Living With the McLaren MP4-12C - /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Five days in one of the most interesting sports cars ever made. The 600hp MP4-12C mixes everyday usability with Millennium Falcon performance. We drive it everywhere from town-centre to race-track. And yes, we now want one rather desperately.
After 10 years i finally bought a 12C
I love it
Me too! It’s funny how so many of the reviews panned the car for its subdued looks (which aged beautifully), and the lack of fun power sliding. I mean, who other than Clarkson, Tiff or Harris get to drift all day on a track day? Most of us get kicked off the track for that, and you’re not doing that on the road.
The car is sublime. And the ones out there now are sorted and reliable.
Despite the vast improvements and variety available in the current Mclaren line, this one still seems special in its own right.
+Brian Anderson i agree! aging beautifully and distinct amongst the mclaren lineups
Yes certainly the rest of the mclaren lineup to most people can become confusing since they all have vaguely similar faces but the 12c is distinct, it's own
Brian Anderson even the 650s can't really compare and it's supposed to be an improved version of the 12C. I'd take a 12C over a 650s any day
Timeless design. Front on the 12C is miles better than the half-assed P1 imitation of the 650S.
Fully agree, the three McLarens I like the most are F1, P1 and 12C. The rest are somehow derivative.
"It creeps like a teenage boy outside a girls' dormitory." Now that is a hell of a sentence.
What a beautiful machine: Even 8 years after 😍👏👏👌👌
Bought mine new in 2012 and still in my garage. I’ve also had a 720s and now a 600LT. Love the MP412C.... awesome 👍
Is it reliable?
I’ve been lucky and no issues
What's it like to live with vs the 720S and 600LT?
But is it green?!
Ice Freezer
Mclarens are actually the greenest ICE Supercars out there ...
This is definitely a car for the history books. Hard to believe they got so much right on their first go
Drove this car yesterday in Beverly Hills. My dad owns a Ferrari Challenge Stradale, and I have to say, the Mclaren is on a completely new level. Even compared to a 458 or 599GTO (both of which I have driven), the Mclaren felt like the first time I had ever driven a car. The experience was absolutely mindblowing, they really nailed it with this thing. Well done, Mclaren, well done.
…oh dear
I think these look better than everything that's come since. They are awesome value now if you are happy to forgive its flaws fixed on later variants.
I love the MP4, but I still think that the P1 is better looking. For the rest, I agree. Later cars also had flaws though.
@@MorningNapalm Oh, is the P1 better looking? Is a la Ferrari better looking than a 458 also?
You tell me mr. Dictator, it is all subjective. @@TheG60528XiJinPing
@@TheG60528XiJinPingwhat does this even mean?
Anyone can have a subjective opinion about the way a car looks. So he’s utterly correct when he writes “I still think the P1 is better looking”. It literally cannot be wrong or challenged
Regardless of looks, am reading a lot of serious maintenance risks 😢
It's seriously one of the best looking cars today
I agree!
It still is
Everytime I see a video with Chris Harris in it, I think the same thing.
- Brilliant
This car is very underrated car in 2016
zaid diaz - I would still but it in 2017
Shame the car is very expensive to drive and maintain. It however is styled more timeless than the F1. I wish they'd make a full mechanical one mid seated, like the speedtail. (except for the safety features)The Mclaren GT is a good shell, but dated soon. The MP4's nose is like the Aston DBS. Perfect. God. It isn't going back, it's a step to what a car makes a car.
Got to go for a ride in one of these today, it was amazing! We where going 150 in a 60 zone and it felt like we where driving over water, amazingly smooth in normal mode and a beast in track mode! I don't care what anyone says it is a car that has to be experienced before you can even start to judge it! All the videos I have seen don't even start to capture the looks, sound, and amazing feel of the car!
Low mileage 12cs are looking good value for money these days. A lot cheaper than a new 540c or 570s/GT and quicker. The newer cars are probably better, but the 12c is still an excellent choice.
And much cheaper than a 458
+stubones High milage 12c's arent very reliable
Badar Mahmood
I didn't mention high mileage 12Cs, I said low mileage, but a well maintained high mileage 12C is no less reliable than any other supercar.
+Badar Mahmood low milage 12c's aren't very reliable either. If you're looking for reliable then you buy a porsche 911 GT3. None of the supercars made by McLaren, Ferrari, Lamborghini are very reliable.
+stubones and you'd lose less money compared to a newer car too. oh the wonders of depreciation. in terms of reliability there are examples of 12c's with 5 digit miles on them, so hmm
Every so often I have to come back to this video, peak automotive and peak Chris Harris!
