88 Shame on Ferrari, shame on McLaren

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Last weeks Top Gear episode revealed just how cowardly and insane are the people who run Ferrari and McLaren.

It is known for years that certain car-makers take TV tests too seriously.
Ferrari has dragged a team of factory mechanics along with their media cars, just to make sure all suspension and tyre settings are dialed-in perfectly for whatever track the magazine or TV show had chosen for testing.

McLaren have been using "media test enhancement tactics" of their own. In late 2014, when Porsche 918 beat McLaren P1 in an EVO test around Anglesey, McLaren quickly stepped in with a set of more sticky tyres and offered an extra session with the car, just to make sure the P1 gets the last hooray over Porsche.

None of this, however, compares to the incredible depths of shamelessness and the diva-like demands Ferrari and McLaren were willing to make, when TopGear insisted on taking their cars around track.

It turns out that McLaren did not allow TopGear test P1 on their own test track (which happens to be Top Gear track), because they are afraid that Porsche 918 may be quicker, due to some of the slower corners and all wheel drive.

This is McLaren openly admitting that they are scared of competing with 918, because they think they will lose.

Ferrari, on the other hand, will not provide a LaFerrari, because, according to Jeremy Clarkson, "they are not interested in speed, laptimes or 0 to 60".

Not only is the most iconic performance car manufacturer not interested in performance and speed, they are also making sure that none of their VIP customers are interested as well, by threatening that whoever lends TopGear a LaFerrari, will be barred from ever being able to buy a limited edition Ferrari.

If I was Ferrari VIP customer, I would be insulted by this. I would feel betrayed and would offer my Ferrari to TopGear immediately.

If the mere assurance that their car doesn't get beaten on TopGear is worth more to Ferrari than their most loyal customers, this kind of loyalty is clearly not the kind worth keeping.

The underlying message in all of this is that Ferrari and McLaren do not believe in their products. Unlike Porsche, they are not confident about what they have built.

Empty words and opinions do not make history, facts do. So far the facts tell us that the fastest hypercar in this company is the Porsche 918. And this is not my opinion - this is the truth.

10y ago by FastestLaps
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Fastedee  8y ago

What is strange is McClaren and Ferraris are dynamically very good cars more than àrt. Now the 8c was art but a V6 Camaro 1LE would leave it for dead on any track. Yet Alfa allowed it to be tested.McClaren does it for publicity but Ferrari? They got more demand than supply.


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Flabernat  10y ago

Porsche is really bold with the 918, and for good reason, they have set how many lap records now??? Ferrari are just sissies, and McLaren, well, at least they showed up at Laguna Seca when a customer offered his P1 for a direct comparison... :)
Link in case y'all missed it; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fnTZKvX5jg


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196ss  10y ago

Looks like the difference in acceleration numbers is not very big between this super trio.
Car - 918 - P1 - LaFerrari
Source - C&D - MT - R&T
acceleration
0-60 - 2,2 - 2,6 - 2,4
0-100 - 4,9 - 4,7 - 4,7
0-130 - 7,9 - 7,4 - 7,5
0-150 - 10,5 - 9,9 - 9,8
1/4mile - 9,8@145 - 9,8@149 - 9,7@149
60-0 - 88 - 95 - NA
70-0 - 142 - NA - 136
100-0 - 233 - 250 - NA
Top speed - 216 - 217 - 218


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BR2+  10y ago

So then how would you interpret McLaren Admitting they are scared? And Ferraris refusal?...

Theres very few reasons why this type of no go wouldnt be allowed.


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Iggz  10y ago

Well, in Europe, which is beyond my house, legal age for a marriage is 18 fyi. normally, wealthy people dont have posters of their dream sportscars on their walls unless you are Jay Kay.

Anyhow, yes in your world I must be very childish , especially that my wife is expecting twins (2 boys) in April. So lots of Sportscar posters and pictures of my own children to come. Childish me. Lol

Also, there is a big difference between statements and interpretations. McLaren acted in a way or refused to compete against Porsche. Them being scared of Porsche is an interpretation by people like yourself.


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BR2+  10y ago

LOL He thinks im Amuuuurican!!! LOL

You must think Ferrari is Chinese..

And please enlighten me on what i can and cant afford would you since you seem to know what my income is?..

And fyi, Depending on what country you are from, Children can get married, Maybe not your country, But theres a whole world out there beyond your house.

And yes, one can be in a relationship without sex, Nothing odd bout that, EVERYONE has done it, And people still do, All relationships arent boiled on by sex.


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Iggz  10y ago

@ BR2 not sure you are aware of the fact that children are not allowed to get married. Well, maybe you did inofficially as its common practice in hillbilly land where u seem to be coming from. Holding hands with your wife, looking at posters of sportscars on your wall you cant afford.

I admit its a bit sentimental but thats what newlyweds normally do - they post pictures of wedding and honeymoon (nothing kinky) . Didnt expect this, Coming from someone who believes in romantic partnerships without sex - very odd.. Lol


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BR2+  10y ago

Hey man, Having pictures of ones wedding on the walls is very childish....

Its right in the article, Ferrari is no different, Rather then say it they take to the extreme measures, Aka threats, Sending security guards, Multiple cars for a test, Engineers for a car, What does Porsche send?.....The car..

It turns out that McLaren did not allow TopGear test P1 on their own test track (which happens to be Top Gear track), because they are afraid that Porsche 918 may be quicker, due to some of the slower corners and all wheel drive.


