Item 13. A rear view camera!
Just a SMALL point Gazza,ive owned porsches for 27 years,this is not a Porsche and thats the reason i wanted one!!
From your past car list I see you have owned mostly 911s'. So from this perspective I totally understand your thinking. The handling of a 911 is ok but its far from perfect. I dont think I would ever buy a 911, although I always keep an open mind about that.
I currently have a mid engine Cayman S with PCCB. The brakes on this are better than the 12C and better than a 997. The handling is better than any 997 or 991.
+1 turn it into a Porsche and I'm outta here. No heavy LSD for me, either, thanks.
Gazza do you own a 12C yet? If not, might suggest living with it for a couple of months and taking it to the track before asking for wholesale changes. I'm not taking offence, it's just that this is a different animal - for very specific and effective reasons that only become evident with time. Once you gel with the 12C, it feels very uniquely McLaren and that is a good thing.
LSDs dont need to be heavy, they can be totally transparent. I'll be waiting for the 2013 12C.
LSD, mechanical or electronic should be at the very top of that list. Using just a very intense brake steer system to get the nose in is the reason so many people think that this car is too electronic compared to gt Porsche or a Ferrari. I expect them to develop one for the GT model that is already under development I hear based on the GT3 race car. Chassis and suspension are so good that I m sure its possible to get same or even better handling without all this electronic braking going on..
My next wish would be more torque. Like 30% more
I haven't driven the 12C enough to be a expert on it, but what I can say is that in track conditions a LSD equipped car will power out harder and with far more finesse and control than without one. I was supprised to learn the 12C does not have one.
Once you experience brake steer working properly at speed it is totally addictive and a different way of driving - you are literally fired through the entire corner rather than having the rear sliding and both wheels pushing you forward as an LSD does. Both are good fun once you master them but they are different. Most people are used to how an LSD system works and can therefore feel comfortable in the car when there is one fitted. The McLaren brake steer is different but every bit as much fun once mastered and most certainly a quicker way of getting through a corner.
Im used to trail braking so I think the brake steer will work well for me. However when you not braking your powering down, that when you need LSD. Talking about track driving at 9/10ths here.
+1. Pls try the car first and you will probably change your mind + anyway, most of the points you are criticizing are structural, like the door sills.
True, I realize its not simple and maybe only minimal things can be done.
an lsd is much more fun if you want to be mr naughty
This is very true. Now Im no burnout guy, but when you want control and a dramatic launch you want a LSD and NOT an open diff.
They could keep a less intrusive brake steer together with an electronic LSD. With the current setup you literally can't throw the car in a tight corner and slide out of it with huge speed and an equally huge grin in your face. It forces you to drive it a certain way, provoking understeer so that the brake steer can dial it out electronically.
I think they can find a middle ground between fun and speed. The chassis/suspension is so versatile that it should be possible.
Sounds like the car needs a negative camber alignment to dial out under steer However we must remember that this is a road car and not a track car. Although I would think it possible to meet both objectives like I have with my current car. -2 degrees camber front and rear gave a great result. The 12C community is so small and the car so new that I'll be relying more on the factory expertise as I feel they don't have hidden agendas unlike Porsche, and given this is considered a super car and not a sporty road car.
I can post videos of Chris Harris and Chris Goodwin proving otherwise. The car can drift if you've got the skill. There is just a tremendous amount of mechanical grip to overcome first, so the speeds are going to be higher. Sacrificing outright performance for lower speed drift ability is definitely the wrong thing to do. McLaren is about being the fastest. The minute they start making decisions to the contrary, you may as well lump them in with the rest of the marques, as I can guarantee that the thought process will result in more than just an LSD but another 300 lbs of crap that the car does not need to go faster........
Who wants to drift a 12C? Not me.
