“Even if I had McLaren money…”
Theoretically, anyone with a valid license can test drive any vehicle. In practice, however, some luxury dealers require proof that you have the means to afford the vehicle you want to take a spin. It may seem harsh, but it can save salespersons time and limit the mileage on the merchandise.
One woman recently test drove a McLaren. During the drive, she asked a question that the salesman said immediately signaled that she couldn’t afford it.
TikTok creator Julia (@juliaagonzaa) posted a video from her test drive. She’s behind the wheel of the McLaren and the salesman is in the passenger seat.
“What is the MPG on this?” she asks. The salesman promptly responds, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
The two clearly know each other, because they immediately start to laugh. “You just clocked me,” she says. The salesman replies, “That’s honestly what I say.”
In the on-screen text, Julia wrote, “Getting humbled while test driving a McLaren was not on my agenda today.” In the caption, she added, “I was NOT expecting that response.”
It’s worth noting that Julia’s wearing a McLaren shirt, so the bit may be more of a joke than a sincere interaction.
In the comments section, viewers weighed in on the interaction between Julia and the McLaren salesman. Some clearly did not find the salesman’s joke as funny as she did.
“His response was unprofessional,” wrote one commenter.
“He’d never say that to a man,” a second person said.
A third person said, “Even if I had McLaren money, that man wouldn’t get any of my commission.”
Another person asked, “What if you just want to know how often you need to go get gas?” Someone else agreed, “It’s not a cost thing, it’s a ‘how far can I get’ question.”
A brand-new McLaren starts at around $230,000. Some models run for twice that—or more. The ultra-luxe W1 starts at $2.1 million, per Car and Driver.
The other question, which the salesman referenced in the video, is whether a buyer can afford one. The cost, after all, isn’t just the up-front price. Maintenance needs to be factored in.
A Reddit user posted a thread to r/mclaren to discuss the subject with other enthusiasts.
“It’s quite frustrating when I look at the price of a used McLaren 12c or 570s and think I could afford to buy this,” they wrote. “Only to watch hundreds of YouTube videos saying maintenance is a nightmare for these used cars. If I’m worried about $2K yearly service or $600-$800 oil changes, or $5K extended warranty cost, does this mean I actually can’t afford it? Or is it not that bad once you own the car? I tend to be more frugal and for some reason it doesn’t seem worth the headaches.”
Another user replied, “If you are worried about the service costs, you probably shouldn’t. Or do your own oil changes and stuff.”
A second person said, “I purchased a 675LT at 24 not knowing if I was ready. At the time, I made around $250K/year in a low-cost of living area and I was very close to not being able to afford it. Just last month I spent $25K getting it serviced and another year of the extended warranty. If you are not ready for this at any time, then you aren’t ready for that level of car. Keep working, you’ll get there.”
Motor1 contacted Julia via email for comment. We’ll update this if she responds.
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