Snatching Defeat From The Jaws of Victory: Just How Did McLaren Screw This Up So Badly?

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Today I'm talking about McLaren - what happened, why it went wrong, and whether anything can be done to save them.

#McLaren #Supercar #VINWiki

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[JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!

[harveytr]

TVR called- they want their business model back.

[catonehere]

My first two kids had McLaren’s, great robust things, roof came down easy, plenty of shopping space, hard brakes, great steering and so easy to push.

[MrzxSnipe]

I don’t understand how you can talk for 40 minutes without it sounding boring. I watched the whole thing. True communication skills.

[karlsaxton]

On McLarens quality issues. I applied for a job at McLaren machining the tubs for the cars. I didn’t even get an interview because I didn’t have a degree even though I’m a qualified mechanical engineer with 20 years experience working in aerospace industry and was told that they only taking on 40:53 students with degrees. Anyone who has worked in engineering knows that most graduates have no hands on experience and can’t even use a set of verniers 😂

[roelfkromhout]

Incredible that companies will still find ways to cost cut on products with price tags like these. The short sightedness is astounding.

[petyrkowalski]

A friend of mine was quality manager at McLaren for many years and he and many colleagues became more and more frustrated with the continued drive by shareholders and leadership to drive up sales volume at the expense of testing and quality. A whole tranche of the best people left to join Gordon Murray.

[Chigleybus]

It was gut feeling that made me buy a Fiesta ST instead of a McLaren 720s. Something like that anway.

[tinniswood]

Best 40 minute ad Porsche never produced.

[LorraineHinchliffe-vgcb]

As Jeremy Clarkson basically once said: McClaren has everything.... but a sense of humour.

[falgo]

Just took delivery of my 1st McLaren a few months ago; a 750S Spyder and I am blown away. It’s scores an 11 out 10 in every aspect of the driving experience: seating position, handling, power, exhaust sound, steering feel, engagement, gearbox, visibility, usability, practicality, system interface, AC, sound system, the list goes on. The down side for me is the fuel range, and how the passenger seatbelt warning comes on every time I place my phone on the passenger seat.

The 750S has minor software gremlins and built quality issues .. but - so far - a lot less than the Ferrari’s I owned.

[anuragmathur]

Hi from Canada. I bought an Artura back in Feb 2023. Was looking for a Ferrari but had a miserable experience with their dealer. Anyway, McLaren Toronto dealership treated me like a human so I upgraded from a 911 guy. I had quite a few issues with the Artura along the way BUT ultimately the dealership and HQ made my car perfect. It is my daily and for the last 12 months problem free. It’s an incredible car to drive and the brand treats me like a human. Always ensuring my experience and happiness comes first.
Just want to say that the Artura is a great daily driver, a great super car and the brand is fantastic.
I disagree with you that McLaren is not listening. They are and they build the best drivers cars today. Porsche is now about making money and their cars are not as exciting. Their prices now are astronomical and their service is no different than BMW. McLaren is definitely at a much higher orbit.
That’s my opinion which is different than yours. But mine is coming from being an owner for nearly 2 years.

[TheLDunn]

In 1998, McLaren bought up a UK audio company called Audiolab. Audiolab had a great reputation in the audio world. McLaren announced big plans. They introduced audio-visual home cinema equipment that could be upgraded as new audio standards were introduced (like Dolby digital etc). I bought into this great plan. 5 years later the great plan was dead. McLaren closed down their audio operations, and all their customers were left with expensive AV boxes that would never get to see the promised continued developments & upgrades. Organisation that do things like that in their past make me nervous about buying anything from them in future.

[KindredAutomotive]

The MP4-12c is the poster child of “Ugly in print, stunning in person”. Looked so plain in magazines but had stunning proportions in real life.

Next to the 720s & 765LT I think it’s the best looking now. I never could get into the “alien bubble” look when the 570’s started. I still want an MP4-12c today and I feel like it’s only a matter of time before some enthusiast figures out creative ways to deal with their common electrical/mechanical issues.

Compared to the issues the P1s have with hybrid batteries, the MP4-12c seems like an easy fix 😂

[MIK]

Wow James you can’t win can you?! Damned if you do damned if you don’t.
You praised McLaren in the last video and qualified the praise with reasons why. All of which I felt were well articulated and objectively presented. Bear in mind your points were specific to the 720s that you drove.
This video gives an overview of the whole company ethos, business practice (questionable practice at that) and where you feel the company is going wrong. Again all well articulated and objective.
It seems some commenters can’t discern that you’re not a MacLaren hater and fail to see objective analysis as anything other than hate! The joys of the YouTube commentators! 😂

[jonathancollard]

True story; a close friend worked on Macca on QC for the Senna. They had a call to get a customer car signed off in 48 hours and the seats were still in Italy somewhere….. their answer?… hire a private jet from Farnborough and collect them circa £30k round trip 🤷🏻‍♂️…. My suggestion was to walk into the canteen and say “ do any of you lads want a road trip to Italy in a transit van over the weekend and all expenses paid… just be back here Monday at 8am or you’re fired”… cost?… £3k max. That’s an F1 attitude on a Ford budget and one of the reasons they haven’t made as much profit as they should 😵‍💫

[bispal]

I loved my 12C. 3 years and 14k miles. Went all over Europe in it, used it lots. It had some issues, BUT they were all sorted under warranty. In fact, in 3 years, it cost me nothing over and above the services (which were about £900 each). When I sold it, it had deprecated £10k. In total, including depreciation and warranty costs. It worked out at £1.13 per mile.

I replaced it with a 981 spyder. That car I had for 18 months and 8k miles, total cost £1.56 per mile. I also bought an F355 GTS manaul which broke down more than any other car I have owned (with the exception of an M635csi) and ended up at £2.13 per mile.

As my 12C was cheaper to run, more economical, comfier, more reliable and much much faster than its replacements, I bought a 675LT.

I have now had that car almost 5 years and 15k miles. It has never let me down, it has no warranty and the last service was £495 at V engineering. It remains the best car I have ever driven, it is so exciting, so fast, has so much traction. Its beautiful, its British and I Love it. It will never be sold.

I now have a 718 spyder too, which is a wonderful car but there is no comparison to the 675LT or 12C.

McLaren do have customer relations issues BUT that's the management. The engineers & designers are amongst the best in the world and make wonderful, amazing cars.

[davidmwood]

Good morning James; I've never owned a McLaren; the closest I came was a test drive with a friend who wanted my opinion before he bought one. It broke down on test when a hose gave out. Somehow, according to the dealer, that was my fault! Apparently I didn't know how to drive a supercar....erm. One lost sale. The friend's broken ankle has healed, and he now owns, and loves, a Ferrari.

[seanmccarroll]

I am fortunate enough to have a few cars and having listened to the bad reviews dismissed Mc Laren. I bought a 720s with 3000 miles in 2020. A year old car that had depreciated by 40%. I’ve taken it around Europe and travelled 22, 000 miles in it. It’s never let me down however a spring broke whilst abroad, the suspension needle a rebuild with a common fault. Bits have fallen off such as the door handle and the windows sometimes are a law unto themselves whilst locking however I absolutely enjoy every minute behind the wheel and the incredible performance more than compensates for any shortcomings.I bought a new 992 turbo S which has had more problems and it takes two months to book an appointment in service. As your daily, probably not, as a consideration at current price levels absolutely. I would recommend. Great content Mr Jayemm.

[laaamby]

I still want one, you don’t scare me! The aftercare scares me though !! 😂