[Mr Wyn]

As the title suggests, I've always been a fan of McLaren, even worked there at one point. Though I could never really stomach the massive depreciation though the 765LT seems to be holding quite strong after some time now, what do people think? Or would I massively regret it Thanks!

 

[Michaelj]

What question are you asking? You have a. 765 and want to swap for a 458 Speciale? Its like 150hp difference. And you will notice it.

I just sold my Pista to get another mclaren and personally would have a Pista over a Speciale any day of the week. But its your money and your preference. Buy what you enjoy driving the most.

 

[invisiblewave]

As the title suggests, I've always been a fan of McLaren, even worked there at one point. Though I could never really stomach the massive depreciation though the 765LT seems to be holding quite strong after some time now, what do people think? Or would I massively regret it Thanks!

Eh? If you're buying used, the depreciation is a benefit. And how many people on McLaren Life do you think are going to recommend a Ferrari?

 

[Mr Wyn]

What question are you asking? You have a. 765 and want to swap for a 458 Speciale? Its like 150hp difference. And you will notice it.

I just sold my Pista to get another mclaren and personally would have a Pista over a Speciale any day of the week. But its your money and your preference. Buy what you enjoy driving the most.

Not had chance to drive a Pista yet, though I'm interested to know exactly why you sold it for a McLaren

Eh? If you're buying used, the depreciation is a benefit. And how many people on McLaren Life do you think are going to recommend a Ferrari?

Well I certainly don't understand why any McLaren owner can't recommend someone a Ferrari? I've owned many sports and supercars (apart from McLaren's) and I could recommend most of them despite what I currently have in my garage.

 

[invisiblewave]

Well I certainly don't understand why any McLaren owner can't recommend someone a Ferrari? I've owned many sports and supercars (apart from McLaren's) and I could recommend most of them despite what I currently have in my garage.

I take it you haven't driven a McLaren yet?

 

[Michaelj]

Not had chance to drive a Pista yet, though I'm interested to know exactly why you sold it for a McLaren

Ferrari makes some great cars. Pista was awesome. However, after owning the Pista and the 720 at the same time (720 now replaced by the 765 spider) I just prefer the drive of Mclarens. Now mind you I have not had any seat time behind the 296 or a SF 90. My buddy has an SF90 and loves it. I do currently have a deposit on a 296.

But back to the question- here are several reasons I prefer the drive of the Mclaren to the Pista

1. Carbon tub- I dont care what anyone says- the carbon tub is vastly superior to an aluminum chasis. The car feels more rigid and more connected to the road. The handling is more precise due to the stiffness of the car.
2. Power - 765 (even 720) just felt quicker than the Pista. All are ridiculously fast but the Mclarens had more pep, more jump, instant power.
3. Weight- the couple hundred pounds makes a difference.

Now this is not to say the Ferrari was a slouch- it was a great drive. But after 3 years of ownership, I just enjoyed driving my Mclarens better, so much so that I sold my Pista to add a 675LT with a roof scoop.

Im looking forward to driving the 296 as Ferrari has upped the HP game tremendously and supposedly the car is blistering fast and quick. Not sure about the handling as it still doesnt have a carbon tub. At the end of the day, no wrong choices here. Even the Speciale- I personally would not want one because you will feel the hp difference but they are fun cars and the last of the NA models.

Good luck in whatever you do.

 

[Mr Wyn]

Ferrari makes some great cars. Pista was awesome. However, after owning the Pista and the 720 at the same time (720 now replaced by the 765 spider) I just prefer the drive of Mclarens. Now mind you I have not had any seat time behind the 296 or a SF 90. My buddy has an SF90 and loves it. I do currently have a deposit on a 296.

But back to the question- here are several reasons I prefer the drive of the Mclaren to the Pista

1. Carbon tub- I dont care what anyone says- the carbon tub is vastly superior to an aluminum chasis. The car feels more rigid and more connected to the road. The handling is more precise due to the stiffness of the car.
2. Power - 765 (even 720) just felt quicker than the Pista. All are ridiculously fast but the Mclarens had more pep, more jump, instant power.
3. Weight- the couple hundred pounds makes a difference.

Now this is not to say the Ferrari was a slouch- it was a great drive. But after 3 years of ownership, I just enjoyed driving my Mclarens better, so much so that I sold my Pista to add a 675LT with a roof scoop.

Im looking forward to driving the 296 as Ferrari has upped the HP game tremendously and supposedly the car is blistering fast and quick. Not sure about the handling as it still doesnt have a carbon tub. At the end of the day, no wrong choices here. Even the Speciale- I personally would not want one because you will feel the hp difference but they are fun cars and the last of the NA models.

Good luck in whatever you do.

This is awesome thank you! I've not yet driven or experienced the newer generations of the carbon tub (720s) just yet, so I am keen to get behind the wheel.

