Feb 14, 2011 3:14:02 PM
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/2012_mclaren_mp4-12c-first_drive_review
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/mclaren-mp4-12c/255434/
It appears Mclaren has really nailed this one! Wonder if they will produce a NA version of it though ? I think the main reason for it's "lack of emotion" is the turbo engine, which is too powerfull (and at the same time civilised) for it's own good. Altough it's one of the best turbo engines ever made though.
Feb 14, 2011 4:07:17 PM
Feb 14, 2011 4:44:53 PM
J.Seven:
As promissed...
http://www.mediafire.com/?f2nrhl66q9ia2
J.Seven
I can't download the file. It says "internal communication error" bla bla. Can you put it on youtube ?
Feb 14, 2011 5:18:52 PM
Feb 14, 2011 5:31:10 PM
Not only did the McLaren jump the line, but I didn't hear the cars revving their LCs (of paramount importance especially in the NA 458). On top of that, the McLaren wasn't opening a gap after the start. I am waiting for the first independent tests.
REALZEUS:
Not only did the McLaren jump the line, but I didn't hear the cars revving their LCs (of paramount importance especially in the NA 458). On top of that, the McLaren wasn't opening a gap after the start. I am waiting for the first independent tests.
Funny to see members reaction to this test, defending their love brand
If you see the flag, the MP4 did not jump the start, the other two were the one to fall behind steping the throtle, maybe this was the "instructions" they received
Indeed this Turbo is not Turbo S, will ask my friend about this.
And finally, I saw the video several times, really can´t tell if the LC was activated on the 458 or not!! Think you´re rigth on this one, better to waite for independent comparos.
One thing I´m sure, no matter what performance numbers MP4 or 997TTS are able to achieve, I would choose the Ferrari over the other two hands down
J.Seven
J.Seven:
One thing I´m sure, no matter what performance numbers MP4 or 997TTS are able to achieve, I would choose the Ferrari over the other two hands down
J.Seven
I think that is the real point here. All three are great cars in their in their own right (though I reserve judgement until I have driven the McLaren - but doubt it will be a let down). The question is if you could only have one which one would you have, and that is a very personal thing as opposed to brand loyalty / bashing?
Feb 14, 2011 6:32:22 PM
Im surprised people are disappointed with the looks of the McLaren. It's wonderfully serious and understated yet very sporty too. Isn't that also why we like Porsche?
Let's wait for the NBR time...
indeed shifting is ancient technology - so is a fuel burning engine.. I happen to like both :)
Feb 14, 2011 6:43:19 PM
This friend of mine works at AIA ever since the begining and he always have the chance to test drive some cars going there. He is also one of the instructors of the racing School they have there with many Porche , BMW´s one Ferrari, Nissan GT-R among others.. He really admires McLaren and their working method.
Here´s a funny story he told me. In 2009 McLaren and Ferrari F1 team were their testing their cars.
To start the engine with McLaren
- You have 6 Enginners in front of 6 computers
- The main responsable says "Star the engines procedures"
- A code is sent from the Factory in England and the engineers load this code on the PC´s
- Then, they inform the Motor Engineers on the box to tell the mechanic to star the engine with the starter engine
- It works like a Lab and everything is cleaner than a living room
To star the engine with Ferrari
- There´s a mechanic seated in top of the front right wheel heating a sandwich
- Couple of enginners go close to the mechanic and one of them shouts "mettere il motore en fuzionamento" ... . love their method
- The relaxed mechanic comes with the starter motor and here we go.
Result: The same
Process to achieve it : Totally different
McLaren team, lines their Trucks in the paddock area with a laser so that everything is in perfect place and aligned.
These methods really make the difference according to my friend and when you are on the midle of them and talking with all those engineers, he says there´s no one like the McLaren guys. He says you can feel that when you ride in both cars, the McLaren is perfect. This is his personal opinion.
J.Seven
J.Seven:
This friend of mine works at AIA ever since the begining and he always have the chance to test drive some cars going there. He is also one of the instructors of the racing School they have there with many Porche , BMW´s one Ferrari, Nissan GT-R among others.. He really admires McLaren and their working method.
Here´s a funny story he told me. In 2009 McLaren and Ferrari F1 team were their testing their cars.
To start the engine with McLaren
- You have 6 Enginners in front of 6 computers
- The main responsable says "Star the engines procedures"
- A code is sent from the Factory in England and the engineers load this code on the PC´s
- Then, they inform the Motor Engineers on the box to tell the mechanic to star the engine with the starter engine
- It works like a Lab and everything is cleaner than a living room
To star the engine with Ferrari
- There´s a mechanic seated in top of the front right wheel heating a sandwich
- Couple of enginners go close to the mechanic and one of them shouts "mettere il motore en fuzionamento" ... . love their method
- The relaxed mechanic comes with the starter motor and here we go.
