st4
Banned
simba23 said:
Nice dilemma to have. Don't rule out the McLaren (get the spider) or if you can stretch to it an F12. It'll be like your SLS but better and more GT like than a 458...
TheDeadPrussian
Active Member
There are discounts to be had on both 458s and McLarens from dealer stock, and second hand prices of the coupes have been affected by the release of the respective spyder versions. Some really good deals to be had on pre-registered and nearly new cars; many owners have traded-in their coupes for spyders.
If I were changing from my SLS now I would probably lean towards the McLaren, but this is more to do with my own preference rather than the relative abilities of each car...
I know the McLaren has had (and continues to have) issues since release such as with the IRIS and the doors not unlocking etc, but having seen and been in a few there is just something about the car I really like. I also like the commitment to continuing upgrades on all cars such as the recent MY13 power increase etc.
However, if you go down the spyder route my choice would definitely be the 458 - having seen it in the flesh it is a wonderful looking car and out shines the McLaren spyder all day long in my opinion.
Summary - for driving as fast as you can the McLaren, for enjoying the sunshine and driving fast the 458 Spyder.
Choose either and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
If I were changing from my SLS now I would probably lean towards the McLaren, but this is more to do with my own preference rather than the relative abilities of each car...
I know the McLaren has had (and continues to have) issues since release such as with the IRIS and the doors not unlocking etc, but having seen and been in a few there is just something about the car I really like. I also like the commitment to continuing upgrades on all cars such as the recent MY13 power increase etc.
However, if you go down the spyder route my choice would definitely be the 458 - having seen it in the flesh it is a wonderful looking car and out shines the McLaren spyder all day long in my opinion.
Summary - for driving as fast as you can the McLaren, for enjoying the sunshine and driving fast the 458 Spyder.
Choose either and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Thanks very much for the reply. I love the sls for being a special experience every time you drive it. I get to drive it about once a week.
The only issue I have is I just can't seem to get comfortable in the car.
I havnt driven the 458 but it just looks well spaced out.
The mclaren doesnt have sat nav and I'm not very keen on Tom toms I like going out in central London so sat Nav is a handy option.
The only thing I am concerned about is reliability.
The sls has been totally reliable so far apart from a jammed rear spoiler. Which was promptly sorted out. It was actually quite pleasant as I was given a c63 coupe for 10 days.
I guess I need to go on a few test drives.
st4
Banned
Small relatively niche products usually won't match a more mass produced one.
Have you considered waiting for the new 991 991 Turbo or GT3/2 varients, or the R8. Both cheaper, more reliable and almost as rapid as the two cars you mentioned with a lot of money left over for say, a two week driving holiday with them
SportsCoupeRich
MB Enthusiast
I like the r8 but the cockpit is looking very dated to me now. It's 2007 TT architecture and switchgear. 991 turbo a great shout.
Aeroman
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2010
- Messages
- 81
- Location
- Berks
- Car
- Mercedes C63S (on order), McLaren 720S, Ultima GTR, Porsche Boxster GTS, Morgan SP1, Morgan Plus 8
Apologies for the thread hijack, but I'm also looking to change cars and have a Bentley GTC V8 on test for 2-days next week.
Do you have any insights into potential deals on these?
Palfrem
MB Enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2005
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- 2,965
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- Solihull, near Birmingham
- Car
- W124 E36 AMG, G 300 GEL his, SLK 200 hers
Ten days to fix the rear spoiler? Wow!
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,199
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
Apparently Halfords didn't have a new Ripspeed one in stock.
TheDeadPrussian
Active Member
I've never really taken a serious look at a Bentley; but friends have owned them, and have enjoyed the ownership experience.
As a starting point I'd take a look at production and sales figures (you should be able to find these some where on the internet) and then at the cost of very lightly used ones (under 1,000 miles) - to get a sense of the depreciation curve - and then haggle hard!
In my experience there is always a deal to be done if they know you are serious...and particularly if the dealer group are holding stock they have been forced to order by the manufacturer.
Also use the usual buying tactics of sales completion at the end of a month or at the end of a quarter when sales figures (and salesman's bonuses) are calculated etc...
renault12ts
MB Club Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 16,674
- Car
- 2005 W215 CL500.
Love the car...we have one just like that too...same colour also.
