General Car Talk Discussion Thread
must be nice
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I can't say what exactly, but it's R&D for an automotive company. I'm really happy so far, people love it here. They're still small, so there's a lot of personal freedoms.
And no, I will not be able to afford a McLaren anytime soon
or even an i8 for that matter
And no, I will not be able to afford a McLaren anytime soon
or even an i8 for that matter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Kansas City
Dude must be raking it in. Even with a "small" business if you're high enough up I'm sure it's gotta be nice to see that monthly paycheck. Yeah the 570S is defnitely a dream car type of vehicle...down side is that even in a few years when it's potentially more affordable...the repair/maintenance are gonna suck big time.
Ex-OEM King
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Minnesnowta
Dude must be raking it in. Even with a "small" business if you're high enough up I'm sure it's gotta be nice to see that monthly paycheck. Yeah the 570S is defnitely a dream car type of vehicle...down side is that even in a few years when it's potentially more affordable...the repair/maintenance are gonna suck big time.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Kansas City
Maybe the new gen cars are different but guess only time will tell.
edit: heck Costco can ask his higher up! Looks like there are people who are dailying cars like the 570S. Should be interesting to hear what its like to daily that kind of car.
Race Director
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Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
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From: Waffles, BU
Their calculation is inflated, either for media or their local market
Those rides cost much less here, so more like 2.5M
Definitely not as much $$$ in rides as the NFS movie
Ex-OEM King
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Minnesnowta
Hmmmm, I've not heard McLarens are reliable or easy to maintain. The newest gen cars are not old enough to I guess have any significant time/mileage history but the last gen cars like the MP4-12C were notorious for being quite unreliable and this is within the past 5 years.
Maybe the new gen cars are different but guess only time will tell.
edit: heck Costco can ask his higher up! Looks like there are people who are dailying cars like the 570S. Should be interesting to hear what its like to daily that kind of car.
Maybe the new gen cars are different but guess only time will tell.
edit: heck Costco can ask his higher up! Looks like there are people who are dailying cars like the 570S. Should be interesting to hear what its like to daily that kind of car.
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Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
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From: Waffles, BU
Really? Hmm...time to waste a work day investigating McLaren maintenance... When I looked before it was about $1k/yr in maintenance which is about par to below par for a car like that. I need to look more into the MP4-12C as it's quickly depreciating into plausible purchase territory.
Team Owner
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From: Los Angeles
Really? Hmm...time to waste a work day investigating McLaren maintenance... When I looked before it was about $1k/yr in maintenance which is about par to below par for a car like that. I need to look more into the MP4-12C as it's quickly depreciating into plausible purchase territory.
Maintenance is 1 thing, how about repairs?
Does Rockauto & PepBoys source McLaren parts? 
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
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From: Waffles, BU
Parts to change the oil on a McClaren can be close to $500
It's not as complicated as a Bugatti, but you need to remove the bottom aero which is like 50 points
Then 4 drain points, filter housing removal with filter media replacement, plus replace related seals
Going to legit shop for just an oil change will cost at least 300-400 in labor.
Then there's tires.. even if a pair last you two years, that's about 1k alone plus cost to mount and balance.
I have no idea how much it costs to align, but considering it's connected to the steering rack hydraulic system
I'm guessing only a McLaren dealership should handle the alignment, I heard it's a system that goes out quite often
Brakes are definitely not cheap on a McLaren
The battery is Lithium Ion that can't be replaced with a standard car battery
That battery cost $3k to replace, plus if it goes dead on you, they can't open the car in any conventional manner
So the shop pops the window, so if the battery dies, you need to pay to replace the battery and the window
Yeah.. I don't know where that $1k / year figure came from, but I'm not buying it.
It's not as complicated as a Bugatti, but you need to remove the bottom aero which is like 50 points
Then 4 drain points, filter housing removal with filter media replacement, plus replace related seals
Going to legit shop for just an oil change will cost at least 300-400 in labor.
Then there's tires.. even if a pair last you two years, that's about 1k alone plus cost to mount and balance.
I have no idea how much it costs to align, but considering it's connected to the steering rack hydraulic system
I'm guessing only a McLaren dealership should handle the alignment, I heard it's a system that goes out quite often
Brakes are definitely not cheap on a McLaren
The battery is Lithium Ion that can't be replaced with a standard car battery
That battery cost $3k to replace, plus if it goes dead on you, they can't open the car in any conventional manner
So the shop pops the window, so if the battery dies, you need to pay to replace the battery and the window
Yeah.. I don't know where that $1k / year figure came from, but I'm not buying it.
