Mclaren or R8 as a daily?
Discussion
Hey guys
Looking for some advice... I'm about to buy my first proper performance car and I'm torn between a McLaren 570GT and an Audi R8 (2016+).
I'm female and on the shorter side (5ft2), so would need the seats in either to go high enough for decent visibility over the wheel (always a bit of a worry when you're fun-sized)
I'm leaning toward the 570GT for that bit of extra storage and its more GT comfort focus, but the R8 seems like it might be easier to live with day-to-day.
I don't actually drive that much, and I'm not a fast driver (don t judge!!), but I still want something that feels special and has a bit of noise every time I take it out.
If I go Mclaren I'd plan to get the extended warranty but is it equally worth doing for the R8, or are they generally less temperamental?
Would love to hear from anyone who's lived with either as a semi-daily. Anything you wish you'd known before buying?
Cheers,
Chloe
Looking for some advice... I'm about to buy my first proper performance car and I'm torn between a McLaren 570GT and an Audi R8 (2016+).
I'm female and on the shorter side (5ft2), so would need the seats in either to go high enough for decent visibility over the wheel (always a bit of a worry when you're fun-sized)
I'm leaning toward the 570GT for that bit of extra storage and its more GT comfort focus, but the R8 seems like it might be easier to live with day-to-day.
I don't actually drive that much, and I'm not a fast driver (don t judge!!), but I still want something that feels special and has a bit of noise every time I take it out.
If I go Mclaren I'd plan to get the extended warranty but is it equally worth doing for the R8, or are they generally less temperamental?
Would love to hear from anyone who's lived with either as a semi-daily. Anything you wish you'd known before buying?
Cheers,
Chloe
Edited by misschloewelsh on Monday 27th October 10:42
Edited by misschloewelsh on Monday 27th October 12:01
Edited by misschloewelsh on Monday 27th October 12:01
I have a 650S Spider and an R8 V10 plus which I pretty much daily.
The Audi, for me is a much better daily proposition. Easier ingress and egress, better entertainment and phone integration, doesn’t need suspension lift.
I’m sure the McLaren could be used as a daily and I believe the 570S has less intrusive sills but my money would be on the R8 for usability.
They both have incredible performance and if anything, the R8 has a more dynamic drivetrain.
The Audi, for me is a much better daily proposition. Easier ingress and egress, better entertainment and phone integration, doesn’t need suspension lift.
I’m sure the McLaren could be used as a daily and I believe the 570S has less intrusive sills but my money would be on the R8 for usability.
They both have incredible performance and if anything, the R8 has a more dynamic drivetrain.
Thanks both!!
Really useful to hear the points about ingress/egress and usability definitely make me lean more towards the R8 for day-to-day practicality. I did actually test drive an R8 last week and was surprised at how comfortable it was!!
Glad to hear your wife enjoyed it too.. gives me confidence that a shorty like myself can be comfortable 😅
Still curious about the McLaren though.. the GT’s a bit more “touring” friendly than the 570S, so I wonder if that makes a real difference for longer drives. I was more leaning towards the 570gt just for the bit of extra storage, however I live down a highly speed-bumped lane so this may not be as practical.. especially without the nose lift.
From what you've said I think the R8 may be the better option. Is it possible to get extended warranty on a 2016+ R8? I looked in to it for the Mclaren but not sure if it would be worth it for an Audi. I've always been a Merc girl so reliability is obviously another huge factor in my decision.
Really useful to hear the points about ingress/egress and usability definitely make me lean more towards the R8 for day-to-day practicality. I did actually test drive an R8 last week and was surprised at how comfortable it was!!
Glad to hear your wife enjoyed it too.. gives me confidence that a shorty like myself can be comfortable 😅
Still curious about the McLaren though.. the GT’s a bit more “touring” friendly than the 570S, so I wonder if that makes a real difference for longer drives. I was more leaning towards the 570gt just for the bit of extra storage, however I live down a highly speed-bumped lane so this may not be as practical.. especially without the nose lift.
