The Truth About McLaren Reliability 

If I was ever fortunate enough to be able to buy one of these cars I would be on the phone to this bloke before I spent a penny he quite obviously literally knows them inside out. 🤘😎🤘🇬🇧

Need a 6-month update, this gentleman is so well-spoken and comes across so honest, he's a breath of fresh air.

There have been LOTS of cases here in the U.S. where manufacturers will come up with excuses to deny warranty work and you have to sue them. It's become a big problem. This is across the board, not limited to any one brand of car.

It's not just the reliability, it's the over production and lack of dealer support when you come to sell them. They depreciate like a brick off a tower block!

Have had 2 McLaren's (12c and 720) and never had any issues, before and after mods, over 6 year span. Had 2 - 997 turbos and those were quite finicky to tune. Had a 991.2 TTS tuned by ByDesign on 100 octane and that ran great. That being said, the 720 on 100 octane will dust on that same model year 991.2 turbo w same mods. I have the data Dragy info from previous runs. But from firsthand experience, Mclaren's have been good so far with proper maintenance and care.

As a former factory-trained Honda mechanic, I can say from all the McLaren repair videos I've seen, their car's mechanicals are incredibly complex.

Great content! Super knowledgeable dude, could listen to him talk for hours.

So, McLaren is responsible for their poor reliability reputation and terrible resale value. In my opinion, their engineering and R&D is second to Porsche. This was a great interview and I wish there are service groups like Thorny Motor Sports located located near every McLaren owner.

IMO no brand makes better looking high performance cars than McLaren. At least twice annually, I look up videos like this one, hoping to hear, their issues have been resolved. At the end of every review, I decide to stay with the Porsche 911.

As per the experts experience. He says 20% of cars that come through his garage require expensive maintenance, above the average service of £600.

My friend owned a 650S, had trouble from day one with the transmission. After many tries, and actually flying a specialist from England, it could not be fixed, he Lemon lawed the car.

Just drove a 16 570S and I’m on the fence about trading in my 17 R8 plus. This was very informative and the gentleman were very well spoken. Ty for all the insight. I love my R8 and it’s a very hard decision to trade out.

I have had and still own Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Aston and McLaren…. The one car I’ve earmarked as a “keeper” is my 570 spider. Now into 4th year of ownership and near perfect…. Basically my wife will not let me sell it. 🤨

my friends both 720s and his first 570s is both in the shop, 1 for suspension (720) and the other for touchscreen problems

McLaren's I think are probably relatively reliable if you put a decent effort into maintaining them and take them to someone who knows what they're doing. Looking forward to seeing McLaren sort out their problems and move forward. It seems that McLaren could make their lives alot better rather easily.

I just purchased the 570gt with a full carbon kit fitted, upgraded exhaust etc… The water pump went within several hours of owning the car, however that said… I adore the car! The way I see it, you’re not a true McLaren owner until you’ve experienced an issue with owning one of these instruments of speed. Considering myself no longer a Mcvirgin. I am looking forward to digging deeper into the potential things that can / could go wrong with the car and what upgrades / precautions I can take to avoid them. Your advice has been greatly appreciated, thank you! Hopefully I can make a trip to come and see you and the team soon! P.s my first car was the glorious AstraMartin, loved my VXR.

Love my 650s! Had a rare MSO Project Alpha 12c coupe before. Both 0 issues. Both 23k+ miles

A true expert and seemingly a lovely bloke as well. Great interview!

Nine months into a 2021 720 spider. Only issue has been one error message to do with rear aero, disappeared after engine restart. Car always driven carefully until warmed up. It has been faultless and nothing can touch it. Love it and will be buying further McLaren over time!

My 2019 570S Spider has been a joy to own but I've been lucky. Not without issues, mind you, but a car generally that has issue free. My car is looked after by McMedics/SuperCar Garage but if I lived in the UK, Thorney would be my go to.

My issue is not so much the reliability but the fact that repairs are seriously expensive. If I can afford to fix an unreliable car then great but if the windshield cracks and the company wants $6000 for a piece of glass that should cost me no more than $500 that is silly.

Great video. This guy sure knows his McLarens. Fascinating.

The problem in America is what happens when they need repair or service. Dealers far away, few qualified independent shops, parts very long to get, prices very high. So anything that comes about is a pain to deal with. Its magnified.

Owned a 12c too. Can’t get better performance than a mclaren without going into extreme high values. I’d definitely own one again however I’d need deeper pockets for it. It’s a hassle to own because it does have more issues than competing supercars and a niche dealer market. Hard to find local shops which means you’re forced to over pay on parts and service as well. I’ve had Scottsdale quote me 20-30% more than mclaren Beverly because mclaren Beverly has a close by competing dealer in San Diego whereas Scottsdale is 400 miles away from them.

