Litchfield Type -25.

[sjc]

After several weeks of deliberation, I'm down to choosing between two cars. One is a Noble M12 3R, which I have previously owned and missed since I sold it and I'm getting the bug again. (Consider the 3R a better road car than the M400). The other is the Litchfield Imports Type -25 (new model).The car itself is fantastic, but maybe some of you can allay some of my concerns.

Image: The A-line spec. is very discreet with no big spoilers, no lairy paint etc, wopuld that be enough to get it away from the Scooby "bit chavvy/ boy racer thing" ( no offfence meant to any owners).

Resale:Obviously a limited market, but what do we think?

Entertainment : When you're not caning these cars,is there a lot of car left i.e. when poodling what is there to enjoy?

Price: Can't get my head around a £40K Impreza.(Thats nearly 1 year old RS4 money which also appeals, as I love V8's.) Should I instead take it from the angle that point to point it's probably one of the quickest cars out there and in fact its a totally re-engineered car,not a Scooby or am I kidding myself!

This type of car, having driven a few have never appealed before,but the Litchfield Type -25 is sensational. I don't need the 4 seats ( wife has the family car)so the Noble has a head start there along with the excitemant factor, but would be a pain on some days when conditions aren't ideal.
Whatever I go for it would be en everyday car.

Look forward to people views!

[dotdog]

You obviously enjoy mega performance... a discreetly styled 25 would be wonderful for beating up pretty much anything on the road, but then do you want to get involved in dust ups??
as an ex noble owner, one of the great joys was the factor of driving in your own time warp, you are simply 'non-competitive' with 99% of all road users, such is the performance..
i found that even modern ferraris etc wouldnt even 'play'.. the only time i had a game of chase was with a murci on the motorway.. and that almost got us both sent to the pearly gates..
There was one other time on a b road when two lads in a souped up nova, i kid you not, pretty well kept up with me! it really pissed me off! good driving eanbled that.

so, before you make your choice, and remember 40k buys you ALL sorts of interesting vehicles, i would think about WHERE you drive, and consider all options.
if i'd been wealthier, i would have kept the noble, as it brought me, and other road users such joy..
I remember once tootling along the a30 at egham past the ferrari garage, and two boys stood open mouthed and just shouted 'it's a NOBLE, it's a NOBlE!

You could have another 3r, spec it to your liking and have 10k left over for a classic/hot hatch/bike/holiday/something for your good lady etc..
hope this helps

[sjc]

Thanks for the reply dotdog. I know what you mean about the Noble, thoroughly enjoyed ownership of the car, but at the time it became a garage queen so I sold it.Now whatever I buy will be an everyday car (counts against the Noble).I have no interest in dust-ups, just making very quick disreet progress and the Type-25 "A-line spec is perfect for that. Just wondering if it's going to be/feel special enough in everyday use.

[shadowninja]

Not sure what one of these looks like. Never heard of them. Anyway, one thing that'd worry me on a £40k Japanese car - residuals. You'd get back less on these than you would on an RS4 even if it is a rare Impreza. Look at the P1 - low teens now and it's only 3 years old(?).

ah! www.type-25.co.uk/

415bhp. Sounds good. Still question resale.

[CatherineJ]

Type 25 would be my choice.

[sjc]

shadowninja said:

Not sure what one of these looks like. Never heard of them. Anyway, one thing that'd worry me on a £40k Japanese car - residuals. You'd get back less on these than you would on an RS4 even if it is a rare Impreza. Look at the P1 - low teens now and it's only 3 years old(?).

ah! www.type-25.co.uk/

415bhp. Sounds good. Still question resale.

Resale does concern me a touch but having spoke to them at length they assure me every secondhand one gets sold relatively quickly, albeit in a limited market, and having watched their website for months that appears to be true.There's an old model on their website at £25K, and that was £34,000 new in late 2004.......not bad.And it's one of those rare occasions where I've not had to listen to bullshit, they appear to be trustworthy, and their name in Scooby circles is excellent.
I've driven the RS4 and it's superb, but my wife has a CLS and it might be a bit too similar/( in a refinement/luxury way/ cosseting sort of way).
The stumbling block for me on the Noble was/is the bloody awful detailing and it's something I'd have to address for everyday driving (calling Noblemods!)and the fact that sometimes I felt a bit self-conscious driving it, maybe I'm getting old!

[dotdog]

dont forget one of the alltime great every day sub supercars.. 911 (993) turbo!
But i hear what you are saying - great to be 'discreet' - tewkesbury is only down the road from me, and i've also been thinking about the 25, i'm sure it is superb.

Edited by dotdog on Sunday 21st January 16:23

[MrFlibbles]

In a choice between a T25 and a 3R , my money would go on the Noble every single time.

Sure the T25 is fast, super quick a to b etc etc, but where is the sense of occassion? To me its just *another* Impreza.

MrF
An impreza driver

[wadeski]

if you want more occaision, why not a Skyline GTR....and 450bhp or so?

or do you subscribe to the PH "Skylines are for Chavs" theory?

Edited by wadeski on Sunday 21st January 20:29

[sjc]

wadeski said:

if you want more occaision, why not a Skyline GTR....and 450bhp or so?

or do you subscribe to the PH "Skylines are for Chavs" theory?

