RE: PH Buying Guide: Noble M12
Discussion
Mermaid said:
Great looking cars - some at PH SS yesterday. Glorious
My dark blue GTO 3 was one of themAdding to the debate, the lack of luggage space can be really annoying. The Lady does not like that, nor the spoiler for that matter but that is staying put regardless!
Brilliant, brilliant car. Has actually stopped me drinking heavily at weekends as the Noble is my new vice.
I just test-drove a Rossion Q1 last week. Amazing drivers car, and well appointed interior. A bit claustrophobic on the inside, and the pillbox gunnery view out the front is odd and limiting. Ultimately I couldn't get my head around the shape of the car, which is more boring in person. Much like my scribbles in my notebook when bored in school back in the day. I passed, but it is a remarkable machine and sets the bar in price/performance.
johnpeat said:
Don Gilham said:
The man from Kerridge's strode over, and I thought he'd invite the man to have a look - after all, it was a classic and sports car show and poeple show interest in classic and sports cars such as this.
Not at all - he just glowered at the man who opened the car, alarmed the car again and stalked back to his place on his stand.
Assholery like that suggests they don't have a clue why you'd goto a show like that in the first place.Not at all - he just glowered at the man who opened the car, alarmed the car again and stalked back to his place on his stand.
It's the classic "it might look like a spotty kid now but he'll be back in 5 years and buying something expensive" situation - every salesman should understand that - it's about more than sitting there waiting for your job to come to you.
B.J.W said:
Came soooooooooo close to buying one earlier this year. Went for the Tuscan instead as I fancied an open top for the summer. Can see me taking another look in 6 months or so, particularly as the prices of the best ones seem to be firming up. The only thing that puts me off is their relative fragility (yes, even compared to a TVR). GTO 3R for me, the M400 is simply bonkers.
Having had 4 TVRS, and 2 Nobles I can safely say that a TVR is nowhere near as reliable as a Noble, in fact the comparision is laughable.Used to have an M12 GTO 3 - 3 litre. Drove very well but not great as an everyday. Would blow fuses like John Mcenroe and was harder to get spares for than a Faberge Egg. Seriously I heard stories of people waiting 2 months for a windscreen and even longer for a wiring loom. This was 2008 when Noble spares were sold to an American company. No matter what anyone says they are no better or worse than a TVR when it comes to reliability, engines strong (although they love an oil leak) but electrics and so on no better than a kit car. Also they dont hold their money like a 911 Turbo or RS4 (Ive had both and were easier to drive faster, although not as beautiful of course). I bought mine for £27k in 2008 and sold it for £20k six months and 5 thousand miles later. If you want a great night out, hit the beers with the Jack Ass gang but dont start moaning when you end up at A and E.
spellman said:
Used to have an M12 GTO 3 - 3 litre. Drove very well but not great as an everyday. Would blow fuses like John Mcenroe and was harder to get spares for than a Faberge Egg. Seriously I heard stories of people waiting 2 months for a windscreen and even longer for a wiring loom. This was 2008 when Noble spares were sold to an American company. No matter what anyone says they are no better or worse than a TVR when it comes to reliability, engines strong (although they love an oil leak) but electrics and so on no better than a kit car. Also they dont hold their money like a 911 Turbo or RS4 (Ive had both and were easier to drive faster, although not as beautiful of course). I bought mine for £27k in 2008 and sold it for £20k six months and 5 thousand miles later. If you want a great night out, hit the beers with the Jack Ass gang but dont start moaning when you end up at A and E.
yours wasnt red was it? a sorted gto3 with the correct upgrades (repairs... sigh) is 25k nowadays
Adrian W said:
Why didn't PH get someone who actually knows about Nobles and the Noble ownership experience to write the article? That article was a complete waste of time.
+1Anyone in Solihull I will give them a passenger ride as well! Quash these rumours.
Edited by swankBaton on Monday 8th August 23:22
Adrian W said:
Why didn't PH get someone who actually knows about Nobles and the Noble ownership experience to write the article? That article was a complete waste of time.
Agreed.And some of the comments on this thread(yet again)are typical ill-informed b
ks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.spellman said:
Used to have an M12 GTO 3 - 3 litre. Drove very well but not great as an everyday. Also they dont hold their money like a 911 Turbo or RS4 (Ive had both and were easier to drive faster, although not as beautiful of course). I bought mine for £27k in 2008 and sold it for £20k six months and 5 thousand miles later.
