When it comes to buying a supercar that’ll get your blood pumping harder than if you were being chased by a particularly angry bear, one of the best on the market is the recently released Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. Designed as the no-holds-barred version of Chevy’s ultimate performance car, which apparently still wasn’t hardcore enough, the ZR1X adds a single electric motor to the already-mental twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8.
With 1,250 combined horsepower, and an aggressive aero package that ensures your face will end up in your neighbor’s mailbox if you attempt to take a corner at the car’s potential, few road-going supercars can beat it when it comes to outright performance.
But, then again, who cares about all that pace when you can only cruise at a maximum of 80 mph most of the time. A more daily focused machine will provide better results for most, which is why you should consider this British bruiser instead.
The McLaren 720S Is A Weapon In Its Own Right
2023 McLaren 720S front quarterMcLaren
Let’s get this out of the way early doors; the McLaren 720S is nowhere near as powerful as the ‘Vette. It isn’t exactly a slouch though, as its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 fires 710 hp to the rear wheels via a rapid-fire seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. When combined with its lightweight 3,100-lb figure, you’ll find yourself reaching 60 mph in a blazing 2.9 seconds. That’s more than enough speed for most on a public road, and the McLaren’s grunt figure makes it much more manageable across a range of conditions.
It also gets a carbon fiber monocoque that not only helps keep weight down, but also stiffens up the entire car to ensure it handles with devastating precision. The tougher framework also provides greater feedback to the driver, which helps to enhance confidence when behind the wheel. Don’t forget, it’s built by a company that has won over 200 Formula 1 races, as well as 12 Drivers’ and 10 Constructors’ Championships within the category over the last six decades. It knows how to build not only a quick car, but one that works with its driver to ensure its potential can be exploited.
The 720S’ Advanced Suspension Setup Illustrates This
Orange 2023 McLaren 720S tail shotMcLaren
2017-2023 McLaren 720S
Engine
4.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission
Seven-speed Auto
Power
710 hp
Torque
568 lb-ft
0-60 mph
2.8 seconds
Used Value
$180,000–$330,000
No other feature of the 720S better illustrates its versatility than its Pro-Active Chassis Control II suspension setup. It uses a traditional double-wishbone arrangement as its base, but the real cool stuff starts with the lack of any anti-roll bars. Instead, the 720S uses a set of hydraulic accumulators that feature pressurized oil and nitrogen to provide the damping needed under heavy cornering, or simple cruising. Due to essentially being big slabs of metal, it can be difficult to set up an anti-roll bar to provide compliance for road use, but also the stiffness needed to make a car more agile and responsive for the track.
The hydraulic system on the 720S provides the best of both worlds, as accelerometers can measure the speed and force with which the car is cornering at all times. The oil within the system can then be pumped to whichever corner it’s needed, providing greater damping while also keeping the car perfectly flat through the turns, or under acceleration and braking. The oil and nitrogen are separated by a flexible membrane, with the latter used essentially as a cushion that provides further damping for the whole system when under pressure.
The whole thing works seamlessly, and means the car handles like a true hardened supercar when being driven with anger, but like a Bentley when you’re cruising along. As a result, the Macca works excellently as a usable daily driver, especially when you factor in its focused but comfortable cabin.
A Used 720S Is Still Expensive
2023 McLaren 720S interiorMcLaren
The fact that you’ll have a McLaren on your hands enhances its charm even further. Let’s face it, the McLaren badge is much cooler than that of Chevrolet’s. Thanks to depreciation, you can also have a used 720S for around the same money as a Corvette ZR1X. Before the 720S went out of production in 2023, you’d have to splash out a cool $299,000 to add one to your collection, and that was before you even thought about checking out the options menu.
As standard, you get the usual creature comforts such as climate control, cruise control, and satellite navigation. Search around, and you’ll be able to find examples equipped with leather seats that utilize a memory function, too.
In 2026, you can pick up a tidy example with around 25,000 miles on the clock for the $200,000 mark, which is a little cheaper than the ‘Vette. A $100k saving in just a few years isn’t bad going, right? If you fancy getting a less well-traveled specimen, you’ll need to up your budget closer to the $220k area. This will net you a car with between 15,000 and 20,000 miles on the clock, which can be a little easier to swallow when purchasing a second-hand, highly-strung supercar such as this.
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There Are Mechanical Elements You’ll Need To Consider Before Buying
2023 McLaren 720S rearMcLaren
Having already established that the 720S has what it takes to combine thrilling performance with being a versatile daily driver, we get to the tough bit. The McLaren is still a focused supercar, and is adorned with one of the most highly regarded badges across the automotive landscape. This means that the complex and expensive parts cost a fortune to replace in any case, but the McLaren tax means they’ll be even more, again.
For the most part, the most common issues you’ll run into are more inconvenient than anything else. The 720S has dihedral doors that open upwards, which means its gas-pressure struts need to be powerful to keep the door from slamming back shut. These struts are known to fail, which can make climbing in and out of the car a bit of a nightmare. They can be costly to repair, too, with $1,200 to $2,400 needed to either repair or fully recondition the struts. Furthermore, the 720S infotainment system is known to be glitchy at times, which will need a factory reset to rectify.
The 720S’ Suspension Can Be Demanding
2023 McLaren 720S rear wheel shotCars and Bids
And then we get to the mechanicals. The pressurized accumulators that allow the 720S’ impressive suspension setup to work can fail over time, which will cause the vehicle to suffer from a choppy ride, as well as bombard the driver with warning lights. Replacing them can cost around $3,000, though further suspension issues will escalate the bill further. They tend to fail between 30,000 and 50,000 miles, so be sure to check the suspension is working as expected on any used examples you examine.
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Additionally, the 720S’ V8 is known to give its coolant hoses and pipes a hard time, with the components eventually giving out and causing coolant leaks. Should these be ignored, and the engine doesn’t get enough cooling, an eventual engine failure will leave you with a bill upwards of $20k for a replacement powerplant. The hoses can cost up to $1,000 to replace, which is a much more palatable amount.
Servicing Your McLaren Won’t Be Cheap
2023 McLaren 720S V8 engine TOPMcLaren
With those elements out of the way, there are other important costs to keep in mind. Supercars like the 720S need frequent servicing to make sure they’re on top form, with jobs such as full fluid changes being critical to ensure their mechanical parts can work to their potential over longer periods. That twin-turbo V8 is worked extremely hard, so ensuring the spark plugs – and various filters that keep the engine clean – are routinely swapped out is essential.
The same goes for the sticky tires and carbon ceramic brakes, which will take a bit of a hammering if you drive it as a McLaren should be driven. Expect to spend around $3,500 just for a routine yearly service at a respected garage, while longer-term and more in-depth service inspections can cost upwards of $5k. If the brakes need attention, budget between $3,500 and $6,500, with the upper end of that coming into play if you need new rotors. Like most supercars on the road, running a 720S isn’t for the faint of heart, and requires a considerable budget to get the attention it requires.
Aside from the maintenance aspect, you’ll also have to bear in mind that the low-slung 720S isn’t the easiest thing to get in and out of, especially if you suffer from restrictive movement. You’ll have to deal with the same challenges as most supercars, but it remains bearing in mind.
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If you’re happy to spend the sort of money demanded though, the 720S is an excellent option. Not only does it provide breakneck pace and driving engagement, as well as a surprisingly high level of refinement due to its awesome suspension system, but you also get to become part of one of the coolest clubs in the business. You’ll be an actual McLaren owner.
Sources: McLaren.
