[Krzys]

Good review, bad results...

The overall score for MP4 is very impressive, yet, the objective tests look poor. Again, McLaren claims are not confirmed in independent tests: 0-200 9.8 sec? Fully a sec off. 0-300 31sec? 4 sec off. Max lateral grip of 1.4 versus claimed 1.7?

Nordschleife time is very decent. Decent is the operative word here. Remember MP4 is on corsas. For comparison Italia's ( or sls's) time was on street tires. Once you account for that, the difference is not that impressive.

The overall super test result is very good as in sport auto being able to recognize the great mixture of everyday usability and performance. If only the performance was closer to the hype. I am not impressed with the McLaren organization, even though I still like the car.

 

[Krzys]

It's funny, before the big hype from early this year, I would have guessed the performance would be at exactly the levels it's coming in. Given the extra 30 horses, 300 lbs of weights advantage and superior stiffness over Italia, I would expect 10-15 secs, on the Nordschleife and a sec or so in 0-200.

I gave McLaren the benefit of the doubt when they started to tout the car as "the best handling car in the world". They failed. I think the car is still great. It offers something than no competition has: a track car that can be used everyday. It has some compromises. Some are unfortunate: the N/A versus Turbo for example. ALthough I have to say they did a great job there. The only significant failing is the sound. Others are understandable in such a focused car: the lack of tail out entertainment, for one. Again, not a problem on the track.

Yet, the whole hype story leaves a bit of a bitter taste. Ferrari has really turned me off with their lying and cheating ways. I simply enjoy their cars less due to the parent company behavior. Sadly, something similar is starting to cast a shadow over the McLAren for me. I am gonna still buy the car. I really like it. However, I did not want to be like many Ferrari owners who have to have their egos massaged through their cars. Give it to me straight. Don't lie.

 

[Krzys]

The GT2 RS and Gumpert would have been on street legal tires, too. The Porsche probably Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. From my experience on track, Corsas are in the same category as MPSCs, but probably not quite as grippy, especially when warmed up. I think you will find that opinion fairly common amongst track enthusiasts.

However, the real point is that you have to compare apples to apples in terms of the car's mandate. Before you conclude that the 12C is not the best handling car in the world and that McLaren failed, ask compared to what? Compared to a 911 Turbo, or Carrera 4S, or a Lambo, etc. Then absolutely, it is. Can you get higher cornering speed out of a GT2 RS or GT3 RS? Probably, in some instances, depending on the driver and type of corner. But, give the 12C the same 2-300 lb diet and I'm sure any notion of the RS cars being on par would evaporate again.

That's the point. The best handling car in the world is the best handling car in the world (objectively). I don't have to worry about the class I am looking at. I am not talking about track specials. Everything else should be below. Clearly. It's not.

 

[Krzys]

Some people might ask: what is my problem? Too much hype is just so much talk. Ultimately, what does it matter? It does, though. I don't want to constantly worry about what really does or does not work as advertised. My adventures with tracking my Scud led me into a closer look into the way Ferrari operates. At first, I thought that all the lies and distortions were due to one bad dealer (and there are other very good ones I had a pleasure of interacting with). But, no, the problem is systematic, as Monkey showed. As long as you don't push your car too hard, all the claims and promises are just a halo of good vibrations. Once you do, you discover that things are very different. I'd prefer not to spend lots of money to discover that like I did with Ferrari.

 

[Krzys]

Interesting comment from the supertest when talking about Nordschleife lap: no competition can carry as much speed in as the Mac. It's music to my ears. This is the best part of (mid-engined) supercar experience. Nothing better to scare yourself and friends and family.

In other news, to tide myself over till MP4 arrives, I just bought R8 V10. Looks like an interesting car. Anybody with track experience with that car? Do the tires last more than 3 laps?

 

[Krzys]

I read the article closer, and it turns out that the performance shortfall is almost accounted for by the testing procedure. With little gas and one person on board, they get °0 200 time of 9.2 versus 9.8. Thats close enough, even if they are stretching a bit. Braking still pretty bad, though.

 

[Krzys]

I used my GT3 as a daily car for 18months with no real problems but that wasn't commuting - its really not good sat in slow moving motorway traffic.

As for snow, I've driven it in that twice and I _really_ wouldn't recommend it. The first time was on the way back from collecting it coming through the black forest and it was one of the scariest experiences ever!

You used it as a daily? I just test-drove a GT3 and R8 V10 back-to-back for my winter/wait car, and the GT3 gave me a headache after a 10-minute test drive. How can anybody use it for a DD is beyond me, I have to say.