McLaren P1

[LBC Por Siempre]

Originally Posted by OrangeJuleas

I guess over the course of almost a century (and yes I know early manual transmissions weren't the same as the nice synchronized ones we have today), we have somehow gotten used to the idea of having a manual gear shifter in a sports car.

When 8, 9 and 10 speed transmissions become common, the appeal of shifting might decline, but it is pretty engaging. I don't drive automatics as hard as I do manuals because to me they are designed for getting you from point A to point B.

I think we all accept that automatics have come a long way and know deep down, that they are now just as fast as a manual shift, with similar fuel economy (if not better). They are superior in every way except for excitement. That's why people buy 80's Japanese sports cars - they aren't as refined but they put you in control.



As for the other pedals? Well, have you ever seen a Model T's pedals?



Go ahead and guess what each of those three pedals and the lever are for. I'll wait...





...ready?

The left pedal engages low gear. It needs to be fully depressed to engage the gear. In the middle, it is in neutral. When in neutral, you can push the lever forward, then remove your foot from the left pedal and high gear is engaged.

The center pedal engages reverse gear.

The right pedal engages the engine brake.

So where is the gas pedal, you ask? Good question!



That's right, on the steering wheel. Which means that once you were in gear, you could drive without feet!

And look the way that went. We moved on to bigger and better once we created better transmissions. But damn, that is an engaging transmission. Once you learn how to drive it, you could control it very well. Ford sold 15 million of these things.

The point is, we will lose it eventually and it will only be another page in the history books. But its presence in sports cars is so ubiquitous that we are finding it hard to give it up. One day cars will drive themselves better than we can, and you will definitely have people who miss "manual steering". Soon....soon...

We are starting go see 8 gear transmissions in some cars, for one the new Porsche Tiptronic Automatic.

But Diesel truck engines can go up into the 20+ something-odd gears now.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by LBC Por Siempre

Now did they just say Under 7 minute "RING" time, or did they actually publish a time like Porsche did. McLaren rarely or if ever list their times Around the ring.

They have the time, video, and data. Rumor is it spanked the 918, but they don't want to release it so Ferrari can set a goalpost with the LaFerrari.

[JPxM0Dz]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgMJOPggB6Q"]POV Drive in my McLaren 12C 'Shmeemobile' - YouTube[/ame]

[JPxM0Dz]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48LEh-gv85Y"]McLaren P1: technical analysis | evo DIARIES - YouTube[/ame]

[JPxM0Dz]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ojSstEv7-k&list=FLu3fngdIGYCQ-c7YG0e9FuQ"]McLaren P1: Flames, drifts and an unforgettable noise | evo REVIEW - YouTube[/ame]

[hanabie]

dont know when I will get a chance to sit in there. maybe next life lol...

sexiest car ever produced.. lamborghini meh...

[serialk11r]

Some people say this car is ugly, seriously? Just look at the rear bumper. It's basically just a wire mesh and a license plate that lets you "see the gizzards" as Chris Harris says. Most beautiful thing ever, Because racecar.

[leicaboss]

I didn't really like this car at first (looks purely comment) - but, the look has grown on me tremendously. It looks so lifelike and organic with the curves.

[chrisl]

I really don't like the looks. It looks like it's trying too hard to look "exotic", but it doesn't pull it off the way that (say) the Aventador does. I much prefer a simpler, cleaner look, like the Porsche 918 or the LaFerrari, or even the McLaren 650S. There's no denying that it's a hell of a car though.

[dem00n]

The car looks too busy on picture, it really smooths out in real life.

[hanabie]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Some people say this car is ugly, seriously? Just look at the rear bumper. It's basically just a wire mesh and a license plate that lets you "see the gizzards" as Chris Harris says. Most beautiful thing ever, Because racecar.

they dont have taste, imo. or probably just jelly

[Sonolin]

Originally Posted by dem00n

The car looks too busy on picture, it really smooths out in real life.

Seriously wtf thats the first thing I hear about on the internet

"This hundreds thousand msrp supercar is ugly"

Id bet more design dollars went into that car than engineering on ours.

[chrisl]

Originally Posted by Sonolin

Seriously wtf thats the first thing I hear about on the internet

"This hundreds thousand msrp supercar is ugly"

Id bet more design dollars went into that car than engineering on ours.

That may well be the case, but that doesn't mean that everyone is going to like it. Styling and aesthetics is very much a matter of personal opinion, and people can have different opinions (without anyone being jealous, or incorrect, or tasteless).

[Sonolin]

Originally Posted by chrisl

That may well be the case, but that doesn't mean that everyone is going to like it. Styling and aesthetics is very much a matter of personal opinion, and people can have different opinions (without anyone being jealous, or incorrect, or tasteless).

Yes definitely. I tend to forget this side of the argument when I see a beautiful car, I could never afford, but would give my right leg, dog, or possible first child for