Funny how most of the negative comments were from people who never had McLaren🙄.Most or the comments from people who actually Had A McLaren Was Positive..I have 911 Turbo now but want move to McLaren, this was very informative video🎸

Bloody excellent discussion - I'd buy a car off him now!

Just watched this again. Excellent

I believed the two exotic car rentals in Las Vegas. Both said, they buy new Mclaren for rental business. As soon as the Mclaren reached 5,000 miles, they basically resale it. The reason? because of reliability and liability expense to their rental business. One reason I chicken out buying Mclaren and bought a 2021 ACURA NSX instead.

One would hope future models will have oil level/age datalogging, because if you cannot see how the car has been treated historically, you cannot make an informed decision when buying second hand. You sit down, check the current oil level but have no idea how it was yesterday, last week, last month. Your only clue is that ticking sound from the cams. Caveat emptor unt la dolce vita.

No worry. According to McLren cult, McLaren are the most reliable cars. They drive it 2k-3k miles a year and that qualifies as well driven and problem free 😀 we all know better. Porsche has 50-100k miles and rock sold. You track Porsche and beat on them back to back HPDE sessions and they are generally overall trouble free. Do the same with McLaren and report back. Heck McLaren has to be taken to dealer for inspection to track their cars otherwise you loose warranty 😀

I'm a owner, they are reliable if maintained properly, I have mine 3 years now.

Gear box oil leaks were a real issue on the 12C I wonder if that's been sorted?

Thank you, great video... I have a 2019 570s spider, to date, all good. It had some leaks and needed new pumps - but Maclaren of Vancouver was great and took care of everything.

Can you explain how he says the 720 Coupe was the worst car produced, then later a subtitle says 720s are currently a good value. Is he saying they are the lowest priced on preowned market Because they have poorest reliability?

Regardless of how good a car is, I wouldn’t support any company who is arrogant and has contempt for there customers when there are alternatives. Unless they change their attitude to customers and independent dealers, they deserve to fail.

McLarens unjustified snobbery if there cars where that good in the first place they would not break down, Lexus can make a car that can do a million miles no problem that's engineering to be proud of not a carbon fibre spoiler

I got my Audi R8 V10 the same time as my friends got there McLarens. My car only ever just gone in for a service I've had it 2 years no problem. There McLaren's always in the workshop. Engine light's coming on. Not starting ect..

At the same time you have to admit that owners who have had bad experiences don't join the McLaren Owners Club. (Selection bias.) If I owned a McLaren it would not be my daily driver. I would keep it to spoil myself on the Sunday Breakfast Run.

he's a very intellectual mechanic

For someone who’s in the market for a 570s spider this is what I needed! Thank you

I grew up where the McLaren F1 was my favorite car. I've seen at least 1000 drag races between stock cars and I've seen at least three Mclarens fail to complete the race. That's more than any other brand that I recall. I'm sure there wasn't any science behind what I watched, but it was what stuck out. It was always an electrical code. Nothing blew up, but the electronics were awful.

Sensible man. Talks at length about McLarens yet drives home in a Porsche! 🙂

This was a brilliant video! There needs to be more actual fact like this on social media.

I wish you were more specific with things but having said that and in spite of that, i have picked up on some things ive found of use AND make sense. Oil! I remember that from my old Audi. There was a lot of debate on that and someone whose driven all the exotics said, theyre all like that. People dont know? Goodbye motor- sealed or not. I have a theory on the oil consumption that isnt brand specific. Youve got a block with a +3 oxidation number that acts like a catalyst. Youve got at least 85% volumetric efficiency on those engines. That oil breaks down, out the pipe it goes. So in amticipation of things, i figure assume as much with any maclaren or exotic. Launch? New? Cold? No engine break in? Well duh? Lol. I do appreciate the cam exolanation. I can see where youd have excess oil on the cam in that situation. Below 180F engine temp? Cold flow? That makes sense. Tires and nitrogen. Are you saying even if you either had your own nitrogen setup or a shop that has as much, you cant tell what your tire pressures are or am i confused? I have heard from elsewhere that part of annual service is changing the gearbox fluid. The content crestor calls it a rip off but i kinda see the logic with that. Is that gearbox fluid change out of engine service or it depends? Im guessing by design and given how they can be driven, things are engineered accordingly and those fluids dont last as long, ergo annual service, change that too. Yes? How in hell do you knock a coil out of alignment? That shot? Did you jump the road at 150 or something? That takes some serious momentum for that. Seeing how its misaligned, it looks like someone was hauling ass and hit a crater, went forward, that gave. Do you have any idea on that? From what youre saying, some of these thing are inline with what another youtuber and owner said. People abuse those things, and dont look into the upkeep. Then youve got some mechanics that on something like that? Its easy to assume and thier arguments of whats right and wrong that back thier "fixes" say theyve got no idea how or why that car is engineered like it is. Ergo, dealer or comparable. Thx.

