[SouthernSmokeVC]

Hi everyone my name is Vince. Looking to acquire my first Mclaren in the next month or so. I’ve decided to start out with the 12c. Coming from a Mustang GT this is a whole different ballgame for me. Been checking through the forum gaining insight and what to look out for. Glad to join!

 

[Anthony D]

Welcome to the site, and best of luck finding your 12C! What are you looking for in terms of spec?

 

[Topcarbon]

Welcome
12c is the best bang for the buck these days

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

Welcome to the site, and best of luck finding your 12C! What are you looking for in terms of spec?

I think for the most part my biggest items seem to be in no particular order:
1. Carbon interior
2. Sports exhaust (though I may go downpipes and titanium anyway so flexible on that)
3. Parking sensor (huge since no back up camera)
4. Been loving the idea of a spider, but coupe have more options I like it seems
5. I love the super lightweight wheels, but have no problem with the 5 spike light weight ones
6. I love most colors other than yellow. See so many white/black ones though. I really would love an orange spider

 

[Riceandbeans]

Hey man I just recently went from a m340 to a 650s so I was in a similar boat as you. These cars are great if you take your time and do your research on the car you’re buying. But with that said you have to prepare yourself for random scares that don’t mean much. I’ve had the “!” pop up on my dash. With a quick google search it was a frunk sensor error which was fixed with a key cycle.

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

Hey man I just recently went from a m340 to a 650s so I was in a similar boat as you. These cars are great if you take your time and do your research on the car you’re buying. But with that said you have to prepare yourself for random scares that don’t mean much. I’ve had the “!” pop up on my dash. With a quick google search it was a frunk sensor error which was fixed with a key cycle.

Yeah definitely expecting a few but hopefully minor suprises. Curious though what made you pick the 650S over the 12c. I was in between both. But I felt the 12c offers amazing bang for the Buck especially now and the 650S wasn’t a premium I wanted to pay for a slightly improved car imho

 

[Riceandbeans]

Yeah definitely expecting a few but hopefully minor surprises. Curious though what made you pick the 650S over the 12c. I was in between both. But I felt the 12c offers amazing bang for the Buck especially now and the 650S wasn’t a premium I wanted to pay for a slightly improved car imho

I picked the 650s over the 12c for a couple reasons. The front end of a 650s is so much more modern and even today doesn't look dated at all, also it resembles a p1 front the front if you squint your eyes hard enough haha. The 650s also gets a reworked motor making a bit more power. I also think the 650s are a bit more reliable with being a later built car so the gremlin and other small things were fixed (im not 100% sure id ask the mcmedics as they know more then most dealers). For me I went into car shopping with a budget and just tried to find the best car that met it, i was looking at r8's, 570s, gt3s, etc but ended up on the 650s as it had the best looks and performance. I was thinking of a 570s but i really liked the active rear brake and the hydraulic suspension. I think it all depends on your budget as maintenance and repairs do cost a pretty penny and that is the most important thing to spend your money on.

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

I picked the 650s over the 12c for a couple reasons. The front end of a 650s is so much more modern and even today doesn't look dated at all, also it resembles a p1 front the front if you squint your eyes hard enough haha. The 650s also gets a reworked motor making a bit more power. I also think the 650s are a bit more reliable with being a later built car so the gremlin and other small things were fixed (im not 100% sure id ask the mcmedics as they know more then most dealers). For me I went into car shopping with a budget and just tried to find the best car that met it, i was looking at r8's, 570s, gt3s, etc but ended up on the 650s as it had the best looks and performance. I was thinking of a 570s but i really liked the active rear brake and the hydraulic suspension. I think it all depends on your budget as maintenance and repairs do cost a pretty penny and that is the most important thing to spend your money on.

I completely understand that. Hahahah I do love the look of it. I wasn’t the huge fan of the 12c front end but it’s grown on me and I kinda like the subtly with if it if that’s even a thing lol. But appreciate the honestly . I think the 650S I want might be a bit out of my budget. So you’re probably right there on budget. I’m sticking to mine and trying to find the specs I like best out of the ones I see out there. Funny you say that, I definitely want it for the active aero and suspension over the 570s. And I feel like I love that Mclaren is on the front end of the performance of things and are hard to match. But yes definitely saving for maintenance. I am a DIY guy so I like to try things myself as well and been in contact with MCmedics for tougher jobs.

 

[Riceandbeans]

I completely understand that. Hahahah I do love the look of it. I wasn’t the huge fan of the 12c front end but it’s grown on me and I kinda like the subtly with if it if that’s even a thing lol. But appreciate the honestly . I think the 650S I want might be a bit out of my budget. So you’re probably right there on budget. I’m sticking to mine and trying to find the specs I like best out of the ones I see out there. Funny you say that, I definitely want it for the active aero and suspension over the 570s. And I feel like I love that Mclaren is on the front end of the performance of things and are hard to match. But yes definitely saving for maintenance. I am a DIY guy so I like to try things myself as well and been in contact with MCmedics for tougher jobs.

