This last week I had an opportunity like very few others...
You see, someone I know, let's call him David, happens to own a McLaren 650s, and he said we should go out in it, this one to be precise:
And yes they are every bit as awesome in real life as you'd imagine.
So David met me in some far out suburb in Sydney that allowed us to take a relatively short trip out to some bendy bits of road without anyone else on them. And fair play to David - he's bought a car that he's going to use...
You'll all know the stats on this car, but the acceleration on it is brutal, as demonstrated, I don't mind a fast car, but the punch into the seat on booting it was intense - I think I braced (you know foot on the brake and hand on the ceiling) and swore out loud. And that was on a relatively straight bit!
And then the road, I won't share location, Mr Police please stay away, but it's a popular spot apparently. Anyway David did a sighting run, all good I thought - the sighting run was probably the fastest I've ever been around a bend in my life. My word that car hangs on! Mind you kudos to the pilot for using every inch of the grip of the car, we were scrubbing into the corners on brakes, around the corners on grip and out of the corners under power. Seriously intense and seriously fun!
At the bottom of the hill/run we stopped (and pics above) and as we jumped out you could smell the brakes, tyres, engine... remember driving your econobox past the limit and smelling thrash? Turns out you can do that with a supercar! Good stuff.
And then, and then it was my turn!!! OMG.
Well, you get into the car and that's easy enough, step into the well and slide on in. The doors hinge closed and the last bit is an electronic snick as it latches in.
In terms of seating, obviously hugging seats and sat on the floor pretty much, but I was surprised at how comfortable the cabin was - no compromises in seating to fit it into such a small package.
And the steering wheel... well, I had an issue with that as it felt way too game system, in a good way. Lovely feel, nice size (not too big) and well placed flappy paddles!
So what does one do when given the opportunity to drive someone's 650s, after dark on a road which was all bends?
I booted it!
No way I was going to get the warp speed of the downhill run, but certainly I think I did the car justice on the way up. I know we both stopped talking, me because I was concentrating like nothing else, and David I suspect was going with equal enjoyment/remorse depending on the way I was driving it.
So how does it feel to drive a half million dollar car? Easy is the word I could use, but that's a gross over simplification I think. Considering it's a very long time since I've driven a fast car (not the same as a normal car fast I might point out) and I've never sat in a car like this let alone given it some beans... It's an amazingly compliant car to drive.
Someone asked me why bother having such a fast car in Australia (200+Mph), the answer is that within the limits of the roads, or at least around it, the car drives and handles far better than you can imagine.
Be it booting it and letting it rev, or short shifting to enjoy the insta-power, be it hanging on the brakes, or indeed (look away David) wanting to really press on them at least once, be it turning in and what you do with the wheel is instantly and clearly reflected in the wheels, the car fully supports the driver in what they want to do. Amazing.
I didn't get anywhere near traction limits, thankfully, and probably didn't even warm the brakes up. But to me I pushed on, and had an experience in what has to be up there in the short list for motoring perfection.
And how do you thank someone for lending you such an amazing drive, I'm not sure, I'll have to think of something for sure.
Of course, now my everyday car feels like a tractor balanced on top of a jelly to be frank. So I'm back to sims to try and do driving the McLaren what methadone is to cocaine.. it's a poor substitute I can tell you...
You see, someone I know, let's call him David, happens to own a McLaren 650s, and he said we should go out in it, this one to be precise:
And yes they are every bit as awesome in real life as you'd imagine.
So David met me in some far out suburb in Sydney that allowed us to take a relatively short trip out to some bendy bits of road without anyone else on them. And fair play to David - he's bought a car that he's going to use...
You'll all know the stats on this car, but the acceleration on it is brutal, as demonstrated, I don't mind a fast car, but the punch into the seat on booting it was intense - I think I braced (you know foot on the brake and hand on the ceiling) and swore out loud. And that was on a relatively straight bit!
And then the road, I won't share location, Mr Police please stay away, but it's a popular spot apparently. Anyway David did a sighting run, all good I thought - the sighting run was probably the fastest I've ever been around a bend in my life. My word that car hangs on! Mind you kudos to the pilot for using every inch of the grip of the car, we were scrubbing into the corners on brakes, around the corners on grip and out of the corners under power. Seriously intense and seriously fun!
At the bottom of the hill/run we stopped (and pics above) and as we jumped out you could smell the brakes, tyres, engine... remember driving your econobox past the limit and smelling thrash? Turns out you can do that with a supercar! Good stuff.
And then, and then it was my turn!!! OMG.
Well, you get into the car and that's easy enough, step into the well and slide on in. The doors hinge closed and the last bit is an electronic snick as it latches in.
In terms of seating, obviously hugging seats and sat on the floor pretty much, but I was surprised at how comfortable the cabin was - no compromises in seating to fit it into such a small package.
And the steering wheel... well, I had an issue with that as it felt way too game system, in a good way. Lovely feel, nice size (not too big) and well placed flappy paddles!
So what does one do when given the opportunity to drive someone's 650s, after dark on a road which was all bends?
I booted it!
No way I was going to get the warp speed of the downhill run, but certainly I think I did the car justice on the way up. I know we both stopped talking, me because I was concentrating like nothing else, and David I suspect was going with equal enjoyment/remorse depending on the way I was driving it.
So how does it feel to drive a half million dollar car? Easy is the word I could use, but that's a gross over simplification I think. Considering it's a very long time since I've driven a fast car (not the same as a normal car fast I might point out) and I've never sat in a car like this let alone given it some beans... It's an amazingly compliant car to drive.
Someone asked me why bother having such a fast car in Australia (200+Mph), the answer is that within the limits of the roads, or at least around it, the car drives and handles far better than you can imagine.
Be it booting it and letting it rev, or short shifting to enjoy the insta-power, be it hanging on the brakes, or indeed (look away David) wanting to really press on them at least once, be it turning in and what you do with the wheel is instantly and clearly reflected in the wheels, the car fully supports the driver in what they want to do. Amazing.
I didn't get anywhere near traction limits, thankfully, and probably didn't even warm the brakes up. But to me I pushed on, and had an experience in what has to be up there in the short list for motoring perfection.
And how do you thank someone for lending you such an amazing drive, I'm not sure, I'll have to think of something for sure.
Of course, now my everyday car feels like a tractor balanced on top of a jelly to be frank. So I'm back to sims to try and do driving the McLaren what methadone is to cocaine.. it's a poor substitute I can tell you...
