4th Sep 2003, 07:48

If you buy a McLaren, you will go from one in a billion to one in a hundred? I think it is the other way round. In any event, I am sure that more than one hundred people will own them since they seem to change hands occasionally. I guess that is why there are over 50 comments thus far (50% of McLaren F1's are being considered for sale perhaps?) Why all this fascination for speed? Incidentally, you could always buy a SL55 or E55 (with auto trannie) for far less and still beat ALL (unmodified) Jap cars. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

13th Sep 2003, 00:43

I have read all of your comments and don't agree that the F1 or any other car mentioned is either the fastest car in the world or the best engineered. Has anyone actually driven the F1? Apparently its only a glorified BMW 7 series engine. What makes that so special?

The best car will be the car I have recently ordered. What is it you say? A Bugatti Veyron - 0-100 in 2.9 seconds (I have actually ordered two).

Problem is - I still can't get a commitment from Bugatti as to when my latest pride and joy will be delivered. Apparently they are having technical problems. It's a shame they won't give me a beta version to test (most people aren't so generous as I am).

Oh well, if I have the time, I will write up a review on this glorious car when (and if) I take delivery of my Bugatti Veyron. I will be most annoyed if this product (they are only products you know) does not outperform the F1.

In the meantime, if any of you really do own a McLaren, how about letting me test drive for a comparison? If I crash it, I'm happy to upgrade it.

Great work Steven on your web site (I may pay you a visit one day). In the meantime, to the rest of you, dream on dear readers (he he) ;)

BG.

10th Nov 2003, 06:02

Hahahaha.

I know what you mean when ordering your Bugatti Veyron, NASA are being a real pain with my space shuttle.

Get a grip man!!!

16th Nov 2003, 16:24

A top-fuel dragster will do a quarter mile @ almost 200 mph in around 3 seconds.

A rocket propelled vehicle broke the sound barrier.

The McLaren F1 can do neither of these. Oh well. It's still a SUPER car. Why?

Because it can go very fast, turn very well, and stop very short. It is made from the finest materials available and incorporates the best available technology.

What truly sets it apart from Bugatti's, Lamborghini's and heavily-modified cars is its usefulness as a method of transportation. You can drive it in traffic, on country lanes or through mountain passes. It will not break down easily, it gives fair fuel economy (when driven at road-legal speeds) and allows its driver to drive very fast with a great deal of control.

And, if I were wealthy enough to own one, my favorite aspect is this; it has the space for luggage and the two trophy girls I'd take with me on a weekend getaway.

9th Dec 2003, 06:07

There is no doubt that there is much controversy in the V12 super car vs Japanese rice rocket. I personally love imports because of the bang for your buck you get. For AU$15,000 you can buy and build a late model 12 second car fairly easily. Which is more than enough for most people. On the other hand, we have the McLaren... pure engineering excellence. But you'll be limping out of the showroom after you buy one... costing and arm and a leg... heck... take my pinkies too, didn't need them anyway. As far as a extreme tuned Japanese car goes, they may build a GT-R that goes faster in a straight line, or a Supra that handles better, but you'll never get them both in the same car.

There is one contender in the mist though... Ever heard of the Bugatti Veyron? V16 Quad turbo doing 0-300k/hr in under 14 seconds. A McLaren will be hard pressed to even catch a glimpse of this monster on the freeway, let alone keep up with one..

Me? I'll take the s15 200SX.

10th Dec 2003, 18:22

Hi,

I must say that the F1 is brilliant in all aspects, especially the fact that no production car can match it. Well the Bugatti Veyron as mentioned will be much quicker, and I believe the Ferrari Enzo looks way better, anyway that's my opinion.

However I also don't agree with the critics of modified cars, whether it be Japans, American or even Australian!

The comment of the Camaro doing 0-62 (0-100km/h) in 2.2 is believable, as Chevrolet made a concept, road legal (yes I know, concept) running 0-60 in 1.9s and 1/4 mile in 10.4.

Also there are many Japanese cars, road legal, doing 10s in Australia, and even in the 8s in Japan!!!

The most appealing to me however was the Aussie Ford XYGT (1971), road legal, pulling 9.8 seconds in 1/4 mile.

However I have read all comments, and agree that all these cars are modified, and the sky's the limit when it comes to upgrades. I mean as one has mentioned, look at Top Fuel Drag cars, they do 0-100 in 0.7s and under 4s 1/4 mile (not 3 as mentioned, as the world record is sitting at 3.45s).

What many readers don't understand is the prestige and so called status of owning a car such as the F1, and the technology applied to it. Cars like the F1 and Enzo will last forever, and keep consistent times, and chicks will fall in love.

At the end of the day, it's true that an F1 is an F1, and a Toyota or Nissan or Ford or Camaro will be just that.

Another interesting fact is that no one mentioned safety; the F1 is so advanced in safety that no Japanese or 30000k car could match.

D Rocca

4th Jan 2004, 20:07

The McLaren F1 was (and is) a great car. Of course, it is getting a little old in the tooth. How about the new Merc-McLaren SLR? Yes, it is (marginally) slower in a straight line. But it has got every possible luxury and a usable auto transmission. Either way, the chance of spotting any of these great McLarens at the local supermarket is next to nil. So too are your chances of dragging one off at the lights with your modified GTR. So who cares which one is the quickest? Bugatti Veyron? This (admittedly awesome) monster somehow does not have the class and the poise of the McLarens. If you really want a fast car (track use only), why not just buy a used Formula 1 racer?