Noble in the USA

[m12_nathan]

airoom said: Curious about whether the NOBLE is a vaible alternative to a Porsche Carrera. The Carrera you can use every day and drive in all conditions. Could you do that with a NOBLE?

Mine is my only car and it is fine - the only thing you have to be wary of is the ground clearance.

[harley]

So it isn't a wet/rain/snow nightmare?

How is the build quality?

Anything fall off? Better than a TVR?

[m12_nathan]

Only had it 3 weeks so I have the snow to come - others have said it is ok.

Build quality is not even comparable to TVR, it is very well screwed together, no rattles or creeks and nothing has fallen off (unlike when my friend test drove a tuscan and the instrument pod fell off!).

I love it, it is the best car I have even ownendriven and you'd have to spend at least another 40k to better it IMO (996 Turbo would match it, probably beat it on daily use, the next step is murcialago, then zonda, then F1 - not that I've thought about it)

[harley]

How many miles? Does it leak in the rain? Does the AC keep things cool enough? Does it overheat in traffic? Is the clutch a pain to work with for mere mortals?

[m12_nathan]

I've done 1450 miles so far (1200 in the first week!) I've had no leaks, the air con is great once it has been running 5 mins, and the car is a pussy cat round town. The clutch and steering are both light and the engine is very tractable.

[trustme]

Nathan and Joust,

You both seem to have a fair amount of experience with these beasts. Here in the US, one of the obstacles we face is that we don't have dealerships close by . I know we have many more Ford dealers here, but I don't know that I'd trust some inexperienced technicians looking at my pride and joy saying, "Well, looky what we got's here boys, is this some king of new Ford Corvitte?". Have you had many repairs? And have you been able to repair them?

Also, the dealer demonstrator shifter with the 3.0 5spd is very notchy when downshifting. Is the 6spd significantly better?

Thanks,

TM

[guysh]

I don't think anyone has the 6 speed as of yet but I'm told the linkage etc. is improved. As for letting a ford dearlership look after your car I suspect you would be far better off letting a specialist look at it. Can't the importer help?

[trustme]

guysh said:

I don't think anyone has the 6 speed as of yet but I'm told the linkage etc. is improved. As for letting a ford dearlership look after your car I suspect you would be far better off letting a specialist look at it. Can't the importer help?

So you had the same experience (we Yanks spell funny) with the gearbox. Well, I know 1G Racing over here has a great reputation so I expect they'll be very helpful, but they're a flight away, and the engine manufacturer is in Texas (a longer flight). Has anyone ordered a service manual (if available) and how detailed is it?

[guysh]

I would send an email to factory ( as far as I'm aware there are no service manuals) I'm sure they could come up with something...

trustme said:

So you had the same experience (we Yanks spell funny) with the gearbox. Well, I know 1G Racing over here has a great reputation so I expect they'll be very helpful, but they're a flight away, and the engine manufacturer is in Texas (a longer flight). Has anyone ordered a service manual (if available) and how detailed is it?

[joust]

trustme said:

Nathan and Joust, You both seem to have a fair amount of experience with these beasts. Here in the US, one of the obstacles we face is that we don't have dealerships close by . I know we have many more Ford dealers here, but I don't know that I'd trust some inexperienced technicians looking at my pride and joy saying, "Well, looky what we got's here boys, is this some king of new Ford Corvitte?". Have you had many repairs? And have you been able to repair them? Also, the dealer demonstrator shifter with the 3.0 5spd is very notchy when downshifting. Is the 6spd significantly better?

It's not a standard Ford engine - John Noble Motorsport produce it for Noble (no relation).

John Noble Motorsport,
172 Chatsworth Rd,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire.
Tel: [phone]

I've never done anything myself - far too lazy, so I can't help you I'm afraid.

J

[trustme]

I'm curious about how to register and emissions inspect the Noble here in the US. Has anyone done it ?

[jpf]

Who is able to service the Noble in the USA?

Do Ford dealers perform service in the UK (yes I know there are Noble dealers but what if a Noble breaks down near a Ford dealer--could the Ford dealer get the Noble back on the road)?

Are there a number of unique parts to the Noble that would make the Noble a tough proposition to live with as a every day proposition?

[joust]

The main bits are pure Ford. Anyone with the appropiate Ford oil filter can change the oil, and the rest of the car is either Ford or a trusted parts manufacturer (AP Racing for the brakes, K&N for the air filters etc.) so I'd imagine you should be able to source spares quite easily.

For normal fluid servicing though I don't see any real problems with any competant motor servicing place being able to service it. Give Tony (the service manager) at the factory a ring if you want to check direct.

J

[jco-gto]

The engine builder for the US is AER, one of the most respected remanufactures of engines in the world.
(they do alot of the NASCAR race engines)

I am sure 1g racing can suggest a shop in your area.
I will be using an independent shop with Ford racing engine experience (farely common)

[jboswell]

Sorry for the long delay in response.

I can tell you how I registered my Superformance S1 here in Ohio. As some of you will know, the S1 is Hi-Tech's modern Seven-style car.

1) Buy car from Dean (he's the 1g racing guy) without engine or tranny.

2) Buy the other stuff from shop 100ft behind Dean's place. They install it.

3) Take all recipts and MSO to title office.

4) Obtain self-build title showing Superformance VIN.

5) Insure for the same cost as my 330i Sport.

Hope this helps.

We USians are getting a slightly different Noble... the engine and transmission are prepped here in the US and never go to the UK. The three-litre Duratec V6 is very, very common here, far more common than the 2.5, and that's why the US cars will all be three-litre cars.

[buckeyebilly]

I'm #2 for delivery of a U.S. Noble Mark 12 GTO from 1g Racing. Ron and Dean Rosen have been great during my whole process of developing this car. I highly recommend them to U.S. buyers. I expect my car around mid-October.

[theforce]

Yes I've met Dean twice and he has been more than helpful. He even took me out on a most convincing test drive at the GrandPrix of Atlanta. He drove for awhile and the car amazed me. Then after I got behind the wheel I knew I needed to buy one! I havne't sunk my deposit yet, but I will!
Jeremy

[Turbo T]

So what car/model is the transmission from that you guys are given. Is it a 5 or 6 speed?

[theforce]

The car that Dean has is a GTO3....but if we were to order one it will be the 3R. New lights, wheels, and 6 speed.

[Turbo T]

Cheers, I would really like to know what car the 3R box or the 5 speed is from, so I can source and rebuild a spare.