McLaren 570s V Z4MC

[Angelus666]

So, the missus and I are looking for our next car and lucky enough to be in the position to buy something interesting up to £100k. We had a day in the 570s and thought I'd make write a brief view on how amazing this car is. First off, the looks in the metal/carbon are stunning, especially so from the front, maybe not so much from the rear. The lambo doors add real drama and theatre to the whole event, but I do wonder whether these would get on your tits as we will use this as a daily driver most of the time. The build quality surprised me, the whole thing felt very well put together, not what I thought it might be given the internet horror stories and from my experience of my only previous British car (TVR Sagaris). People genuinely look at this car as well, way more than a Porsche or Aston...it's a real event for people in the same way a Lambo or Ferrari turns heads.

But's that's the stuff you already know, so how does it drive compared to the MC. Well, as you'd expect it's on a different planet...the handling....it's unbelievable, staggering, you can enter roundabouts at 70mph and whip round the corner like it's on rails...it's simply mind blowing stuff. Zero understeer and instills confidence in you in such a short space of time. The ride quality with the carbon tub and suspension is also on another level...you could drive 6 hours and feel fresh after with little problem. The noise, well that's very subjective....my missus really liked it, the V8 is not too shouty, but has the whoos'es from the turbos and in some ways feels a little old school in the way they build up. I think the Z4MC sounds better with the Gruppe M. The carbon brakes are phenomenal, take a bit of getting used to, but they totally dominate the way you can drive. The recommended way is to left foot brake like a race car. The driving position is the best of any car I've ever sat in....it's perfect.

To be honest, the MC has it's charms, but feels very old, badly put together and cheap when compared to the 570s (and it should do right)...but to think you can now get a 2016 570s with 5k miles on it for £95k is amazing. People spending £75k on a new boxster gts need to stop their orders. So, we're looking at the approved used market and deciding whether we want an Orange or Black car.....IMO it's the bargain performance car right now and if you can get a drive in one you'll be hooked.

[buzyg]

If I could find £100k then you are probably right, I would be hooked.

Happy hunting this one we need to see.

[MrPT]

Really interesting read. Are you looking at the GT as well or is that a stretch too far?

[BeeEmm]

You both seem to be hooked. Orange with gloss black would be my choice, if you have a choice. Great car.

[Angelus666]

Haven’t considered the GT really, I think people prefer the styling, which I get but they’re not in the same level of supply so would be a bit more money (which I don’t really have). I do know they have stopped producing the GT and 540 now, to allow separation between models.

The way I’m viewing it, a 570s at £95k today will still be worth £65k in 3 years time (probably more) so with a £60k in I’ll clear the balance in 3 years and then see where we are at that point. I’m not a rich man, so this is a significant purchase and I will need a fair chunk back in 3 years. Losing 30% is the max i would want. The maintenance is semi reasonable £800 and £1200 for the annual servicing and the extended warranty is £3500 a year (that’s an essential I guess). From what I can tell from some research the mechanicals are fairly bullet proof. The small things like window switches tend to fail and take an age to get sorted. T

We were looking at the R8 or a 911 but both seem a bit sensible compared to the same money McLaren. Where would you guys put your money?

[MrPT]

Based on what I’ve seen/read only, it would be the McLaren for me too, although I would be tempted by the Spider version of the same car or an R8 V10P of similar age (just because of that engine).

It’s the kind of money that I could only dream of being able to spend on a car (at least, in one go!) but your thought process seems sound. I have a couple of mates who put all their cash into the lower end of the “modern classic” Porsche market a few years ago and will probably see most of their money back if they ever sell.

I guess you just need to make sure you can actually drive it regularly in a relatively care free manner. But I suppose that’s the same concern I felt before running a “silly, expensive” Z4MC as my only car for years. It’s all relative...

[ph001]

Great read, you certainly are in a privileged position to be able to choose cars at this level of capability, but the real crime I see here OP, is you haven't posted any pictures of your day with the car!!!!!

