at. Not ready to buy just yet but these things take time.
What’s the disadvantage of going for the 540c other than it being entry level. I can’t see I would need more than 540 ps. Am I missing something or is the newer car worth it at sub 70k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023112041...
Been looking at ads for a week or so and at this pricepoint you have 2012 12c’s or 2016 540c’s. This car is stunning to look at. Not ready to buy just yet but these things take time.
What’s the disadvantage of going for the 540c other than it being entry level. I can’t see I would need more than 540 ps. Am I missing something or is the newer car worth it at sub 70k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023112041...
Edited by interstellar on Sunday 2nd June 21:12
Sports vs Super Series is often discussed and both have their adherents, although usually it's 570S vs 650S.
Evo clearly came down on the side of the 540C https://www.evo.co.uk/group-tests/19544/mclaren-54...
On spec, the 540C vs the 570S has 30ps less, slightly softer suspension, steel brakes vs ceramic, and tends to be found with cast rather than forged wheels. The brakes could be considered an advantage maintenance costs-wise, and the softer suspension isn't necessarily a bad thing either. They generally tend to have fewer options ticked, although not universally.
540C advantages
+ Newer
+ Slightly less to go wrong
+ Better to drive according to journos
+ ESC Dynamic 'halfway house' stability control mode to let you slide around without crashing (hopefully!)
12C advantages
+ Faster
+ Better ride / body control via ProActive interlinked hydraulic suspension
+ Air brake
+ Possibly slightly better longer-term residual outlook?
The Sports Series can suffer from paint corrosion on the aluminium panels, I think the 12C has a mix of ally and plastic so slightly less exposed.
12C accumulators tend to go but can be replaced with refillable ones now I think.
For me the better critical reception and slight perception of lower ownership risk on a newer, simpler car swung me towards the Sports Series, and if I were you I'd go 540C of the two options.
If you can stretch to a cheap 650S that seems to have a lot to offer, to me that's more of a 50/50 call against the Sports Series.
The biggest thing I'd say on any of them is, you're buying a McLaren towards the bottom of the market, just be really careful and get a good pre-purchase inspection done (IME prefer Thorney or V Engineering over a Mac dealer for this). They are epic drivers' cars and as you say insane value if you get a good one, but if you end up with a neglected one it can be expensive to put right (like £10k-£20k).
Evo clearly came down on the side of the 540C https://www.evo.co.uk/group-tests/19544/mclaren-54...
On spec, the 540C vs the 570S has 30ps less, slightly softer suspension, steel brakes vs ceramic, and tends to be found with cast rather than forged wheels. The brakes could be considered an advantage maintenance costs-wise, and the softer suspension isn't necessarily a bad thing either. They generally tend to have fewer options ticked, although not universally.
540C advantages
+ Newer
+ Slightly less to go wrong
+ Better to drive according to journos
+ ESC Dynamic 'halfway house' stability control mode to let you slide around without crashing (hopefully!)
12C advantages
+ Faster
+ Better ride / body control via ProActive interlinked hydraulic suspension
+ Air brake
+ Possibly slightly better longer-term residual outlook?
The Sports Series can suffer from paint corrosion on the aluminium panels, I think the 12C has a mix of ally and plastic so slightly less exposed.
12C accumulators tend to go but can be replaced with refillable ones now I think.
For me the better critical reception and slight perception of lower ownership risk on a newer, simpler car swung me towards the Sports Series, and if I were you I'd go 540C of the two options.
If you can stretch to a cheap 650S that seems to have a lot to offer, to me that's more of a 50/50 call against the Sports Series.
The biggest thing I'd say on any of them is, you're buying a McLaren towards the bottom of the market, just be really careful and get a good pre-purchase inspection done (IME prefer Thorney or V Engineering over a Mac dealer for this). They are epic drivers' cars and as you say insane value if you get a good one, but if you end up with a neglected one it can be expensive to put right (like £10k-£20k).
