McLaren vs Ferrari

Odd.....

...how most (if not all) car journalists say that the McLaren is the better car but they'd still go for the Ferrari.

I've never owned a supercar and probably never will, so I'm not an expert on the finer details of driving such machinery. But I do find myself a bit confused when what's described as the better engineered car loses such a road test.

Maybe sticking a badge of a horse on the bonnet of the McLaren might have made a difference to the verdict?

By gavsmit on 16 June, 2011, 9:31pm

What is a SuperCar?

SuperCar?

Its a sense of occasion and road theatre...

A SuperCar needs to be fast, but the absolute point ones and two's are ultimately neither here nor there beyond a certain level...

The only figures that matter is surely the quality of those figures and in how they are delivered, (and where they are delivered) whether that be the level of decibels or lateral G's achieved...

Perhaps the best acceleration figure of what any Supecar can deliver, is not really its absolute acceleration over the tarmac but rather the acceleration of its own drivers pulse rate?

So Yes I can see why (and how) a Ferrari would be the better SuperCar if not the better car than the McLaren... For being purely a better engineered exercise in car terms, is not the real point of any road going SuperCar or indeed HyperCar!

Absolute figures matter on the track and at competition level, and thats where teams can level any figures and times out...

By the way when are Europe's motor press going to recognise that the Vette is the better endurance GT than the 911 or Ferrari at comp level at present?

By LegioIXHispana on 19 June, 2011, 3:48pm

Head Or Heart?

Sounds like you would buy the McLaren with your 'head' or buy the Ferrari with your 'heart'. Think I would buy the McLaren as it has the superior (and intersting) suspension with the better ride.

By LANMAN on 20 June, 2011, 5:48pm

Smith 458 Italia

Pragmatic or romantic. Ferrari is romantic? China is a big market for the constructors and I doubt they will ever average more than 25kph!

Half of these cars will probably be driven by young girls here in China. Use your own imaginations as to why? Saw an R8 the other day with fluffy dogs dangling from the rearview and furry steering wheel cover. Just like the Mk 1 Cortina's of yesteryear.

By Beijingz4 on 21 June, 2011, 7:33am

Say izza best or no more Ferraris for you

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8368343/Road-testing-under-the-microscope.html

By gherkins123 on 21 June, 2011, 7:54am

But it could be a....

The main problem, (as far as I see it) with the McLaren is that undoubtedly its a fantastic piece of engineering, but it reminds me of another fantastic piece of British based engineering, and which has a very 'generic' British SuperCar interpretation engineering style...

If you were tom interchange the banner saying new 'Mclaren' with new 'Lotus' (Esprit) and I would believe that the McLaren could quite easily be a Lotus...

Not running up or down either marque, but the problem with the McLaren is it is far too British SuperCar of the twenty-tens predictable.

The Italia on the other hand, is instantly recognisable as a Italian SuperCar of the non raging Bull stable.

Italian Exotic is more Exotic than British Exotic...

Britain produces Gentleman's SuperCars Cars, (Astons, Fast Jags etc) Italy produces Playboy Cars and the Germans Produce Accountants Cars, so sadly this McLaren veers far to near that of an Accounts SuperCar... (facts n figures rather than hormones and Medallions!)

By LegioIXHispana on 21 June, 2011, 8:41pm

There are no such things as facts....

...only context; having driven both (and now owning a 458) I can confirm eaxctly what has been said here and in Autocar and TG. The Macca is superaltive in a similar way to the Porsche 997 turbo but the Ferrari makes you smile and makes you feel better about your (not inconsiderable) purchase. It isn't a head and heart dichotomy it is body and soul matter...no contest.

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By kdfja on 22 June, 2011, 12:52pm

Mclaren or Ferrari?

Well, Ive not been a fan of Ferrari for some time, as their cars havent been as good looking as some of their more historic designs in years gone by. Only the 599 and now this 458 have started to re-address this imo. Was really hoping Mclaren had nailled this market. However, the more tests that are done, the more it seems to lose out to the Ferrari. If I was ever lucky enough to be in a position too pick 1, then the Fezza would be the 1. The Mclarens clean, where the 458's dramatic.

By pocketpiston on 25 June, 2011, 3:43pm

Its just such a shame that the McLaren tested was stock, whilst the Ferrari had been tuned to beat the McLaren

By chrisbirley on 28 June, 2011, 5:23pm

Evo has the Test 2 watch

Just watched the EVO shoot out between the 458 Italia, McLaren MP4, Noble 600 and Porsche 911Turbo S...

Great watch and video review...

Drag race over 600m

Porsche won the 0-62, but after that went backwards...

Mclaren very rapid, Ferrari not as quick in a straight drag race and the Noble exceedingly rapid once in its stride and right gear...

So by the end of the 600m the McLaren just held on to win the EVO test sprint, but if it had been another 200m further then the Noble looked to have the high speed acceleration power to monster the Mac, the Ferrari came in a howling third with Porsch fourth. (still massively quick!)

However that was not the full story as the cars went to the Bedford Autodrome track and the Italia showed that straight line speed aint everything where it blitzed the McLaren, Noble and 911 with a exceedingly impressive lap of over a second quicker than the best of the rest, which was the McLaren. (closely followed in time by the Noble)

So there you have it... Mile strip Drag racers go for the Noble, traffic light racers go for the McLaren and circuit racers go for the Ferrari and Daily racers go for the Porsche...

All are supreme in there own particular way!

By LegioIXHispana on 29 June, 2011, 2:55pm