720S - The car that ruined cars for me: one year ownership review

One year? Already?! GTFO 

I guess it’s time to rate my 720S. 

You know that feeling when you’re 100% convinced that something belongs to you? I’ve felt it a couple of times throughout my life, I believe we all do. It’s hard to express feelings with words, but that’s exactly how I felt when I found out about Monster. It was like a lightning strike that shook my body with warmth and happiness. I immediately knew that this car was meant for me. Just looking at the car on pictures caused such strong emotions, “imagine owning it” - I  said to myself. Luckily, I didn’t have to imagine, because I was already in the market for a new car with a very specific budget. Just like any other car I’ve reviewed on here, Monster will be judged based on these main 5 categories: looks, performance, driver’s satisfaction, good as a daily and value for money. It’ll be a long read, so this is the moment to go and make a cup of coffee or tea and sit comfortably, because there’s a lot I want to say and share about my life with a 720S. 

I. Looks

I’m going to start with the elephant in the room - the Monster Energy stickers. 

I fully understand that this ensemble causes mixed feelings. It makes a strong statement in an environment associated with luxury, status and to be frank - with money. That statement is even more powerful and shocking in today’s obsession with the “old money” aesthetics. Words like elitism, snobbery and reinforced classicism couldn’t be further away from my beliefs. Maybe because I’m self-made and that taught me to never judge a book by its cover. But Monster’s cover is something else - it represents a withdraw from the expectations and the desire to fit in and to participate altogether. From my experience, that’s something a lot of people crave - to be seen as a part of a specific societal class. Sure, you can fake wealth online, but good manners, education, passion, talent and determination cannot be faked in real life and they’ll take you anywhere you want to go. I’m a living proof of that. 

So, yes, I don’t care about meeting expectations and fitting in, because that would mean to narrow my own world and live by someone else’s norms. 

As a designer, I have successfully juxtaposed high-brow and low-brow my whole creative life. I’m a cultural omnivore and Monster represents me and that cultural omnivorousness. 

Be free to hate the look, be free to love the look. How you respond to it will tell me who you are and where your priorities lie. Whether you want to be seen, or you want to BE. No wrong answers really, but it is a psychological test. 

I had the option to remove the stickers when the car was in for a from-end repaint. The shop offered to remove the rest of the stickers and check the state of the paint under them (UV light can cause paint discolouration). I told them not only not to touch the rest of the car, but also to order custom hood stickers - exact same size as the old ones. I saw the car without the stickers on the hood and it wasn’t my car anymore. It was compromised - started to look like someone else’s car. 

Now that we’re past the psychological element of the looks, I’m going to comment on the rest that fits within this category. I personally love when cars don’t give away the gender of the owner. All of my cars don’t do that. It’s always entertaining to see people’s reaction when I’m getting in and out of Monster. They don’t expect me. That’s the thing about supercars - people have a very specific image about the person who drives and owns such cars in their heads. So, not only Monster is shocking to a lot of them due to its looks, but I also contribute to that by being the least expected type of a person to own such a car. A double shock moment for a lot of people. 

The car was originally Glacier White - I love how a 720S looks in that colour, I even thought about brining it back. But here’s the thing - this is a daily driven car and any shade of white is the worst colour for the job. Black, too. Black and white cars are not for the weak, you better own a car wash. lol As someone who washes all of the cars themselves, including the SLR, I’m so not ready for that level of cleaning commitment. I’m loving the green, I never thought of myself as a green car owner, my favourite colour is in fact blue. But the Mantis Green looks so fun, joyful and full with life, that I can’t imagine owning a 720S in a different colour anymore. The shades of Mantis Green shift depending on the light, too - from almost pastel-like green to deeper grass-like green. It almost switches personalities everyday. 

Monster had a major glow-up since I bought it. It’s not just the front-end repaint and the fresher stickers. Something shifted, I can’t explain it, but it’s evident on photos as well. A couple of people have already told me that they also saw the glow-up. I have no explanation for that, maybe that’s the effect of being loved and wanted. I’ll leave you to be the judge:

There are some panel gaps here and there, which is to be expected from a rebuilt title. I personally don’t mind them, but they may be triggering to people who value aesthetics more than anything else. No, I haven’t tried to fix them, because that’s not a concern to me. I’ve had people come to Monster to explore it, just to try to find imperfections like the panel gaps and point them out to me as if I don’t know what I spend my money on. This type of people are not car people. I call them the wannabes and they usually own a Porsche. Imagine going to someone’s car just to point out imperfections? That’s some seriously fucked-up mindset and unfortunately it’s very present within the car community. I just reply to them “Still a 720S, innit?” - and they shut up, because anyone with even the tiniest knowledge about cars knows what that means (more on that in the performance section). 

