Finally went to see a 570
Discussion
Yesterday I finally got my backside into gear, and took a detour on the way down to Exeter to pop into McBristol and look at the 570GT. The idea was to let my wife see it, but as she'd slept most of the way there she stayed in the van, which doesn't bode well for me getting one.
The good side - the chromatic roof was neat, the seats were comfy and very adjustable, the luggage space was plenty for a week away, the frunk seemed as good as on a Ferrari 360 and knocked spots off the R8's comedy efforts, and visbility of the car's extremeties was no worse than the Z4 coupe or the Maserati. The steering wheel was refreshingly bereft of buttons. I'm not personally convinced the rear storage pod offers any real benefit apart from for small light bags, I doubt the wife would get anything in or out without scratching it over the paintwork getting it in, but probably more handy when touring.
But despite the large showroom windows, it was all very unnappealing. The car (alongside a black DB9) was in a poorly lit corner of the showroom, black car, black interior. It was all rather gloomy, didn't feel at all special, and and not at all like somewhere I'd want to spend a long time. The Maser and Z4 had black interiors, but they have highlights to lift them, a touch of brightwork here and there, some colour on the odd button, but not inside the Mc. Either black leather, or matt black Alcantara, with blood red seatbelts. It felt like it had been spec'd by Wednesday Addams on a bad day. Even the steering wheel was matt black Alcantara, which personally I thought was rather unpleasant to the touch. I thought furry steering wheel covers went out in the 1970s
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
I'm not giving up hope just yet. Over the summer we'll hire a 570s and have a drive, then if that goes OK I'll start looking at some with lighter interiors
The good side - the chromatic roof was neat, the seats were comfy and very adjustable, the luggage space was plenty for a week away, the frunk seemed as good as on a Ferrari 360 and knocked spots off the R8's comedy efforts, and visbility of the car's extremeties was no worse than the Z4 coupe or the Maserati. The steering wheel was refreshingly bereft of buttons. I'm not personally convinced the rear storage pod offers any real benefit apart from for small light bags, I doubt the wife would get anything in or out without scratching it over the paintwork getting it in, but probably more handy when touring.
But despite the large showroom windows, it was all very unnappealing. The car (alongside a black DB9) was in a poorly lit corner of the showroom, black car, black interior. It was all rather gloomy, didn't feel at all special, and and not at all like somewhere I'd want to spend a long time. The Maser and Z4 had black interiors, but they have highlights to lift them, a touch of brightwork here and there, some colour on the odd button, but not inside the Mc. Either black leather, or matt black Alcantara, with blood red seatbelts. It felt like it had been spec'd by Wednesday Addams on a bad day. Even the steering wheel was matt black Alcantara, which personally I thought was rather unpleasant to the touch. I thought furry steering wheel covers went out in the 1970s
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
I'm not giving up hope just yet. Over the summer we'll hire a 570s and have a drive, then if that goes OK I'll start looking at some with lighter interiors
It does have red stitching, but to be honest it was so dark in there I could hardly tell the seatbelts were red, let alone the stitiching.
I knew it was a black/black, but there is black and then there is black. The Maser was full black leather, including the roof, and it still felt lighter inside. I was kind of expecting more highlights in the car, dashes of polished or turned ally, I guess with everything being done for lightness things that would normally be metal trimmed are in carbon. Coupled with the amonut of Alcantara, which really does absorb the light, it was a lot darker than I expected.
I looked again at the ad photos, it looks a lot lighter in those. I don't think the showroom lighting helped at all.
I knew it was a black/black, but there is black and then there is black. The Maser was full black leather, including the roof, and it still felt lighter inside. I was kind of expecting more highlights in the car, dashes of polished or turned ally, I guess with everything being done for lightness things that would normally be metal trimmed are in carbon. Coupled with the amonut of Alcantara, which really does absorb the light, it was a lot darker than I expected.
I looked again at the ad photos, it looks a lot lighter in those. I don't think the showroom lighting helped at all.
This car ? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/
Leather seats, leather dash, leather door cards, I can only see the steering wheel in Alcantara,,
You sure you hadn’t left your sunglasses on
Leather seats, leather dash, leather door cards, I can only see the steering wheel in Alcantara,,
You sure you hadn’t left your sunglasses on
ex-devonpaul said:
Coupled with the amonut of Alcantara, which really does absorb the light, it was a lot darker than I expected.
Its kind of the point of alcantara, dont want reflections in the windscreen of a shiny leather dash etc and personally i love the feel of an alcantara steering wheel over leather. As Justin says, they are stripped back and bare, they are not made for creature comforts and luxury.
Caddyshack said:
Lots of unimaginative (in my opinion) cars specced with black on black with black wheels - they are dull and lose all of the design shape.
Funny actually as black seems to be one of the most “ popular” colours chosen, current “ snapshot” of all cars on AT for sale currently,, 
Do agree with you though, the all black cars do hide maybe not the shape but the lines and detail of the car,,
Caddyshack said:
I think it just became a lazy fashion where people assumed it looked good but stand them next to a car with silver wheels and a brighter interior and you can see how much shape is lost. Obviously some people must love them.
They’re amazing cars no matter what colour, spec or anything else is,, do you have one ???????????Davyt said:
Caddyshack said:
I think it just became a lazy fashion where people assumed it looked good but stand them next to a car with silver wheels and a brighter interior and you can see how much shape is lost. Obviously some people must love them.
