McLaren 750S Spider is So Good It Gave Me Insomnia

Finally Getting Past the Velvet Rope

It’s taken me 9 years to reach a level in my automotive career where a supercar is being delivered to my house so I can document how it drives and if the seats are comfortable. While there’s no official ruling in the world of automotive journalism, most would agree that gaining access to supercars means you’ve achieved a level of success (and trust) in the business.

Supercars are generally regarded as the top shelf, parked on a pedestal in our daydreams, screen savers, and social media algorithms.

The vehicle of choice for those wanting to expressing success and wealth even if it says “Rent Me” on the license plate frame. Supercars prove that some of us never outgrew our race car beds (yes, I had one) and Hot Wheels collection. Supercars cause an inherent reaction regardless of whether viewed from the perspective of ultimate desire or vulgar distaste.

Now I had the chance to get a taste of the high (speed) life. The velvet rope had been pulled opened for me without needing to tip the bouncer.

The 2025 McLaren 750S Spider

The supercar that turned this dream into a memorable experience is the 2025 McLaren 750S Spider. This mid-engine marvel of engineering wrapped in Alcantara and carbon fiber flexes like Mr. Universe and carries a reputation cool enough to freeze Vodka.  

It’s a car that literally gave me insomnia because any time I needed to go to bed I couldn’t… because there was a McLaren outside my window waiting to be driven. Life is for the living and nothing makes you feel alive like sprinting from zero to 60 in under three seconds. So, I most of the miles I put on this thing were between the hours of 3am and 5am, the only time where a major city can feel yours with no traffic on the concrete maze of interstates.

The McLaren 750S is the successor to the successful 720S, debuting in 2023 as a lighter, faster model showcasing the British native brand’s continuous effort to raise the bar. McLaren offers a choice of a coupe 750S or the spider with a metal retracting roof that folds into the back quicker than a competitive origami master at the touch of a button.

The Praying Mantis of Supercars

Regarding design, McLarens have always reminded me of a praying mantis with their dihedral doors that swing up, appearing like blades, and dark gloss accents around the deep-set headlamps tucked into narrow, bug-eyed housing. One walk around the car is not enough to appreciate the hours upon hours of research spent on aerodynamics to ensure it slices through the air like a stealth bomber behind enemy lines.

Every inch of the car’s exterior is designed with a purpose to channel the air as efficiently as possible. It’s business first, vanity second. Luckily for McLaren, being slippery in the wind requires sleek and curvaceous bodywork that appeals to the eye. The model shown wears a captivating color called Belize Blue, which shines in the light like the Mediterranean waters of Greece.

A Super Comfy Supercar

Going fast is one thing but being comfortable while doing so is a challenge. Getting into the McLaren for the first time had me searching for Pilates studios near me as my leg muscles rebelled while lowering myself down into the cockpit. It feels like you’re plopping down on the street itself.

However, once inside the car, the view is more confident and conveys a sense of safety rather than feeling anxious and worrying that you’re only three inches from getting road rash on your backside.

I was surprised that I didn’t feel like I had to look up at the other cars. Yes, the 750S is a low-riding vehicle, but it doesn’t feel like that when you’re driving. Moreover, the interior is surprisingly comfortable compared to the car’s Olympian exterior.

McLaren Interior Features

The lightweight bucket seats cradle you, and the cabin is wide enough to prevent rubbing shoulders and elbows with the passenger next to you. Because the car takes performance seriously, the steering wheel has no buttons to distract your hands.

The center screen is just seven inches and placed vertically with only a handful of necessary buttons to keep your eyes focused on the task at hand. McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange start button is the only visually distracting detail and standard on all 750S models.

Located left and under the steering wheel is a small lever the driver can use to navigate and select settings on the digital instrument cluster. This is a clever workaround to keep buttons off the wheel.

The More You Know

One important detail to know if you’re driving a McLaren for the first time and don’t want to look like an amateur is that these cars do not have a traditional “Park” gear due to their sophisticated seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

There are three buttons on the center console to select drive, neutral and reverse. The parking brake, located on the dashboard left of the steering wheel, holds the car in place when you pull into a parking space. Knowing this will save you the embarrassment of looking for something that doesn’t exist before setting off or arriving during your first drive.

Mid-Engine Driving Impressions

As for the drive itself, the justification for its high price of admission is an all-aluminum 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 located in the middle of the car, directly behind your spine, producing a whopping 740 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.

That amount of fury translates into teleportation from zero to 60 in 2.3 seconds and a claimed top speed of 206 mph. I can’t say how fast I personally went in the 750S without incriminating myself, but it makes speed feel effortless.

However, all this power being sent to only the rear wheels encourages you to pay attention and ignore any sense of ego during spirited driving. I like that it doesn’t immediately give you the full bore unless you smash the gas pedal like you’re trying to kill a mosquito (which I do not recommend).

This threshold allows you to drive the supercar normally around town like any other without feeling like you’re holding on to the leash of a German Shepherd who just saw a squirrel. And just like in any other modern vehicle, the stop/start feature is equally annoying, so be sure to turn it off.

Exercising Common Sense on Public Roads

When exercising common sense and rolling on the throttle, steadily feeding the beast. In that case, it will reward you with an eye-peeling thrust of acceleration supported by a symphony of power that is perfectly manageable and can be kept in a straight line.

However, a few times, under hard acceleration, I felt the rear wheels slip during gear changes as the engine tried to kick the traction out from under the tires using blunt force. That fraction of a second where the rear of that car slithered like a runaway copperhead will cause your glutes to clench together like a bear trap. Thank god for traction and stability control.

If You Have the Means, Go For It

The McLaren 750S can achieve 20 mpg on the highway and averages 17 mpg overall. Of course, that mileage will drop into the low 10s, depending on how much fun you’re having.

This car falls into the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” territory. With a starting price over $300,000, it can easily draft a bill for half a million with personalized interior, exterior, and performance packages.

I understand why these cars are popular with professional drivers and professional showoffs.

The car is comfortable to drive around and be seen without causing fatigue, priced at a point that warrants recognition for business or tax laws, looks like something a comic book hero would drive while in costume and the front frunk offers more depth than a Christopher Nolan movie to store travel bags.

It’s a supercar that can handle ordinary life with extraordinary grace.

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch

0 to 60: 2.3 seconds

Starting Price: $318,085

Price as Shown: $365,500