Few test drives: Huracan, 12C, 458.

[ajag]

Did spirited test drives of all three last Saturday, looking for more of an event car than the tried and true 991TT, which I've put 22k miles on in the past year and a half. Quick notes:

12C Coupe: Ridiculously fast and light. Truly a phenomenal machine, I can't imagine how much better the 650S or 675LT perform. Great exhaust note for a turbo w/ the sport exhaust, better than my 991TT flat 6 w/ fabspeed full. Steering feel was great, suspension was superlative. Interior is ok, nothing special.

458 Coupe: Gorgeous inside and out, as expected, with a nice exhaust note. Handles well. Not fast. In fact, felt pretty damn sluggish compared to my 991TT and the 12C. It's a cruiser, to be seen in.

Huracan: This was a monster. Great interior, with the exception of the worst visibility of the three. Phenomenal sound, brakes, linear NA power. Steering wasn't bad for electric, understeer was there compared to the other two but not as bad as I've read, though I obviously was not on a track. DCT was great.

So basically I ruled out 458 and will either pick up a 12C soon to tide me over for a year or so, or wait a bit and get a Huracan when they start to slide closer to 200.

[ASAP]

M3 is still a better car.

[auf Deutsch]

New gen V10 Plus R8? ~$200k, not "quite" as fast as the Lambo but 610 HP should make noticeably quicker than outgoing model.

[Brosef]

Wait and get a 488 once they come down in price

[Irishace]

Buy me a 458 and I will text you every day about how slow it is

[gthal]

The 458 is a car designed for the track... not a lot of torque (relatively) which is likely why you felt it was slow. You are likely not pushing it hard enough on the street. It puts up great numbers on the track for a car that is a generation old now... far from a slow, street cruiser to be seen in !!

As a matter of fact, the 12C and the 458 are both running 7:28 at the 'Ring... so, again, it ain't slow

[nicknaz]

Huracan has my vote.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by gthal

The 458 is a car designed for the track... not a lot of torque (relatively) which is likely why you felt it was slow. You are likely not pushing it hard enough on the street. It puts up great numbers on the track for a car that is a generation old now... far from a slow, street cruiser to be seen in !!

As a matter of fact, the 12C and the 458 are both running 7:28 at the 'Ring... so, again, it ain't slow

Like an M4?

[gthal]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Like an M4?

Like a 700 unit, limited production, likely $150K+ M4 that is 8 years newer in the development cycle and furnished with a wing and ugly wheels... yes

Besides, there isn't a person on this forum (who is sane ) that would take the M4 GTS over a 458 Italia.

P.S. Not taking away anything from the GTS... awesome effort by BMW

[evanescent03]

I did a (long, sweeping) autocross recently where they had an F430 and Gallardo. both were nice but I enjoyed driving the Gallardo more. I only really got to drive each for a few minutes but pushed them much harder than if I had been cruising around on the streets all day.

the Gallardo sounded better, felt flatter, and overall tighter. both of these cars have obviously lived a hard life but it was still a lot of fun. the closest thing to these cars I've ever driven was a modded GTR but that was just a mile down the street from gas station back to the track lol. fun experience. I always figured I would be a Ferrari guy but Lamborghini impressed me!

Huracan!

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by ajag

Did spirited test drives of all three last Saturday, looking for more of an event car than the tried and true 991TT, which I've put 22k miles on in the past year and a half. Quick notes:

12C Coupe: Ridiculously fast and light. Truly a phenomenal machine, I can't imagine how much better the 650S or 675LT perform. Great exhaust note for a turbo w/ the sport exhaust, better than my 991TT flat 6 w/ fabspeed full. Steering feel was great, suspension was superlative. Interior is ok, nothing special.

458 Coupe: Gorgeous inside and out, as expected, with a nice exhaust note. Handles well. Not fast. In fact, felt pretty damn sluggish compared to my 991TT and the 12C. It's a cruiser, to be seen in.

Huracan: This was a monster. Great interior, with the exception of the worst visibility of the three. Phenomenal sound, brakes, linear NA power. Steering wasn't bad for electric, understeer was there compared to the other two but not as bad as I've read, though I obviously was not on a track. DCT was great.

So basically I ruled out 458 and will either pick up a 12C soon to tide me over for a year or so, or wait a bit and get a Huracan when they start to slide closer to 200.

I have never driven a 991TT (only the 991 GT3 - which was amazing), nor have I driven any McLaren...