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Iggz  10y ago

..that reminds me, the F40 was replaced with Lil Kim showing off her boobs when I was 15. That had to go shortly after with my first longer term girlfriend (to pretend i aint a dirty boy :)) totally off topic I know, but so nostalgic I had to mention it.. But no i don't put car posters on my walls, cause that would make me go in circles and through puberty again .


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Iggz  10y ago

@ BR2 Dating without putting out wasnt me. Anyhow, my last Ferrari poster was when I was 14 in 93. An F40. Now, I have my wedding pics all around the house. Also picture of my dog, mother in law and Barry Gibb from BeeGees..thats my wife's as she's a big fan (honestly not mine).

Back to topic, please show me where McLaren says they are scared off Porsche ??


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BR2+  10y ago

...There advertising for themselves? lol

And look how successful Jay Kay is.

There is nothing at all childish or immature with having a poster of a car on the wall, I dont even know how you can say that, If you like cars, You will at one point had one, Or still have one, Or many, Hell i like anime and have a portrait on my wall, My wife loves it. And if were gonna talk childish, Ferrari would be at the top, For examples aid down below.

Also, Besides the obvious, Whats wrong with dating a girl that doesnt put out? You can have a good relation without sex, Theres more to it then that, ALOT more. That itself is a childish comment, And a bit offensive, Not quite to me, But its a bit of a dick comment.

And again, You dont treat customers by threatening them, Doesnt matter what car you buy, The customer is just the, The Buyer, And Ferrari wouldnt be that without them, And Ferrari is scared of Porsche, Plain and simple, Atleast they should admit it like McLaren.


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Iggz  10y ago

@ Nin yes, things havent been great for ferrari since 2007

@ Br2 the one drinkin tea with his pinky out is RL
What isn't childish about Jay Kay ? He is still acting like an 8 year old on coke !

And yes, it is not childish to have posters of Ferrari s if you are Ferrari. That is called advertising then and not wallpaper..


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BR2+  10y ago

Wait wait wat, You find it childish if someone puts a Ferrari poster or wallpaper on? Wow, THAT in itself is childish, Lemme guess, Your one if those people who thinks he's better then Everyone else and drinks tea with him pinky out...

Even Ferrari themselves have pictures of there own cars on there wall, So doesn't Ralph Lauren and Jay Kay...

You also say that they don't respect the brand(can't quote right now)Yet Ferrari threatens there customers with banishment if There OWN car gets tested, THAT us NOT respecting the customer, And a company us Nothing without customers, Why should they respect them if it's not returned?


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NIN  10y ago

"Would u ever date a hot girl that would never put out?"

But everyone who sees you with the hot girl will assume that she puts out...thus making the guy she's with seem better than he really is.

Ferrari owners don't care about lap-times as long as their car turns more heads from the general public.

"Where Ferrari does compete because its a truly fair competition and benchmark for motorsports is the F1."

That hasn't been going as well as they'd like, has it? (since 2008)

...not for their drivers, either (since 2007)


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Iggz  10y ago

@asdasdas A Ferrari relationship is not a Dating or a one-night stand. It's a marriage. And if you are married you A) Don't Need others to tell you how good your wife is in bed upon marriage, if she cooks well or is possibly an evil bitch B) possibly must pay with divorce, alimonies etc if you cheat..


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asdasdasdas  10y ago

Ferrari's are products. Any company which tries to tell their clients what they can do and not do with their products is destined for failure. Clients make a business. If u treat your clients shit u woun't have any business left. The only reason they refuse to test is they know their cars are a lot slower compared to porsche's and mclarens. Would u ever date a hot girl that would never put out? This is exactly the same. All show - no go.


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Flabernat  10y ago

At least McLaren played ball when Evo took both cars(918 and P1)to Anglesey Coastal.
....Ferrari? Nope...

@Iggz If the company/brand(Ferrari) are cowards and refuse to test their performance cars against it's rivals then maybe their clientele shouldn't respect them....


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Iggz  10y ago

Why should a client have more power than the brand he is buying from ? A car manufacturer puts this policy in place which its clients, if they are loyal, need to follow or they lose priority rights to get limited cars - its Crystal clear. They cant just overrule a company policy and say: ''**** them, I'll lend my car for testing anyway'' Proves that client doesn't respect the brand.


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stfutrash  10y ago

Corvette Z06 is a piece of junk rolling non practical tires! funny thing is that 98% of it's owners can't even drive it.


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asdasdasd  10y ago

Ferrari cars are a product. They are not art.All 499 of them they made and sold. In every segment they place and compete their respective products (458, California, F12, Laferarri)they are outpeformed, oustold and ridiculed by less expensive, less powerful and less PRESTIGEOUScar manufacturers. These 3 are the current 3 leading performance hypercars (Im not even adding the veyron as its more of a luxury GT-car and at least 500kg heavier, oh and suprise - THAT GOT TESTED?)
It's one thing for a manufacturer to refuse to provide a car for tests, but to threaten its own customers to not let their cars get tested is pathethic, cowardly and sad. It more or less implies they know it wount perform up to the hype they've created around it. Mclaren at least had the balls to come out and admit it. FYI I love the F40, F50 cars of the past and to me they were real icons of their respective era's but these new ferarri's and moreover the company's actions lately are just LOL - butthurt and lame and most ppl see it for what it is.