Test Drove the MP4-12C
I test drove the MP4-12C. Mostly out of curiosity. I must say I was very impressed. I went to the dealership in GT3RS 4.0 and was able to drive the same roads in both cars back to back.
First they are completely different cars. What Mclaren have achieved from a technological perspective is amazing. To think this is effectively a start up car company and they produce this marvel. The concept of driving in comfort (normal) mode and switching to track mode in a car is phenomenal. It is really uncanny how comfortable the normal mode is. It is like being in a 7 series BMW or S Class. it eats up the bumps (which in the northeast of the US is a lot). Switch it to sport or track and the car just flies. It has phenomenal precision and capacity.
Plus the ergonomics of the car are perfect. (I was swimming in the seats in fast corners but I think there is a sportier version to be had). It is truly a beautiful car.
How would I compare it. Driving the same roads in the GT3RS. the GT3RS is easily as precise, if not more so. Both cars handle phenominally well. The GT3RS will jump around on you more than the Mclaren but I have never been in a car that turns in faster than the GT3RS. I also like the brakes on the GT3RS better. The Mclaren pulls from a lower RPM which surprised me. The GT3RS hits its power curve at 4200 rpm (which would not matter on a track but given the roads I was driving I did have to slow down in spots - unfortunately Mclaren could not shut down the roads for the test drive 
). The biggest difference is how easy the Mclaren is to drive. I cannot profess to be the best driver in the world but I am decent and I really noticed where I missed some of my spots with my car vs. the Mclaren. it is really hard to miss the spots with the Mclaren. The enjoy in the 4.0 makes me smile more. When it gets into the high rpm and the chasis jumps almost like it is shocked the engine has that much power, it is sends a sensation through your whole body.
The obvious sentiment is to say, when you get the GT3RS right you feel that much better because you did it. With the Mclaren, if you missed it you really need to wonder if driving cars is your thing. At the end of the road, I was smiling ear to ear in both cars.
I will keep mine, that is a forgone conclusion and was not part of the exercise. I do believe GT3RS is the last of the old with Mclaren being the first of the new. I am sure there are car generations before which evoked the same concept, but I do believe the Mclaren is a whole new breed. Anyway, the GT3RS will be held in the family for my children to appreciate some day and let them see what cars were like.
After the test drive, I drove up country (200 miles) and smiled the whole way. To conclude, if I were to have a supercar that i were to drive everyday, I think the Mclaren would be it. For me, I live in the city and my car is only a toy that I drive whenever I can and the track as much as possible. I love my car and would not trade it for anything. It is a different animal than the Mclaren but an animal I like very much.
But I am very impressed with the Mclaren. More than I expected. If given a blind test to choose a 458 or Mclaren it would have been the 458. I have driven a 458 before (but to be fair it was a limited drive with the owner in the car and I never got to open it up on windy roads) and I loved it. But the Mclaren's usability impressed me and the looks are growing on me (especially the spider). Well done Mclaren and for those of you that own one - do enjoy
Very interesting to read. I need to go for a test drive too 
