That's what scares me about exotic cars and why I will never buy one (other than the price).
My Z06 has exotic car performance but Chevy maintenance costs.
I think the insanely high maintenance costs is a deliberate way to keep the exclusivity as the cars age and become obtainable by common folks.
I dont think that is the case. In the case of McLaren, their cars are very bleeding edge. The tech of the car is often what is breaking.
With a corvette, there are 30,000 produced per year. And they probably share any number of parts and standard sensors with other GM cars.
Not the case with exotics. A 'mainstream' exotic like a Huracan, only has 2400 made per year world wide. A 'flagship' car like an aventador is only 1100 per year.
It stands to reason that parts are a lot more expensive. For example, a carbon ceramic rotor for a corvette is 'only' about 1,200 to replace. One on a huracan is 8000. Parts and scalability.
Both Ferrari and Lamborghini have GREATLY improved reliability. I dont think McLaren has gotten their yet. That is not to say that the top McLaren lineup may be some of the best performing cars out there. From an ownership standpoint, they scare me too much.
The cost is not all scaling issues. Take a look at power plant production. The tolerances and materials required to build a naturally aspirated Lamborghini engine that is only 5.2 liters but putting out 640 hp at close to 9000 rpm are very different than the GM. Even take the latest C8 LT2 out of the C8. They are only getting 495hp out of a 6.2 liter engine. As a comparable the Aventador is a 6.5 liter engine putting out 770hp. What it takes to accomplish that is miles difference in materials and tolerances.
Looking to GM's ZR1 motor....arguably it's ultimate performance platform. 6.2L Supercharged, putting out 755hp. Contrast that to the McLaren 765LT with a 4.0L Turbocharged putting out 830hp.