It was only in 2011 when McLaren returned to building road cars, launching the MP4-12C coupe, later called simply 12C. The spider variant came a year later, and both have become something of a bargain modern supercar. We'll explain. A 2013 McLaren 12 Spider, the subject of today's review, originally had a sticker price of $268,250, while the coupe began at around $241,900. Imagine our pleasant surprise when we discovered our 12C Spider was listed for $189,000.

That's a savings of nearly $80k for a supercar that's barely four years old. Power comes from that familiar twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8, which produces 616 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and that power goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Zero to 60 mph? Try three seconds flat. Top speed? 204 mph, and you can go up to 196 mph with the roof down. Impressive. The 12C is special for another reason: it was the first road going McLaren since the iconic F1 ceased production in 1998. Sure, its 650S successor is faster and handles better, but the 12C is certainly no slouch. It represents the beginning of a new era for the UK supercar company. Special thanks to Los Gatos Luxury Cars for letting us film the car.

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