Discussion
Welcome to my Mclaren 12C thread
Last September I sold my 2016 supercharged Mustang that I built and bought a Ferrari 360 F1 the day after. It was a bit of a dream car purchase. As much I liked the 360 I just didn't fall in love with it. Working on it was easy and enjoyable but trying to modify for power was hard and expensive so I got back on Autotrader, ebay and Pistonheads to look at other cars.
I looked a lot at GTR's but as much as I like them the just don't seem special. while browsing the supercars (as you do) a Mclaren MP4-12C popped up and at a low price due to "high miles" lol.
I was a bottle and half of red wine in and sent an email via this site and to be honest I wasn't expecting a reply.
Sunday morning comes when when I drag myself out of bed hung over and notice a reply from the dealer. They are interested in a part exchange with the 360.
A phone call later and I'm outside cleaning the 360 to take some detailed pics and a walk around video. All sent off via whatsapp and a deal is agreed.
The usual HPI stuff out of the way I do some googling with the current and previous private plates and find a few photos of the car earlier in its life.
Found one on here from when the car was almost new
Another of the car in Monaco with an awful wrap
and again in Marbella Spain
Friday came along and me and the wife popped into the 360 and drove to the dealer.
A good check over, test drive and the deal was done. I had bought a Mclaren MP4-12C.
The drive home was awful lol. The offside front wheel had no balancing weights at all so we had to stick to 70mph all the way home or the steering wheel would have shaken its way off. The nearside front was 35g shy also. This was sorted the next morning and the dealer offered to pay the fee so no harm done.
The biggest issue is the Thorney exhaust that's fitted. It drones like hell. It is just awful and I mean awful.
Plan is to redo the tips to single 3.5" carbon on each side and weld in some branch resonators to combat the drone.
First pic of my own once we got home.
On the drive home the rear number plate fell off somewhere between Marlow and Northampton services and the front one fell off over night on the drive. (yes seriously)
Next morning I nipped to the local Halfords for a new rear plate and sticky pads. Rear plate back on but the front one kept fighting me and just would not stay in place so a vinyl front plate has been ordered and should be here this week.
Wheels now balanced and at least 1 number plate on I went for a drive on some local roads. The car is good, very good but its just too cold to try and use the power. On the plus side the traction control works well.
few pics for now
I will update as it goes along. The short term plan is go over the car and make sure everything is as it should be and repair/replace a few worn bits.
The long term is more power lol.
Also if anyone is on Instagram you can see the Mclaren and my previous stuff if you search for Not_the_200mph_mustang
Last September I sold my 2016 supercharged Mustang that I built and bought a Ferrari 360 F1 the day after. It was a bit of a dream car purchase. As much I liked the 360 I just didn't fall in love with it. Working on it was easy and enjoyable but trying to modify for power was hard and expensive so I got back on Autotrader, ebay and Pistonheads to look at other cars.
I looked a lot at GTR's but as much as I like them the just don't seem special. while browsing the supercars (as you do) a Mclaren MP4-12C popped up and at a low price due to "high miles" lol.
I was a bottle and half of red wine in and sent an email via this site and to be honest I wasn't expecting a reply.
Sunday morning comes when when I drag myself out of bed hung over and notice a reply from the dealer. They are interested in a part exchange with the 360.
A phone call later and I'm outside cleaning the 360 to take some detailed pics and a walk around video. All sent off via whatsapp and a deal is agreed.
The usual HPI stuff out of the way I do some googling with the current and previous private plates and find a few photos of the car earlier in its life.
Found one on here from when the car was almost new
Another of the car in Monaco with an awful wrap
and again in Marbella Spain
Friday came along and me and the wife popped into the 360 and drove to the dealer.
A good check over, test drive and the deal was done. I had bought a Mclaren MP4-12C.
The drive home was awful lol. The offside front wheel had no balancing weights at all so we had to stick to 70mph all the way home or the steering wheel would have shaken its way off. The nearside front was 35g shy also. This was sorted the next morning and the dealer offered to pay the fee so no harm done.
The biggest issue is the Thorney exhaust that's fitted. It drones like hell. It is just awful and I mean awful.
Plan is to redo the tips to single 3.5" carbon on each side and weld in some branch resonators to combat the drone.
First pic of my own once we got home.
On the drive home the rear number plate fell off somewhere between Marlow and Northampton services and the front one fell off over night on the drive. (yes seriously)
Next morning I nipped to the local Halfords for a new rear plate and sticky pads. Rear plate back on but the front one kept fighting me and just would not stay in place so a vinyl front plate has been ordered and should be here this week.