Very informative. Lots of things I didn’t know. One day I’ll own a McLaren.

A lot of this resonates with me after owning an f type. So many problems, oil pressure checking is a nightmare, my engine needed replacing, the bonnet vents let water in and cause engine block corrosion, so many things overlooked when they made the car . It must be a British manufacturer thing that they cut corners, same with Aston martins

Fantastic video. Great tips!!!

McLarens are beautiful. But their build quality is so questionable. I considered a 570S but ended up purchasing a Porsche 991.2, GT3. After a few years, it seems like a good decision.

ONE unhappy customer will make 100 times more noise than 10 happy customers ever will. Ergo Ipsum: They are supercars, budget acordingly.

Was watching other McLaren owners videos and it's virtually one horror story after another. 1500 dollar batteries. Unbelievably expensive repairs. Saw one video on a McLaren/Benz that was owned by Paris Hilton and after 20000 miles, the car needed $56000 in repairs and maintenance. Yikes!

8 out of 10 cars are fine, but those 2 out of 10 cars per week... definitely would be my car with a $40k bill.

LOL: Did you see the DDE guys customising their McLaren - had issues with adjustable suspension - McLaren wouldn't let dealer touch it. So they were left having to rip out suspension - causing issues so car will be either road or track focused. Couldn't have best of both worlds any more.

I have owned 4 McLarens, 2x 720s, 765LT, 620R. I have driven 30k mi. in the 720s and 5k mi. in the 765LT and 620R. All tuned and driven very hard. No issues. There are two types of people that complain about McLarens. 1. Internet brokies, 2. People that are so picky and think little lights that come and go are a big deal - they aren't and clear themselves.

Great video. The thorny warranty has a max single payout of £10k. I would be interested to know how often that limit is breached.

I get all that he said, but go look at independent car reviews and McLaren Press cars have more issues on TEST in review with brand new cars sent from the factory with no mods and they still throw errors and have shut downs etc (which should not really ever happen)...

Check out the price of a McLaren warranty vs Porsche, Aston, Lamborghini, etc……………

Really enjoyed that, just nipping outside to check my oil level!

Porsche for me, every time!

Beautiful garage! Business must be great! 🤔

Initial build quality is the worst. Gaps and janky doors on a 720S.

Excellent video! Thanks for all the information. I’m super confident in picking up McLaren sometime soon.

For the money they're asking, they should be perfect. They're not. They could do better.

Admire the candor but not sure his business partner will truly appreciate this piece

Very interesting episode 🍻👏👏

The biggest deterrent is competition. The mclaren doesn't offer the exact prestige of ferrari or lamborghini so they rely on looks and performance. The look of the mclaren in my opinion is the best of the exotics, but I can get the same or better performance from a porsche turbo and get better reliability and parts and service aren't nearly as costly. The bottom line is mclaren has looks but looks fade.

600LT £3,500 per year to warranty is ludicrous. £500 charge to take it on track to retain the warranty is absurd. LOL

Interesting video, thank you. McLaren are way out of my budget, but I am a true petrol-head, and I wouldn't criticise a McLaren or their owners simply because I can't afford one so slag them off through jealousy. I have worked in the motor trade for many years though, and have seen some build quality issues with McLaren cars, things like panel gaps are embarrassing for such an expensive vehicle. If I could afford one, I wouldn't buy one, Porsche for me thank you.

I have a GT never had a problem with it so love it , use Maclaren Glasgow and they have been nothing but great , ive spoken to John on the phone for over an hour have to say great guy . just get one and enjoy it , if you can't afford it get a Toyota 😁

what's your opinion on a 570GT with sub 10k miles? (8k miles) i've been told they are reliable but buying at that mileage range there can be plentiful issues for it to be sold so low its a 2018 model not 2017 that others have said to stay away from too

A wonderful video with superb content !

Sports cars have always been expensive to buy and maintain. They sacrifice reliability for performance. That is why the hot-hatch market came into existence XR3i…

Common McLaren/570 S problems windshield cracking for no reason, key fob stops working for no reason, door latch breaking ,window stops rolling down .build quality with exterior panel gaps and rusty bolts, exhaust bolts coming loose, overtime,interior rattling and squeaking, entertainment system freezing up.All problems you don’t want experience in a six-figure car.😅

People who put big miles on these cars are the exception. Most of these cars probably see two thousand miles or less a year. This company makes F1 cars, where one piston costs 50k, so they have no simpathy for people who complain about the cost of parts or service. They know you must deal with them, one way or another. Cheers

A number of points raised in this video are simply not true. I've owned my MP4 for 8 years. I've put 60,000kms on it. My engine was blowing blue smoke on start up intermittently. The car was still under warranty when I bought it. McLaren replaced the engine. When the car was 5 years old, McLaren Sydney spotted corrosion on the bonnet lip. They replaced the bonnet, no questions asked. Although the engine has been replaced, my car has not missed a beat throughout my ownership period. The car is serviced religiously by the Sydney dealer. I would recommend a McLaren to anyone. For the price of my car and the performance it delivers, nothing is in the ball park.