Someday.. Someday.. I'm working so hard to afford this car
How much does it cost?
dbgthasgoku4 £170k (GBP) base but the one tested here is just over £200k...it's stated at the start of the video...
dbgthasgoku4 $Google.com
*****
You can get a used one for cheap. 2012, about 20-30k miles for right around $140-$170k. In your terms that would be £94k-107k. I would give you the exact listing but I'm greedy and I'm planning on getting it within the year.
Good thing this depreciates like a rock
Yes, sort of. Must have not been paying full attention. Always thought it was AWD for some reason. Thanx man.
Maybe its just me but if I'm paying 6 digits for a car i better be able to drive it at least a few times a week. Its sleek, comfy, agile, smooth, fast, sexy, elegant, luxurious, useful, whats not to love?
I'd drive mine every day as fast as I reasonably could
+Snazzy Snafu thank you, someone gets it, im driving a Huayra down the road and some douchebag jack ass, side swipes me, me paying 1 million dollars, ima put him in the ER....and i GUARANTEE you, someone...is gonna be that douchebag and know you payed millions is gonna do somehting to your car...so yes i'd be afraid of driving a million dollar car, paying for this 12c though, i'd drive it XD....if i can ever afford it, which i will....someday.
+Dat Dude Journalists think of expensive toys for grown up kids when they remember supercars. This car tried to do everything else too, and Mclaren owners have all said it's way better than anything that the media said about it. I mean Jay Leno has one and after 2 years, all he's ever needed was to change the oil. So it's low on maintenance too.
Mclarens are unreliable to say the least and the repair bills will eat you savings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
@@matthewwong1326 And McLarens are reliable only the 2011-2013 models of the 12c weren't as it was there second road car after the F1 20 years later.
Bought one yesterday, in part based on this video. Thanks Chris. I love it. The engineering prowess in this vehicle defies reason. I love it in ways that are not rational, and that is why I love it! Also, the reactions from other folks here in San Diego are awesome. Everyone loves this car, and loves what it stands for, being the fastest, best care possible. I'm going for a drive now. Until this car, I have known no other car that causes me to just go for a drive; it's like a sports bike
Do you still have it and love it?
I bought one a year ago and my girlfriend dumped me because she thought it was too old to be seen driving in
You make some of the best car reviews out there. Always a treat. Thank you!
I agree Harris, my '95 Dodge Viper is raw, noisy, hot, rough, needs constant attention when driving, no abs, no traction control, manual shift...I get excited to drive the car, becuase it requires some effort and thus makes me feel more attached to it.
your viper is more badass and more pure than any new mclaren :D
they all have flappy paddle shifters and heaps of safety electronics
Lmao only an idiot would buy a Dodge Viper for that price😆
I think mp 4 12c has a better front end than the current mclarens
same
saurab krishna Could not agree more!
saurab krishna
Ditto.
Its not as aggressive or as edgy.. Its just simply elegant and that in many eyes is beautiful
Controversial opinion! I've thought that too but wasn't bold enough to say.
This man is by far the best motoring journalist on the planet, and this and a nissan GTR are my dream cars. Simply because they are brilliant at everything.
Neil's editing has surely come a long way!
Those were the times.. an excellent Video.
Refined and elegant yet the second fastest car on Top Gear....Those who want the outlandish styling and drama of a Lambo are not who this car is marketed to in the first place
Yet another epic video from Mr Harris! Fantastic, great review from someone that knows everything there is to know about driving a car fast and well. Brilliant!!
ive seen many many 458 irl and quite a few 12c's and I can tell you the mp412c looks fucking amazing irl just stunning
Love the Ave Maria at the end of this film... So fitting.
Chris had hair! XD
Thank you Chris for your excellent and funny review, just put a deposit down on a 12 C your help much appreciated in making my choice. It’s the end of 2019 and I still think that this is one of the best looking McLaren’s out there!
Mind us asking what you’re paying for? Mileage, year... 12c coupe or spider?
This car's absolutely brilliant in every possible way. I'd love to have one, one day. But let's put the car aside for one Moment, who's singing 'Ave Maria' in the outro? It sounds just as magnificent as the car itself. :O
It slides so beautifully... Never thought much about this car, but I think I like it now.
This car is so well built that some owners have done nothing more than change the engine oil in 2 years. And that ride quality. The thing is that this car IS designed to be a daily driver.
you must not know about the mechanical and suspension issues... on the forums some people have spent upto 40k just on suspension issues that keep coming back. and also other various electrical wiring and fuse flaws. the newer mclarens are better.
srinitaaigaura It is British man. There is a video of a mp412c needing a $35k steering rack...
50% of the gearboxes have been replaced by now...
The streets of europe seem so peaceful and... just stress-free, easy going. This video is so relaxing with a great car, soft music, and seemingly still streets. Not the noisy, panic filled streets here in " 'Murica". Maybe i'll move to rome or paris, hell, maybe even london one day.
"It has 7 gears, it needs about 3" that made me laugh hard.
