Do it yourself?

6th element said:

Happy New Year.
Would anybody have ordered a 12C with a traditional 3 pedal manual, if it was offered?

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Long time since they offered 3 pedals in Formula 1 ,6E,thats what im buying into

What he said.
+ I'm not sure I have sufficient levels of mechanical sympathy/car control to trust myself mashing 600hp about day in day out, particularly when the sensory overload from the rest of the performance envelope is so boggling. Plenty to be concentrating on/enjoying as is!

I would certainly have been tempted because I love traditional gear shift and all the work that comes with it ("double paddling" etc) but I would probably have opted for a SSG box in the end, because of resale. My BMW dealer tells me I have the only 550i that was sold with a manual gearbox in France, and already warned me thatit would be difficult to sell.

I'm allergic to automatic transmissions, so for me the answer is always manual. However, I think paddles are far superior in their function on upshifts and especially downshifts so even if a car offered a standard manual with a clutch I would still take them instead.

>8^)
ER

As I've noted elsewhere in this forum, I love manuals and have never owned a flappy shifter. However, I really enjoyed my test drive in the MP, in big part due to its rocker shifter. Whilst I'll continue to enjoy the FGT six-speed, and the tree trunk Cobra shifter, there's no question that the MP will be soooo much easier to drive on a daily basis.

Now, if I could only get the damn car - all these US delivery posts I'm reading are getting me really ansty for mine!

I love to row my own as much as the next guy but there is a lot to be said for keeping both hands on the wheel at all times. The dual clutch paddle shifts yield a faster car and perfect downshifts. The auto feature is also key to making the 12C the AND car.

I went from a paddle shift back to a 6 speed in the V12V. I really do love the connection that the 6speed gives you but you are definitely at a disadvantage with timing. The other thing to keep in mind is the engineering of these cars and others like them. All of the configuring is with the F1 trans. I am always leery of choosing the second option. So I doubt that it would be the same car. That's why Porsche doesn't make a TurboS with a manual. They can't get the performance figures that they get with the PDK. I think we all have to recon the fact that the manual gear box is going the way of the dinosaur.

I think there is great satisfaction in, clutch, gear, clutch, brake, turn in, hit apex, accelerate.......when it's all done to perfection. It is very rewarding but the dopplegangergofasterforyou box is good as well.

Jaymoney said:

I went from a paddle shift back to a 6 speed in the V12V. I really do love the connection that the 6speed gives you but you are definitely at a disadvantage with timing. The other thing to keep in mind is the engineering of these cars and others like them. All of the configuring is with the F1 trans. I am always leery of choosing the second option. So I doubt that it would be the same car. That's why Porsche doesn't make a TurboS with a manual. They can't get the performance figures that they get with the PDK. I think we all have to recon the fact that the manual gear box is going the way of the dinosaur.

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As andy alluded to, I think the paddle box is the only legitimate choice for the 12C and its design ethos. Especially with a turbo motor, as you say, the tuning of the boost, torque curve, etc., must all be optimized with the precise shift times in mind. I am curious, still, for the responses of customers because I know Ferrari set the trend of paddles-only, but curious if that translates directly to McLaren's customer profile.

I doubt, with their USP being bleeding edge technology, that McLaren will ever offer a 3 pedal manual in any of their future cars. Not even the Porsche fighter, I suppose?

Very intriguing, since almost all customers will likely own several cars. I will always have at least one manual car. Incidentally, a 6 sp V12 Vantage is near the top of my list, Jay - do you love it?

6th Element,

Yes I love it. It's a great balance of throwback and refinement. I really wanted the opportunity to own a 6 speed before they are all gone as I was alluding. The sound is amazing and the car has amazing manners at low speeds and is very comfortable. My plan is to keep it at least for a while when I get the 12C. I have had 2 top line cars before and there always seems to be a preference that drives me to sell the other. The V12V feels like a collector though. I just don't see another car like this being available in the future.

Jaymoney said:

6th Element,

Yes I love it. It's a great balance of throwback and refinement. I really wanted the opportunity to own a 6 speed before they are all gone as I was alluding. The sound is amazing and the car has amazing manners at low speeds and is very comfortable. My plan is to keep it at least for a while when I get the 12C. I have had 2 top line cars before and there always seems to be a preference that drives me to sell the other. The V12V feels like a collector though. I just don't see another car like this being available in the future.

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Thanks for the reply. Must be magical when you let the 12 cylinders overrun on the upshifts... Enjoy. You may need to PM me if you decide to sell it!

6th element said:

Thanks for the reply. Must be magical when you let the 12 cylinders overrun on the upshifts... Enjoy. You may need to PM me if you decide to sell it!

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You'll get the first PM.

jaymoney said:

6th element,

yes i love it. It's a great balance of throwback and refinement. I really wanted the opportunity to own a 6 speed before they are all gone as i was alluding. The sound is amazing and the car has amazing manners at low speeds and is very comfortable. My plan is to keep it at least for a while when i get the 12c. I have had 2 top line cars before and there always seems to be a preference that drives me to sell the other. The v12v feels like a collector though. I just don't see another car like this being available in the future.

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+1

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