Anyone here ever actually driven a McLaren F1?
Discussion
Just curious to hear colourful opinions on what it was like compared to modern supercars, now that they've pretty much all surpassed its performance (on paper anyway).
Obviously there are articles about this, but more interested in getting the raw takes from non-journos on here --- plus any stories over how such an opportunity might have come about!
Obviously there are articles about this, but more interested in getting the raw takes from non-journos on here --- plus any stories over how such an opportunity might have come about!
Here's the current volume 5
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
That'll keep you busy .....
The other 4 volumes should be still readable too.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
That'll keep you busy .....
The other 4 volumes should be still readable too.
Yes, I have. Wasn't mine but got to drive it around Dunsfold Top Gear track. What a car!
The one thing that it impressed on me was that there were no nanny aids - I had the back come round without trying too hard. It was then I realised how easy it would be to have these backward into a hedge in a public road, and also why modern cars have TC and stability control. Without that you need to be fully focused 100% of the time.
Apart from that, great experience - light weight and connected feel made it an absolute pleasure to drive. The noise was something utterly exquisite. The ultimate car - period.
The one thing that it impressed on me was that there were no nanny aids - I had the back come round without trying too hard. It was then I realised how easy it would be to have these backward into a hedge in a public road, and also why modern cars have TC and stability control. Without that you need to be fully focused 100% of the time.
Apart from that, great experience - light weight and connected feel made it an absolute pleasure to drive. The noise was something utterly exquisite. The ultimate car - period.
Larry5.2 said:
Yes, I have. Wasn't mine but got to drive it around Dunsfold Top Gear track. What a car!
The one thing that it impressed on me was that there were no nanny aids - I had the back come round without trying too hard. It was then I realised how easy it would be to have these backward into a hedge in a public road, and also why modern cars have TC and stability control. Without that you need to be fully focused 100% of the time.
Apart from that, great experience - light weight and connected feel made it an absolute pleasure to drive. The noise was something utterly exquisite. The ultimate car - period.
That is very cool - probably a once in a lifetime experience (and for majority a never ever going to happen type thing)The one thing that it impressed on me was that there were no nanny aids - I had the back come round without trying too hard. It was then I realised how easy it would be to have these backward into a hedge in a public road, and also why modern cars have TC and stability control. Without that you need to be fully focused 100% of the time.
Apart from that, great experience - light weight and connected feel made it an absolute pleasure to drive. The noise was something utterly exquisite. The ultimate car - period.
My brother has a 12C Spyder. I had it for two weeks while he went on holiday. It’s super fast and nimble, fresh and modern. Sounds good with it’s sports exhaust but it’s a turbo and we know they don’t sound as good as say a V8 Ferrari or a Lambo V10 that also has a sports exhaust.
I’ve personally only stayed away from a Mac due to the must have warranty which is a lot of money. So come service time it could be £6k to renew the warranty and have a service. There is the cheaper Thornley Warranty of course but then it’s still a lot
I’ve personally only stayed away from a Mac due to the must have warranty which is a lot of money. So come service time it could be £6k to renew the warranty and have a service. There is the cheaper Thornley Warranty of course but then it’s still a lot
I got to sit in one and start the engine once. Whoever the owner was - the plate was M1 MAC - used to come into the shop I worked at on Fulham Road at the time and often parked it outside, so I had to go and ogle (this was about 1997 so they were still the ultimate car spot, really). The owner saw me drooling one afternoon and kindly let me sit in the seat and press the button. I still get goose bumps.
I had a job interview at McLarren a while back for a product manager role (to bring the sport series to market, didn't get the job very frustrating got down to last 3 from something like 2000 applicants according to Linked In if I remember right)
Anyway one of the questions was what is your 3 car dream garage. I said RS6 for family duty (at which he winced), R8 V8 as daily, P1 for supercar duties. The guy interviewing me said Range Rover Vogue for family duties, 997.1 GT3 for daily, and F1 for supercar use.
When probed he said he chose F1 over P1 as he was bored of driving the P1 and the F1 was exciting due to 'that engine'. AFAIK the engine is a BMW sourced V12 with similarities to that used on the contemporary 750i but heavinly modified? Might be wrong though. But interesting that the then head of product development at Mclarren chose F1 as his dream car, I'm sure he know's what he's talking about
Anyway one of the questions was what is your 3 car dream garage. I said RS6 for family duty (at which he winced), R8 V8 as daily, P1 for supercar duties. The guy interviewing me said Range Rover Vogue for family duties, 997.1 GT3 for daily, and F1 for supercar use.
When probed he said he chose F1 over P1 as he was bored of driving the P1 and the F1 was exciting due to 'that engine'. AFAIK the engine is a BMW sourced V12 with similarities to that used on the contemporary 750i but heavinly modified? Might be wrong though. But interesting that the then head of product development at Mclarren chose F1 as his dream car, I'm sure he know's what he's talking about
jakesmith said:
I had a job interview at McLarren a while back for a product manager role (to bring the sport series to market, didn't get the job very frustrating got down to last 3 from something like 2000 applicants according to Linked In if I remember right)
Anyway one of the questions was what is your 3 car dream garage. I said RS6 for family duty (at which he winced), R8 V8 as daily, P1 for supercar duties. The guy interviewing me said Range Rover Vogue for family duties, 997.1 GT3 for daily, and F1 for supercar use.
When probed he said he chose F1 over P1 as he was bored of driving the P1 and the F1 was exciting due to 'that engine'. AFAIK the engine is a BMW sourced V12 with similarities to that used on the contemporary 750i but heavinly modified? Might be wrong though. But interesting that the then head of product development at Mclarren chose F1 as his dream car, I'm sure he know's what he's talking about
Anyway one of the questions was what is your 3 car dream garage. I said RS6 for family duty (at which he winced), R8 V8 as daily, P1 for supercar duties. The guy interviewing me said Range Rover Vogue for family duties, 997.1 GT3 for daily, and F1 for supercar use.
When probed he said he chose F1 over P1 as he was bored of driving the P1 and the F1 was exciting due to 'that engine'. AFAIK the engine is a BMW sourced V12 with similarities to that used on the contemporary 750i but heavinly modified? Might be wrong though. But interesting that the then head of product development at Mclarren chose F1 as his dream car, I'm sure he know's what he's talking about
I can't imagine why they didn't give you the job Dynamic Space Wizard said:
jakesmith said:
Dynamic Space Wizard said:
I can't imagine why they didn't give you the job When I told my mum I was going for a job at Mclarren she said "The buggy company?!"
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