First McLaren MP4-12C & Ferrari 458 Customer Cars Photo & Video Shoot
Teamspeed.com member GFWilliams shares with us an exclusive shoot of this magical duo!

"There are some days when I love my job. This was without doubt the most enjoyable shoots I've ever done. This was the first time that a customer Ferrari 458 and McLaren MP4-12C have been professionally photographed and videoed. While we didn't do performance specs or anything like that, I did manage to get a few thoughts from the owner of the car who has just come back from a Europe trip in both cars...





The first thing that was very apparent was that although the cars are compared a lot in the media, the cars are very very different. Yes, they have a similar price tag, are mid engined and very similar performance figures, but the way they go about their business is very different. The Ferrari is very loud and shouty, while the McLaren is efficient, bonkers quick and precise. Having said that though, the McLaren doors are a little showy. I found it interesting to hear the owner comment saying that he was disappointed with the McLaren exhaust, which I believe is a £4k option, as it doesn't sound that great. The Ferrari in contrast sounds amazing. Makes the McLaren go unnoticed on the road when they're together.

McLaren MP4-12C vs Ferrari 458 Italia - Ride, Start, Rev and Accelerations - YouTube





There has been word of there being lots of issues with the McLaren as reported on Jalopnik recently. On the two customer cars I've seen so far there are certainly problems, the dashboard seems to come up with a new error message every time you turn it on, the date on the central screen is stuck on the wrong date and there are more recalls due soon to address these issues and others. Quite an inconvenience when you just want to be able to drive your new supercar I think.





Robbie, the owner of these cars, has just got back from a trip to Italy in the McLaren to collect his Ferrari and has been telling me today that although the McLaren has had the issues, none of them are serious and the car happily got them from England to Italy and back while keeping a smile on his and his son's face the whole time. And I can fully understand why, the car is just something else. It may not have the drama of the Ferrari, but one thing is for sure and that's that every time you put your foot down, both you and your passenger.





One thing that really surprised me today is how much the Ferrari 458 has grown on me today. I will admit that before today I have never been a great fan of them. I didn't dislike them, but they never ticked the right boxes for me. Today however, the car just delivered like a true supercar should. It made an amazing noise, went like shit off a shovel and the more I see it the better it seemed to look. My personal opinion, with which a different McLaren owner admitted to agreeing with, is that these cars are now so quick that the differences in performance between all these supercars is irrelevant and that the driver is the weakest point of the car. Put a good driver in one car and a less experienced one in the other and the good driver will be quicker in either car. It's still pretty awesome to be able to say that your car can do 0-150mph in less than 14 seconds though."

Source GFWilliams Photography

 

Great write up! Love seeing both of these in black!

 

I know which one I'd take! Ok, ok so I am biased shoot me lol!

 

GREAT stuff!!!

 

nice pics George, you are never going to get the same noise from a turbo engine but it has a deep growel, the optional £4k exhaust is very light and made of inconel like the f1 exhausts. There are problems but not as bad as some say more niggles, at least they didnt set on fire.

 

Some of the issues are more than just niggles. The last recall was for the doors, the next I believe is for something to do with coolant and the error messages on the screen are very very off putting if you want to drive it hard!

Having said that, it's still an amazing car!

 

Ok OK. so I admit that I am more than just a little bit biased. But i just watched the video again. Before I make my next statement, allow me to tell those of you who dont know me personally. That I was not always a Ferrari dealer but I have and always will be a Car lover in general. It comes from the day I was born to a Car lover, racer, crazy father who also loves all brands. Between the 2 generations, I bet we have owned or do own just about every cool car ever built.

So here it is....if you remember the Wendy's commercials (wheres the beef?)..... well...WHERE IS THE SOUND? WHERE IS THE PASSIONATE AWE INSPIRING GRUMBLE? WHERE IS THE WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT (after it goes by). In short its a hot car but not for me.

By the way, I think the car is beautiful and I gave all that disclosure knowing that I will get some ridicule but if you remove my title for a minute and listen objectively I bet you will agree!

 

Seeing both in black side by side im almost inclined to say the MP4 looks better then the 458...

 

I think this is the best shot I've ever seen of the MP4-12C. Great write up too.

 

Amazing thread.... Thanks DJ. I prefer the 458 over the Mac, but do admit that these are the best pics of the MP4 I have seen.