Value Meal: Have a McLaren

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

You want a McLaren? You know, the car made by the folks who usually only do Formula 1? All you need is exactly €200,000. Or $262,940 in today’s dollars. According to Automobilwoche [sub], that buys you:

  • A twoseater made from carbon fiber
  • That weighs only 1300 kilo (2,866 lbs)
  • Eight cylinders that make 600hp
  • A top speed to 320 km/h (200 mph)
  • And only 300g CO2 per kilometer!
  • A design that looks like it’s coming from the Fulton fishmarket.
Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
6 of 7 comments
  • ChuckR ChuckR on Dec 01, 2010

    300gr/km CO2? I'm pleased to see its putting out that much plant food per kilometer. Thanks to the PIIGS crisis, if they keep it priced in Euros, it may become a real bargain in America. ;) Unless the US bails everybody out with our new Weimar dollars.

  • Tstag Tstag on Dec 01, 2010

    I saw one of these Mclaren's testing near my house recently and I can confirm it sounds exactly like that GT5 video.

  • Banger Banger on Dec 01, 2010

    And on another note, how did GT5's official release sneak past my radar? I've been waiting for this forever! It is the only reason I'd ever want a PS3, at this point. Or for that matter, any modern game system. Oh, the hours I've spent playing the rest of the GT series! The McLaren's $262,000 would pay off my house twice over and still leave enough money to buy a gently used CPO BMW 750Li just for kicks. A man's gotta have his priorities.

    • Sinistermisterman Sinistermisterman on Dec 01, 2010

      This passed me by too. I've been waiting so long I forgot all about it. Damn, there goes $60 and my social life.

  • Kristjan Ambroz Kristjan Ambroz on Dec 02, 2010

    Speaking of the GT5, it's quite nice - can definitely recommend it. It is hardly finished, with several early bugs still to be ironed out, the loading times are a pain and the damage modelling only starts coming into play from level 20 (with full effects from level 40), only 200 of the 1000+ cars are of the premium kind (with the new rendering, which is neigh on photo quality), the AI still leaves a bit to be desired... But all in all it is a fantastic game nevertheless and well worth your time and the $60. Try out the go-karting - some of the most visceral thrills early on in the game!

Next