Chris always has something interesting to say and he makes every video just epic because of it . I bet he could even make my big toe worth watching.
I wish these were reliable
buy a warranty
one of the best rewievs i ve ever seen. great job Chris!
I'm gonna get one... in 10 years
Wei King have u gotten one yet?
Wei King so 4 years to go... good luck😁
Three years left mate, I'll be praying for ya
You better have it now
I feel like at this point I have watched every Chris Harris clip that's available on youtube... multiple times..
Only Chris Harris would review a McLaren in a Jaguar jacket. Could be worse could be a Ferrari or Lambo jacket I guess.
LOL
He had to put it on to cover up the 'kill all tyres' t-shirt so that McLaren would give him it.
I'll say this about the boy, he corners with grace and style. His vids look like video game trailers.
Brilliant.
What's the song called at the end of the video?
Little Man Ave Maria - Bach/gounod
Darude Sandstorm
What I like about today's supercars is that each company has their own character. even though the MP4-12C competes directly with the 458 Italia, it is completely different in several ways. In fact, the MP4-12C is unlike any other supercar with it's dual personalities. The reason why it got a bad rap at first is because initially you couldn't completely turn off the nannies. McLaren caught on and re-tuned the computer to do so. since they did, I feel that this is a true competitor to the 458.
Does anyone know the song at the BEGINNING of this video? I must know!
did u find out?
Haven't found out yet. You?
this video made me appreciate the mclaren mp4-12c so much more, thx chriss once again : )
His wrinkles were the best thing in this video. And the Mclaren was immense.
Seeing this thing in person is another story. Plus it sounds like a monster when it revs
Chris, please....wearing a Jaguar jacket while driving a Mclaren.....that's just a nono....
I remember Tiff Needel and Jason Plato really struggling to get this thing sideways on Fifth gear when they reviewed it. Chris seems to be doing just fine.... Chris Harris = The man!!
You have a point there mate. But to be honest, if i wanted all that (usability,spacious,etc) and still be crazy, i'd invest in a M5 or something.
On the other hand, true supercars are something totally different I feel. They're all about the sudden shudder in your heart as soon as you turn the ignition on, the inexcusable mileage, the constant complaints of your dear ones telling you not to drive it too often, the total sinfulness of the beast. This is what a supercar is all about. It's love.
a review that this car finally deserves! great job chris
That mclaren is possibly the best supercar ever made, i own 2 right now and they are my everyday cars. I love the ride commfort, suspention, noise and the way it handles in the corners. You dont get the feeling you get in an mp4-12c in say a ferrari or lamborghini, it is a really good car
I randomly saw one of these the other day. I mean seriously... IN MINNESOTA! I was in shock.
wow mate.. this review was just spectacular, Such a beautifully elegant car. I must say this is engineering at its best.
I agree. The 458 may have more soul and is more of a "driver's" car, and the Aventador may be more crazy and, technically speaking, more advanced but the MP4-12C is a much better road car than both and, thanks to all of its systems, quite a lot quicker than both too, despite the Lambo having 99 more ponies from its V12.
I also reckon the Mac looks amazing both inside and out. It makes a great noise, it's got great road manners, it's just stunning all round.
Great review as always from Mr Harris, wonderful looking machine, under pinned by Maclaren’s hyper attention to detail as others have said what a great car
Thank you, Chris. I have a quite different perspective on the car, having watched this video. I had no idea it was so capable. Interesting.
They have dropped now MP4 part, making it just the 12c. Watch out for the upcoming P1. Ridiculously awesome car!
I love the niose so much, same with alluminium shift-stick in manual cars...
Chris - one of the best videos I think you've made. Kudos!
Production is on point.
Such a Beautiful Work of Art.
I didn't intend to seem aggressive. Your spot on regarding the financial draw for companies to use DSG's. And It has already become the norm for super cars.
But I think the success of the BRZ/FRS is evidence that we are still quite a ways off from there not being a significant market for the major manufacturers to build true drivers cars.
the younger brother to the F1 :) the price tag alone for what this car is capable of is just so under priced! the one thing that made the F1 stand out as one of the top 3 super cars of all time was its HP rating vs every other super car that needed at least 2 to 3 times what it did to achieve the speeds it was capable of. the guys down at McLaren deserve a Nobel prize for an engineering perfection!
Terrific car and I do like the shots of Bristol, one of the most characterful cities in Britain.
Loved the video. Can't wait to see more like these.
The problem is, some people are so married to their favorite brands that they simply lose the ability to be objective. Great Car!!!
One of my favourite cars filmed in my town of Bristol. Very nice :)
with passion i mean the feeling you get when you look at it, hear it, sit in it or drive it. I had the opportunity once to have a little go in it. Performance is incredible but for example a ferrari 458 just gives you so much more! in my opinion!
