458 or McLaren?

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davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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G/f has been trying to convince me that I should get rid of my 360 Modena and buy a Spider. I have no interest in selling the 360 to buy a spider version, neither do I have any interest in 430s.

I've always loved the look of 458s, so that's the obvious choice - if we ignore the fact that they cost ~£160k. Obviously the 360 will need to be sold, as will my AM Vantage, as will at least one kidney.

However, since money doesn't do much in the bank - and I have more kidneys than I need - I'm giving this far more thought than I expected. But ~£160k puts me firmly into McLaren territory.

Heart : I'd have a McLaren. I think they're much prettier than 458s, love the doors and have heard plenty of comments from people on here that they're probably a generation ahead of the rivals.
Head : 458s have held their value for years - they just don't see to go down. I don't want a turbo Ferrari, and I'm not convinced I'm alone in that - so I think they will continue to do well with residuals.
McLaren prices are obviously well discussed on here - however, some of the running cost is the warranty which is less on a newer car.
Depreciation is still a concern though - plus my impression is that it's easier to sell a Ferrari than a McLaren when the time comes?

I guess £160k puts you in 570s territory (obviously 540c is no good) - it's not even far short of the lower 720s it seems?

I know that some people have good experiences, some have bad - but my feeling is a McLaren will have far more issues than a 458. They seem to suffer more bodywork issues for one. Am I wrong?

I guess there are people on here who have had (or have) both? Any thoughts?

Part of me thinks I'm mad to even consider sinking another £80k into cars anyway. But aside from that - I am worried that although the 458 spider is no doubt a fabulous car - I'll still look at McLarens and wish I'd bought one of those.
But I need to be convinced I can afford to own one!

Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 26th June 12:41

Anan2030

30 posts

71 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Performance wise definitely the 720s but reliability is questionable, 458 has that NA engine and 100% sound better , the ferrari is a very nice looking car but ll go with 720s .

ghost83

5,546 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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If you put 160 into a 570 then you’re going to lose a hell of a lot, you can pick up an 18 month old 570 for 100k sell the 360 and the am and you get to keep both kidneys

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
quotequote all
Performance difference isn't a major consideration for me. In fact, I think my 360 is about right - had a mapped 996 turbo a few years ago, and I felt that was too quick for the road. So 570 / 458 is definitely fast enough.

I guess a 570s at ~£110k is more immediately affordable.

av185

19,461 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Perhaps consider swapping your somewhat controlling??! girlfriend instead of your beloved car?!

Strange that you say a turbo McLaren interests you and yet a turbo Ferrari doesn't??

Agree the 458 is great but they are very expensive imo for an aging car.

488 great package and cheaper by the day. This autumn they may be cheaper than 458s too.

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
quotequote all
av185 said:
Perhaps consider swapping your somewhat controlling??! girlfriend instead of your beloved car?!

Strange that you say a turbo McLaren interests you and yet a turbo Ferrari doesn't??

Agree the 458 is great but they are very expensive imo for an aging car.

488 great package and cheaper by the day. This autumn they may be cheaper than 458s too.
I guess with McLaren it's because I don't really have a non-turbo option. But it is a negative point against them - I would prefer to stay NA.

I like the 360 a lot - however, a g/f who thinks I should sell it to buy a 458 doesn't seem all that bad!

av185

19,461 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Also now is seasonally rather an expensive time to buy a cab.

Wonder if your girlfriend would have the same view in a few months time when the temperatures drop?

You could appease her by suggesting buying a cab around Christmas when they are cheapest.

So you get to keep her, keep your p and j for the rest of this year and buy the cheapest replacement too.

Win win!

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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True. However, selling a 360 and AM Vantage is unlikely to be instant - and it's probably a good time of year to sell both of them.

Do the hardtop spiders really go up / down with the season as much as soft tops?

I have a couple of other cars I can use in the meantime (although one of those is a spider!) so I could have a gap in ownership and wait until the winter to buy if it gives a decent price advantage.

av185

19,461 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Makes little difference on the type of cover.

Spyders are generally more subject to seasonal price fluctuations than coupes.

