This is by no conceivable stretch of the imagination a warts and all form of conclusion.
In fact, it isn't even a conclusion at all. But seeing as how I've driven both the Porsche 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 now, well, it would seem churlish not to offer at least some form of opinion about how two of the world's three maddest hypercars compare with one another.
So here are the facts, plus a bit subjective stuff thrown in for good measure.
One, the P1 is faster than the 918. Everywhere. On paper it looks close enough for there not to be much difference in the real world. But in that real world the McLaren feels of-another-solar-system quicker the Porsche. It feels as fast as anything I've ever driven to be honest, including Honda's 2007 F1 car, whereas the 918 feels merely very fast indeed.
Two, the P1 generates so much downforce in third gear and beyond when it's in Race mode that the 918 driver will not see which way it's gone around a circuit. They, McLaren, reckon the P1 generates as much as 5g of cornering force around corners like Blanchimont (at Spa) and Copse (at Silverstone), and having driven it around Bahrain, I believe them. The 918, on the other hand, doesn't even get close to that sort of grip.
Three, the driving position in the P1 is every bit as right and pure and perfect as the 918's - and the 918's is pretty much as good as it gets.
Four, the V8 engine in the P1 sounds not just sweeter but also more refined that of the 918, despite it being turbocharged (unlike the Porsche's).
Five, the P1 will, says McLaren, make money for the company - whereas, if pushed, Porsche bosses will admit that the 918 is a loss leader, a halo car that has cost the company money in the short term, even if they do manage to sell all nine hundred and eighteen 918 Spyders that are due to be built.
Six, the P1 spits bright blue flames out of its tail pipes if you give it full beans in a lowish gear. The 918 is far too sensible for that.
And finally, seven, the Porsche is just not as exciting to drive as the P1 generally, judging from my albeit fairly brief experience of both. You feel like you are right out there on the edge when driving the P1, especially in Race mode, with great big tail slides happening at the merest twitch of your right foot, even with the traction control system switched on. I never quite got that from the 918.
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Blue Flames
Wrong. Top Gear's film of Hammond driving the 918 around the Abu Dhabi circuit shows the 918 spitting out loads of blue flames from its gorgeous top mounted tail pipes.
If Sutcliffe can't even get the objective facts of the two cars right, why should we believe any of his subjective judgements?
I'm neither a Porsche fan nor a McLaren fan, all though the McLaren F1 has been my "money no object" car for many years, but purely on the basis of seeing Top Gear's films of the P1 and the 918, I'd take the 918 every time.
Poor Porsche fans
"The 918 might be more reliable on the long run for street use"
"The P1 is 20% more expensive"
"On the street with traffic the P1 would not be soo much faster"
"McLaren has not announced its Nurburgring time yet, so it is theoretically still possible that the 918 ends up being faster somewhere"
"If you don't use the electric motor on the P1 then it will be slower"
Face it bros, the 918 is an amazing achievement in its own right. But unfortunately, it is extremely badly timed and faces competition of a different level. As a result the 918 is comprehensively trounced. The only area where it is "better" is where it resembles more a Toyota Prius: lower fake CO², longer battery range...
Porsche did not even manage to sell half its planned production - contrast this to Ferrari McLaren that have sold out before theirs are even unveiled. The market is clear, very few buy a 1 million folly to have not even second but third best...
Porsche builds great sports cars (yes, they do, they do not only build SUVs), but when it is up against the likes of McLaren and Ferrari it falls short.
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Well to be honest......!