From what you've said I think the R8 may be the better option. Is it possible to get extended warranty on a 2016+ R8? I looked in to it for the Mclaren but not sure if it would be worth it for an Audi. I've always been a Merc girl so reliability is obviously another huge factor in my decision.
My first 650 was intended as an occasional use car, but became my daily 90% of the time for 3 years.
It was brilliant as a daily - McLaren suspension is great, so it was very comfortable (although the 570 GT is a completely different setup). You soon get used to the knack of getting in / out if it (and I believe the 570s etc. have lower sills and the doors open at a different angle, so it's even easier).
I think you'd have no problem with a McLaren - just make sure you park with enough space to open the doors. But they're pretty easy to live with daily.
It was brilliant as a daily - McLaren suspension is great, so it was very comfortable (although the 570 GT is a completely different setup). You soon get used to the knack of getting in / out if it (and I believe the 570s etc. have lower sills and the doors open at a different angle, so it's even easier).
I think you'd have no problem with a McLaren - just make sure you park with enough space to open the doors. But they're pretty easy to live with daily.
I've had a 570GT for a couple of years.
McLarens have really low scuttle (the bottom of the windscreen) - it's something Gordon Murray took from the NSX when designing the F1, and McLaren have continued since. The 570GT has electric seats which are fairly adjustable, so I think you'd be ok with the visibility.
I don't find ingress and egress that bad, it's about the same as the RX-7 I had before - in both you're low down and the door needs a bit of space to open into, and have a fairly wide sill, but not difficult to get in and out; the sill comes down at the front, I'm not conscious of having to lift my legs over it.
Speed bumps have always been fine with the nose lift up, clearance isn't bad. Nearly all of them have nose lift, I wouldn't buy one without tbh. I do try to avoid unmade surfaces though, after losing a rear plastic brake cooling duct early on. But it isn't as low as it looks and manages quite well on badly surfaced B-roads.
Yes the 570GT is less tiring for long drives than the S. Ultimately there's still a certain amount of road noise, I guess due to the carbon tub and performance running gear it's not as refined as a modern saloon car. My wife and I have been as far as Dundee and Stuttgart (from Cambridge) in ours, plenty of luggage space for two people to go away; it works pretty well for touring.
You mention noise, I'm sure the R8 wins in the vocals department; McLarens sound, at best, purposeful when working hard. What the Mac gives you at normal speeds is the steering feel which is really nice.
Hopefully you can at least get to sit in a 570GT before making a decision, but I don't think there's really a wrong choice here, my friend has an R8 mk1 V10 spyder and enjoys it a lot.
(on holiday in Scotland)
McLarens have really low scuttle (the bottom of the windscreen) - it's something Gordon Murray took from the NSX when designing the F1, and McLaren have continued since. The 570GT has electric seats which are fairly adjustable, so I think you'd be ok with the visibility.
I don't find ingress and egress that bad, it's about the same as the RX-7 I had before - in both you're low down and the door needs a bit of space to open into, and have a fairly wide sill, but not difficult to get in and out; the sill comes down at the front, I'm not conscious of having to lift my legs over it.
Speed bumps have always been fine with the nose lift up, clearance isn't bad. Nearly all of them have nose lift, I wouldn't buy one without tbh. I do try to avoid unmade surfaces though, after losing a rear plastic brake cooling duct early on. But it isn't as low as it looks and manages quite well on badly surfaced B-roads.
Yes the 570GT is less tiring for long drives than the S. Ultimately there's still a certain amount of road noise, I guess due to the carbon tub and performance running gear it's not as refined as a modern saloon car. My wife and I have been as far as Dundee and Stuttgart (from Cambridge) in ours, plenty of luggage space for two people to go away; it works pretty well for touring.
You mention noise, I'm sure the R8 wins in the vocals department; McLarens sound, at best, purposeful when working hard. What the Mac gives you at normal speeds is the steering feel which is really nice.
Hopefully you can at least get to sit in a 570GT before making a decision, but I don't think there's really a wrong choice here, my friend has an R8 mk1 V10 spyder and enjoys it a lot.
(on holiday in Scotland)
We've looked at both of these (and others) recently, so a couple of observations.
