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It’s been a little hard to keep up with McLaren’s model lineup in recent years but the mission of the 600LT was clear enough: take the 570S and turn it into a sharper, faster, more focused driver’s car.
It certainly worked, as while the 570S was hardly short on driver appeal itself, lessons learned from the Senna hypercar made the 600LT truly special, and it remains one of McLaren’s most appealing cars to date. And thanks to McLaren’s constant churn of new models, it hasn’t escaped depreciation, making a pre-owned LT far more affordable than any brand new McLaren.
The 600LT’s hardcore focus made it a rival for cars like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Ferrari 488 Pista when it was new, but as a used buy it’s considerably more affordable than either, and more in line with other McLarens from the period, or nearly-new but less aggressive supercars like the Audi R8.
The McLaren 600LT is one of the British supercar brand’s best models since its revival with the MP4-12C in 2011. And while its hardcore, more track-focused nature might put you off if you’re looking for a McLaren you can used regularly, the tradeoff is that you’ll be getting one of the best driver’s cars available.
The LT name is significant in McLaren folklore, as it stands for Long Tail, the name applied to a small batch of the original McLaren F1 to homologate it for racing. The 600LT doesn’t have a particularly long tail but the name has stuck for the company’s more focused performance models, and compared to the 570S on which it’s based, the 600LT’s fixed aerodynamic appendages still ensure it stands out.
Like all McLarens the 600LT has a fantastic driving position and you get an excellent view out through its bowl-like cockpit - two things that make even the 600LT surprisingly simple to drive and less intimidating than some supercars. The turbo V8 engine and dual-clutch automatic gearbox are easy to get used to too, despite the huge performance you have access to.
Performance and handling are among the best you’ll find, even among supercars, but we’d be remiss not to mention that for all the 600LT’s qualities, McLaren has a pretty patchy reputation for faults and reliability. Just bear that in mind, as while driving a 600LT might be a spectacular experience, you may find ownership a frustrating one.
That can’t be said for contemporary rivals like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Ferrari 488 Pista, each of which aren’t just brilliant performance cars but also quite dependable ones - but then today, the McLaren is many times more affordable than either. Instead consider the 600LT a far more special alternative to a lightly-used Audi R8, or even other McLarens, and you’ll see its appeal.
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The 600LT was itself an offshoot of the 570S, and while it didn’t get different trim levels, you do get one major choice, which is between the fixed roof coupe and the retractable roofed Spider. The Spider arguably enhances the 600LT experience further, with less to separate you from the top-exit exhausts, and thanks to McLaren’s carbon tub, is hardly compromised in terms of rigidity either. If you really want to maximise the supercar experience, the Spider could be the one to go for.
In true supercar style the 600LT didn’t really get trim levels. Instead, any extra equipment was specified by the original buyer from a short list of colours and trims or, for even more personalisation, an even wider range of customisation through MSO or McLaren Special Operations. The main choice however was between coupe and retractable-roofed Spider.
The McLaren 600LT’s dimensions are:
The McLaren 600LT’s boot size is:
This is a fairly simple section for the McLaren 600LT, thanks to the flat rate of vehicle tax implemented in 2017. For the second to sixth years of registration, owners will currently pay £570 per year (which includes a surcharge for the car costing more than £40,000 new), and will drop to a lower rate (currently £180) from the seventh year of registration onwards.
McLaren didn’t quote an insurance group rating for the 600LT, but it’s safe to assume that it would be towards the upper end of the 50-group scale. As ever, we’d recommend speaking to a broker to insure high-performance cars like the 600LT.
Read our full McLaren 600LT review