Ex-OEM King
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Minnesnowta
That's what I said in my first post about the topic...
Got it from the McLaren forums...
I read a few DIY posts on oil change, doesn't look too bad. The filter is the same that's on the E9X M3 and can be had from a variety of places.
1. Take off plastic bits on the top side, take off belly pan on the bottom.
2. Loosen filter (top side, easy access)
3. Drain engine sump, oil tank
4. Disconnect and drain turbo return lines
5. Button back up
6. Fill with conventional 0w40 from Walmart
Tires go for ~10k miles if you're not tracking them. Brakes go forever if they are the ceramic ones and you don't track them.
Of course repairs are going to hurt a LOT but can't predict that and they hurt a lot on almost every car these days.
Parts to change the oil on a McClaren can be close to $500
It's not as complicated as a Bugatti, but you need to remove the bottom aero which is like 50 points
Then 4 drain points, filter housing removal with filter media replacement, plus replace related seals
Going to legit shop for just an oil change will cost at least 300-400 in labor.
Then there's tires.. even if a pair last you two years, that's about 1k alone plus cost to mount and balance.
I have no idea how much it costs to align, but considering it's connected to the steering rack hydraulic system
I'm guessing only a McLaren dealership should handle the alignment, I heard it's a system that goes out quite often
Brakes are definitely not cheap on a McLaren
The battery is Lithium Ion that can't be replaced with a standard car battery
That battery cost $3k to replace, plus if it goes dead on you, they can't open the car in any conventional manner
So the shop pops the window, so if the battery dies, you need to pay to replace the battery and the window
Yeah.. I don't know where that $1k / year figure came from, but I'm not buying it.
It's not as complicated as a Bugatti, but you need to remove the bottom aero which is like 50 points
Then 4 drain points, filter housing removal with filter media replacement, plus replace related seals
Going to legit shop for just an oil change will cost at least 300-400 in labor.
Then there's tires.. even if a pair last you two years, that's about 1k alone plus cost to mount and balance.
I have no idea how much it costs to align, but considering it's connected to the steering rack hydraulic system
I'm guessing only a McLaren dealership should handle the alignment, I heard it's a system that goes out quite often
Brakes are definitely not cheap on a McLaren
The battery is Lithium Ion that can't be replaced with a standard car battery
That battery cost $3k to replace, plus if it goes dead on you, they can't open the car in any conventional manner
So the shop pops the window, so if the battery dies, you need to pay to replace the battery and the window
Yeah.. I don't know where that $1k / year figure came from, but I'm not buying it.
I read a few DIY posts on oil change, doesn't look too bad. The filter is the same that's on the E9X M3 and can be had from a variety of places.
1. Take off plastic bits on the top side, take off belly pan on the bottom.
2. Loosen filter (top side, easy access)
3. Drain engine sump, oil tank
4. Disconnect and drain turbo return lines
5. Button back up
6. Fill with conventional 0w40 from Walmart
Tires go for ~10k miles if you're not tracking them. Brakes go forever if they are the ceramic ones and you don't track them.
Of course repairs are going to hurt a LOT but can't predict that and they hurt a lot on almost every car these days.
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
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From: Waffles, BU
Depending on who you ask, that's the good and bad of it.
Cons: Something is always breaking
Pros: Something is always in need of fixing
The difference is price and availability of parts
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,920
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From: Kansas City
Just watched a couple of youtube vids on mclaren.....rob feretti - $35,000 steering rack, $3000 battery (lucky window didn't have to be smashed), infotainment screen had to be replaced. Another dude spent $30,000 and 2mo at the shop for his 650S. (same dude says his warranty repair would've cost out of pocket $50,000 in the 1st year of ownerhsip....) Annual service at the dealer is like 1500-3000/yr. Obviously you can probably try to DIY but that'll destroy resale value + you may be missing certain things you need to replace/monitor for.
I follow a small youtuber who documents his ownership with a 07 F430, he says he was doing a oil change and found previous owner or something didn't check one of the seals that was part of the oil change procedure and now its like stuck or something so have to get that fixed. Lot of times I feel like these cars have other things you need to be fully aware of besides just changing the oil itself....
Definitely not a good idea to own a mclaren out of warranty....or if I win lottery jackpot.....but honestly insane to see how much higher prices are for these exotic car parts/repairs....
Last edited by nist7; Aug 16, 2018 at 07:09 PM.
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
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From: Maryland
My brother picked up a 2008 Toyota FJ today to replace his 2010 Subaru Forester XT that has 123K very hard miles on it.
