Who else thinks the Mclarern F1 is overrated?

[JiggaStyles09]

in my opinion, the mclaren f1 set the tone for all current supercars. so in this respect, i don't think it's overrated. not at all.

that pretty much sums it up, the F1 redefined what a supercar could be, it was the first of its kind to set that type of performance benchmark.

its not overrated at all i mean it still competes with cars built 10+ years after it, just in the past few years have automakers been able to build a car that can be compared to it speed wise. that is an amazing achievement, i mean just think if 10 years from now the enzo is still the benchmark of performance, it would deserve to be treated with all the respect it deserves.

[yg60m]

I think it is misunderstood, it wasn't created to be a race car or a track car, just to be the ultimate road car. That's why it is not the best car on the track but i doubt you could do 1000 km in an F40 without to be exhausted while i think it can be much easier in the Macca.
But despite all the confort and the BIG engine, it weights only 1170 kg (as tested by Autocar ) while the F40 is more than 1200 (1100 from Ferrari but without fuel/oil) and the F50 1300 ...
So for the track take the F40/F50/Enzo but for the road take the Mclaren ... even if i can really imagine what it is to drive on the road with a race car

[cooperluke]

at really high speeds it bucks and jitters like crazy.

I don't know what some people have against the McF1...
The car is amazing!!
It's a true sports supercar, made from the root to be an amazingly fast car!

About it's behaviour at high speeds.. don't forget that those hight speeds are speeds that the other supercars only dream of!!
And don't forget that the Mc f1 that was used for the speed record was a normal street spec!! It even had the tire pressure that was in the Driver's Manual!

I also like other supercars, I am a big fan of Porsche, and obviously, the CarreraGT is my dream car, but I don't have the gutts to say it's better than the McF1 because I never saw them both doing lap times on the same track! And for everything the McF1 (and Gordon Murray) has achieved I think it deserves very BIG respect and until proven the contrary, it's the fastest car on EARTH!!

[amanthapar]

hmmm... whatever ppl said it set the benchmarks for alll other cars...

sure the CGT , SLR, ENZo are faster around a track but that is like an icon..

i think now it is a little overrated because of its age but it was the best at its time and still is one of the best.....

i dont get amused by straight line speed because :

1) im not american
2) i feel that a cars abilites are tested more on a track.. ( handling, bhp, traction , grip aero .... but
drag is races well mostly a better power to weight ratio wins...
3) its looks more fun

[bobafett]

You guys find ONE car that has comparable performance, similar technological breakthroughs, AND has the ultimate usability (it really is very practical) in one car.

Enzo, Pagani, Lambo, Koeniggsegg - there is not ONE such car. Then take this car, lighten it a few hundred pounds, make a bigger tank and change the hweels, etc. - and then go win a 1,2,3,4 class win at Le Mans with an overall 1, 2, 3, 5, 13 win!

There simply is no car that can or has been able to do it. Even if under the MC12 the Enzo is able to repeat the same feat (I am *hugely* dubious), it still isn't half the car the big Mac is.

Go read Driving Ambition by Doug Nye. Then come back.

--Dan

[bobafett]

By the way, I should add that I too never liked the McLaren and thought it was over-rated until I did some research (primarily in the form of the book).

I was one of those people who read those stupid little magazines and saw those silly tv shows and made an opinion about a car I knew nothing about (and yes, I'm implying the same of those who are making analysis in the same fashion).

Go. Read. Learn. Then talk.

--Dan

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

I dont think that the mclaren is overrated, or the mclaren has been overrated......for instance it has been the fastest car in the world ever during many years.....it has some things that other cars hasnt....for example, the performances of a F40 and the confort of the porsche 959, some good built quality in it, a reliable due to a big engine, the stability of a go-kart, even as much space in the bonnet as a Ford Fiesta, and the price puts the market as well......i mean, every car is priced because people are capable of paying this price

[sentra_dude]

Originally Posted by bobafett By the way, I should add that I too never liked the McLaren and thought it was over-rated until I did some research (primarily in the form of the book). I was one of those people who read those stupid little magazines and saw those silly tv shows and made an opinion about a car I knew nothing about (and yes, I'm implying the same of those who are making analysis in the same fashion). Go. Read. Learn. Then talk. --Dan

I think you make a very good point. Although I certainly was not one of those people who disliked the McLaren before I bought & read Driving Ambition, (quite the opposite, I was obsessed with the car), but before reading that book I really only had a superficial understanding of the car. I loved the F1 for its looks, performance, and sound...but after reading Driving Ambition I had a much fuller understanding of the significance of the car.