Result: The same
Process to achieve it : Totally different
McLaren team, lines their Trucks in the paddock area with a laser so that everything is in perfect place and aligned.
These methods really make the difference according to my friend and when you are on the midle of them and talking with all those engineers, he says there´s no one like the McLaren guys. He says you can feel that when you ride in both cars, the McLaren is perfect. This is his personal opinion.
J.Seven
Oh, this must be the reason why Ferrari has won 8 Constructors' Championships in the past 12 years and McLaren hasn't won any then! My compliments to your friend.
Feb 14, 2011 8:32:17 PM
I don't know, but judging by how much the McLaren pulled away from the 997TT who blew the launch would imply that a TurboS-PDK would have beaten the new McLaren easily, and the McLaren is new yet the TurboS is of a model that is being evolved just this year. The Gallardo is also due... The McLaren may have one of the shortest reigns in recent history. If I learned something over this years is to never listen to the manufacturer hype during pre-launch of a new model.
Feb 14, 2011 8:49:56 PM
Feb 14, 2011 8:55:13 PM
well gentlemen for those in the know, a 0-200 time of under 9 secs is a VERY difficult thing to achieve. So either the mclaren is a lot faster than the 458 and the turbo S or simply the performance statistics are a lie. It is as simple as that.
Both 458 and turbo S are in the low to mid 10s at best. (RealZeus lets forget about that italian test as it probably belongs to a scifi movie).
So we can speculate as much as we want but we will not know the truth until the independent tests come in. (preferably from non-british journalists to also cover that angle)
GT:
well gentlemen for those in the know, a 0-200 time of under 9 secs is a VERY difficult thing to achieve. So either the mclaren is a lot faster than the 458 and the turbo S or simply the performance statistics are a lie. It is as simple as that.
Agree. I reckon journalists will have hard time achieving it, not speaking about improving on it.
Based on the official video with performance figures and its speedo-view 200-300km/h pull, McLaren´s performance doesn´t seem that incredible above 200km/h. 0-300km/h will probably be in 28s range. So it doesn´t raise the bar as much as they claim.
GT:
well gentlemen for those in the know, a 0-200 time of under 9 secs is a VERY difficult thing to achieve. So either the mclaren is a lot faster than the 458 and the turbo S or simply the performance statistics are a lie. It is as simple as that.
Both 458 and turbo S are in the low to mid 10s at best. (RealZeus lets forget about that italian test as it probably belongs to a scifi movie).
So we can speculate as much as we want but we will not know the truth until the independent tests come in. (preferably from non-british journalists to also cover that angle)
So Automobilismo, Quattroruote and the American Road and Track are all lying? Yeah, right mate!
I have noticed over the years that american magazines( CD,RT,MT)have always been achieving better acceleration number then european ones
I came to a conclusion that they must have a grippier surface on which they do those tests
I dont have any facts to support my theory though
lor:
I have noticed over the years that american magazines( CD,RT,MT)have always been achieving better acceleration number then european ones
I came to a conclusion that they must have a grippier surface on which they do those tests
I dont have any facts to support my theory though
Have in mind Americans measure 0-60 and 0-120 Miles per hour, which is not the same thing as 0-100Kph and 0-200Kph.
120Mph = 208 Kph
J.Seven
lor:
I came to a conclusion that they must have a grippier surface on which they do those tests
There are plenty of drag strips in the USA for running acceleration tests and Americans have had at least 60 years to learn how to optimise asphalt mixes for this rather narrow discipline.
fritz
J.Seven:
lor:
I have noticed over the years that american magazines( CD,RT,MT)have always been achieving better acceleration number then european ones
I came to a conclusion that they must have a grippier surface on which they do those tests
I dont have any facts to support my theory though
Have in mind Americans measure 0-60 and 0-120 Miles per hour, which is not the same thing as 0-100Kph and 0-200Kph.120Mph = 208 Kph
J.Seven
120Mph=193.1212kms
GT:
120Mph=193.1212kms
Course it´s the other way around ,otherwise my argument wouldn´t make sence at all, don´t know where I had my mind, thanks for correcting the bug
I stll think it has nothing to do with L.technics or tarmac mixes, Americans don´t measure 0-62Mph or 0-124Mph like Europeans do, so you really can´compare.
.J.Seven