I have driven the 296, I actually spent about 3-4 hours with it in St Moritz, Switzerland. The thing is definitely brutal, and I feel as if generally the short wheel base made it feel quite lively and fun, After some hours I wasn't worn out at all its really something anyone can use daily and also very spacious inside.

I'm going to try and SF90 soon, definitely some serious kit it seems... On the topic of McLaren, I've watched all the youtube hype and social media fizz, but generally I'm looking for more realistic ownership experiences etc, theres quite a lot of doom porn out there so thats why I came here to gauge an alternative opinion before setting my mind to it!

 

[Michaelj]

This is awesome thank you! I've not yet driven or experienced the newer generations of the carbon tub (720s) just yet, so I am keen to get behind the wheel.

I have driven the 296, I actually spent about 3-4 hours with it in St Moritz, Switzerland. The thing is definitely brutal, and I feel as if generally the short wheel base made it feel quite lively and fun, After some hours I wasn't worn out at all its really something anyone can use daily and also very spacious inside.

I'm going to try and SF90 soon, that's some serious kit it seems... I've watched all the youtube hype and social media fizz, but generally I'm looking for more realistic ownership experiences etc, theres quite a lot of doom porn out there so thats why I came here to gauge an alternative opinion.

I think you will enjoy your Mclaren experience. Try both the 720 and 765. Amazing cars. 720 more of a utilitarian- can do everything well. 765 is just a harsh beast that slaps you upside the head.

 

[unmac]

Many of the people on this forum own across the marques . We respect all of them…

I had a 458 specials for 5 years and put on 8k miles . I never thought of it as an all time keeper and the hype didn’t match what the internet says about the car . I probably only drove it for 500 miles in the last two years of ownership .

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to people but it can’t match any super series mclaren starting with 675 until 765.

 

[unmac]

 

[mrvex]

Mr Wyn,

To be honest, its a no brainer. 765LT is a total animal in every way and is ALREADY one of the most wanted cars in the supercar world. I wouldnt even think about it.

 

[Jo_sta7]

I had a 458 speciale and sold it for my 765LT. The difference between the cars is shocking. My speciale and regular 458 I had before it were great. Dream cars for me since I was in college. But the performance was such that you could get accustomed pretty quickly. If I drove my speciale 3-4 days in a row I got used to the way it performed and it didn’t excite me much anymore. I’d need to step back for a few days. I believe this is called hedonistic adaption.

The 765, on its first drive, was revelatory. It’s insane. It feels like it’s bending space and time. And because it’s so fast and really the only thing limiting the car from catapulting you into another dimension is the traction of the tires, you don’t really grow accustomed to its speed. At 120 mph, flooring it in the Ferrari didn’t feel like much. In the McLaren, it will still pin you back.

I’d personally recommend it. Plus I think 458 specialies are over priced currently. So now is the time to make the move.

 

[unotaz]

Here is my 2 cent.

I have owned a 458 Speciale from new since 2014 and I sold it in 2021, along with my 2006 Ford GT, to trade in for my Senna LM. I loved my 458 Speciale, especially in later years because with all of the turbo charged engines that came out, it made the drive in the Speciale extra special. Yes, it doesn't have a lot of power, but it is also one of a few cars where you can enjoy all of the power on the canyons because you could actually floor the throttle and listen to that beautiful NA V8 at 9000rpm. Not a great track car, where I can cook the brakes in 2 laps time, but a fun street car 100%.

Do I miss the NA engine of my ex 458 Speciale? Yes I do, so that's why I am getting a Huracan STO, with that beautiful NA V10 engine. Turbo engines are dime a dozen and you are always chasing after the next greatest thing. Speed is great, but that is only one component of what makes a drive special. No turbo engine can ever reproduce the sound and the immediacy of a great naturally aspirated engine. Do I enjoy the turbo engine in my Senna LM? Of course I do, but I understand the limitations and the downfall of a heavily boosted engine. But I appreciate the Senna LM for its other attributes, the last of the non-hybrid assisted hardcore hypercar. Mclaren won't be able make a car like the Senna anymore going forward with the new regulations.

I had a 488 Pista, I sold that crap in 3 months time. I think most of the Speciale owners sold their Pista as well. The car sounded like a vacuum machine, but so does most of Mclarens (eg. 720, 570). If you look at the history of Mclaren cars, be prepared to take hit on the 765LT on depreciation after a few years. But I think it will fare better than before. The Speciale is the last NA V8 for Ferrari.

Having said that, the 765LT is a great driver's car and you will be blown away with the overall experience and performance. The steering feel on the 765LT coupe is sublime, and I prefer the coupe over the spider in terms of steering, engine noise, and overall calibration. I have driven both extensively, but that's just my take and confirmed by a few fellow journalist friends. Depreciation be damned, it's only money!

