[Calitalia]

I currently own a Ferrari California and am thinking ahead to get a mid engine aggressive supercar after my GT experience. The California is a comfortable cruiser but I would definitely want a mid engine supercar as my next. Currently, the queue for 458 is into 2013. It is the first to come to mind. However, I am also thinking about the MP4-12c in 2013. A very tough call.

The Pros: Exclusivity, McLaren's Legacy, Superb engineering
The Cons: Less proven in reliability, dihedral doors making parking a bit more of a hassle

I am warming up a bit to McLaren's look... just not sure about the colour that it can wear to look good in. I am thinking white... while McLaren Orange is good, I do want it to be more subtle as well as usable (maybe grey or silver...)

Mcl wins for me on the following:
Exclusivity
Engineering
Exotic
Look
Wow factor
Techno aspects

My biggest concern truly is this... I have seen the real car but not driven a demo and the doors are very very special. The SLS has very good doors even in tight parking space but I think the dihedral doors present a real challenge with there are cars beside me. Is this a valid concern ? The good thing about a California and a 458 is that they are both usable even in real life situation and even driving to work. I worry the dihedral doors being a real hindrance.

By 2013, the 458 is in its 3rd year of cycle so in terms of timing, it is not best... can someone shed lights on my dilemma especially about doors on MP4-12C?

 

[roundincircles]

If the doors are a concern then you have to test drive it and park in a variety of situations to get some experience. There is a gap quoted somewhere, 2 feet comes to memory, but all the dealers and McLaren have the facts as this will be a reoccurring question.

My current conventional doors need a largish gap as they are very long - Porsche - but the leading edge of MP12 doors is difficult to see from my experience. I will trade off their drama for the parking dilemma though!

 

[Calitalia]

I would too... The SLS is most practical

Sometimes, I learn not to prejudge. I used to think that SLS' doors were impractical but I find that it requires less space than the doors on my California! It is quite superb for me although everyone disagrees from a closing perspective. I am 6"4 so closing is not a problem.

2 feet clearance and what about height clearance. 1.9 m is what I have in my garage.

In general, most places I go to should be ok. I am sure extremely tight places I need to avoid.

There won't be any demo, let alone a show car. The dealer's showroom is not even open and pricing not firmed and spec. So I am warming up to take a dive.

The intuitively obvious is always a 458 as resale is not a problem but judging from past experience, by 2013, the 458 will be quite visible everywhere. The 430 is quite a Ferrari with good achievements but it is definitely easily visible as well as Lamborghini.

I suspect for a different experience, the McLaren will give exclusivity.

I have a few qualms, warranty, service level/centre, turbo engine high maintenance and reliability. Honestly, the California is rock solid so all the Ferrari glitches didn't happen to me despite low mileages. They are also going to roll out 7 year maintenance plan which to me is very competitive.

If I buy now, I know I am buying a mold breaking car that's innovative, rare and different. It is not something everyone knows but it will be my car n driver's car. The look, yes, I prefer 458 but I think the McLaren will be more timeless iconic. Also, McLaren is a more focused company at the present moment. Only one car. For e.g., I find my California's knobs on air con and gear box to be shared by 458 and FF to some degree. Hence, there will be less motivation for me to upgrade to a 458 as the experience, while different, would not be extremely different (given my style of driving of being comfy, relaxed...). I do want something special I think McLaren is special.

However, one last concern is that money is an object to me and I hard earned it so maintenance matters. Considering that McLaren is a small conglomerate (much smaller than Ferrari), would the support and maintenance be there in the future? Would it have financial problems in the future in terms of expansion and R&D? Ferrari has a lot more to spend I'd suspect.

McLaren is mold breaking but the last thing anyone wants is to buy a car with a good company which ultimately is in need for cash. Niche sports car makers tend to run into problems. Maybe I am being too forward looking. Tks.

 

[Russell996]

I think exclusivity will depend on where you live, in the UK McLaren are projecting their sales figures to be quite a lot higher than 458 - we will see I guess.

 

[360]

I think exclusivity will depend on where you live, in the UK McLaren are projecting their sales figures to be quite a lot higher than 458 - we will see I guess.

Mclaren are only planning on selling 200 MP4s in the UK per year so I don't think they plan to out sell the 458, they only plan to produce 1000 per year for global sales, alot less than Ferrari, even when they get to a 3 model line up the target is 5000 units per annum global.

 

[Calitalia]

At the end of the day, it is summarzied below:


1. 458 - a flamboyant, user-friendly competent sportscar using an established but old proven formula,with a luxurious but fussy interior, with broad appeal to common customers who are mostly sold on the brand name and the commercialness of the network.
2. McLaren - On the other side, a very cool, extremely high tech weapon-like supercar with state-of-the-art engineering, exclusive, less daily friendly, with obvious focus on actual driving and less appeal to the masses, very driver orientated with meticulous details and no unnecessary luxury.

To me, one is evolutionary and the other is revolutionary. One is a follower and other is a leader. I'm sure you know which one is which. I don't know about 2nd hand values in the short term, but I think in the long run the MP4 will be significantly more valuable.

Howver, without any history and with the car in its infancy (first 12 to be delivered in 2011), I would have to say that the 458 is a lot more proven and liquid in second hand market.

I am ready to take the plunge and the wait begins. Now, what colour? White seems good.

 

[997]

At the end of the day, it is summarzied below:

I would have to say that the 458 is a lot more proven and liquid in second hand market.

Which one has a tendency to burn down to the ground? Not sure the remains were liquid

 

[Russell996]

Mclaren are only planning on selling 200 MP4s in the UK per year so I don't think they plan to out sell the 458, they only plan to produce 1000 per year for global sales, alot less than Ferrari, even when they get to a 3 model line up the target is 5000 units per annum global.

Are you certain on your figures. UK dealers were originally talking far higher when they were asking for my deposit. 458 deliveries are currently far lower than 200 per year in UK but that might change of course - once they read the reviews!

 

[Calitalia]

Wondering how the UK economy and Euro debt woes would affect allocation and whether or not quota would shift elsewhere to Asian regions.

 

[Calitalia]

re: Colour, I still am not sold on the McLaren Orange.

It's either white or silver to me. Standard silver all standard no option or just with ceramic brakes. Ceramic is standard on 458 and California.

However, I worry that silver is a bit too 80s... most sports cars aren't in silver these days and white is the new silver to me.