Monday 18th April 2011

PH Carpool: Noble M12

PHer Martin Bond gets his kicks from a 400hp V6

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A Noble M12 is one route to track-day bliss. However it might not be that straight-forward, as Martin Bond (aka mgbond) explains:

*****

PHer Martin Bond and his Noble M12

"Well, where do I start? Once I learned to drive I always wanted nice cars but was not what you'd call a petrol head. After I went through a few sporty-ish cars I was in a position to buy something a bit better and my friends convinced me to get a Lotus Elise. I bought one, joined forums, went on meets and was hooked.

"Three years later I was ready for an upgrade and was toying between a Lotus Exige S2 or a T350c TVR, when a work colleague suggested that I get a Noble. I wasn't quite sure so I went to a dealer (as there happened to be one nearby), sat in it and thought 'yeah not bad'. I went on the forum to research what to look out for and then completely ignored all the advice, thinking instead that I'd sort the issues out over time. I wish I hadn't done that...

"Three months in I blew the diff' and not long after it needed a new ECU. These issues among others cost a pretty packet but I had to deal with them because by then I was in love. It just proves that you need to buy with your head. I got an early car and these have issues that need to be sorted (most have been done by now). The later cars were much better.

"My car is now sorted but after pushing the limits a bit far last year I had to rebuild the engine. It's now back on the road (currently being run in) with everything new and upgraded to make the next five years as rewarding as the last five.

"Mine is the 2.5 V6 version which should be delivering 310bhp, although it was only running at 280bhp. Often they never made the power without a remap. When mine gets mapped in the next couple of weeks it should produce over 400bhp and with just over a ton to pull it should keep the grin etched on my face. The rush as the turbos spool-up is very addictive.

"A few years ago the work colleague who had suggested that I buy one came with me on a track day at Brands and his girly screams as we flew round paddock hill bend will stay with me forever. He's currently looking to purchase one!

"There are a few of us down South and we meet up quite a bit. May sees 27 of us at Silverstone with the Factory bringing two M600's. Can't wait for that.

"If anyone is looking for a Noble, drop me a line as I can help with advice having been a frequent user of the PH Noble forum for a long time. Owning a Noble has got so much better over the last couple of years.

"Some top blokes (who are frankly mad) have come along and they just won't stop developing new things for the cars and I'm starting to lose count of how many are now over 500BHP - some will be delivering over 600 soon. I drove one of these bad boys last year and I have never felt anything quite like it. Bring on the next five years."

[ludicrous speed]

The only downside to this car was the mondeo lights... and they've been sorted out nicely, top car!

[Dagnut]

Awesome car... generous offer with the advice as well fair play.

[ellisd82]

Great write up and interesting read. I would deffinetly have a Noble. M600 looks sweet!

[300bhp/ton]

Very, very nice car there Martin

Never understood why the Nobles are so often overlooked. Fab cars and I'd love a passenger ride in one!

[ian_touring]

A great read and a special car - an M12 is in my "ten car fantasy garage".

[wackojacko]

Awesome cars we have a GTO-3 that is "slightly" tweaked in the garage, sadly not mine but is my stepdads (Lakelord)

Such great value for money when you consider drive ability / smiles per mile combined with supercar killing speed and handling.

[Scooby P1]

Nice write up Bondy.

I agree with the first man, your rear lights are cool, where did you get them?

I am looking forward to years of fun, but not sure mine will keep up with you on track!

[mgbond]

Scooby P1 said:

Nice write up Bondy.

I agree with the first man, your rear lights are cool, where did you get them?

I am looking forward to years of fun, but not sure mine will keep up with you on track!

A guy from ebay was selling them, they are just std lights that have been tinted from the inside. done very well and only £50.

Bondy

[VladD]

Had almost forgotten about these until I saw a red one with stripes on the M5 last Thursday. Lovely cars. If only I had the money.

[joe_90]

This was my next car after the S2000.. Then the wife and kids arrived

[traffman]

Shuffles off to the classifieds....why oh why was i looking at rs4s!

[rico23]

If I ever sold my T350 this would be at the top of list.

[cabbron]

nice car and write up,just sold my elise,seems the natural route is noble m12 or tvr t350 mmmmm decisions decisions.

[matc]

Nice write up bondy! I do fancy one of these!

[sjc]

As a two time owner,the one thing I would say is that in the £25-40K price bracket it's without doubt the hardest car you will ever try to replace.Utterly brilliant.

[mgbond]

Thanks for the replies guys.

All you guys that are thinking about getting one, just get a ride in one and your hunt for one will start straight after I'm sure of it.

Bondy

[snotrag]

Nice story.

As that's an early 2.5, I might have had a hand in building it :-D

[OwenK]

Interesting writeup, I'm really enjoying this new segment - nice to hear first hand from owners of interesting metal (or fibreglass!)

If I had the money sitting in the bank I'd be hard pressed to choose between one of these and a 355 - if anything the Noble seems a bit more "honest working man" (that's not a criticism!) than the 355, what with its Mondeo origins and such. But then again they do look cracking in the right colours, and they make a hell of a noise... perhaps I'll have both

For the record, what's been done to those front lights? They look darker than usual, is that a projector conversion or something to that effect?

[mgbond]

OwenK said:

Interesting writeup, I'm really enjoying this new segment - nice to hear first hand from owners of interesting metal (or fibreglass!)

If I had the money sitting in the bank I'd be hard pressed to choose between one of these and a 355 - if anything the Noble seems a bit more "honest working man" (that's not a criticism!) than the 355, what with its Mondeo origins and such. But then again they do look cracking in the right colours, and they make a hell of a noise... perhaps I'll have both

For the record, what's been done to those front lights? They look darker than usual, is that a projector conversion or something to that effect?

Its tape as you have to put tape on glass lights for track days.

Bondy

[300bhp/ton]

Martin, what sort work have you had done to get 400bhpm from one of these? Are there any negative affects on driveability or mpg?