12C for me - Design classic, active aero, magic suspension, single wiper, large analogue tacho. Both are still very quick. 12C now very easy to maintain with the likes of 'V', sports series seems to have on-going corrosion, door/window issues & electrical foibles. I think the 12C looks better then the sports series and the 650 / 720. For me its the pick of the McLaren range at under £150k. There was one at the southside hustle classic car meet yesterday and people were all over it. It is a modern classic with the performance of a modern supercar.
bennno said:
540c has the potential to be a lot less costly to run, steel brakes, Ali panels etc.
I think it's generally the ali panels that suffer paint bubbling so not sure that's an advantage.Unless you're tracking the car, I don't think the cost of brakes is a big concern. In fact, I don't think the cost of any "super series" parts is a big concern since those bits rarely go wrong. Accumulators obviously do - but you can get re-chargable ones from V now and it's really not that expensive.
I've found both of my 650s much much cheaper to run than I expected.
12C will be a lot easier to sell than 540 when you want to. It's the "first" model (F1 aside), rather than the "if I spend a little more I can have a 570" model.
davek_964 said:
12C will be a lot easier to sell than 540 when you want to. It's the "first" model (F1 aside), rather than the "if I spend a little more I can have a 570" model.
This540 is perceived as the paupers' McL, whilst in reality it is now 95% of the 570 for 85% of the price. When new the £30k or so difference attracted those who were restricted on budget, as a consequence it appears from the adverts that buyers tended to spec them lower when new (I've noticed quite a lot don't list rear camera OR nose lift, which I find odd). Now in the used market the £10k price difference to a higher spec 570 doesn't seem a lot.
Pricing is all over the place though, Thorney have one older and higher mileage than a main dealer car, but for more money. Presumably that's the SOR price set by the owner. Also AFAICT it doesn't have camera or lift, and a lot of standard spec.
Personally from the 2 I'd expect the 12C to be a better long term ownership prospect in terms of future prices and saleability. Issues are largely sorted and cheap(ish) to solve, and it seems to be becoming a cult classic.
One thing I'm not sure anyone's mentioned is there are a couple of 12C Spiders for £70k, so if you want open air motoring for this money, that's the way to go.
There are 19 ads for 12Cs with a mean age of 241 days (8 months).
The median age is 133 days for the 540C and 145 for the 12C.
The 540Cs can hang around, however from what I saw when I was following the market they will sell as long as they're clearly cheaper than a 570 (i.e. £10k less for same age/mileage/etc).
As I said, I do think the 12C has more favourable residual prospects in the medium to long term just for being an older car which is further into its depreciation curve. But I don't think they're particularly easy to sell quickly, unless you put it through CC likely for a price beginning with a '5'.
davek_964 said:
12C will be a lot easier to sell than 540 when you want to. It's the "first" model (F1 aside), rather than the "if I spend a little more I can have a 570" model.
Autotrader has 12 ads for 540Cs with a mean age of 182 days (6 months)There are 19 ads for 12Cs with a mean age of 241 days (8 months).
The median age is 133 days for the 540C and 145 for the 12C.
The 540Cs can hang around, however from what I saw when I was following the market they will sell as long as they're clearly cheaper than a 570 (i.e. £10k less for same age/mileage/etc).
As I said, I do think the 12C has more favourable residual prospects in the medium to long term just for being an older car which is further into its depreciation curve. But I don't think they're particularly easy to sell quickly, unless you put it through CC likely for a price beginning with a '5'.
Very helpful chaps. I think hearing your thoughts and looking at the at evo review I need to look at either the 570s or 650s.
To me although the 12c residuals might hold better the car is now 12 years old and to me I like the newer interiors in cars which is why the 540c for the same money looked good on paper. Long term the rv on the car will not hold as well, I agree with that.
There are still cars in this price bracket so prices do seem to me all over the place and as the above poster mentions cars are slow to sell.
Will keep looking.
To me although the 12c residuals might hold better the car is now 12 years old and to me I like the newer interiors in cars which is why the 540c for the same money looked good on paper. Long term the rv on the car will not hold as well, I agree with that.
There are still cars in this price bracket so prices do seem to me all over the place and as the above poster mentions cars are slow to sell.
Will keep looking.
interstellar said:
Very helpful chaps. I think hearing your thoughts and looking at the at evo review I need to look at either the 570s or 650s.