What's are your thoughts on a 2015 or 2016 650S? I heard him say the 675LT has been the best built Mclaren from the get go, but I'm looking more into an affordable 650s convertible.

I remember I got to sit in a 600 LT at cars and coffee and the owner showed me the steering wheel and center console falling apart where the carbon fiber was attached. It was like it was being held on by Elmers glue.

why didn't they touch upon how movable the panels and pillars are that shouldn't be?? cosmetically the exterior with nothing mechanical is subpar... i think nowadays even kia and hyandai beat mclaren.

Valuable upload thanks for your review. Just I'd like to know whether this engine could be suffering overheating issues in daily driving on the heavily trafficked roads in southern France with pretty warm temperature and,sadly,frequent stop and go driving.That's pretty much a critical condition for some sportcars. Thanks for sharing your experience.

showcase the high mileage cars, would love to see an interview with the roughneck living in Spain

I didn't hear a word of what was said. I just spent 26mins looking at that hair cut.

refreshingly honest!

I think the depreciation on these cars says it all.

Say what?? 14:23 How exactly can you over-rev a McLaren? Or is he referring to hanging on the rev limiter for too long?

Why does oil level need to be found somewhere in the instrument cluster in the McLaren, even my Fiat Ducato shows it automatically on every start up 😅

*Damn, man can talk for England .... knows his stuff though*

There’s a reason why they tank in resale value. You can bet on that! This reason McLaren customer service sucks is because they’re busier than a three peckered goat!

Aston Martin> McLaren

what about an mp4-12c for a start these are a bargain wort buying to get into mclaren ?

Surely people with major problems are going go back to McLaren and get that work done under warranty? 🤔 And people will well running cars are going to go to indies for cheaper servicing? 🤔 Supercars aren't Honda Jazzes. They are complex cars (often getting on a bit of bought on a budget) and will have issues that crop up. Porsches have a ton of issues. Heck, their engines have been blowing up for decades now. And they aren't even "supercars.." I don't think many would be brave enough to drive a McLaren without a warranty. Then again, I wouldn't even take a 458 without a proper dealer warranty. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I test drove two brand new cars: 720 and 570 - both had issues during the test drive. Then read the forums and heard so many horror stories - No thanks! British reliability overall is not great! Why be surprised that McLaren is not great??

So as everyone watching this is thinking. This guy is who you want to buy your used McLaren from with a warranty. How hard is it to treat people well and make a ton of cash at the same time?

Basically, Hybrid battery dies after 8 years, just 8 years. I wonder Mclaren or any other supercar maker charges for replacement battery and how long it takes to get parts and repair. My friend is still waiting for Hybrid battery for LaFerrari for 2 years but parts still not arrived and the cost to replace is $300k he was told. Even Tesla model 3 battery replacement is $30k. Any other super car will be around $80k. I will never buy Hybrid supercar unless manufactures give life time battery gurantee.

Modification, unsympathetic driving, none dealer servicing and a few bad cars repeatedly sold to new owners without being fixed.

The head of a McLaren dealer got stuck in his own car. Why are these cars always driven so slowly???

Most people say they’re not reliable the majority. One person doesn’t change that. Then there’s issues with them.

600LT owner here, 10k miles. Downpipes and a stage 2 tune from DME. Zero issues so far.

Good video.

Friend of mine owns a senna. Should ask him about the quality.

Not that bad at all .. if you compair it with the build quality !

Don't know whether to laugh or cry! Get onto RU-vid and note how many videos show McLarens burning to the ground, along with Lambos and Ferraris. I've had my 996 turbo for 21 years. It has 76,000 miles on it, goes 192 mpg if you can find enough road for that, gets 26 mpg at 70 mph on the cheapest gas you can put into it thanks to its knock sensor, oil change recommendation is 15,000 miles (though I do it every other year), has zero rattles, perfect panel gaps and a windshield is $650 at any car glass replacement company on the planet. Porsche has its own issues, mainly are-you-kidding-me prices for options, but they have something that the exotics have never seemed to achieve: when you turn the key in the ignition, they actually run. All the time, at -15 deg-F or 110 deg-F, and there are literally hundreds of qualified mechanics around the U.S. who can repair them if they ever need repair. Like Ferrari owners, McLaren owners simply cannot admit that they made a quarter-million dollar mistake. Sure, they are OK if "properly cared for." But "properly cared for" means "worked on all the time" at exorbitant prices."