As the title suggests, I've always been a fan of McLaren, even worked there at one point. Though I could never really stomach the massive depreciation though the 765LT seems to be holding quite strong after some time now, what do people think? Or would I massively regret it Thanks!

 

[unmac]

Re: Sound..

I had an F12 with IPE exhaust
458 speciale with Capristo exhaust.

Typical use/drive for me (which would be pretty similar for people who live in the suburbs).

Cold start in my garage - what a sound!
Engine temps/oil still cold on my drive out of my driveway to outside my neighborhood. Keep it in the low RPM's. This is a one mile drive to get onto normal city roads.

Make a right turn onto a two lane road (one lane each way); engine temps and oil is warm now and RPM's have opened up.... I have 1/4 mile to the next traffic light and one lane to the right where a car could come out of but very rare that it does. No traffic infront of me. I can floor it for about 250 yards before I pump the brakes to stop at the light. Sound was pleasing for 3 to 4 seconds.

Left turn at that major intersection - two lanes each way. Highway entrance about 8 miles away with 4 traffic lights in between. Make the turn, get upto 4th gear and pull back because I caught up with traffic and way above the speed limit. Sound was very pleasing. Now in traffic and into 5th/6th gear because I don't like how the car feels in 2nd gear at 7000 RPM's for a sustained period. Not much sound in 5th/6th gear in traffic at 50 mph.

Get to the on-ramp; navigate it and a short 200 yards to merge into traffic. Good exhaust sound in lower gear as RPM's increase for a few seconds. Merge into traffic and have to go into 7th gear and 2,500 rpm's. Nothing special I can hear with the sound at that RPM and gear.

Get off the highway after about 8 miles of cruising in 6th/7th gear. Take a short road to a restaurant to eat with friends. Finish meal. Do the route in reverse. Pleasing sound is maybe 20 seconds on a 20 mile round trip drive.


Another day; let's go on a canyon drive and go to Alice's on the west side of the Bay. Go drive 45 miles in normal traffic each way and the majority of it is highway driving in 7th gear at 3,000 rpm's. Get to the canyons and drive in 2nd gear at 4,000 rpm's and the car doesn't like it. Get behind minivans, bicyclists, slow moving traffic. Such a boring drive and can't hear the sound and can't really throttle it anywhere.

Let's try a different canyon on a different day... Let's go to Napa. Drive 70 miles each way in normal highway traffic in 6th/7th gear at 3000 rpm's. Get to the canyons and can do some high speed driving which can get me arrested but man that sound is so good for those brief seconds. All the other cars on the drive are telling me how amazing it is but I'm not hearing what they are hearing since I'm fairly insulated inside the car.

Time for speciale to go because I can only hear that glorious exhaust for less then one minute on a typical drive.

I also had STO and sold it recently.

Exhaust sound as a selling point is good on paper.... Practically speaking; its not really applicable for the typical drive with these cars.

 

[unotaz]

Luckily, I live about 15mins away from some of the greatest roads in SoCal...Decker, Las Flores, Yorba Buena, PCH etc, and 45mins from Angeles Crest Highway, Big Tijunga, etc.

What you said is so true about practicality and real world application.

But I would say the same about horsepower and downforce. I can't use 800kg of downforce on my Senna or even get those damn Trofeo R to warm up properly on the street. Time to sell the Mclaren! Just kidding...

 

[alexceres]

Re: Sound..

I had an F12 with IPE exhaust
458 speciale with Capristo exhaust.

Typical use/drive for me (which would be pretty similar for people who live in the suburbs).

Cold start in my garage - what a sound!
Engine temps/oil still cold on my drive out of my driveway to outside my neighborhood. Keep it in the low RPM's. This is a one mile drive to get onto normal city roads.

Make a right turn onto a two lane road (one lane each way); engine temps and oil is warm now and RPM's have opened up.... I have 1/4 mile to the next traffic light and one lane to the right where a car could come out of but very rare that it does. No traffic infront of me. I can floor it for about 250 yards before I pump the brakes to stop at the light. Sound was pleasing for 3 to 4 seconds.

Left turn at that major intersection - two lanes each way. Highway entrance about 8 miles away with 4 traffic lights in between. Make the turn, get upto 4th gear and pull back because I caught up with traffic and way above the speed limit. Sound was very pleasing. Now in traffic and into 5th/6th gear because I don't like how the car feels in 2nd gear at 7000 RPM's for a sustained period. Not much sound in 5th/6th gear in traffic at 50 mph.

Get to the on-ramp; navigate it and a short 200 yards to merge into traffic. Good exhaust sound in lower gear as RPM's increase for a few seconds. Merge into traffic and have to go into 7th gear and 2,500 rpm's. Nothing special I can hear with the sound at that RPM and gear.