By no means do I know everything about the car, but...now I am able to appreciate the immense time & thought that went into the car. The amount of detail on that car, and the quality of the ideas are just amazing, Murray didn't settle for what was easy...or cheap, Murray insisted on only the best, and not just for certain parts of the car, but everything. If you read the book you will better understand the dedication of Murray to engineering excellence, his absolute obsession with a light car, and building a no compromise 'driver's car'.

I have unbelievable respect for that car, and I its my opinion that there will never be another car as great as the McLaren F1, it has no current equals; and, without a doubt, it is the best car ever made...

There is no way, with current regulations, that anyone could ever make a car as focused and driver oriented as the F1...the only car that comes close is the CGT, but somehow it still doesn't quite measure up. The Enzo is a great car, but is immediately knocked off the list for having the silly paddle gearbox, the SLR is even worse...a torque converter, and with the current trend, all new supercars will have a flappy-paddle gearbox, which IMO is unacceptable for a true drivers car, nothing will even have a chance (in my eyes) against the F1. The Koenigsegg is great but a S/C Ford V8 can never be what a bespoke N/A BMW V12 is. The F40 is wonderful, but somehow its still not at the same level as the F1, the F50...another great car, but still, not at the level of the F1...

All that to say, I don't think the F1 is over-rated.

[Evo]

When I was born the doctor at the hospital told me that the Mclaren F1 is the best car ever build .. So I stick with what the doctor said..


By the way if that's not funny then sorry It's late at night and I need to sleep. :crazyeyes:

[mindgam3]

I dont think the F1 is over rated at all, I think it is the best, most uncomprimised car money can buy, not that id necessarily buy it if I had the money. The fact that it is still highly competitive with current supercars 10, a whole 10 years on from now says a hell of a lot about it considering a supercar 10 years previous to it would have come no where near it. I dont think anyone really can say how good the mclaren is compared to other cars unless they have driven it and the "other" cars. EVO rated it better than the CGT in a recent article and I think thats the way it should be; Enzos, CGTs etc maybe slightly faster round certain circuits but then you've got to consider the top speed where the F1 is way ahead... it is simply one amazing car no doubt about it...

[fabro_s]

I am a really really car fanatic, and to me the McLaren F1 was the first step for true supercars like the ones we are seeing right now, for me the F1 is the soul of all this super car rago goin on right now, my respects to that amazing machin!

[Hegemony]

The technology used in the F1 was absolutely groundbreaking at the time...I keep having to remind myself how long ago the car actually came out. Sure the newer supercars may have the edge now in certain conditions but surely the F1 deserves a place in the hall of fame for its time at the very least. Watching the vids of the F1 still astounds me every time with its ferocity and the noise.

Russ

[tigerx]

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:39 pm Post subject: You guys find ONE car that has comparable performance, similar technological breakthroughs, AND has the ultimate usability (it really is very practical) in one car.

well i noe for one thing the Dauer 962 is much much faster and yes it have won lemans, it's not very usable though i give you that.

for me, top speed doesn't really matter much, and it's the only area where the f1 truly shine at. practicallity? not so much, it's still is a "supercar", meaning low ride, very very lil to none baggage room (the f1 get a plus since it can carry 3 ppl).

handling department, there are probably lotsa car outhere that can outrun the f1 on a real track, to name a few: dauer 962, carrera gt, porsche gt1, clk-gtr, etc.

and the price tag is too expensive. it's not the most expensive outthere, but i would want more out of a million bucks.

[bobafett]

Tiger: the only problem with low cars is long overhangs. The McLaren does not have them. It is not a problem at all. I know someone who has done over 18k miles on his McLaren with no said issues. The Dauer will not be able to do the same.

By the way, the F1 has as much trunk space int he panier lockers as a BMW 5 series. Have you ever seen one? There's tons of room in there. And with custom fitted luggage over one seat, there's no shortage of space.

for handling: a carrera gt can't come close. the other cars you mention are all race-cars, and frankly, noen have a proven track history the way the mclaren does (not even the dauer). Gt1 and clk-gtr fail in this respect.

It's expensive because of demand. People are willign to pay so much because this really is the penultimate.

--Dan