GSEH88
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Messages
- 152
- Location
- London
- Car
- AMG C63S Estate, AMG C63 Black Series, Porsche Cayman GT4 & Porsche 964 Carrera 2 Cabriolet
I had an F430 for 5 years from new and I never had a single significant problem with it. The buying experience is from a different planet and any warranty issues are dealt with without question. The only reasons I sold it were the huge (continuing) depreciation (which will only be worse with the 458 because production numbers are ever increasing), the worry of big maintenance bills after the warranty had expired and the lack of drama unless you were pushing it hard.
grumpyoldgit
MB Enthusiast
Fixed that for you 
Palmball
MB Enthusiast
Reading (most of) this thread with interest....seeing what people think of what follows an SLS which can't be the easiest car to replace (assuming you like it in the first place of course).
I'm going to be probably be in the minority here but I'm not a fan of the 458 or McLaren....not sure why, but they just don't do it for me. In fact, I find the McLaren a bit bland. However, they are without doubt two of the most capable supercars on the planet though so, as a fun and occasional toy (if thats what it's used for), you just can't knock the idea of having one of these.
I really want to like the Bentleys (have considered one many a time) and an old school friend of mine runs one of the teams that assemble part of the interior (for all my sins, I lived in Crewe in my teenage years
). The build quality and attention to detail on these is simply amazing - if you ever get a chance to do a factory tour in Crewe you should do it as you'd be blown away by how they have thought of every detail. And like me, you'll probably want to buy one after seeing it but theres something about the size and image of the thing that has always held me back.
For me, the most capable of this genre of car as a daily driver is going to be the 991 Turbo....even the normal C2S of that model is a very nice place to be and if my 997.2 Turbo was anything to go by, the performance will be out of this world. I didn't much like my Turbo but I very nearly bought a 991 C2S before plumping for my SLS as I really do like the design of the new model (particularly inside). People may think it looks similar to the 997 but I think it's vastly different with particularly much better proportions.
However, as something to use just one day a week?
No, I don't think this, or the Bentley are special enough....they are going to be brilliant as everyday supercars but I just don't think they're enough to wheel out for occasional use (simba - do you really have a C220cdi and walk past the SLS to use that everyday? If so, you have more self control than I'd ever have!)
And after all that, I don't really have an answer I'm afraid as, like I said at the start, I'm personally not a fan of what are the current best cars in their category. In an Aventador in budget??? That'd be special wouldn't it
I'm going to be probably be in the minority here but I'm not a fan of the 458 or McLaren....not sure why, but they just don't do it for me. In fact, I find the McLaren a bit bland. However, they are without doubt two of the most capable supercars on the planet though so, as a fun and occasional toy (if thats what it's used for), you just can't knock the idea of having one of these.
I really want to like the Bentleys (have considered one many a time) and an old school friend of mine runs one of the teams that assemble part of the interior (for all my sins, I lived in Crewe in my teenage years
). The build quality and attention to detail on these is simply amazing - if you ever get a chance to do a factory tour in Crewe you should do it as you'd be blown away by how they have thought of every detail. And like me, you'll probably want to buy one after seeing it but theres something about the size and image of the thing that has always held me back. For me, the most capable of this genre of car as a daily driver is going to be the 991 Turbo....even the normal C2S of that model is a very nice place to be and if my 997.2 Turbo was anything to go by, the performance will be out of this world. I didn't much like my Turbo but I very nearly bought a 991 C2S before plumping for my SLS as I really do like the design of the new model (particularly inside). People may think it looks similar to the 997 but I think it's vastly different with particularly much better proportions.
However, as something to use just one day a week?
No, I don't think this, or the Bentley are special enough....they are going to be brilliant as everyday supercars but I just don't think they're enough to wheel out for occasional use (simba - do you really have a C220cdi and walk past the SLS to use that everyday? If so, you have more self control than I'd ever have!)
And after all that, I don't really have an answer I'm afraid as, like I said at the start, I'm personally not a fan of what are the current best cars in their category. In an Aventador in budget??? That'd be special wouldn't it
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Congrats on the car palmball, don't get me wrong I love the car but you have to think twice when taking the car out in London. I have a panamera turbo s which I could drive every day of the year but the trusty c class is a work horse. Thanks grumpy for the resize.