Chris Harris is some boy. I think the greatest reviewer by far
awesome, profesional explanation and talking about car . i really appreciate this :D
This MP4 12C reminded me a lot to GRAN TURISMO 5.
sounds like a perfect everyday car. I want one!
I think Chris Harris is one of the best motoring presenters. It would be awesome to see him as a presenter on a reboot of a popular BBC motoring programme.
Bought one last month.... Incredible piece of Kit.
For me the ideal drivers car has to have a manual.
But if I was to make an exception this would be on the short list. As fast as the MP4-12C is, maybe having both hands on the wheel is a good idea when pushing it.
My Type R is much slower than this of course, so the manual is a great match.
Gorgeous car. Great job by Chris as always.
Still don't quite agree with his take on my FK8, but no surprise there.
I love watching Chris Harris'es reviews on cars. Great attitude and dosen't diminish the enjoyment of it. I honestly think Chris Should have his own show and UA-cam channel. Replace That shit TopGear U.S. show with Chris Harris on Cars. Pure delight..
Best Car Magazine for me! not too much not too less :)
I drove one of these two weeks ago on a track day! It is the most incredible car I've ever driven. I've driven a GTR and a 458 too on track days, but the McLaren for me personally felt so much better. The 458 is fast but doesn't feel as mind blowing as the 12c. I honestly think people love the 458 more because of the brand that sits behind it more than anything else. Hardly any of the people disputing which is better have ever actually driven them.
…..oh dear
Awesome work!! I am in love...
Yes, but the Aston is almost 10x the price! Wow this McLaren seems an amazingly capable car. Great vid by Mr Harris...
I've been seeing these around LA lately. They look and sound so good.
7:35 Liked that moment so much
That beautiful sound
I'm glad it doesn't look like the P1. This car if very attractive looking, and sleek. If you compare the styling to cars like lamborghini's and ferarri's it may look a little "boring". Once you see the car in contrast to normal "everyday" cars on the road you can see how much nicer the MP412C is. That interior is so elegantly set up too. One of my personal favorites.
dude the new viper is pretty sick
Thank You, I can count on you to put a smile on my face.. even when TV sucks! even after seeing this video at least twice before..
LOVE! The show and LOVE the Cars!
God Love and God Bless the Two (2) trouble makers that make this happen!
P.S. Camera man should get the 599 for a full day! and don't complain about the tires either Chris! you have no ground about going on about tires, LOL!!
great great channel. i push this to everyone i know.....thx Donut
Everybody is judging the basis of this review. They dont like his idea behind driving an supercar every day. McLaren built one of the best cars of all time, the F1, and has a higher percentage winning rate then Ferrari. I think they have both road and track down. I know a guy that has a Mercedes SLR, Nissan GT-R, Bugatti Veyron, and this, the McLaren MP4-12C and drives one of them every day. He does not have a dedicated DD. He drives everything more than the GTR, so this review is a great idea!
Great video, beautiful car.
i got to sit in and rev an mp4-12c at the McLaren showroom in Sydney - and i can tell everyone here that it is an astonishing looking, feeling and sounding car (the best car in the world, in my opinion)! it doesn't look boring and anyone who says it doesn't sound good has clearly never sat in one.
This is the best video review I've seen of this car. I would love to buy one but that $230,000 price is out of reach for me. I'm just hoping the world's carmakers are figuring out how to copy its functions so ten years from now I can drive the Honda take on this concept for $30,000.
I was not to impressed when it first came out, found the design slightly conservative for a supercar - But watching this review for the second time now and seen a few of them in real metal have certainly changed my mind about it. If one where really rich with no need to make a Lamborghin´is statement, found a 911 Turbos S a little to common and not willing to ride to often in a Ferrari for a daily driver - Then this car is the answer. And the design holds it´s water - Stunning car IMO.
Lovely car, seen my first one yesterday in orange, what a noise they can produce!
What a fantastic car - British charm and world-class performance. Great styling too, understated but still extremely exotic. As always, The Brits are very good at making Italian cars - and usually making them better. This car either matches or beats out the 458 on any track. And, the 458 styling is screwey from certain angles. Bravo, McLaren, the gold-chain wearing Ginzos are wondering where they went wrong with their cars.
This is Awesome look at the exhaust ports from 9:50-9:59 (backfiring!)
12C looks elegant when you see the real car. 458 looks stunning. I love both, but on track I would choose 458. It really makes you feel it has soul and handles relatively more directly and more responsive.
Damn, you learn all the time :) Didn't know that, thanks.
First indicator is the McLaren part. Well said sir.
yes. go on their website, go to configuration, and on options like a chassis lift and alarm, there is "flush-mounted front and rear-mounted parking sensors" (the front ones can even be switched off so that they don't beep while you're in thick bumper-to-bumper traffic)