They don't hold their money like a RS4 or 911 Turbo?????????The car below was around 45 grand new 8 years ago.A decent 2003 996 TT struggles to make 30K, and cost just under 100K in 2003.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2914654.htm
I think you may be wrong.
sjc said:
Agreed.And some of the comments on this thread(yet again)are typical ill-informed bks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.
Hmm, if you mean mine, it's not "bxxxxx" as you put it, it's my opinion on these cars. No turbocharged engine, especially a Mondeo V6, is going to be as good to command as a BMW naturally aspirated six ks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.Liontail said:
sjc said:
Agreed.And some of the comments on this thread(yet again)are typical ill-informed bks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.
Hmm, if you mean mine, it's not "bxxxxx" as you put it, it's my opinion on these cars. No turbocharged engine, especially a Mondeo V6, is going to be as good to command as a BMW naturally aspirated six ks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.You wouldn't have a 135i then, because it's turbocharged?
sjc said:
Liontail said:
sjc said:
Agreed.And some of the comments on this thread(yet again)are typical ill-informed bks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.
Hmm, if you mean mine, it's not "bxxxxx" as you put it, it's my opinion on these cars. No turbocharged engine, especially a Mondeo V6, is going to be as good to command as a BMW naturally aspirated six ks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.You wouldn't have a 135i then, because it's turbocharged?
Plenty of better non-turbo options in the range.
It actually puts out closer to 340bhp in E46 form ( or nearly 360 in CSL format ), either of which will be better than the 'bang-whoosh' delivery of a turbo with attendant lag.
Nice one - keep it the right way up 
Liontail said:
sjc said:
Liontail said:
sjc said:
Agreed.And some of the comments on this thread(yet again)are typical ill-informed bks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.
Hmm, if you mean mine, it's not "bxxxxx" as you put it, it's my opinion on these cars. No turbocharged engine, especially a Mondeo V6, is going to be as good to command as a BMW naturally aspirated six ks from people who know absolutely fk all about the cars,how they drive,what the ownership experience is like,reliablity,other than what they've "heard". A good example being the comment directly above yours.You wouldn't have a 135i then, because it's turbocharged?
Plenty of better non-turbo options in the range.
It actually puts out closer to 340bhp in E46 form ( or nearly 360 in CSL format ), either of which will be better than the 'bang-whoosh' delivery of a turbo with attendant lag.
I understand your preferences, but to dismiss a 55K new car that kept Supercars( costing 3 times as much) honest in a straight line to 120+,and more importantly round the twisties simply because it has twin turbos' seems rather blinkered.As does other peoples comments about the interior, rear wing etc.Some people will never get "it", and some will never buy it, more often than not because of the badge,using instances like I just mentioned as the excuse.I recently tracked two 997's, a 2S and 4S, and could not have been more bored.
spellman said:
Used to have an M12 GTO 3 - 3 litre. Drove very well but not great as an everyday. Would blow fuses like John Mcenroe and was harder to get spares for than a Faberge Egg. Seriously I heard stories of people waiting 2 months for a windscreen and even longer for a wiring loom. This was 2008 when Noble spares were sold to an American company. No matter what anyone says they are no better or worse than a TVR when it comes to reliability, engines strong (although they love an oil leak) but electrics and so on no better than a kit car. Also they dont hold their money like a 911 Turbo or RS4 (Ive had both and were easier to drive faster, although not as beautiful of course). I bought mine for £27k in 2008 and sold it for £20k six months and 5 thousand miles later. If you want a great night out, hit the beers with the Jack Ass gang but dont start moaning when you end up at A and E.
I bought my 3 in 2005, my car has never let me down and the only repairs outside of sevicing have been a wheel bearing / hub and a new battery. Been all over Europe in it, never had a drop of oil out, no wiring issues, nothing.I can only comment from my perspective but as a second fun car it has exceeded my expectations by miles, I wouldn't recommend it as a daily driver but if you buy it expecting practicality and comfort then that's not the cars fault!
Oh and the cherry on the cake is the fact my car is still worth similar to what I paid nearly six years ago....
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