You say "semi daily", but it depends what your 'daily' involves.... I suspect both would soon feel frustrating on a daily commute.
We live down an unsealed track, filling the dips lasts about a month, although neither the Z4M nor Maserati ever grounded. However they are both an inch (or more?) higher than a 570GT. The R8 has (according to the internet anyway) better ground clearance than most Supercars, very different figures depending on where you look, but I know one of these gets down our lane OK.
The R8 sounded glorious and felt good to drive, rather like a souped up Z4M but a bit easier with the fancy gearbox. Loads of modes wihich I never played with but even in "soft southern shandy drinker" setting it was easy to use but blisteringly fast. VED and service costs were probably similar to the Z4M as well
However for anything other than weekend trips I was told it was a non starter due to the luggage 'space'.
The 570 felt bigger, it is a bit longer but apparently is no wider - perhaps sitting lower skews the perception. Sadly I didn't get to drive it myself, but it felt a lot more comfy, certainly something we'd be happy to drive down to Spain in. It was muted and relaxing.
I would say hat the R8 would be a lot easier to live with, but the McL felt a lot more special. I suspect it also attracts a lot more attention.
There's some notes on a comparisson in this article... https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/life-to...
One thing is the McL GT is dropping towards 570GT prices, and that is an inch higher off the ground. It is also a step up on interior and more modern tech (something my wife isn't keen on) and has more luggage space.
Having got the boss to actually look at some cars then practicality and ease of use are paramount, so it seems I'm destined for a Mustang or a Supra.
You say "semi daily", but it depends what your 'daily' involves.... I suspect both would soon feel frustrating on a daily commute.
We live down an unsealed track, filling the dips lasts about a month, although neither the Z4M nor Maserati ever grounded. However they are both an inch (or more?) higher than a 570GT. The R8 has (according to the internet anyway) better ground clearance than most Supercars, very different figures depending on where you look, but I know one of these gets down our lane OK.
The R8 sounded glorious and felt good to drive, rather like a souped up Z4M but a bit easier with the fancy gearbox. Loads of modes wihich I never played with but even in "soft southern shandy drinker" setting it was easy to use but blisteringly fast. VED and service costs were probably similar to the Z4M as well
However for anything other than weekend trips I was told it was a non starter due to the luggage 'space'.The 570 felt bigger, it is a bit longer but apparently is no wider - perhaps sitting lower skews the perception. Sadly I didn't get to drive it myself, but it felt a lot more comfy, certainly something we'd be happy to drive down to Spain in. It was muted and relaxing.
I would say hat the R8 would be a lot easier to live with, but the McL felt a lot more special. I suspect it also attracts a lot more attention.
There's some notes on a comparisson in this article... https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/life-to...
One thing is the McL GT is dropping towards 570GT prices, and that is an inch higher off the ground. It is also a step up on interior and more modern tech (something my wife isn't keen on) and has more luggage space.
Having got the boss to actually look at some cars then practicality and ease of use are paramount, so it seems I'm destined for a Mustang or a Supra.
samoht said:
I've had a 570GT for a couple of years.
McLarens have really low scuttle (the bottom of the windscreen) - it's something Gordon Murray took from the NSX when designing the F1, and McLaren have continued since. The 570GT has electric seats which are fairly adjustable, so I think you'd be ok with the visibility.
I don't find ingress and egress that bad, it's about the same as the RX-7 I had before - in both you're low down and the door needs a bit of space to open into, and have a fairly wide sill, but not difficult to get in and out; the sill comes down at the front, I'm not conscious of having to lift my legs over it.
Speed bumps have always been fine with the nose lift up, clearance isn't bad. Nearly all of them have nose lift, I wouldn't buy one without tbh. I do try to avoid unmade surfaces though, after losing a rear plastic brake cooling duct early on. But it isn't as low as it looks and manages quite well on badly surfaced B-roads.
Yes the 570GT is less tiring for long drives than the S. Ultimately there's still a certain amount of road noise, I guess due to the carbon tub and performance running gear it's not as refined as a modern saloon car. My wife and I have been as far as Dundee and Stuttgart (from Cambridge) in ours, plenty of luggage space for two people to go away; it works pretty well for touring.
