While sadly, I don't own a Mclaren I got to test drive one a few months ago. Living in Florida, especially the area in which I work, I see all kinds of exotics and I'm per suing a career in which they'll be a part of everyday life. I enjoy my craft to such an extent, If I could live in the shop I would, the normal 9 to 5 to me is 6am to 10pm.

I've seen RO's on sports cars of this caliber that blew my mind, an example; a 1997 Ferrari F430 if i remember correctly, the tune-up was about 8 grand on a car that's under 30k miles and almost 10 years old.

My friend works at Mercedes and I swung by to see what was up and got talking with one of his service advisers. Only one technician in the entire shop is allowed to put his hands on the Maybach's, Mclaren's and the like... A customer brought the car in for get this... not knowing how to move his seat to a position so he could vacuum under it. So i asked, "what's parts and labor like?"... We went to parts and for flat rate labor time and parts for just a brake job on the Mclaren came close to $20,000...

It surprised me at first, but then i realized the car costs as much as my house does. They had one awaiting delivery in the showroom and when i approached it the jackass of a sales man asked me not to touch it (even though it was behind velvet ropes, or maybe because i was in uniform.) But he told me off the line the Mclaren plows an Enzo, but at top end the enzo quickly picks up steam. The one i got to drive didn't go past 35-40 mainly because I so intimated to be driving one in the first place. The only other mentionable cars I've be lucky enough to ride in let alone drive have been a Bently GT and a Gallardo, So while I have limited experience, I still have to say Mercedes defiantly raises the bar. If you ever have the chance to see one close up, I suggest you do so, most people who drive those kinds of cars are either enthusiastic about showing someone or a complete ***. I hope you find someone as nice as I did.

 

Okay, so flame me if I'm wrong (and I apologize if I am) ~ but how did you manage to get a test drive in a Mclaren? Hopefully, you're not a parking valet that simply took a client's car out for a spin; cause I REALLY hate that! Not that I own anything near a Mclaren ~ but I do worry about my E63 whenever I valet it.

 

velocity read the words he works at a shop.

 

Well 20,000 to the average Ferrari Bentley Maybach owner is nothing but a little change under the sofa. Well, maybe not that small but about like what the regular smoe joe pays for a tune up on a "normal" car. Then add in that there aren't exactly a bunch of Ferrari mechanics running around in this world, let alone the US. Not to mention, those brake pads are probably are specially made for that car only and thus no part sharing.

And to be honest, if I bought a $300,000 car and the up keep was the price of a everyday Ford Focus or something of the likes, I would be very suspicious of the actual quality of the car and would question the reason it would cost $300,000 in the firsts place.

Also many people buy expensive cars to show off. Some buy them because it's a true interest. And some buy them because it gets them attention, even though they may or may not know anything about what they just bought or someone them don't care as long as it cost a lot and get alot of attention.

 

yeah, i was reading the wiki entry for this car, apparently theres only a couple thousand in the world.

I was lucky enough to see one in person. Quite an amazing car. I was surprised to see one here at a dealership (Mercedes of Cary). I guess there must be enough money in the research triangle area to justify having one. I was talking to the guy that maintains them (Same deal as the original poster, only one person at the dealership is allowed to touch it) and he said it was a $50,000 to test drive it.

 

That should make up for any depreciation that's happening

 

Out of the 85 Techs we have at our shop only two are allowed to drive SLRs and only one is allowed to work on it. And to do brake pads and rotors all around on a SLR is about $40k!! But i dout there is a SLR out there that has enough miles on it to wear the brake pads & rotors..

 

unless they was track racing an Enzo.

 

lmao lol

 

I work at a Mercedes Benz dealer in TN, and they have an SLR McLaren in the showroom. Some guy bought it as an investment for his grandson (who is 3 at the moment...) and just leaves it in the showroom. It hasn't been driven. So, this 3 year old already has a better car than 98% of Americans... :P Well, he doesn't technically own it, but the money invested in it is intended for him.