Legendary MP4-12C has now dropped below £ 70,000, but details matter
I’m going to hang in there and assume the showrooms reopened last Monday and since then everyone has been seized with the idea of spoiling themselves and buying something outrageous. What could tempt you? How about a McLaren MP4-12C?
As with a used car at any price, but especially with something as expensive and rarefied as a 12C, details matter. Our find is a 2012 car with the upgraded engine (616 hp) and all the software improvements that early models should have had. That said, the changes were thankfully applied retrospectively by McLaren to previous cars.
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Our 12C has driven 40,000 miles, which is more than most, but it has a full McLaren service history and only one former keeper. Blue isn’t the most exciting color, but on the other hand, it’s a rare shade that won’t attract unwanted attention, if at all possible.
When new, including the £ 20,000 of extras its buyer chose, this car costs around £ 190,000, so paying £ 69,995 certainly isn’t a bad saving.
Granted, the 12C is overshadowed by more recent McLaren models, most notably the 720S. However, an example of one of them in 2018 will cost you twice as much as our discovery.
If you’re tempted by the idea of owning a 12C, it’s worth checking out during your test drive that its lights don’t suddenly come on. It’s alarming when this happens, but stopping and restarting the car after a few minutes should ensure they come out and stay.
Also give the hydraulic suspension a thorough training: the accumulator can fail, although it’s not expensive to replace – at least in McLaren terms.
Ariel Atom 3.5 £ 34,000: If you want to go wild, why not try this Ariel Atom 2012? It might have been the base model in the lineup, with its 245 horsepower 2.0-liter Honda engine, but it has the stiffer Mk3.5 chassis for even more driving feel. Our example from 2012 did 12,000 miles, which is a lot of flies in the teeth.
Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon 4.2TD VX £ 15,990: The Amazon is a bombproof 4×4, so the 130,000 miles in this 2002 example is nothing. It has a good service history and a new cambelt, so just check that the gearbox shifts smoothly, the EGR valve has not been plugged and it will enter all of its suspension settings.
Jaguar XK8 £ 7,995: Old Jaguars never lose their appeal, especially the beautiful XK8s. Finished in sapphire blue, this 2002 coupe has driven 90,000 miles and has a full service history. In addition, its previous owner took care of common issues with the rear subframe, suspension arms and floor.
Ford Focus RS Mountune £ 25,995: It’s certainly outrageous, but this fiercely fast Ford can still be a family workaholic. Our 2016 car has 24,000 miles, a previous keeper and a full Ford service history. It has had a performance upgrade, but that doesn’t worry us because it’s from Mountune.
Auction watch
Peugeot 106 Rallye: Who would keep a Peugeot 106 Rallye for 25 years but hardly drive it? This 100-horsepower pocket rocket (which was pretty impressive for a 1.3-liter engine at the time) only covered 14,000 miles. It looks pretty in the photos, and indeed the auction company described it as very clean (the business speaks for a good condition). The 106 Rallye only weighed 825kg, but all cars were lighter before safety was invented anyway. For example, the 130 hp Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 weighed only 50 kg more. Only 1,000,106 rallies have made it to the UK, and at the end of last year there were only 117 registered. This one made £ 12,258.
Future classic
BMW 1 Series M Coupe £ 54,995: The limited edition hot-cut version of the 1 Series cost £ 40,000 when new in 2011, so it looks like prices for this classic horse have improved. There are cheaper ones, although they’re not less than around £ 35,000, but they tend to have higher mileage, spotty service histories, and black or white paint. This model is a lesson in how doing such things pays off in the long run: our chosen example has Valencia Orange paintwork, 17,000 miles, a full history of BMW service and all the essentials. It’s a shame that, to preserve its value, it hardly ever spins a wheel.
Clash of classifieds
In short: Can you find me a car with a lot of modern technology for £ 15,000?
Lexus IS 300h £ 15,000
Jaguar XF 2.0d Wallet £ 11,000
Felix Page: Few brands are as synonymous with cutting edge technology as Lexus and, luckily for us, few are as affected by such steep depreciation curves. Here’s a sleek sedan that your neighbors will believe is brand new, and with each option checked, you could probably convince yourself too.
Max Adams: A strong depreciation? You want the Jaguar XF, mate. Not only that, but also my high-end portfolio example is a special offer with 10.0 inch infotainment screen, full smartphone capabilities, 360 degree camera, automatic parking, digital instrument display , heated seats …
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-23 05:01:24
