DRIVEN: Is A McLaren MP4-12C As Dull As Critics Have Said? Only One Way To Find Out - Drive It!

I’M driving along a residential street in this Boston suburb when a woman steps off the sidewalk and beckons for me to stop.

“What is that car?” she asks.

I tell her it’s a McLaren, the new MP4-12C. She wants to know horsepower, top speed, the usual things you’d wonder if you saw a vehicle this sinister prowling through your neighborhood.

As I’m about to pull away, she asks the price. I tell her that it starts around $230,000, but this car is $270,690.

“Well, you look hot in it!” she declares.

The conclusion: If driving a $270,000 car amounts to fishing for compliments, the MP4-12C makes mighty fine bait.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/7/2012 9:13:37 AM

+2 Boost

No doubt that the MP4-12C is a Very Capable car......

I just cannot bring myself to feel excited about it though.

It is odd because whenever i see a GTR i smile and think of Godzilla and marvel at it's tunnel visioned focus on stats aquiring.

Yet the MP4-12C which kinda does the same thing just leaves me feeling.......... Nothing.

DuDE - 8/7/2012 11:38:14 AM

+1 Boost

The problem with the car is its name..When you hear about a high priced car, it should get your testosterone running..but this doesn't!

ThierryHenry14 - 8/7/2012 12:31:44 PM

+1 Boost

This iss one helluva machine... Until you hear one revving and runnin dowwn the track, you will not know the true beauty of this car...

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/7/2012 3:26:12 PM

+1 Boost

Seen it, Heard it.........
Still left me cold.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 8/7/2012 3:26:45 PM

+1 Boost

Even the R8 GT that was on the same track sounded better than it.

merc07 - 8/7/2012 3:41:21 PM

+2 Boost

Well it seems they are selling well in the USA. If I had the money sign me up. It's an all around great supercar. Compete with the 458 at the track, and still have the comfort to be driven everyday.

MorePower - 8/8/2012 1:37:52 AM

+1 Boost

I would need to drive it, and drive it hard, in order to decide. Second option would be to become friends with Mr. Leno and talk to him about the car, off the record.