Fifth Gear - MP412C vs 458 Italia

peterattheboro · 25 Jun 2011 at 11:40

I assume no one watched this then as it's not been talked about?

Just started watching it myself and it's absolutley epic so far. What makes it better is they are testing them around the Top Gear test track. I hope they put some laps in..

MrCake · 25 Jun 2011 at 11:54

I saw it and thought it was quite entertaining.

They had the same opinion of the MP which Evo had in that it is just too clinical. Was quite amusing seeing the safety systems put Tiff onto the grass!

I am not a Ferrari person but that 458 is epic!!

Dr Who · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:02

That 458 looked epic, no legendary in terms of a drivers car.

peterattheboro · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:22

I was surprised how disappointed they were with the Mac...

That 458 is epic though.

Kenai · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:29

Seems completely at odds with Evo's 'First Drive' comment of "A true driver's car. One where you feel instantly at one with it!", something they described as having 'phenomenal handling'.

Lashout_UK · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:32

Ferrari came out on top in a recent CAR test too:

Shame there was no ZR1

peterattheboro · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:35

Stig has been sacked from Fifth Gear then?

Lashout_UK · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:38

I'm not sure - didn't they drop him after his first shows on it? I don't know! I think everyone worked out why he never spoke

peterattheboro · 25 Jun 2011 at 12:43

Yeah he was struggling to get his words out even on the Car Mag vid.

And the Porsche wins it for me in that vid :cool:

ZG002 · 25 Jun 2011 at 13:30

Topgear Mag rated the 458 over the mac also, Same things pointed out. It's just too clinical.

mjt · 25 Jun 2011 at 14:11

Aren't Ferraris mapped for better performance when given to journalists?

ZG002 · 25 Jun 2011 at 14:15

Something like that yeah, The Topgear mag said the mac was noticeably quicker. The 458 just had a lot more drama about it.

Will more than likely see the same type of thing on top gears new series.

Kenai · 25 Jun 2011 at 14:25

mjt said:
Aren't Ferraris mapped for better performance when given to journalists?

And a lot more if certain comments are to be believed.

DM · 25 Jun 2011 at 14:26

I think they all do it to a degree its just Ferrari with the high profile got caught.

ubersonic · 25 Jun 2011 at 16:25

Correct me if im getting this wrong but having looked at the videos they are both pretty much saying that the 458 is better, but only because the Mclaren's TCS is impossible to deactivate, so a 12C with a TCS you could turn off would be better? I know Tiff had some other complaints about it not being super easy to learn to drive very hard but they were ironically the same reasons he preferred the F1 over the F50...

Fr0dders · 25 Jun 2011 at 17:50

Mclaren will no doubt be hurting that everybody has slated it

I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be a "facelift" version where they listen to what the journalists say and change the way the T/C works, as thats where most of the criticism has come from.

MarkDavis · 25 Jun 2011 at 22:01

Not disgareeing with Fifth Gear's view - Plato is a lightyears better racing driver than I'll ever be - but I just wonder with the McLaren is one of those cars that is simply designed to go fast and reward a clinical style of driving a la F1 rather than a lairy style of driving? The only thing missing from the Fifth Gear review is them racing it around the track with the 458 and seeing what lap times they produce.

Still its a big win for Ferrari and a disappointing result for McLaren.

GeezerButler · 26 Jun 2011 at 00:00

ubersonic said:
Correct me if im getting this wrong but having looked at the videos they are both pretty much saying that the 458 is better, but only because the Mclaren's TCS is impossible to deactivate, so a 12C with a TCS you could turn off would be better? I know Tiff had some other complaints about it not being super easy to learn to drive very hard but they were ironically the same reasons he preferred the F1 over the F50...

This is what Roger Green says about the MP4-12C's traction control on the evo forum:

'All the cars were lapped with all the traction aids fully off, they are all faster that way. The first laps I did in the McLaren had the final level of traction still on, but it interferred too much, so I came back in and learnt how to switch it all off (it's complicated).'

I think McLaren have made a pretty good stab with the MP4-12C. After all, this is their first attempt at a road car in this price range. Porsche and Ferrari have been doing it for decades.

GeezerButler · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:39

MrLOL said:
Mclaren will no doubt be hurting that everybody has slated it

I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be a "facelift" version where they listen to what the journalists say and change the way the T/C works, as thats where most of the criticism has come from.

No need for a facelift as McLaren are tweaking the car before customer deliveries have even started:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=23968

Fr0dders · 19 Jul 2011 at 22:41

aye i read that in this month's evo.

Pistonheads seem very offended at the thought that mclaren take what evo say very seriously.

Given their global readership and circulation figures and the sort of people who read evo, i've no idea why they feel the need to get so defensive and slate evo. Their review was actually pretty balanced on the whole. Full of praise, but pointed out its shortcomings. Unlike that 5th gear test when they just moaned they couldn't drive it. Completely the opposite of what evo said when they said it was great on a track when doing 10/10ths. It was when you're driving at 8/10ths on the road that it didn't inspire confidence.