McLaren GT buying guide

The GT was sold in Pioneer, the comfort-biased trim, and Luxe, the sport-biased one. Car Collector International says the mechanicals are identical, so the choice is about cabin and suspension calibration. The same source lists the options that move the money: the MSO visible carbon exterior pack, the factory four-piece leather luggage set, MSO Verdant Theme, nose-lift and Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio. For what cars are asking, use our McLaren GT price guide.

On model years, CarsCounsel rates 2023 the best, as the most refined with the fewest early assembly inconsistencies. It calls 2021 and 2022 good, with build quality noticeably better than the launch year. The 2020 cars, in its view, need a thorough pre-purchase inspection because of early teething issues. If you are weighing rivals, our McLaren vs Ferrari comparison may help.

CarsCounsel does not class any year as one to avoid, but says to bypass any car with incomplete recall work or missing maintenance records. In 2024 the car became the GTS, with revised bumpers, wheels and interior, 14 more horsepower and slightly less weight. That is a different car from the ones covered here. Earlier McLarens have their own pages, such as our McLaren 650S and 675LT guide.

Several of the faults below are recall items, and the rest come from a handful of specialist sources.

Brake line routing

A recall covers rear brake pipes that may be routed incorrectly, so the brake on the wrong side applies and a rear wheel can lock. CarsCounsel says it affects all model years, though foreignautomotive.ca describes only a small group of cars, so the VIN check settles it.

Hood latch cable

The hood release cable can have excessive tension, which could let the hood open while driving. carchecker.pro says GTs built before the May 2023 cable update need VIN proof that the work is closed.

Fuel tank corrosion

An under-tank foam pad can hold moisture, corrode the tank and cause a fuel leak. The NHTSA record for this one lists 2020 cars.

Airbag and banjo bolts

Some 2020 and 2021 cars were in a driver's airbag recall for an improperly connected restraint controller, which could leave the airbag inactive. A separate 2020 campaign covers banjo bolts missing fluid holes, which would make a brake fail at one corner.

Coolant leaks

Car Collector International calls a slow, hard-to-trace coolant leak a known pattern across the M840 engine family. Hose connections are where residue shows.

Infotainment glitches

Screens that froze or reset were most often reported on early 2020 cars. Later software updates largely fixed it, per CarsCounsel.

Flat battery effects

The 12V battery can discharge within 7 to 14 days without a charger, says carchecker.pro. PistonHeads adds that weeks or months on a trickle charge can bring power steering or nose lift faults, and that ESC errors usually cleared with the ignition on for 10 seconds, engine off.

Accumulator wear

Uneven ride height or suspension warnings can point to worn accumulators. The same checklist puts replacement at every 3 to 5 years or 25,000 to 30,000 km.

Kelley Blue Book gives the service interval as annually or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. A UK specialist quoted by PistonHeads charges around £490 for an annual service, a little over £1,000 at 20,000 miles and just under £1,500 for the 40,000-mile job.

carchecker.pro puts four new suspension accumulators at up to €3,500 and a windscreen at up to €4,500. The warranty ran 3 years with unlimited mileage and can be extended up to 12 years from the initial service date, so find out what cover a car still has. Compare against what a McLaren costs before budgeting.

Buy a 2023 GT if you can find one. A 2021 or 2022 car is a reasonable alternative, and a 2020 is only worth it after a thorough inspection.

Pass on any car with open recalls or gaps in its records. The one you can check cheaply is the hood latch: a pre-May 2023 build without proof of the cable fix should not leave the lot.