What He Learned from Owning a McLaren 650S

My husband actually used to own a McLaren 650S. (Here it is ↓)

I asked him, “If you weren’t interested in supercars, why did you buy one?” He’d been curious about McLaren because of its strong brand image and the glowing reviews in various magazines, which praised its ride comfort.

But after his first drive, he came home saying, “All that talk about McLarens having a comfortable ride is nonsense! The Lamborghini Huracán and Ferrari 488 are much easier to drive and way more comfortable!” (Laughs.)

Compared with the uncompromising supercars of years past, modern ones may be easier to drive, which could explain those reviews. But after driving all three cars on the same day—including the McLaren 650S alongside a friend’s Lamborghini Huracán and Ferrari 488—he found the McLaren the most tiring.

Why the McLaren 650S Felt So Tiring

When I asked, “Why was it so tiring?” he explained it this way:

“Well, first of all, the engine noise. When you’re stuck in traffic and idling for ages, it feels like you’re sitting at a construction site the whole time.”

I rode in the passenger seat a few times and drove it once on the Royu Driveway and the Hanshin Expressway, and I can confirm that the noise was tiring. It wasn’t so much a sharp, explosive roar as a low, constant drone that seemed to cling to your ears. When I got out after driving, all I could think was, “Finally, I’m free of that noise! (゜o゜)”

The steering was incredibly sharp and fun—unlike anything I’d experienced before—but the brake pedal was so heavy that it would be a bit difficult for many women to drive.

My husband also said:

“It feels like you’re driving directly on the road surface. The McLaren doesn’t have any strange jolts, but the Ferrari and Lamborghini ride more smoothly.”

And:

“It turns really sharply at intersections, but there’s no self-centering force in the steering, so it gets tiring.”

That said, he also told me:

“The McLaren is a fantastic car for the track. It’s incredibly responsive and so much fun to drive. But I wouldn’t choose it as an everyday car. Of course, it all comes down to personal preference—whether it suits you or not.”

What My Husband Wants from a Car

My husband loves cars, but he also loves driving. He says a car isn’t right for him if he wants to go for a drive but can’t stay behind the wheel for long—or ends up feeling stressed. For him, a car has to be both appealing in its own right and genuinely enjoyable to drive every day.

By that measure, Porsche makes a sports car that delivers on both. In fact, Porsche Principal (a booklet mailed to you after you buy a Porsche) puts it this way:

No other sports car can head out shopping after finishing a race at the Nürburgring. Even if the number of passengers varies, Porsche builds just one kind of car: a sports car for enjoying everyday life.

That makes sense. I have a feeling my husband probably won’t be buying another supercar anytime soon. ^^;