Get off the highway after about 8 miles of cruising in 6th/7th gear. Take a short road to a restaurant to eat with friends. Finish meal. Do the route in reverse. Pleasing sound is maybe 20 seconds on a 20 mile round trip drive.


Another day; let's go on a canyon drive and go to Alice's on the west side of the Bay. Go drive 45 miles in normal traffic each way and the majority of it is highway driving in 7th gear at 3,000 rpm's. Get to the canyons and drive in 2nd gear at 4,000 rpm's and the car doesn't like it. Get behind minivans, bicyclists, slow moving traffic. Such a boring drive and can't hear the sound and can't really throttle it anywhere.

Let's try a different canyon on a different day... Let's go to Napa. Drive 70 miles each way in normal highway traffic in 6th/7th gear at 3000 rpm's. Get to the canyons and can do some high speed driving which can get me arrested but man that sound is so good for those brief seconds. All the other cars on the drive are telling me how amazing it is but I'm not hearing what they are hearing since I'm fairly insulated inside the car.

Time for speciale to go because I can only hear that glorious exhaust for less then one minute on a typical drive.

I also had STO and sold it recently.

Exhaust sound as a selling point is good on paper.... Practically speaking; its not really applicable for the typical drive with these cars.

This is what happens when you buy cars with roofs.

 

[alexceres]

or even get those damn Trofeo R to warm up properly on the street. Time to sell the Mclaren! Just kidding...

¯\(ツ)/¯ apparently nobody puts actual street tires on the 765.

 

[Jo_sta7]

¯\(ツ)/¯ apparently nobody puts actual street tires on the 765.

The street P zeros work great on the car

 

[Mr Wyn]

Here is my 2 cent.

I have owned a 458 Speciale from new since 2014 and I sold it in 2021, along with my 2006 Ford GT, to trade in for my Senna LM. I loved my 458 Speciale, especially in later years because with all of the turbo charged engines that came out, it made the drive in the Speciale extra special. Yes, it doesn't have a lot of power, but it is also one of a few cars where you can enjoy all of the power on the canyons because you could actually floor the throttle and listen to that beautiful NA V8 at 9000rpm. Not a great track car, where I can cook the brakes in 2 laps time, but a fun street car 100%.

Do I miss the NA engine of my ex 458 Speciale? Yes I do, so that's why I am getting a Huracan STO, with that beautiful NA V10 engine. Turbo engines are dime a dozen and you are always chasing after the next greatest thing. Speed is great, but that is only one component of what makes a drive special. No turbo engine can ever reproduce the sound and the immediacy of a great naturally aspirated engine. Do I enjoy the turbo engine in my Senna LM? Of course I do, but I understand the limitations and the downfall of a heavily boosted engine. But I appreciate the Senna LM for its other attributes, the last of the non-hybrid assisted hardcore hypercar. Mclaren won't be able make a car like the Senna anymore going forward with the new regulations.

I had a 488 Pista, I sold that crap in 3 months time. I think most of the Speciale owners sold their Pista as well. The car sounded like a vacuum machine, but so does most of Mclarens (eg. 720, 570). If you look at the history of Mclaren cars, be prepared to take hit on the 765LT on depreciation after a few years. But I think it will fare better than before. The Speciale is the last NA V8 for Ferrari.

Having said that, the 765LT is a great driver's car and you will be blown away with the overall experience and performance. The steering feel on the 765LT coupe is sublime, and I prefer the coupe over the spider in terms of steering, engine noise, and overall calibration. I have driven both extensively, but that's just my take and confirmed by a few fellow journalist friends. Depreciation be damned, it's only money!

Its really one of the primary reasons I didn't get a modern turbocharged super car, on paper its easier and cheaper to go with a Pista or even an F8, but they all to me literally sound the same (TT-V8) Speciale was really one the last NA V8s that I could really buy. I'm all about frequencies having spent my earlier days in the realm of music, so vibrations are extremely important!! Though having said, it's not very often in the UK we have the weather, temp, and conditions to really spread all 8 cylinders to 9k! It always takes forever to warm the tyres up as well before you can really get going haha!

 

[unotaz]

Well, if you have a hard time warming up your Cup 2 on your Speciale in the UK, it will be impossible for you to do that with the Trofeo R

Its really one of the primary reasons I didn't get a modern turbocharged super car, on paper its easier and cheaper to go with a Pista or even an F8, but they all to me literally sound the same (TT-V8) Speciale was really one the last NA V8s that I could really buy. I'm all about frequencies having spent my earlier days in the realm of music, so vibrations are extremely important!! Though having said, it's not very often in the UK we have the weather, temp, and conditions to really spread all 8 cylinders to 9k! It always takes forever to warm the tyres up as well before you can really get going haha!