You mention noise, I'm sure the R8 wins in the vocals department; McLarens sound, at best, purposeful when working hard. What the Mac gives you at normal speeds is the steering feel which is really nice.
Hopefully you can at least get to sit in a 570GT before making a decision, but I don't think there's really a wrong choice here, my friend has an R8 mk1 V10 spyder and enjoys it a lot.
(on holiday in Scotland)
That’s super helpful, thanks! Sounds like I’ll need to perfect my “graceful entry” technique then Good to know the visibility’s decent though... I’d rather not be peering through the wheel like a kid on a booster seat! McLarens have really low scuttle (the bottom of the windscreen) - it's something Gordon Murray took from the NSX when designing the F1, and McLaren have continued since. The 570GT has electric seats which are fairly adjustable, so I think you'd be ok with the visibility.
I don't find ingress and egress that bad, it's about the same as the RX-7 I had before - in both you're low down and the door needs a bit of space to open into, and have a fairly wide sill, but not difficult to get in and out; the sill comes down at the front, I'm not conscious of having to lift my legs over it.
Speed bumps have always been fine with the nose lift up, clearance isn't bad. Nearly all of them have nose lift, I wouldn't buy one without tbh. I do try to avoid unmade surfaces though, after losing a rear plastic brake cooling duct early on. But it isn't as low as it looks and manages quite well on badly surfaced B-roads.
Yes the 570GT is less tiring for long drives than the S. Ultimately there's still a certain amount of road noise, I guess due to the carbon tub and performance running gear it's not as refined as a modern saloon car. My wife and I have been as far as Dundee and Stuttgart (from Cambridge) in ours, plenty of luggage space for two people to go away; it works pretty well for touring.
You mention noise, I'm sure the R8 wins in the vocals department; McLarens sound, at best, purposeful when working hard. What the Mac gives you at normal speeds is the steering feel which is really nice.
Hopefully you can at least get to sit in a 570GT before making a decision, but I don't think there's really a wrong choice here, my friend has an R8 mk1 V10 spyder and enjoys it a lot.
(on holiday in Scotland)
And I’ve got to admit… the McLaren in your photo definitely makes me gasp a bit more than an R8 ever could
ex-devonpaul said:
We've looked at both of these (and others) recently, so a couple of observations.
You say "semi daily", but it depends what your 'daily' involves.... I suspect both would soon feel frustrating on a daily commute.
We live down an unsealed track, filling the dips lasts about a month, although neither the Z4M nor Maserati ever grounded. However they are both an inch (or more?) higher than a 570GT. The R8 has (according to the internet anyway) better ground clearance than most Supercars, very different figures depending on where you look, but I know one of these gets down our lane OK.
The R8 sounded glorious and felt good to drive, rather like a souped up Z4M but a bit easier with the fancy gearbox. Loads of modes wihich I never played with but even in "soft southern shandy drinker" setting it was easy to use but blisteringly fast. VED and service costs were probably similar to the Z4M as well However for anything other than weekend trips I was told it was a non starter due to the luggage 'space'.
The 570 felt bigger, it is a bit longer but apparently is no wider - perhaps sitting lower skews the perception. Sadly I didn't get to drive it myself, but it felt a lot more comfy, certainly something we'd be happy to drive down to Spain in. It was muted and relaxing.
I would say hat the R8 would be a lot easier to live with, but the McL felt a lot more special. I suspect it also attracts a lot more attention.
There's some notes on a comparisson in this article... https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/life-to...
One thing is the McL GT is dropping towards 570GT prices, and that is an inch higher off the ground. It is also a step up on interior and more modern tech (something my wife isn't keen on) and has more luggage space.
Having got the boss to actually look at some cars then practicality and ease of use are paramount, so it seems I'm destined for a Mustang or a Supra.
Thanks, that’s really helpful! I think you’ve summed it up perfectly — the R8 sounds like the sensible choice, but the McLaren definitely has that extra bit of magic about it.You say "semi daily", but it depends what your 'daily' involves.... I suspect both would soon feel frustrating on a daily commute.