The 720S still looks like it’s just left the McLaren Technology Center. It hasn’t aged a single bit and it’s hard to guess its age even parked next to latest supercars and hypercars. It looks brilliant with the butterfly doors open. McLaren designed a timeless supercar in the face of the 720S.

When it comes to the interior, McLaren nailed it and that’s the general consensus from people with experience with high-performance cars. The 720S is a highly-focused supercar - no nonsense on the inside as well. I love the rotating dash, it adds to the personality of the car - almost as if every time you open the door the car wakes up. It’s very cute. All the buttons and the display are in the right places - the vertical display makes so much more sense than the horizontal; the size too - who needs a bigger screen?! I’ve never experienced a more driver’s focused and intentional interior in a car. It feels like a cockpit of an F1 car. Car spotters and kids hate it - “it’s boring, it’s ugly”. You’ll sing a different song when you start driving cars! ;)

10/10 choice in this category

II. Performance

This is where the 720S smokes the competition. Looks can be subjective, the performance - can't. Due to the extreme nature of the 720S, it goes head to head with equally serious supercars. The direct competitors of the 720S include: 488 Pista, F8 Tributo and the Aventador SVJ. These are some of the last ICE supercars that we’ll ever see produced. They are all great, brilliant cars that loudly and proudly bid farewell to the best automotive decades. And then the hybrids came. I’ve rated highly the F8 Tributo in the past, but compared to the 720S, it falls short.

Any Ferrari or Lamborghini will fall short for that matter: firstly, in order to buy a high-performance car with a carbon fibre monocoque that is the 720S, at Ferrari you have to spend hypercar money and we all know the quality control at Ferrari. Lamborghini is yet to produce a car with a carbon fibre tub. Even the Revuelto’s tub is a mix of carbon fibre and aluminium. So, the Italians are very much behind what the Brits do at the 300k supercar price point. They may never catch up, because the W1’s monocoque is already next level radical. So, by the time they catch up to the 720S, McLaren will already be at the next level when it comes to carbon fibre technology. But one would ask: “Why is the lack of carbon fibre monocoque such a dealbreaker?” And here comes my second point - the 720S is incredibly light. Combine that lightness with the raw power of its twin-turbo V8 that produces 710hp to the rear and all of a sudden you’re entering the hypercar territory. For 300k MSRP btw and still fully stock. 

Beyond the lightness combined with raw power, the 720S benefits from the best integrated active aerodynamics in the segment. Again, that’s something the Italians lack in. From the active rear wing, to the hidden air intakes, to the diffuser, to the proactive chassis control - all of this while maintaining a cohesive and complete design. 

A lot of reviewers have described the 720S as a better drag car than a track car. I disagree. Most reviewers spend a couple of hours with a car at best, so when it comes to opinions and conclusions, theirs are almost always wrong. It’s great at both. What they probably mean by that is that it does take longer to get used to the unforgiving nature of the 720S in order to get the most out of its performance on track. That is very much true. Due to the same extreme nature of the 720S that sets it apart from the competition, it requires a lot more time flirting with its limits in order to get on top of it. And that also means having bigger balls - still very much a RWD 710hp mid-engined supercar that will bite.

And now imagine Monster - 960hp to the rear in a lighter than a stock car. That’s 250hp more. It’s insane. Monster is fully in the hypercar territory. It’s the fastest car I’ve driven and I’ve driven very fast cars. “But Elena what’s the point of a 960hp daily driver?” you would ask. I don’t live in Sofia. 70% of my drive to and from Sofia is done at high speed on highways. The other 30% are done in city traffic. Something interesting about Monster’s tune - it can be a bit aggressive at low speed, so the car is generally frustrated, if I have to drive in rush hour for example. It starts to make all sorts of aggressive noises and bangs, which can be scary if you’re new to tuned supercars. The 7-speed DCT is fantastic in auto, which I use when cruising in the city at low speed, I switch to manual once I’m out of the city. 

I have expressed how I feel about manual vs auto trans in the past - some cars are better appreciated as manual, others - as auto. To me, the perfect example of a manual car would be the Mustang GT or the Dodge Viper. I don’t see supercars and manual transmission in the same universe. The supercar is the echelon of performance and the manual transmission just doesn’t contribute to that. A manual supercar is like a souvenir that you use to brag you’ve been there and you’ve done that. What YouTubers, TikTokers and people with “TikTok car taste” in general get wrong about this class of extreme high-performance cars is that they demand so much from you as a driver that a manual trans suddenly becomes a distraction, a chore and downgrades the overall experience.

