When purchased: May 2017
From: Hampshire Classics
Price: £300,000
Ext colour: Chicane Grey
Int colour: Black
Engine: 3.8L, V8, twin-turbo
Gearbox: Automatic
This was an impulse buy. I wasn’t actively looking for a McLaren and I was not invited to buy a limited 1 of 500 model 675LT. In fact, I had two really negative dealer experiences that made me vow NEVER to own a McLaren.
And yet, here I am. How did it happen? Simple really. The photography of Luke (@HampshirePhotography), and a visit to Hampshire Classics. The Chicane Grey McLaren just looked so good. All squat and moody, lithe and powerful, the 675LT looked incredible. On the journey back to TheCarGuys HQ, my mind was made up - I had to have it.
And despite all the naysayers on the Internet, it’s worked perfectly, starts every time, and is a true destroyer of roads. There are also few better track cars. This one’s been to Goodwood numerous times and Angelsey and it just devours the miles, rips up tracks, and then takes you home in relative comfort.
So far the only mechanical niggles have related to when the car has a low battery. When this happens, the doors and windows may not open properly, and sometimes it keeps putting the handbrake on when you are trying to drive away. But with a fully charged battery, it has been completely reliable, and an awesome car in the collection.
Would I have another McLaren? Unlikely. The dealers are never friendly, you get no real love from McLaren corporate, so you’re not made to feel that welcome. A farcical incident with a 600LT enquiry also put paid to any new models in the future. A real shame, because I saw a big fan of Bruce, and having visited the fabled Technology Centre, you can’t deny it’s a deeply impressive car company.