I will say that your observations of the 458 and the Huracan were exactly the same observations that I had of both cars on the track. Basically the 458 looks great, sounds great and handles great - but the Huracan (notwithstanding the understeer and reduced visibility) was still far more exciting to drive on the track vs. the 458...

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by gthal

Like a 700 unit, limited production, likely $150K+ M4 that is 8 years newer in the development cycle and furnished with a wing and ugly wheels... yes

Besides, there isn't a person on this forum (who is sane ) that would take the M4 GTS over a 458 Italia.

P.S. Not taking away anything from the GTS... awesome effort by BMW

I think you're definitely right for the majority of people on this forum. I, however, did not think the 458 was nearly as exciting on the track as I thought it would be. I actually enjoyed the 991 GT3 a little bit more, and I thought the Huracan was the most exciting of the three...

That being said, assuming the M4 GTS is as exciting to drive as its numbers suggest - I would take one over a 458 and a GT3 given its greater exclusivity, and given that it is putting up numbers in the exact same ballpark (Huracan a different story though - that car is something else)!!! Call me insane - but if I had that kind of money to spend on a car - I'd get what I like regardless of others' opinions of my car choice... (not that you could go wrong with a 458 or any of those other cars though - no "wrong" choice as far as I'm concerned)...

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by Brosef

Wait and get a 488 once they come down in price

Now you're talking... I can't wait to drive one of those!!!

[SROC3]

Huracan Spyder

[ajag]

488 won't be down to 200k for years, so that's out. Huracan Superleggera or RWD version would be nice, but those won't be out for a year or two and then take a bit to depreciate. I'm not hating on the 458, it's a phenomenal car, just a generation behind.

I had V10 first gen R8 manual, great car, but heavy. New one will be lighter but still far heavier than Huracan. Also, I prefer the 1st gen looks. Now Huracan looks far better than Gallardo, IMHO.

I'm curious to see how the 570S is, but wouldn't buy that new given how I know it'll tank value-wise. Might be interesting if it does end up at same weight as 650S around 3200 lbs.

Also, my 991TT has full Fabspeed and GIAC, so it's already a mid 10 second quarter miler, so compared to that, the 458 is very slow, and the M4 is a slug. I mainly want something that is a bit more of an event, and is more nimble. 991TT handles great, but that's largely because of electronics...AWD/PDCC/4WS.

[okusa]

For a track toy I'm not sure anything will touch the 2016 Viper ACR.

[casper83]

My vote would be the 12C. My buddy bought one a few months ago and absolutely loves it. It does everything a supercar should, but has one major advantage over the others. The hydraulic suspension allows it to ride as comfortably as a normal sedan. The ride is phenomenal for a car of its ability. You'll probably appreciate that if you plan on putting some miles on it.

[ajag]

Originally Posted by casper83

My vote would be the 12C. My buddy bought one a few months ago and absolutely loves it. It does everything a supercar should, but has one major advantage over the others. The hydraulic suspension allows it to ride as comfortably as a normal sedan. The ride is phenomenal for a car of its ability. You'll probably appreciate that if you plan on putting some miles on it.

Agreed, that's what I'm leaning towards. Not sure coupe or spider. Plus w/ an AMS tune...

[gonzo]

Here in Dallas.
I would be surprised if there's not quite a bit of wiggle room too.
$313 msrp.
Offer 2 even. The answer is always no if you don't ask.


http://m.cars.com/vehicledetail/#vdp...ngId=641551020

[GuidoK]

Nice to be able to choose between such cars.

regarding the mclaren mp4-12c and 650s: am I the only one who thinks the mp4-12c is much better looking?

A Huracan obviously is still the best looking one
(sounds good too)

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Nice to be able to choose between such cars.

regarding the mclaren mp4-12c and 650s: am I the only one who thinks the mp4-12c is much better looking?

A Huracan obviously is still the best looking one
(sounds good too)

Looks are subjective but the improvements from 12c to 650s are tangible.

[C5driver]

Originally Posted by ajag

I'm curious to see how the 570S is, but wouldn't buy that new given how I know it'll tank value-wise. Might be interesting if it does end up at same weight as 650S around 3200 lbs.

I was invited to the West Coast preview of the 570S in Newport and as impressive as the car, was the aggressive lease options they threw out. I don't recall the numbers, but it wasn't out of reach, especially to those shopping in M6, 911 Turbo, R8 territory.