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Put aside concerns over McLaren reliability. They are no different to other “supercars”. I can refer you to many threads and websites that slate Fez’s and Lambo’s in equal measure and videos of them going up in flames. For sure, the very early 2017 720S’s had some quality issues, but they are all still in McWarranty so any early models that have had some decent mileage on them should have been well fettled under warranty. 2018 models onwards, have been built to iron out some of the earlier issues. I bought an early 2018 720S with 1500 miles in April 2019 and have had little issue, with exception of some passenger door trim rattling and sometimes driver window not going up on first attempt (works 2nd attempt) – all will be resolved under McWarranty. The car now has 6,800 miles on the clock (since April 2019). The car is addictive, and I am using it as a DD – I just cannot get enough of it. It is very comfortable, easy to drive, practical and looks like it has landed from another planet. If you are shy and don’t like attention, don’t buy a McLaren

The 570 Spider is phenomenal. Well-built, fantastic performance and looks stunning. As for exhaust sound, if you are not happy with it, put a Larini or another make on it for approx. £4K. There is nothing you can buy in the same price bracket that can match the 570.

I had the same conundrum of “do I buy a fez”? I didn’t want to follow the rest of the flock, simply because it’s a “Ferrari”.


Edited by mickpsu on Wednesday 26th June 17:19

ghost83

5,546 posts

197 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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I know you said you don’t have interest for a 430 but a scud will probably hold value if not go up over time

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
quotequote all
ghost83 said:
I know you said you don’t have interest for a 430 but a scud will probably hold value if not go up over time
Scud / CS cars hold no interest for me. I want a road car, not a race car.

isaldiri

20,298 posts

175 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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davek_964 said:
Scud / CS cars hold no interest for me. I want a road car, not a race car.
Neither of them are anything even vaguely like a race car. Same for the Speciale or any RS (ok 6rs possibly excepted). The race car thing is definitely hugely overplayed by marketing departments.

If you haven't driven the 430 scud/458/12c you really should as it'll be obvious quite quickly which car you actually would prefer to drive imo.

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
quotequote all
Even if it's the best drivers car in the world, I'm not interested in any variant of 430.

Yes, I do need to drive 458 / 12C and 570S.

LotusJas

1,345 posts

238 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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Go with your heart.

And if you can stretch to it, get the 720S over the 570S (which is also great).

Taffy66

5,964 posts

109 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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davek_964 said:
Even if it's the best drivers car in the world, I'm not interested in any variant of 430.

Yes, I do need to drive 458 / 12C and 570S.
I considered a 570S last winter but bought my first choice car, a 458 in GS..I much prefer a high revving NA engine in a sports/super car as it provides a razor sharp throttle response and high rev drama no turbo can compete with..I nearly bought a 430 Scud however it was too much money at the time..
No regrets on the 458 which i love to bits and has a very good reputation for being very reliable and mechanically robust over very high mileages..Its also as safe a place to put money into, in complete contrast to Macca which seem to shed value on a daily basis.Still love Maccas as cars although they need to up their game as an overall ownership proposition before i spend my hard earned money on one..Perhaps i've been spoiled by many years of owning Porsches which have all been very reliable..
My money would always go on a nice spec 458 although a well priced LHD 430 Scud might tempt me..

Roof down

301 posts

133 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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I have just looked to see what a mclaren looks like, I too own a 360, and I can tell you not just my Ferrari but certainly the 458 are things of beauty.
The Maclaren looks like some child has designed it, my goodness if I had the money no way would I buy one over a Ferrari.
Even the word mclaren reminds me of a child’s pushchair. No Offence intended to any mclaren owners, beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that.
Ferrari has history and legend behind it, mclaren apart from Bruce has nothing, it’s factory and cars are all to clinical.

davek_964

Original Poster:

9,301 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
quotequote all
Roof down said:
I have just looked to see what a mclaren looks like, I too own a 360, and I can tell you not just my Ferrari but certainly the 458 are things of beauty.
The Maclaren looks like some child has designed it, my goodness if I had the money no way would I buy one over a Ferrari.
Even the word mclaren reminds me of a child’s pushchair. No Offence intended to any mclaren owners, beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that.
Ferrari has history and legend behind it, mclaren apart from Bruce has nothing, it’s factory and cars are all to clinical.
Shows how subjective it is. I think 458s are gorgeous cars, but not even close to how good a McLaren looks.

I definitely think a 458 is a safer place to put the money. On the other hand, depreciation has its plus points - a 2016 570S looks pretty bloody tempting at £60k less than a 2012 458 Spider.

f1_dragon

310 posts

231 months

Wednesday 26th June 2019
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The rigidity from the carbon tub of the McLaren would be a big factor if I was looking at spiders. Can’t go wrong with either though imho, both gorgeous driving machines.

RSbandit

2,786 posts

139 months

Thursday 27th June 2019
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458s seem seriously overpriced for me and from a performance standpoint a 570s is undoubtedly quicker...Ferrari of course has the much stronger brand and heritage but you do pay quite a premium for that, Mclaren are a bit ahead from a technical standpoint. The Scud is a great car tho would be my preference over a 458 if you went down the ferrari route.