[BeeEmm]

I have owned 2 R8s over the years, both V8s and both Coupes. I waited 18 months for my first one, ordered in 2007 with a £10,000 deposit and unseen. None were available at that time. The 2nd was a higher spec. a few years later. I loved both cars, but sold them within 2 years. I had a Porsche 911 C2S and it was great fun. If I was to buy a sports car now, I would buy a 911 C4S and would be extremely happy with it. Use the following code to see what makes me tick. http://www.porsche-code.com/PLMPD1T4 I don't like 'Cabriolets' or 'Spyders', only Coupes. Search your soul and buy what you really think is right for you. Would you consider the little Cayman, beautiful car. http://www.porsche-code.com/PK9SS5M2

[Angelus666]

I got a few pictures upon pick up...I'm no david bailey. There's an art to sliding into the seat, the carbon sill is huge and you the first time you get in you bang your head at least 3 times...

I need those exhaust on the 600LT in my life.

[mmm-five]

Just buy beedub’s supercharged Z4MR and save yourself £70k

[Z4M-2006]

Lovely looking car the Mclaren..

My friend had one for a while,i was lucky enough to have a passenger ride in it for a couple of hours.

Unfortunately he had a few issues with his and ended up getting rid. IIRC it had serious water leaks into the cabin and he had issues with the alloy panels corroding under the paint,causing bubbles on the surface..

He sold and bought an Mercedes AMG GT.

[sars]

Great write up and an envious decision to make, the 570s is just gorgeous and probably one of the best sports cars available to day, good luck

[john-e89]

Haven’t considered the GT really, I think people prefer the styling, which I get but they’re not in the same level of supply so would be a bit more money (which I don’t really have). I do know they have stopped producing the GT and 540 now, to allow separation between models.

The way I’m viewing it, a 570s at £95k today will still be worth £65k in 3 years time (probably more) so with a £60k in I’ll clear the balance in 3 years and then see where we are at that point. I’m not a rich man, so this is a significant purchase and I will need a fair chunk back in 3 years. Losing 30% is the max i would want. The maintenance is semi reasonable £800 and £1200 for the annual servicing and the extended warranty is £3500 a year (that’s an essential I guess). From what I can tell from some research the mechanicals are fairly bullet proof. The small things like window switches tend to fail and take an age to get sorted. T

We were looking at the R8 or a 911 but both seem a bit sensible compared to the same money McLaren. Where would you guys put your money?

I’ve put it in the Boxster GTS you say I shouldn’t have....

Very very nice car but 95k is way too much for me, I’m strangling the wallet as it is. Plus, and this sounds weird, the GTS will be be bad enough but that macca would be too fast, way to fast, I don’t know how you can drive one and not use most of the grunt, I’d be so frustrated, but that’s just me admittedly.

[Angelus666]

The Boxster GTS is an amazing car, easily the best of what you can buy new for that level of money (we started out looking for a 981 GTS)....and way more performance than you ever need....but I tend to try to look at total cost of ownership when considering cars now (how much do you pay for it over the term and how much do you get back). If your car does as well as the previous gen, then it'll cost you very little in the next 2 years...but buying new at that money worries me too much to be honest (it could be a £40k car in 2022). Weirdly, Mclaren have a financial model where YOU can take the risk on the future value of the car to get your monthly payments down to a level that is baffling (not for me). I'm looking at the 12-C and older Lambo's and thinking this car won't drop much below £70k by 2022.....so if it does that then it'll cost a very similar amount to own as the 718 GTS in my man maths. Of course the risk is much higher, but I think the car is worth that risk.

[ocrx8]

R8 V10 for £60k and pocket the saving. You’ll save a lot on deprecation and have a NA V10 at your disposal. 1st gen R8s still look great IMO, better than the 2nd gen.

Wildcard option: new NSX. Down to 100k now.