McLaren 650S and 675LT buying guide

The 650S was announced in February 2014 and keeps the 12C's carbon MonoCell tub. It gets the M838T 3,799 cc twin-turbo V8 at 641 bhp, with an 8,500 rpm red-line, new pistons, better-flowing heads and a faster-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Our McLaren 12C buying guide covers the car it grew from.

Car Collector International calls the coupe the purer driver's car, with less mechanical complexity because it has no folding-hardtop mechanism. The Spider's three-piece hardtop works in 17 seconds. Every 650S Spider for sale and every coupe have their own pages.

On years, iCarTea rates 2017 the most polished 650S, with 2016 a solid alternative. Automonitor reports hydraulic suspension seal leaks on 2015 and 2016 cars, plus cooling problems such as failing radiator connections on some early ones. That points toward 2017, or toward an earlier car with documented fixes.

The 675LT makes 666 bhp and had a factory run of 500 coupes; its listings are at every 675LT for sale. Among the special editions, the MSO 650S, 650S Le Mans and 650S Can-Am were 50 units each. A car without the MSO plaque and paperwork trail should be treated as a standard 650S. The 625C, sold in South Asia Pacific, has less power, softer springs and cast-iron discs, so check what you are looking at.

These are the faults the sources describe most clearly, with the most expensive first.

PCC accumulators

The hydraulic accumulators in the ProActive Chassis Control are wear items. Failure brings a harsh ride, dead spots in the steering and suspension warnings. Specialists quoted by Octane Files expect to refurbish them every five or six years, while IsItAGoodCar gives a 3 to 5 year lifespan.

Hydraulic suspension leaks

Seal leaks in the hydraulic suspension are reported on 2015 and 2016 cars. Ask to see evidence of any work done, and have the system pressure-tested.

Gearbox input shaft seal

A pink coolant drip from the gearbox input shaft seal can put coolant into the clutch oil, causing judder and slipping. Treat any trace of fluid there as a reason to walk away or to renegotiate.

Nose-lift motor

The electric motor for the front-axle lift can seize or fail, leaving the nose stuck raised or lowered. The lift is what gets the car over steep driveways and speed bumps, so a stuck nose is a daily nuisance.

Infotainment glitches

Early IRIS can be slow, freeze or glitch, and IRIS 2 can still be slow to boot with connectivity issues. Three of the sources we read mention it.

Battery drain

AutoWin says the cars are known to be enthusiastic about battery drain when left sitting, so a tender is advised. A car that has stood deserves a closer look.

Build quality

Complaints from this period include poorly aligned panels and glass that shattered on its own. Bubbling paint can mean moisture in the composite.

Routine servicing is budgeted at roughly $1,500 to $3,000 by AutoWin, with oil changes at $500 to $1,000. Kelley Blue Book lists a 10,000-mile or 12-month interval, with gearbox fluid refreshed at 30,000 miles or 3 years.

Repair figures from IsItAGoodCar are in pounds: a specialist accumulator set runs £1,500 to £1,800, and dealers charge £3,000 or more. Repairing the gearbox input shaft seal costs £800 to £3,000, a clutch rebuild £4,000 to £6,000 and a nose-lift motor repair £1,000 to £2,000.

McLaren's warranty is 3 years with unlimited mileage and can be extended in 12 or 24 month steps up to 12 years. AutoWin recommends the carbon-ceramic brakes if you plan to track the car.

Find a 2017 650S with a complete Retailer service history, or an earlier car with documented suspension and cooling work. The coupe is the simpler car mechanically, while the Spider needs its roof tested. The 675LT is the track-focused choice. McLaren vs Ferrari is the comparison if you are weighing rivals.

Insist on a pressure-tested hydraulic system and a build sheet that matches the model being sold. Then ask for proof of when the accumulators were last refurbished, since that bill is coming on any car that cannot show it.