Ghetto McClaren??

[PonoBill]

Well not exactly, but I hope someone knows the story behind this. The last few times I've driven up Ohukai Rd I've seen a Blue and Carbon McClaren, parked on the apron in front of a fairly ordinary-looking house. No garage, no cover, out in the blazing sun with it's spectacularly expensive bodywork getting oxidized and UV'd in the tropical sun. I don't know McClaren models all that well, but it looks like maybe a 720S, or potentially, with all the zooty carbon, an even more expensive model. In theory, you might be able to buy a McLaren for $200K. In practice, you're more likely to spend something north of 400K. I have no idea how you would get it serviced on Maui, or even do an oil change.

There has to be a story here. I'd love to know it. I've never had a chance to drive one of these, I've had a couple of Ferraris, and between those and my old Maserati I'm kind of over the exotic car thing, but holy shit, that's a great looking ride.

[PonoBill]

So I stopped and looked it over today. And yeah, it's not blue. I think it's a McLaren 570S Spider. Kind of an entry-level McLaren, but they all have pretty much the same engine until you get to the specials, and mostly the same drivetrain. Base price is about $210, but I doubt any are sold for that. 3.8L twin-turbo V8, 562 bhp, 0-60 mph: 3.2 sec. I'm not sure what you do with a 200 mph car in Maui where there are about three short sections of road you can legally do 55 mph on, but what the heck. I don't get to judge anyone on practicality. No way.

I took a couple of pictures--the guy had the doors up and a lot of the sound system yanked out. He wasn't around or I would have volunteered to help. I know more than I actually want to about car sound systems. It's a lot dustier than it looks from the pics and there's quite a bit of bird poop. I think even I would be putting a cover on the thing, but I have to respect someone who treats a car like a car--even something so wickedly special.