So, yes, I love the 7-speed DCT in my 720S. It delivers the most thrilling and engaging experience I’ve had in a car, ever. It’s truly a great driver’s car that I recommend to anyone who wants to have that one complete supercar that can beat anything on track, while also delivering thrilling daily commutes.

10/10 choice in this category

III. Driver’s satisfaction 

Addicting, thrilling, exhilarating, raw, visceral, pure. While also being incredibly easy to live with - that’s the 720S. The most complete supercar, ever. The title begins to take shape in this category. 

I don’t think you’d understand what I’m about to say, unless you’ve driven a vast variety of cars. The person, who specs his new Ferrari just to store it for the next 10 years for a 10k profit at the end, will also not understand what I’m about to say. The driving is what matters in this category and the 720S will take your breath away and will re-install the firmware in your head about everything you think you knew about cars. All it’ll ask from you is to enter it with a clear mind. Erase everything for a second and let the 720S demonstrate you what driving is all about. 

Hands down, this is the best road-car-driver relationship I’ve ever had in a car. As much as I love my Mustang GT, it feels like I’m driving a couch after a day in the 720S. Apples and oranges, you’re right. That insane level of feedback will make you fall in love with this car on the spot. If driving is the reason why you’re into cars - you’ve found the one. 

With my custom Tillett carbon fibre seat, I’ve taken this road-car-driver relationship to even a more extreme level. Be ready to experience G-forces on the daily in this car. I can feel the pressure in my chest during acceleration. If you’re unhealthy, it may even leave you out of breath. In the first months, my chest and neck hurt from all the G-forces and the pressure my body experiences in this car and I’m a very healthy individual. So, be prepared to experience physics like never before. My neck still hurts from time to time. I admit, this extreme power may be too much for a lot of people and some may not even appreciate it. But I do and I love the pain in my neck. LMAO Make me suffer, baby, I love it. No complaints and 0 regrets. 

Another factor that contributes to the sensational relationship with my 720S is my driving style - left-foot braking. I finessed it on the track and during the high-performance driving courses - yes, I drive high-performance manual cars using the left-foot braking technique, too - this skill puts me in the creme de la creme among the top drivers hehe. Other cars I drive with left-foot braking include the SLR and the M2. I don’t remember when I started using my left leg for braking, but it came naturally to me. This is not a technique to learn on the street, okay?! DM and I’ll send you links to courses. The brake pedal on the 720S is very unique (like most McLarens) and requires more pressure. Some people have commented that the brake pedal has no feeling - that’s what they mean - they’re not used to the McLaren pressure levels. Most cars require a tap to decelerate 50%. In the Mac, you need to press it all the way to stop to 0. That’s something I love, it’s the same on the SLR, I’ve adapted to it, but it can be unusual for most people. Sometimes my left foot hurts after a spirited drive. lol 

Driving the 720S in the city traffic doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re in a supercar. It still feels just as special, because this car is unimpaired by low speed. It stays just as focused as it is at high speed. It demands your full attention in all conditions. That’s when it turns into a traffic apex predator - It allows you to weave through traffic with confidence and nimbleness supported by its rapid responses. The 720S is fun in all conditions. 

The 720S is built for all seasons. This alone sets it apart from its competition in this category - you get to enjoy your supercar all year round! I have mine on all-season tires and I drive it in the winter without any issues. 

100000/10 choice in this category 

IV. Good as a daily

Let’s start with the UX, as usual. 

And, luckily, I have experience with the UX of one of its direct competitors - the F8 Tributo, so, I’m going to compare them. The infotainment: in the F8, you had to have a lot of luck to connect to it and even when you did - it lagged. For the days I had it, I struggled at least 5 times to connect to the car. In my 720S, for 11 months of ownership - not even once. I’m yet to experience such a bulletproof connectivity with another car. The infotainment’s speed is not slow, nor fast. Just fast enough to make it human-friendly (too fast is cheap and robot-like imo). I rarely use the display, mostly just to configure the temperature and sometimes to take calls. It never fails me.

