New Mclaren MP4-12C not living up to expectations.

[565]

So when the first previews of the MP4-12C were coming out, everyone was talking about how it was gonna be one of the greatest performance car ever with 592hp and 2866 lbs, and how it was going to be on a different level from the competition.

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2011/06/mclaren-mp4-12c-vs-ferrari-458-ouch.html

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2011/06/mclaren-mp4-12c-vs-ferrari-458-round-2.html

Well it seems like the MP4-12C gets spanked around the track by everything but the cushy cruiser SLS and R8 V10.  It even gets beat by a convertible Gallardo.  It's closest "rival" the 458 totally destroys it around the track  .  So much for 2866 lb claims when the true weight is more like 3159 lbs.  Plus the comments that are suggested in EVO reveal that the car isn't very good to drive with the chassis being "out of tune".   To make matters worse you can't turn off traction control.   At least the GT-R gave you the option to turn everything off even if your warranty was at risk, in this Mclaren you flat you can't turn it off.


Edit: nevermind you can turn everything off, but it takes alot of special inputs.


Scans to the EVO article.

[sportyaccordy]

Throttle response of the Porsche, power to weight of the Ferrari, traction control system of the first iteration of the IS-F

That's a real bummer, disappointment of the year.

You can't beat natural aspiration. I think if you took all the best elements of the cars here (big N/A motor, carbon fiber chassis, excellent suspension tuning) you would have something special + hard to beat. I wonder how the LFA & GT-R would have competed, and I am curious to see if/when anyone makes the "anti" GT-R that isn't a Z06. Good thread

[Galaxy]

Looking at the time sheet the MP4 did not do that bad. I think it is more a case of the Italia being so unbelievably good.

[sportyaccordy]

Now I remember Chris Harris bitching about Ferrari sending out F1 teams with its test cars to ensure that they win comparos.

Apparently McLaren sent out a test team with the 12C. My question is did Ferrari send out a team with the 458? Or was this some yutz' car off the street?

I've always liked the 458... yes its computerized but you can turn all that shit off... and at the end of the day, mechanically, it's about as "pure" as cars come. MR, big N/A V8, relatively low curb weight. Gearbox is what it is because the level of performance is well beyond the capacity of 90% of its customer base etc. I like it. Good balance between tech and "purity". McRaren went full techno

[cawimmer430]

Yep. McLaren claimed a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds but the car is waaaaaay off. I mean 3.8 seconds to 60 mph? Totally unacceptable for that kind of money!!!

[sportyaccordy]

Yep. McLaren claimed a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds but the car is waaaaaay off. I mean 3.8 seconds to 60 mph? Totally unacceptable for that kind of money!!!

Please stop I am begging you

[cawimmer430]

Please stop I am begging you

I was being sarcastic, oh well...

It's a play on how some of those magazines act. "0-60 in 4.0 seconds = GOOD, 0-60 in 4.1 seconds = SLOW".

Yeah, I'll stop.

[Onslaught]

I'll never own any of these cars so in the end I don't care as much as some. But if you gave me one I'd take the 458 hands down. It looks better and is faster.

[565]

The MP4-12C basically got slammed on 5th gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahsIOVx93zs

It looks like Mclaren's got some serious tuning/refining issues with the MP4-12C, it's just not well sorted out.

[TBR]

I was being sarcastic, oh well...

It's a play on how some of those magazines act. "0-60 in 4.0 seconds = GOOD, 0-60 in 4.1 seconds = SLOW".

Yeah, I'll stop.

We know what you're doing. You have been doing it for damn near 10 years, and everyone is tired of it.

[sportyaccordy]

The MP4-12C basically got slammed on 5th gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahsIOVx93zs

It looks like Mclaren's got some serious tuning/refining issues with the MP4-12C, it's just not well sorted out.

Ouch.

All that electronic nonsense and no LSD? They could have made this car out of steel w/a regular big engine & LSD, it prob would have been a hit and would have been much cheaper. This is a sad story

[SVT666]

They need Gordon Murray back.

[Galaxy]

They need Gordon Murray back.

He gone mad.

[GoCougs]

The MP4-12C basically got slammed on 5th gear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahsIOVx93zs

It looks like Mclaren's got some serious tuning/refining issues with the MP4-12C, it's just not well sorted out.

