McLaren 570S, 570GT and 600LT buying guide

The coupe was built from 2015 to 2021, the 570GT from 2016 to 2021 and the Spider from 2017 to 2021. The 570GT trades the coupe's floating C-pillars and flying buttresses for a glass hatch and extra rear storage. The Spider's electric roof panel takes 15 seconds and works at speeds up to 25mph. Exotic Motors sees the Spider as leaving the car's character largely alone, so coupe or Spider comes down to taste. Luggage space sits under the front lid, 144 liters in the coupe.

The 600LT coupe followed in 2018 and the 600LT Spider in 2019, according to PistonHeads. Limited Track Pack and Sport Pack cars were offered from 2017 to 2019 with lighter wheels, a fixed wing and more aggressive aero.

On age, RAC Drive's view is that later is better, because McLaren's quality control tightened up considerably. Exotic Motors calls 2017-and-newer cars a common recommendation but adds that a well-maintained early car can beat a neglected later one. A documented service history and recent use can matter more than the lowest mileage.

Options matter to resale. RAC Drive names the nose lift and reversing camera as extras buyers often treat as essential, and warns that a poorly specified car can be slow to sell. Car Collector International says the secondary market rewards original paint, factory carbon exterior and Bowers & Wilkins audio. Carbon should not outweigh condition, and RAC Drive says to turn away any owner hoping to recoup £20k spent on carbon extras. Browse used 570S coupes, Spiders, 570GTs and 600LTs to compare specifications, and see our 570S price guide for the market by model year.

CarChecker and Car Collector International both rate the twin-turbo V8 as generally sound, and place the expensive faults in the body, glass, suspension and electrical systems.

Coolant hose leaks

A particular hose clamp can loosen over time and cause slow coolant leaks. Is It A Good Car puts the repair at £400 to £800, mostly labor.

Gearbox main shaft bearings

The 7-speed gearbox has a known weak point in its main shaft bearings. By Is It A Good Car's estimate, a rebuild runs £5,000 to £15,000.

Door latch and motor failures

Dihedral door latches or soft-close motors can fail, at an estimated £500 to £1,200 per door. RAC Drive adds that the early touch-sensor opener has proven problematic.

Paint bubbling and corrosion

Look at the engine cover, door seams, lower door edges and wheel arches. The aluminum panels there can corrode and lift the paint in bubbles.

Glass and electrical niggles

Reports include blown wiper motors, cracked rear windows and windscreens, immobiliser trouble and failed seals around the engine cover's glass.

Weak 12V battery

Warning messages and odd behavior can trace back to a weak 12V battery. A maintainer is recommended if the car is not driven regularly.

Front dampers and suspension noise

Exotic Motors lists dampers that leak at the front, along with noisy suspension, among the items most often raised on used 570S cars.

McLaren's schedule, as listed by Kelley Blue Book, runs on 10,000-mile or 12-month intervals, with gearbox fluid refreshed at 30,000 miles or 3 years. RAC Drive says an oil service can take 6 hours or more of labor.

RAC Drive lists UK parts prices of about £734 for a front carbon brake pad kit, £1,343 for a pair of steel front discs and £1,322 for a water pump. A driveline damper is about £1,384 and a Gen3 lithium battery about £2,393.

RAC Drive calls the 570S one of the most compelling cars it has driven, but says it is less usable day to day than McLaren intended and that the build lacks a German rival's solidity. Buy the newest 570S, 570GT or Spider you can find, ideally with the nose lift and reversing camera, and pay for a McLaren specialist to inspect it.

Skip any seller asking you to cover carbon extras. Insist on dry coolant fittings, doors that open every time and a full record of the first two main services.