The McLaren charger IS a Ctek. As mentioned, there is a cigarette lighter plug in the frunk for charging, so you'll want that attachment. The battery is right behind that panel, where you could access it with alligator clips if you had to. Big picture, if you're driving it at least every 2-3 weeks you should never need the tender anyway. For luggage, you have a lot of space. You can easily get a carry on roller bag and a backpack in the front, the rear has quite a bit of space too. You could get several duffel bags in the back.
Some questions from a new owner
Hi
I've taken my first step into the world of McLaren, just purchased a 570GT (taking delivery on Friday as I'm traveling atm). I've followed McLaren for years and with all the Porsche and Lotus Emira delays I suddenly wondered if a pre-owned McLaren was possible. And it was. Still feels somewhat surreal but am excited to get behind the wheel.
I am planning to drive the 570 fairly regularly but not as a daily driver and likely not at the track. Given touring and weekend trips are the focus, I had some questions:
Finally, think the first addition will be a front/rear dashcam and I like the setup Invictus had using a completely separate battery so I'll probably run with that. Still deciding on the actual cam but the BlackVue DR900X-2CH looks pretty solid.
That'll do for now, any help would be great.
I've taken my first step into the world of McLaren, just purchased a 570GT (taking delivery on Friday as I'm traveling atm). I've followed McLaren for years and with all the Porsche and Lotus Emira delays I suddenly wondered if a pre-owned McLaren was possible. And it was. Still feels somewhat surreal but am excited to get behind the wheel.
I am planning to drive the 570 fairly regularly but not as a daily driver and likely not at the track. Given touring and weekend trips are the focus, I had some questions:
- Is the trickle charger from McLaren a must or will something like one from CTEK do the job? The dealership are offering me one for $350 which seems steep.
- Related, I thought the engine bay on the 570GT was sealed (or at least not easily accessible), where are the charge points for the battery?
- Any suggestions on luggage that fit the frunk?
Finally, think the first addition will be a front/rear dashcam and I like the setup Invictus had using a completely separate battery so I'll probably run with that. Still deciding on the actual cam but the BlackVue DR900X-2CH looks pretty solid.
That'll do for now, any help would be great.
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In my observation, tender doesn't extend life. Driving the car does the best job of battery maintenance. This is based on people who use tenders vs don't and when batteries are being replaced or not.The Mclaren battery tender is a CTek but a model that serves lithium batteries.
There is a view that keeping the charger attached 'manages' the battery to keep it in optimum condition and, in cold weather, ensures it is at optimum tempreture.
You should be starting and running them in that time anyway. I drive mine cold enough to know the temperature reading in the instrument cluster turns red, because it's cold.Sure. But those of us in climates where winters are cool, and we can't drive the cars, then that kills batteries but CTek will keep it warm. Maybe its about not shortening life....but that's semantics.
This is accurate. 80% charge is the true happy place of longevity. 13.4-13.6 is what batteries are resting at, if you watch voltage from the car the alternator only goes to 14v when it's significantly discharged. It will shut off the alternator periodically to float and improve fuel economy as well.lithium batteries (pretty much any Lithium chemistry) don't do well maintained at full charge (unlike lead acid chemistries). Keeping it pegged at the top end (or bottom) of the range diminishes total # of cycles of which they are good for thousands when new. Best for the battery is actually storing mid-range, state of charge (SOC).
Kind of like when you receive your new iPhone, which might have been built weeks or months before. It will come at 50% +/- 10% charge, but not at 100% or 0%.
If you read Apple's term storage instructions, they'll tell you to put the battery in mid range for long term storage.
CTEK should make a trickle charger which holds @ 50% SOC, maybe 13.1 volts.
Best practice might be: plug it in overnight and charge to full. Then let is slowly bleed down and maybe plug back in a month later.
Doug
That has steel brakes, pads are cheap, rotors are cheap, track it and enjoy it. I have carbon ceramics and still go to town. I bought it to enjoy it, not keeping it for the next person.
Do you have a lithium battery on it? AGM and lead acid reconditioned is very different.Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought CTek had a recondition cycle that discharged and charged the battery at intervals whilst plugged in......origionally that was their major usp.
I leave a motorcycle outside thru the winter plugged in and the battery is good whereas before this practice the battery would often fail by the Spring.
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