Ha, ha! "Let's have look with the meat and veggies" at 0:31. (Looking under the hood.)

[SVT666]

So 0.3 seconds slower lap time compared to the best sports car int he world means it is a failure?  I can understand not liking the drive, but there is no denying how fast the McLaren is.

[Cookie Monster]

So 0.3 seconds slower lap time compared to the best sports car int he world means it is a failure?  I can understand not liking the drive, but there is no denying how fast the McLaren is.

Well they all admitted it was very fast, but I think their problem is that it's just not as good as the Ferrari in terms of driving enjoyment, especially if you/re not going all out.

[sportyaccordy]

I am really shocked that they have panned it so universally. You would think McRaren would have paid them off. This could really hurt sales.

I hope this puts to rest all the talk of computers being evil. The Ferrari is just as "computerized" as the 12C and it is still a thrilling drive.

[Raza]

Now I remember Chris Harris bitching about Ferrari sending out F1 teams with its test cars to ensure that they win comparos.

Apparently McLaren sent out a test team with the 12C. My question is did Ferrari send out a team with the 458? Or was this some yutz' car off the street?

I've always liked the 458... yes its computerized but you can turn all that shit off... and at the end of the day, mechanically, it's about as "pure" as cars come. MR, big N/A V8, relatively low curb weight. Gearbox is what it is because the level of performance is well beyond the capacity of 90% of its customer base etc. I like it. Good balance between tech and "purity". McRaren went full techno

Ferraris were performing at levels far beyond its customer base long before the 458.  The Italia is ugly, the Mclaren is bland.  I wonder what the worse offense is?

Give me a GT3 over all these.  Computers are evil, and frankly, kind of gay. 

[SVT666]

Ferraris were performing at levels far beyond its customer base long before the 458.  The Italia is ugly, the Mclaren is bland.  I wonder what the worse offense is?

Give me a GT3 over all these.  Computers are evil, and frankly, kind of gay. 

I will still take a Ford GT over anything out there.

[Cookie Monster]

I really want the M600. Holy shit that thing seems fucking crazy.

[Tave]

I would have never thought up that color combo for the Noble, but hot damn, it looks sinister.

[sportyaccordy]

I would go w/the GT3 RS 4.0 over all of these, but the point is even the purists at EVO like the 458. All that anti-computer purity talk is meaningless... I guarantee if Raza got to drive a 458 or GT-R he would change his tune

[SVT666]

I saw a satin black GT-R on a trailer being pulled by an F-350 yesterday.

[sportyaccordy]

I saw one at the NYIAS in red w/a camel leather interior. It's still monstrous but if I had to have one it would be in those colors.

[Xer0]

I would go w/the GT3 RS 4.0 over all of these, but the point is even the purists at EVO like the 458. All that anti-computer purity talk is meaningless... I guarantee if Raza got to drive a 458 or GT-R he would change his tune

The purists at EVO also love the GT-R so I don't quite see what you're getting at.

[sportyaccordy]

The purists at EVO also love the GT-R so I don't quite see what you're getting at.

I'm saying a fun car is a fun car.

[MrH]

I would go w/the GT3 RS 4.0 over all of these, but the point is even the purists at EVO like the 458. All that anti-computer purity talk is meaningless... I guarantee if Raza got to drive a 458 or GT-R he would change his tune

I feel exactly the same on all accounts.  Give me the GT3 RS 4.0, but yeah, the 458 is supposed to be absolutely ridiculous and make everything else seem boring.

[Submariner]

As impressive as the Ferrari is, and as much as I love the SLS, I think I'm most impressed with the Cayenne Turbo S being only .7 seconds behind the M3. 

[Xer0]

As impressive as the Ferrari is, and as much as I love the SLS, I think I'm most impressed with the Cayenne Turbo S being only .7 seconds behind the M3. 

What about the Civic Type R being faster than an NSX by 2 seconds?  Pretty rad considering its down by 70hp and built off of an economy car.  Pretty amazing what a modern suspension and tires can do.

[S204STi]

I don't take away from the comparos that it's a complete disappointment, but that it has some issues with the details that need sorting out to make it as much of a great driver's car as the 458.  Otherwise the consensus was that it was right up with the Turbo S and 458 in terms of point-to-point speed, so long as you were really pushing it and the ill-calibrated suspension didn't default to sea-sick mode.