A lot of varied responses to last week’s E9X question, including a single person that wants to see me suffer (?). But 60% say go for the clean sedan. Stay tuned. Let’s keep it in the BMW family and go shopping for a McLaren F1.
It might just be worth the cost.
The McLaren F1, the McLaren P1, and the McLaren W1
This past week, McLaren let loose that they’d soon reveal a new hypercar called the W1. It’s to be a part of their “1” series that I’m pretty sure they just made up because the F1 already has the best name.
I’m not a huge McLaren guy. I don’t like their F1 team all that much. I have a few personal anecdotes about them breaking often, and I don’t know…wouldn’t you rather have a Ferrari?
The exception to that rule is the McLaren F1. It was waaay better than its Italian contemporary, the Ferrari F50. But I believe it goes beyond that – would you want one over a much more modern P1 (which is a fraction of the cost), or this new W1?
Let’s see.
The most recent McLaren F1 sold
Perhaps the internet has spoiled me – you can get anything you want at any time. Except an F1. Just 106 were made worldwide. By now, I’ve seen everything in person. But not one of these.
They don’t come up for sale often – look at the lengths Sotheby’s goes to feature them. Prices are usually unlisted because if you have to ask…
It’s a weird car. You sit in the middle, flanked by two smaller seats on either side. It’s the first production car to use a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. And it’s power by a 618-horsepower BMW S70 V-12 (yes, an official M motor). Gordan Murray, the car’s designer, wanted an engine from Honda because he loved the NSX, but typical of Honda, they said no.
Imagine a BMW engine being runner up. Still, no one complained.
The most expensive one sold in the US is this example for $20 million, back in 2021. The person that made this purchase has since put a grand total of…14 miles on it. In April, it went back up for sale.
Fun fact: you could have had an actual McLaren F1 car for less than a million a decade ago.
You can buy a McLaren P1 all day
McLaren would wait many years to produce a successor, but unlike the original, I believe the P1’s competitors were better cars.
375 were produced, and though rarity doesn’t make a car special, I find it odd that you can easily find one of these for sale on any given Sunday.
The nicest ones go for $2 million, but you can easily find ones for $1.5. The car’s biggest sin, in my eyes, is that it pretty much looks like every other McLaren. There was no mistaking an F1, and there still isn’t.
Do you want a McLaren W1?
Probably. But I also believe there’s a supercar problem. When I’m with something like a Ferrari Daytona, it’s obvious that it’s a special car. But regular cars aren’t shaped like boxes anymore. Think of a Ferrari 348 vs a Honda Accord in 1991 – the different is striking. In 2024, it’s a different world.
But here comes the W1. It’ll be revealed on October 6th, and I have no images of it yet. No doubt, it’ll cost less than the $20 million price tag of the F1.
So this might be the rare time when I say the older car is worth the price. There’s nothing like an F1. Perhaps the new car will change my mind.
Will it change yours?
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