Chaps, not suggesting that the Noble is a POS underneath - but it can't be compared to a Porker with the asociated develompent budgets and engineering teams that work on them. The GT models are developed by the motorsports division also, so they develop all the racing models and the GT range road cars on the side. Having that much experience and race proven tech to hand, it's unlikely they won't produce a pretty good product.

But you sure as hell do pay for it. My car was circa £100k when new fully optioned up, the carbon brakes being an eye watering £6k option. I bought mine used when it was 3 years old with full Porsche warranty and have maintained that every year at £1k a year. My car has had it's issues, as any car does - but it gives peace of mind to know I can hammer it around as many tracks as I like and if anything major goes wrong it's all fully covered. The good thing is, you can pick up a 997 GT3 now from £50-£60k. GT2s are still fairly big money though. 996 GT3s are now in the £30k bracket, although a good one will be late £30s to early £40s, and the 996 GT2s are £40k-£50k ish. They are rare though, hard to find.

In terms of noise, you need to hear a fully unplugged and opened up GT3 to experience it in full surround sound. As good as the Noble sounds, I think that a GT3 takes some beating. You can get bypass pipes and titanium systems to really make some serious noise if ya like, but everyone who lives on your street may start a plot to kill you.

The point of me posting is just to help some of you guys out with the specs and details of the different models, we're all PHers after all (ok, so maybe a bit of my opinion also, it's a forum!). I came to Porsche ownership from owning a Fiat, and I don't have much brand loyalty. I just want the best/right car for my budget when I buy and I kept an open mind. I actually love Italian cars but couldn't convince myself to go Ferrari because of the potential bills and uncertainty.

For those of you who are caught up in the Noble brand/experience, I'm not trying to convert you or convince you otherwise. I love Nobles also, think they look great and would dribble everytime I saw one as an early 20 something in the mid 2000s. I think the M600 is a fantastic bombshell, a modern day F40 if you like, and I hope it sells and succeeds. I love that Noble puts nuclear powerplant motors in light cars and sticks two fingers up at the opposition, similar to what TVR did - for the money when comparing new vs new you can't go much faster. But I also understand the everyday ownership stuff, and I don't have time/space to tinker too much or keep my car off the road much. I used the GT3 as a daily driver for over a year, so it needed to work.

If I could have my sports/supercar as a third car or if it didn't matter much if it was off the road all the time, maybe I would have bought something more mental, or Italian. But if you need or want something more reliable, to do europe with some trackdays thrown in, to hammer in bad weather as well as good, then you shouldn't ignore Porsche GT cars - and that's what this thread is about. Also for peace of mind a manufacturer extended warranty for all cars up to 10 years old isn't half bad for sleeping easy at night......

The biggest compliment to Nobles is that they are being compared with the motorsport version of Porsche. I myself find it incredible that we're seriously in the same bracket.

Say Mondeo engine all you like, it's the absolute nuts. Isn't a Porsche a Third Reich beetle anyway? :-) There are Porsches everywhere you look, and unfortunately you lose that uniqueness.

I like Porsches, and I will get one one day. (When I'm old) ))))

i do like porsche but the drive is still lacking compared to the Noble..the steering does not feel as responsive or as directly connected, drive the noble and step into a 997 gt3 and the steering feels damped and heavy.
,...it would be my next choice, not GT3 though...Cayman R

GT3's are fantastic machines!!

Ive got nothing but massive respect for the GT3..... And thanks for the information on this post.

The engineering needs applauding. And how they can just chew up track miles relentlessly....... It,s on my list.

No way I could afford one at the moment so buying the CSL was a nice middle ground. It will still take the punishment and is still warranted for reasonable money. I've had a new engine and new diff amongst other things all in the last year under a warranty which costs me 70 quid a month Inc full euro breakdown.
If you have had enough of getting under the Noble, or want a car you can just drive to the track......... Cane it and take it home with a complete clear conscious, stopping to pick up the miss us and some shopping on the way home it makes sense.

I'm very lucky though and still have the Noble so I do understand about the sense of occasion and it making you feel alive but the CSL is seeing all the action because I dont want the stress of worrying about the Noble .......... Although mines never really missed a beat.

However powerful or quick some of our Nobles are.......... The reliability of the Pork is a secret jealousy of most of us I'm
sure !

Just a shame a fair few of the owners I've met in the past are utter Nobs !!!!!!

I could sell both cars a maybe get a GT3 but having that much money tied up in a single car and losing the other two is not really an option......... The Noble and the Csl both have there claws in me....... Tbh I prefer the Noble on the road to the csl and the Csl on track compared to the Noble........

It really depends on what you want out of the car...... I've come to really enjoy our Euro trips away and my track time so the Noble for me has taken a back seat and the CSL has taken up the role perfectly as I'm sure a GT3 would !

But I'm just strange...... Just thought I'd put my two penneth across.

I'll put me tin hat on now !!!!

Love ya all though ......... Matty

Another angle few of us consider is safety. Were I to be involved in a PROPER crash, I would choose the Porker way before the Noble.
The pics ive seen of crashed Nobles is downright scary !! They seem to implode.
So I guess I shouldnt crash my Noble. In any event its still safer than a Bike, and almost as fast.

Funkster, not trying to be obtuse here , but the CSL has had a new engine and new diff in the last year? That doesn't seem like it's reliable, or any better at taking track work than the Nob?

Class ending...

Nothing wrong with my car so to speak. Just constant teething issues with all the upgrades I've had done to supposedly make the thing more reliable and better on track.

If you see my grooved disks post - I've just had to get a re-skim done too.