We live down an unsealed track, filling the dips lasts about a month, although neither the Z4M nor Maserati ever grounded. However they are both an inch (or more?) higher than a 570GT. The R8 has (according to the internet anyway) better ground clearance than most Supercars, very different figures depending on where you look, but I know one of these gets down our lane OK.
The R8 sounded glorious and felt good to drive, rather like a souped up Z4M but a bit easier with the fancy gearbox. Loads of modes wihich I never played with but even in "soft southern shandy drinker" setting it was easy to use but blisteringly fast. VED and service costs were probably similar to the Z4M as well
However for anything other than weekend trips I was told it was a non starter due to the luggage 'space'.The 570 felt bigger, it is a bit longer but apparently is no wider - perhaps sitting lower skews the perception. Sadly I didn't get to drive it myself, but it felt a lot more comfy, certainly something we'd be happy to drive down to Spain in. It was muted and relaxing.
I would say hat the R8 would be a lot easier to live with, but the McL felt a lot more special. I suspect it also attracts a lot more attention.
There's some notes on a comparisson in this article... https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/life-to...
One thing is the McL GT is dropping towards 570GT prices, and that is an inch higher off the ground. It is also a step up on interior and more modern tech (something my wife isn't keen on) and has more luggage space.
Having got the boss to actually look at some cars then practicality and ease of use are paramount, so it seems I'm destined for a Mustang or a Supra.
And fair point on the daily side… I’m not exactly commuting miles every day, so I can probably get away with something a bit less practical
Though you haven’t seen how much stuff I manage to pack for a weekend away! 
Here’s another take on it, albeit a bit simplistic.
I briefly owned a 570 and my son owned an R8 V10 so I asked my wife, after driving both which would you buy, bear in mind you may be in it daily. She initially said the R8, five minutes later she changed her mind to the 570, on asking why, she said I want to say that I own a McLaren with that in mind I’d buy the 570!
In reality you need to drive both to see which you prefer. I have a 720 with high mileage so someone in the past definitely used it as a daily driver and it’s been none the worse for that.
When you park up and look back what would you love to see on the drive?
Good luck with whatever you choose.
I briefly owned a 570 and my son owned an R8 V10 so I asked my wife, after driving both which would you buy, bear in mind you may be in it daily. She initially said the R8, five minutes later she changed her mind to the 570, on asking why, she said I want to say that I own a McLaren with that in mind I’d buy the 570!
In reality you need to drive both to see which you prefer. I have a 720 with high mileage so someone in the past definitely used it as a daily driver and it’s been none the worse for that.
When you park up and look back what would you love to see on the drive?
Good luck with whatever you choose.
One of the advantages of the 12c is that it doesn’t have the low front splitter of the 650s so you don’t actually need lift. That’s much easier for a daily car.
You do need to lean the special dance to get in over the high sills though but it also feels more ‘supercar’ because of that!
Absolutely awesome daily drivers though, the cross linked suspension is actually more comfortable than any ‘GT’ car I’ve had before, it’s freakishly good.
You do need to lean the special dance to get in over the high sills though but it also feels more ‘supercar’ because of that!
Absolutely awesome daily drivers though, the cross linked suspension is actually more comfortable than any ‘GT’ car I’ve had before, it’s freakishly good.
Realistically you need to also factor in servicing /warranty etc.
It's a lot easier getting an R8 v10 plus serviced anywhere in the UK plus there are numerous indies.
For mclaren there are about half a dozen uk dealerships plus two well known indies. The mclaren warranty is £3k pa, Audis own warranty is about half that.
If you are near V Engineering or Thorney then definitely consider a 570, and save 3 grand a year for a "what if" kitty. Jack Webb Motorsport near Hull have also just started offering McLaren services and spares.
I've had both cars and both are great in their own way, drive both before buying. V10plus is as quick as my 570s and sounds better, mclaren have an edge on steering feel and a lighter car.
Personally I wouldn't daily either, purely because they both do 15mpg when pressing on. The best I've seen going steady is an average 22mpg in the v10.