Yeah id rather get a super clean 12c then a 650s that your questionable on. I got mine through a Mclaren of Beverly Hills but most guys on the forums will tell you to not trust the dealers and I totally agree always get a PPI . From what I read from the forums you do want a car with a bit of miles, for a 650s I believe they said above 10k miles is a minimum which means the car didn't sit and the seals and hoses are all good. So for a 12c it would be like 15k miles (idk tbh).

 

[sblvro]

welcome and happy hunting for your 12C

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

Yeah id rather get a super clean 12c then a 650s that your questionable on. I got mine through a Mclaren of Beverly Hills but most guys on the forums will tell you to not trust the dealers and I totally agree always get a PPI . From what I read from the forums you do want a car with a bit of miles, for a 650s I believe they said above 10k miles is a minimum which means the car didn't sit and the seals and hoses are all good. So for a 12c it would be like 15k miles (idk tbh).

Yes most definitely. I heard that as well as far as mileage is concerned. Have been very sure of that, as I plan to really put it through its paces. I can’t let it sit and be a garage queen. I guess I wonder how they car on the latter side of 30k miles. I’ve seen some as high as 65k miles so hopefully that’s a good sign

 

[Anthony D]

Yes most definitely. I heard that as well as far as mileage is concerned. Have been very sure of that, as I plan to really put it through its paces. I can’t let it sit and be a garage queen. I guess I wonder how they car on the latter side of 30k miles. I’ve seen some as high as 65k miles so hopefully that’s a good sign

There was a member here with over 100k IIRC…

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

I think for the most part my biggest items seem to be in no particular order:
1. Carbon interior
2. Sports exhaust (though I may go downpipes and titanium anyway so flexible on that)
3. Parking sensor (huge since no back up camera)
4. Been loving the idea of a spider, but coupe have more options I like it seems
5. I love the super lightweight wheels, but have no problem with the 5 spike light weight ones
6. I love most colors other than yellow. See so many white/black ones though. I really would love an orange spider

The good news is, what you're "demanding" isn't hard to come by. Notable things though, there are more spyders made than coupes and those are typically more available. Spyders typically go for a 15% premium, if you don't care about having one or not, I'd aim for a coupe. Coupes cost less to repair/maintain, spyders have several items that take a ton more time to access.

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

The good news is, what you're "demanding" isn't hard to come by. Notable things though, there are more spyders made than coupes and those are typically more available. Spyders typically go for a 15% premium, if you don't care about having one or not, I'd aim for a coupe. Coupes cost less to repair/maintain, spyders have several items that take a ton more time to access.

That’s a good point. I didn’t even think about that. I have noticed the price difference. I guess we shall see what spec I end up liking the most.

 

[Riceandbeans]

Another option that’s worth consideration is the front lift. For me it was a mandatory thing, my driveway at home is smooth and I don’t go many places with really bad driveways but it’s a really nice thing to know you will make it and not scrape 90% of the places you go.

 

[invisiblewave]

Another option that’s worth consideration is the front lift. For me it was a mandatory thing, my driveway at home is smooth and I don’t go many places with really bad driveways but it’s a really nice thing to know you will make it and not scrape 90% of the places you go.

+1. There are plenty of places I wouldn't be able to get to without the lift.

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

Another option that’s worth consideration is the front lift. For me it was a mandatory thing, my driveway at home is smooth and I don’t go many places with really bad driveways but it’s a really nice thing to know you will make it and not scrape 90% of the places you go.

It seems it’s such a rare option on the 12c’s I think I’ve only run into one so far that has it. But it could be worth considering. There are a good bit of bad driveways here

 

[EMF Audio (McMedics)]

Another option that’s worth consideration is the front lift. For me it was a mandatory thing, my driveway at home is smooth and I don’t go many places with really bad driveways but it’s a really nice thing to know you will make it and not scrape 90% of the places you go.

A valid point, but I never find myself NEEDING lift in my 12C that doesn't have lift. If you know how to drive it, it's not bad. As a point of consideration though, zero 2012's have lift, 13's and 14's it was an option and a fair amount of cars do have it. Worth noting, a 13 or 14 likely won't be a coupe, they only made about 60 worldwide for both years in a coupe. I've physically seen 2, oddly both customers of mine, neither knew how rare it was.

 

[Riceandbeans]

Damn I didn’t know that, that’s interesting. I guess it would come down to if you want a coupe or a spyder with a front lift. Or find the rare coupe with both. I haven’t scrapped yet but emf do you?

 

[SouthernSmokeVC]

Damn I didn’t know that, that’s interesting. I guess it would come down to if you want a coupe or a spyder with a front lift. Or find the rare coupe with both. I haven’t scrapped yet but emf do you?

Funny enough I found one 2013 coupe with a front lift and of course it’s the one color I didn’t even want (yellow). But I’m considering it since it has most of the options I like. Even has iiris 2. It been on my mind lately. And it’s priced well for the options it seems to have. Need to find the ad