Monster was specced without cameras, “parktronic” sensors and lift. I initially thought the lack of these “extras” will affect the daily experience. They didn’t. It took me 3 days to adapt. It does take getting out of the car a couple of times when parking in busy parking lots to check how far/ close I am to my environment, which I got used to. It does attract spectators and men rushing to help me. lmao. If you see me in this situation - I don’t need help, trust me. Let me do my thing. If I have to be completely honest, I have “jumped” over curbs while reversing 2 times and not even a single scratch to the diffuser was made - btw it’s a 500 eur part. Only my ego got hurt. Happens to the best of us, no one is perfect. 

In my first months of ownership, I taped the undertray underbody with a heavy-duty tape. One day I woke up and was like “Fuck it. YOLO.”and removed the tape. Not a single scrape, ever. I’ve had 0 issues driving it on BG roads. Bulgarians are always like “we don’t have roads for such cars” - watch me. It’s a you problem. We do have good roads, it’s just that “the grass is greener on the other side” mentality that prevents a huge chunk of the population to succeed. You can be successful and drive a supercar in Bulgaria, let me bust your myths! 

The attention this car gets is something I must include in this category. I’m not talking about the attention from the enthusiasts - always up for a chat about the car. I’m talking the attention from the normies. We have a McLaren that got rear-ended by an npc because the npc was busy taking a video of the car and forgot to brake. A 2k damage on the Mac and a totaled npc car were the results. I can see them in my rearview mirror driving within 1m from my bumper and phones out in front of their faces. What do they do with the footage - I have no idea. But if I need to brake, I might send them into a generational debt. The attention this car gets can be and is a safety hazard. 

The other characteristics of daily cars are - comfort, trunk space and overall usability. 

In terms of comfort, I have to say it’s probably the most comfortable supercar I’ve ever driven. Yes, the pressure in your chest during the acceleration and the neck pain due to G-forces are valid, but this doesn’t translate to uncomfortable car. The butterfly doors offer a much easier enter and exit, but they do require more side clearance. Everything on the inside is in the right places. The trunk space is big enough. You can casually fit a small suitcase, a backpack and other personal items. I’ve done 2 weeks of grocery shopping in Monster. 

In my case, I’m usually alone in the car and the passenger seat and the legroom are also places to transport items. I even went to IKEA with Monster to pick up a clothes rack. 0 issues. 

I believe the 720S is the supercar with the best daily usability

10/10 choice in this category 

V. Value for money

The McLaren depreciation - let’s talk about it. 

McLaren Automotive is only 15 years old. 15 years!!!!! The SLR is older than McLaren Automotive. In comparison - Lamborghini turns 64 this year, while Ferrari turns 87. It’ll take some time for McLaren to build heritage and a solid fan base, but looking at myself and other McLaren fans, I believe McLaren is already stealing hearts for life of many enthusiasts globally. There is no way I’m switching to another brand. I’ve explained in the performance section how much ahead McLaren is compared to Ferrari and Lamborghini. To put it simply - switching would be a downgrade. So, the depreciation is a natural occurrence when you have a new car manufacturer, who doesn’t mostly produce limited volume cars. There are 5000 720S-es out there, half of which are spiders, the other half - coupes. That’s a solid volume of a model - not too much, not too little. Just the right amount to be attractive without the worry of it being too scarce - you can enjoy putting miles on it. 

In terms of MSRP vs resale value: my 720S turns 8 this year. I got it for 150k EUR, it was the cheapest 720S in Europe at the time of purchase. Still a lot of money, don’t get me wrong, but these were the best 150k ever spent. I got a hypercar for 150k basically. The average asking price today is around 200-220k EUR on used models. I believe I bought the bottom last year and now with the majority of the new supercars being hybrids, I believe the 720S is in the sweet spot for some appreciation even. Is it still a good buy? ABSOLUTELY! The difference between the 720S and the 750S is not worth the 150-200k EUR. Obviously, if you want to own the latest - go for the 750S. 

The best option, if you care about depreciation, would be the 765LT. It’s limited and fully in the hypercar realm straight out of the factory. 

In todays market, I believe that you can’t go wrong with a good example of the 720S. Name a better car for 200k, I’ll wait. And, no, no Porsche is a better car than the 720S. 

10/10 choice in this category 

Conclusion:

Buying a 720S was the best decision and I’m so happy that I bought Monster specifically. It’s been a match since the moment I first saw it on photos. I can proudly say that it has found its forever home and I’ve never been happier with a car (SLR including). Now I see cars as: my 720S and the rest. It made me realise that most cars suck and I’ll never recover from that, so, test-drive it and purchase it with caution. You’ll never be the same after you’ve experienced a 720S.