Edited by wadeski on Sunday 21st January 20:29

No appeal at all.

[steve z]

Surely the only reason to go down the Type 25 route is to get supercar performance in a family friendly package. You've said you've already got a family car so surely it has to be the Noble.

[gandhi]

I have an incling to err on the side of most here, to go for the Noble, for a sense of occasion. No doubt it will be an event every time you turn the ignition. What is starting to sway me the other way is the fact that the T-25 will ANIHILATE anything this side of £300,000 on a track, with the exception of track cars, R500s etc.. and on the road, it will anihilate anything, full stop!!

Its scary reading, I hadn't done much reading into it, but it is absolutely astonishing, there is no other word for it.

True it will lack a certain 'magic', whatever it may be, but (and this depends on what you're after and your circumstances) the magic in my opinion is only so deep, I'm a more function over form person if that makes sense. I just think that the T-25 has so much more to make up for that certain 'thing' which the noble has.

There's also warranty and reliability to look at too, not that the noble is particularly unreliable for a car of its type, but something produced in such small numbers cannot match the reliability of an impreza. If modified with due care the engine internal parts, these engines will be reliable long after the car becomes undrivable due to excessive power.

I am in a similar, but slightly watered down predicament to yourself; I am toying with an exige S, or a JDM Impreza spec C (was an EVO IX fq340,until I made inquiries to the JDM cars. I am heading down the Impreza route I think, but my decision was mainly due to my needing an absolutely reliable car at all times, come snow or hail, due to work. When I have the money, I'd like both, but for now it looks like the Impreza ticks more boxes for me.

Have you test driven a T-25? I've driven a Spec C running around 350 bhp, and it was awe inspiring. No other word for it. There was hysterical amounts of grip, in fact if I wasnt such a fat bastard squashed into the (very supportive) seats with all my padding around me, I think my spine would have snapped!! The sheer torque figure of the T-25 will send it to a whole dark place which I've never dared venture!

All the best, good luck with the decision (must be a dogs life, eh?!). Ensure you take a T-25 out for a spin..

[sjc]

Already driven the Litchfield Type-25 at Xmas the car is simply astonishing! I've been down the 2 car route before i.e everyday car and Noble, and it didn't work because there was always a reason NOT to take it,weather, speed bumps,steep drives, dodgy area etc.The Nobles are however getting seriously cheap this time of year,and thats whats tempting me back as much as anything. A lot will probabaly depend on what sort of deal I can crack with either car. Thanks for everyones responses.

[D_G]

Went from an EVO8MR to a Noble because of the sheer driving experience. If I needed a sensible car again then it's back to a EVO (or Impreza). It's just down to your circumstances to dicate your needs. Litchfields conversions are second to none, buy one you will not be disappointed, if you can live with having two cars then it'll be hard to discount the Noble as you know......

Dave

[vixpy1]

Is a great car.. yes?

would i buy one.. no

You can have a used 996 turbo for 40K

Or you can get a 22B and stick a 2.5 with 450bhp in it

[peterpeter]

vixpy1 said:

Is a great car.. yes?

would i buy one.. no

You can have a used 996 turbo for 40K

Or you can get a 22B and stick a 2.5 with 450bhp in it

didnt we talk about this on sat. night???

sjc...Id go for the Licho...in fact I probably will soon myself.

[sjc]

peterpeter said:

vixpy1 said:

Is a great car.. yes?

would i buy one.. no

You can have a used 996 turbo for 40K

Or you can get a 22B and stick a 2.5 with 450bhp in it

didnt we talk about this on sat. night???

sjc...Id go for the Licho...in fact I probably will soon myself.

So PeterPeter, a plan.! Give wife and I a Pistonheaders discount for our cosmetic dentistry and I'll put in a good word with Iain and Tim at Litchfield o.k.?

[sjc]

shadowninja said:

Not sure what one of these looks like. Never heard of them. Anyway, one thing that'd worry me on a £40k Japanese car - residuals. You'd get back less on these than you would on an RS4 even if it is a rare Impreza. Look at the P1 - low teens now and it's only 3 years old(?).

ah! www.type-25.co.uk/

415bhp. Sounds good. Still question resale.

I'm sure P1's would be coming up to 6 years old now not 3, and the driving experience doesn't resemble at all, any Scooby/Evo I've driven in performance, handling and just as importantly ride comfort and tramlining.

[peterpeter]

sjc said:

peterpeter said:

vixpy1 said:

Is a great car.. yes?

would i buy one.. no

You can have a used 996 turbo for 40K

Or you can get a 22B and stick a 2.5 with 450bhp in it

didnt we talk about this on sat. night???

sjc...Id go for the Licho...in fact I probably will soon myself.

So PeterPeter, a plan.! Give wife and I a Pistonheaders discount for our cosmetic dentistry and I'll put in a good word with Iain and Tim at Litchfield o.k.?

hmmm, youve got me thinking now!

[Obi Wan]

dotdog said:

There was one other time on a b road when two lads in a souped up nova, i kid you not, pretty well kept up with me! it really pissed me off! good driving eanbled that.

A soupued Nova driven by a young lad kept up with your Nobel and their driving was pretty good what were you playing at

Edited by Obi Wan on Wednesday 24th January 17:49