Wheels now balanced and at least 1 number plate on I went for a drive on some local roads. The car is good, very good but its just too cold to try and use the power. On the plus side the traction control works well.
few pics for now
I will update as it goes along. The short term plan is go over the car and make sure everything is as it should be and repair/replace a few worn bits.
The long term is more power lol.
Also if anyone is on Instagram you can see the Mclaren and my previous stuff if you search for Not_the_200mph_mustang
Edited by CraigJ on Monday 8th February 19:29
I really want one of these, the performance on offer from a RWD car is staggering, it is just such a shame about the reliability stories whether true/untrue...
1/2 the price of a 458 and the better car on paper.
Was this the cheapest for sale, I remember those exhaust tips and not being a fan!
1/2 the price of a 458 and the better car on paper.
Was this the cheapest for sale, I remember those exhaust tips and not being a fan!
greggy50 said:
Very interested to hear how this turns out given the horror stories you read...
These have aged well are offer amazing value for money so I hope it turns out OK for you!
As usual the horror stories are greatly exaggerated. They do appear to be quite reliable but do suffer from some common issues. These have aged well are offer amazing value for money so I hope it turns out OK for you!
Have to bare in mind they were 170k new before options so running costs can be high.
alec.e said:
I really want one of these, the performance on offer from a RWD car is staggering, it is just such a shame about the reliability stories whether true/untrue...
1/2 the price of a 458 and the better car on paper.
Was this the cheapest for sale, I remember those exhaust tips and not being a fan!
It was yes. I will be changing the exhaust tips and also adding branch resonators to it to tone down the drone.1/2 the price of a 458 and the better car on paper.
Was this the cheapest for sale, I remember those exhaust tips and not being a fan!
Don't see many of these about on the roads. More of the later 570/650/720 etc.'s but not many of the original 12-C's (MP4-12C wasn't it?). Glad to see the red details are gone and it's back on the silver wheels s it looks much better in my eyes.
I've heard such mixed views on McLaren ownership so will be interested to hear your story unfold with this one. TheCarGuys have a 675LT that Damien has had a great time owning, where as TGE (Tom Exton) has an ongoing feud with them after a poor ownership (lease?) of a similar model.
You seem handy with the spanners which helps and at 40k miles it has been used and any early issues should be well sorted by now. I like this a lot and have bookmarked. Good luck!
I've heard such mixed views on McLaren ownership so will be interested to hear your story unfold with this one. TheCarGuys have a 675LT that Damien has had a great time owning, where as TGE (Tom Exton) has an ongoing feud with them after a poor ownership (lease?) of a similar model.
You seem handy with the spanners which helps and at 40k miles it has been used and any early issues should be well sorted by now. I like this a lot and have bookmarked. Good luck!
Looks great, and glad to hear it's already got a bit of character; 'they all do that sir.' Looking forward to seeing how this progresses, I remember with the 360 you weren't afraid to get stuck in.
On a side note, the wheels on the Mini in the background are....interesting...! Some kind of EV/Hybrid Mini I'm guessing?
On a side note, the wheels on the Mini in the background are....interesting...! Some kind of EV/Hybrid Mini I'm guessing?
Thanks for the nice comments guys.
Only a small update at the minute. I popped up to Leeds Mclaren and bought a new bonnet emblem. Not 100% on it yet but i think once the car is cleaned up it will look better.
59.95 + vat and also bought my Daughter a hot wheels 720s while I was there.
And fitted.
Some exhaust bits have been arriving and just waiting on the new tips now. once its all here the exhaust will be getting a make over.
Only a small update at the minute. I popped up to Leeds Mclaren and bought a new bonnet emblem. Not 100% on it yet but i think once the car is cleaned up it will look better.
59.95 + vat and also bought my Daughter a hot wheels 720s while I was there.
And fitted.
Some exhaust bits have been arriving and just waiting on the new tips now. once its all here the exhaust will be getting a make over.
Jonmx said:
Looks great, and glad to hear it's already got a bit of character; 'they all do that sir.' Looking forward to seeing how this progresses, I remember with the 360 you weren't afraid to get stuck in.
On a side note, the wheels on the Mini in the background are....interesting...! Some kind of EV/Hybrid Mini I'm guessing?
Its the wife's Mini Electric. The wheels are poorly named corona spoke lol.On a side note, the wheels on the Mini in the background are....interesting...! Some kind of EV/Hybrid Mini I'm guessing?
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