They’re amazing cars no matter what colour, spec or anything else is,, do you have one ???????????No, but one of my Porsches is black with black and grey wheels….waiting to refurb them in silver.
ex-devonpaul said:
Yesterday I finally got my backside into gear, and took a detour on the way down to Exeter to pop into McBristol and look at the 570GT. The idea was to let my wife see it, but as she'd slept most of the way there she stayed in the van, which doesn't bode well for me getting one.
The good side - the chromatic roof was neat, the seats were comfy and very adjustable, the luggage space was plenty for a week away, the frunk seemed as good as on a Ferrari 360 and knocked spots off the R8's comedy efforts, and visbility of the car's extremeties was no worse than the Z4 coupe or the Maserati. The steering wheel was refreshingly bereft of buttons. I'm not personally convinced the rear storage pod offers any real benefit apart from for small light bags, I doubt the wife would get anything in or out without scratching it over the paintwork getting it in, but probably more handy when touring.
But despite the large showroom windows, it was all very unnappealing. The car (alongside a black DB9) was in a poorly lit corner of the showroom, black car, black interior. It was all rather gloomy, didn't feel at all special, and and not at all like somewhere I'd want to spend a long time. The Maser and Z4 had black interiors, but they have highlights to lift them, a touch of brightwork here and there, some colour on the odd button, but not inside the Mc. Either black leather, or matt black Alcantara, with blood red seatbelts. It felt like it had been spec'd by Wednesday Addams on a bad day. Even the steering wheel was matt black Alcantara, which personally I thought was rather unpleasant to the touch. I thought furry steering wheel covers went out in the 1970s
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
I'm not giving up hope just yet. Over the summer we'll hire a 570s and have a drive, then if that goes OK I'll start looking at some with lighter interiors
I think you forgot to drive it? That’s what they’re for. The good side - the chromatic roof was neat, the seats were comfy and very adjustable, the luggage space was plenty for a week away, the frunk seemed as good as on a Ferrari 360 and knocked spots off the R8's comedy efforts, and visbility of the car's extremeties was no worse than the Z4 coupe or the Maserati. The steering wheel was refreshingly bereft of buttons. I'm not personally convinced the rear storage pod offers any real benefit apart from for small light bags, I doubt the wife would get anything in or out without scratching it over the paintwork getting it in, but probably more handy when touring.
But despite the large showroom windows, it was all very unnappealing. The car (alongside a black DB9) was in a poorly lit corner of the showroom, black car, black interior. It was all rather gloomy, didn't feel at all special, and and not at all like somewhere I'd want to spend a long time. The Maser and Z4 had black interiors, but they have highlights to lift them, a touch of brightwork here and there, some colour on the odd button, but not inside the Mc. Either black leather, or matt black Alcantara, with blood red seatbelts. It felt like it had been spec'd by Wednesday Addams on a bad day. Even the steering wheel was matt black Alcantara, which personally I thought was rather unpleasant to the touch. I thought furry steering wheel covers went out in the 1970s
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
I'm not giving up hope just yet. Over the summer we'll hire a 570s and have a drive, then if that goes OK I'll start looking at some with lighter interiors
Perhaps consider a P11 car with their stylish waterfalls on either side of the driver, and an analog tachometer to add interest to the interior.
Edited by 12pack on Thursday 23 March 13:13
ex-devonpaul said:
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
BTW, the 570 has a real DCT and only Mclaren do them so they could be used on one side only. Miles faster than the robotized manual / automatic in a 10 year old Maserati.Not sure there’s that much to pick between my V12 Vantage and 650 interiors….
Edited by 12pack on Thursday 23 March 13:27
12pack said:
ex-devonpaul said:
This lunchtime our host's brother popped around in a Vantage S, similarly black on black, but just felt like a nicer place to sit. Easily as practical, and probably easier to live with day to day. The wife came out, had a sit in and play with it and was quite impressed. She even asked how much it was and didn't gasp when he told her, which is always a good sign, although her verdict was "you'd think they'd have improved paddle shift gearboxes in 10 years since the Maserati was built".
BTW, the 570 has a real DCT and only Mclaren do them so they could be used on one side only. Miles faster than the robotized manual / automatic in a 10 year old Maserati.Not sure there’s that much to pick between my V12 Vantage and 650 interiors….
Edited by 12pack on Thursday 23 March 13:27
ex-devonpaul said:
But despite the large showroom windows, it was all very unnappealing. The car (alongside a black DB9) was in a poorly lit corner of the showroom, black car, black interior. It was all rather gloomy, didn't feel at all special, and and not at all like somewhere I'd want to spend a long time. The Maser and Z4 had black interiors, but they have highlights to lift them, a touch of brightwork here and there, some colour on the odd button, but not inside the Mc. Either black leather, or matt black Alcantara, with blood red seatbelts. It felt like it had been spec'd by Wednesday Addams on a bad day. Even the steering wheel was matt black Alcantara, which personally I thought was rather unpleasant to the touch. I thought furry steering wheel covers went out in the 1970s
I do find with my car which is similar, when I sit in the car inside my garage, even with the garage light on, it feels a bit of a black hole inside. However when the car is outside with the daylight coming in the roof and big windscreen it's totally different, you see the texture of the carbon fibre trim etc, it doesn't feel dark to me at all. Fortunately, 99% of driving is done outdoors, so the 'poorly lit corner of the showroom' experience isn't really representative of what it feels like to actually drive the car.The other thing is as you say to try one with a lighter interior; they come in a very wide range of spec, so there's plenty of choice to suit individual tastes, same with the wheel you can have leather if you dislike holding alcantara.
Ultimately it's a personal choice what you want and what makes you feel happy, just that it's worth seeing a couple of different specs, and crucially sitting in the car outside in the daylight, before deciding.
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