It's a lot easier getting an R8 v10 plus serviced anywhere in the UK plus there are numerous indies.
For mclaren there are about half a dozen uk dealerships plus two well known indies. The mclaren warranty is £3k pa, Audis own warranty is about half that.
If you are near V Engineering or Thorney then definitely consider a 570, and save 3 grand a year for a "what if" kitty. Jack Webb Motorsport near Hull have also just started offering McLaren services and spares.
I've had both cars and both are great in their own way, drive both before buying. V10plus is as quick as my 570s and sounds better, mclaren have an edge on steering feel and a lighter car.
Personally I wouldn't daily either, purely because they both do 15mpg when pressing on. The best I've seen going steady is an average 22mpg in the v10.
200Plus Club said:
...lots of good stuff...
Personally I wouldn't daily either, purely because they both do 15mpg when pressing on. The best I've seen going steady is an average 22mpg in the v10.
I get 35mpg+ in the 570GT on a motorway run at a steady 75mph or so; we set out from Cambridge and refuelled on the outskirts of Glasgow (and the low fuel light is very pessimistic in these, probably another ~20L remaining at that point).Personally I wouldn't daily either, purely because they both do 15mpg when pressing on. The best I've seen going steady is an average 22mpg in the v10.
Consumption is highly variable and you can easily empty a tank a lot quicker than that, but driving normally outside of heavy traffic / urban areas it's not at all bad. So depending on what 'daily' driving consists of, it may or may not be an issue.
andysv said:
Here s another take on it, albeit a bit simplistic.
I briefly owned a 570 and my son owned an R8 V10 so I asked my wife, after driving both which would you buy, bear in mind you may be in it daily. She initially said the R8, five minutes later she changed her mind to the 570, on asking why, she said I want to say that I own a McLaren with that in mind I d buy the 570!
In reality you need to drive both to see which you prefer. I have a 720 with high mileage so someone in the past definitely used it as a daily driver and it s been none the worse for that.
When you park up and look back what would you love to see on the drive?
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Haha I completely get your wife’s logic... “I want to say I own a McLaren” feels like a pretty solid reason to me I briefly owned a 570 and my son owned an R8 V10 so I asked my wife, after driving both which would you buy, bear in mind you may be in it daily. She initially said the R8, five minutes later she changed her mind to the 570, on asking why, she said I want to say that I own a McLaren with that in mind I d buy the 570!
In reality you need to drive both to see which you prefer. I have a 720 with high mileage so someone in the past definitely used it as a daily driver and it s been none the worse for that.
When you park up and look back what would you love to see on the drive?
Good luck with whatever you choose.
You’re right though, I probably just need to drive both and see what actually clicks. And yes… I already know which one I’d be looking back at every single time I parked it!
andrew said:
if you live in wales, some distance from specialist support, and "don't actually drive that much", then either could become an impractical and expensive liability
my wife daily drives a 911 for a number of reasons...
That’s a very fair point... living in Wales definitely adds a few extra miles between me and the nearest specialist. I don’t drive loads, so I suppose whichever I pick needs to be more pleasure than practicality. my wife daily drives a 911 for a number of reasons...
Edited by andrew on Monday 27th October 20:24
Pandox2096 said:
One of the advantages of the 12c is that it doesn t have the low front splitter of the 650s so you don t actually need lift. That s much easier for a daily car.
You do need to lean the special dance to get in over the high sills though but it also feels more supercar because of that!
Absolutely awesome daily drivers though, the cross linked suspension is actually more comfortable than any GT car I ve had before, it s freakishly good.
That’s really good to know actually... I hadn’t realised the 12C sat that bit higher at the front. Makes a huge difference when you’re not trying to crab-walk over every speed bump You do need to lean the special dance to get in over the high sills though but it also feels more supercar because of that!
Absolutely awesome daily drivers though, the cross linked suspension is actually more comfortable than any GT car I ve had before, it s freakishly good.
I’m sure I could master the little “McLaren shuffle” getting in and out… adds to the theatre, right? Love hearing it’s genuinely that comfortable though... didn’t expect that tbh
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