To me although the 12c residuals might hold better the car is now 12 years old and to me I like the newer interiors in cars which is why the 540c for the same money looked good on paper. Long term the rv on the car will not hold as well, I agree with that.
There are still cars in this price bracket so prices do seem to me all over the place and as the above poster mentions cars are slow to sell.
Will keep looking.
Id not be put off a 540c, I had one, it was ballistic.they are good value, they share the same engine with all the other models, just with less bespoke and complex aero, carbon brake and suspension tech to go wrong at huge expense. To me although the 12c residuals might hold better the car is now 12 years old and to me I like the newer interiors in cars which is why the 540c for the same money looked good on paper. Long term the rv on the car will not hold as well, I agree with that.
There are still cars in this price bracket so prices do seem to me all over the place and as the above poster mentions cars are slow to sell.
Will keep looking.
The evolution of the electronics from the 12c to the sports series is not to be underestimated.
There have been problems with carbon body panels on some earlier cars.
These all have the potential to be anything from financially challenging to borderline ruinous - but to 99.5% of the population they are all a first and foremost a McLaren, as opposed to a specific model.
bennno said:
Id not be put off a 540c, I had one, it was ballistic.they are good value, they share the same engine with all the other models, just with less bespoke and complex aero, carbon brake and suspension tech to go wrong at huge expense.
The evolution of the electronics from the 12c to the sports series is not to be underestimated.
There have been problems with carbon body panels on some earlier cars.
These all have the potential to be anything from financially challenging to borderline ruinous - but to 99.5% of the population they are all a first and foremost a McLaren, as opposed to a specific model.
The body panels on 12C / 650 are not carbon. They are composite. They are only carbon if somebody spent an absolute fortune on carbon bodywork which 99.999999999999999999999% won't.The evolution of the electronics from the 12c to the sports series is not to be underestimated.
There have been problems with carbon body panels on some earlier cars.
These all have the potential to be anything from financially challenging to borderline ruinous - but to 99.5% of the population they are all a first and foremost a McLaren, as opposed to a specific model.
The "complex aero" very rarely goes wrong - I had a problem with my air brake sticking up which V fixed while I waited at virtually zero cost. The only real suspension issue is accumulators - which is not huge expense, it's well under £2k.
In 5 years since buying my first McLaren I've seen no evidence to suggest that the super series are noticeably more expensive to run than sports series - warranty cost aside. If you prefer sports series, buy sports series - if you prefer super series buy super series. But if you choose sports because you think the running costs will be much less, you're probably wrong.
My bad choice of word, should have said composite laminate bodywork issues with moisture ingress, although sports series can get aluminium oxidisation.
Evo probably summarise it best
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/glc/540c-vs-12c
Evo probably summarise it best
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/glc/540c-vs-12c
This can’t be right unless it’s very broken. Very dodgy site probably should be reported.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16705331
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16705331
interstellar said:
This can’t be right unless it’s very broken. Very dodgy site probably should be reported.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16705331
The genuine ad is here https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310022...https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16705331
the ad you've found is indeed a scam, using the original images and a temptingly low price to entice victims to transfer money.
samoht said:
Sports vs Super Series is often discussed and both have their adherents, although usually it's 570S vs 650S.
Evo clearly came down on the side of the 540C https://www.evo.co.uk/group-tests/19544/mclaren-54...
I agree with Evo’s assessment, but would add that the 650 addressed the 12c’s floaty steering and suspension issues squarely, while adding to the top end pace and character of the engine.Evo clearly came down on the side of the 540C https://www.evo.co.uk/group-tests/19544/mclaren-54...
https://www.evo.co.uk/mclaren/650s/20574/mclaren-6...
Edited by 12pack on Tuesday 4th June 14:14
I had this exact same dilemma a few years ago, and actually went to McLaren Glasgow with the intention of buying a 12C. When I arrived however and saw it parked next to the 540/570 there really was no comparison for me.
I then had the choice of a newer 540 or older 570 and opted for the 540. For the additional warranty.
It's all very personal and don't think you can make a wrong choice.
I then had the choice of a newer 540 or older 570 and opted for the 540. For the additional warranty.
It's all very personal and don't think you can make a wrong choice.
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