The FJ has 62K miles on it and my brother is in heaven.
It apparently has a 4” lift already and we will be getting him an Apple CarPlay head unit for Xmas.
Looking forward to taking a ride in it. I’ve always liked them.
https://superrupair.net/2008-Toyota-...2/Details.aspx
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88,888
Likes: 11,846
From: Waffles, BU
I had an FJ for a while to go up and down a 14k ft summit
I didn't really like it that much
It has poor visibility, poor backseat ergos
Only okay storage
Good things about it are solid drivetrain
Decent suspension for off-road activities
It's essentially a Jeep for someone who doesn't want a Jeep
It looks cool, but that's subjective
There are some sweet modded ones
If visibility was better, I would have considered it for regular use
I didn't really like it that much
It has poor visibility, poor backseat ergos
Only okay storage
Good things about it are solid drivetrain
Decent suspension for off-road activities
It's essentially a Jeep for someone who doesn't want a Jeep
It looks cool, but that's subjective
There are some sweet modded ones
If visibility was better, I would have considered it for regular use
Ex-OEM King
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 17,829
Likes: 7,010
From: Minnesnowta
Try to accost him at the parking spot and report back with results!
Just watched a couple of youtube vids on mclaren.....rob feretti - $35,000 steering rack, $3000 battery (lucky window didn't have to be smashed), infotainment screen had to be replaced. Another dude spent $30,000 and 2mo at the shop for his 650S. (same dude says his warranty repair would've cost out of pocket $50,000 in the 1st year of ownerhsip....) Annual service at the dealer is like 1500-3000/yr. Obviously you can probably try to DIY but that'll destroy resale value + you may be missing certain things you need to replace/monitor for.
I follow a small youtuber who documents his ownership with a 07 F430, he says he was doing a oil change and found previous owner or something didn't check one of the seals that was part of the oil change procedure and now its like stuck or something so have to get that fixed. Lot of times I feel like these cars have other things you need to be fully aware of besides just changing the oil itself....
Definitely not a good idea to own a mclaren out of warranty....or if I win lottery jackpot.....but honestly insane to see how much higher prices are for these exotic car parts/repairs....
Just watched a couple of youtube vids on mclaren.....rob feretti - $35,000 steering rack, $3000 battery (lucky window didn't have to be smashed), infotainment screen had to be replaced. Another dude spent $30,000 and 2mo at the shop for his 650S. (same dude says his warranty repair would've cost out of pocket $50,000 in the 1st year of ownerhsip....) Annual service at the dealer is like 1500-3000/yr. Obviously you can probably try to DIY but that'll destroy resale value + you may be missing certain things you need to replace/monitor for.
I follow a small youtuber who documents his ownership with a 07 F430, he says he was doing a oil change and found previous owner or something didn't check one of the seals that was part of the oil change procedure and now its like stuck or something so have to get that fixed. Lot of times I feel like these cars have other things you need to be fully aware of besides just changing the oil itself....
Definitely not a good idea to own a mclaren out of warranty....or if I win lottery jackpot.....but honestly insane to see how much higher prices are for these exotic car parts/repairs....
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
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Moderator
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From: Spring, TX
Right. The key is to do it intelligently. Like, for example, don't buy the oil filter at the dealership for $35 when you can get the same one from Amazon for $10. Same thing applies to a lot of other cars/makes too. I'd always buy TL parts from the Honda dealer because cheaper and same part. Lexus and Toyota are similar. Most manufacturers, independent or not, aren't going to go out of their way to design something as stupid as an oil filter. They'll just find one on the market that works and integrate it. Ditto for window regulators and other such commodity items. The screen, steering rack, and battery I can buy but whatever. I'm not in any position to buy a McLaren anytime soon. And it may be (actually it really is) a better idea to get a 911 Turbo S or R8 instead and save on the service costs.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Miami, FL
It's not so much the money. If you have one of those cars, sure you got the cash to maintain. But what a pain in the ass if the car is in the shop for 3 mos. Or for an oil change it's not a quick run to the Jiffy Lube. Making that kind of money, I'm sure you can have people do that for you, but I hate when shit is broken and I can't use it for X amount of time. Time > Money
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Los Angeles
The thing is.... when you really have that kind of $$.. not the ones who starve themselves just to be able to afford a car, then chances are you could careless, because you will have multiple cars and other toys at your disposal.
We are judging and thinking from outside looking in. But when you are actually inside, your mentality and your priority will be very different than what you have today.
We are judging and thinking from outside looking in. But when you are actually inside, your mentality and your priority will be very different than what you have today.