nobles are ugly...

[slipstream 1985]

Well according to "EVO" magazine. I got a load of old evo's ranging from 69 (68 had a large m12 section in it grrrr) to a few months ago and everytime i read an artical or comparison of a noble against a 911 or exige etc they say great car if you can live with the looks. or put up with the interior (granted the quality of the interior isnt great).

Yet on runs or in the street i get nothing but compliments about the looks of the car. One journalist even said it was an ugly car from the rear. do others here see their cars as ugly but put up with it for the amazing performance and handling? Or have i a serious case of rose tinted specs?

[Chapppers]

I wouldn't say they were classically beautiful, but there has at least been some thought put into the design. A lot of the lines are nicely resolved and the whole vehicle has quite a nice balance to it.

I would say they're neither ugly nor pretty, but they do look cool.

[anotherdom]

Agreed, definitely not a beautiful car but not ruthlessly functional either. I think I like the no wing look? Interior pretty cheap to my eyes, though finished well. Phenomenal steer though, and got to be amongst the best ponies per pound (Sterling!) out there. Mine is not for sale.

Dom.

[sjc]

Loved the looks from day one.Turns heads like nothing else I've been in or owned(and all positive). Interior is what it is,purely functional,a bit more alcantara would have taken the cheapness off a bit. The rear wing is a bit chavvy,and to my eyes(sorry folks) looks worse with the higher pylons and squarer end plates.Simply wonderful cars.
Yet again I'm at a crossroads about selling after 5 years, and yet again struggling to come up with any alternatives.

[Adrian W]

You wouldn't call them pretty, say like an Alfa8C all swoops and curves, the M12 is more like a Hotwheels car.

[AMG Merc]

Hmmm, Lambos and Spykers are ugly then

[Daisy Duke]

Adrian W said:

You wouldn't call them pretty, say like an Alfa8C all swoops and curves, the M12 is more like a Hotwheels car.

They remind me of a mini group C Le Mans car, not pretty but certainly striking.

AMG Merc said:

Hmmm, Lambos and Spykers are ugly then

I've never liked the looks of the Spyker C8, but it's beautifully finished though.

sjc said:

Yet again I'm at a crossroads about selling after 5 years, and yet again struggling to come up with any alternatives.

You know you'll regret it if you do though, just ask Ash.

[R0162]

Certain angles leave room for improvment, front view, front angled and elevated views are good, back end looks more aggressive in my opinion when the AW aero mods are done, side view can make the car appear a bit short and stubby at times.
Very different, definately eye catching and far from boring or ugly, if a 458 was brad pitt and a Gumpert appolo was sly stallone then i would say we are in the chuck norris category..

[sjc]

Daisy Duke said:

sjc said:

Yet again I'm at a crossroads about selling after 5 years, and yet again struggling to come up with any alternatives.

You know you'll regret it if you do though, just ask Ash.

Been there already, when I sold the 3r after an offer I couldn't refuse. As soon as the bloke was off my drive. I regretted it and beat myself up! Spent nine months finding a decent M400!5 years later it still does it for me, but there's lots of cars to try before I pop me clogs!

[gtdc]

slipstream 1985 said:

One journalist even said it was an ugly car from the rear.

If you're driving a Noble you're never behind so who gives a **** about some inadequate journo?

[Bill NobleUS206]

Agree with you all. The car is MUCH more than looks, but it's not bad looking, and it catches a lot of positive comments. Mine got a ribbon at the first and only show I've taken it too, and it wasn't for being ugly. More of an honorable mention, and probably for being rather unique: the only one in northern Oregon to my knowledge. Have had people rush up close behind just to catch a glymse at the insignia to find out what it is. Another guy rolled up beside and said wow he'd read all about but never seen one.

Another guy waled over to take a close look while I was stopped at a filling station. Claimed to be one of the original inventors of ultralight aircraft, and said he saw a lot of aerodynamic beauty in the design. Not sure that an ultralight designer has specific qualifications for judging aerodynamic beauty, but I accepted his compliment gladly.

In one respect I would agree that the rear is not well sorted aesthetically. The diffuser's exit from the clam is awkward looking to me. Other than that, I think the rear has quite beautiful lines. IMHO Rossion did a nice job with the splitter; must taken comments from prospective Noble buyers into consideration. I agree with anotherdom on the wing. One reviewer said it gives the car a badboy look, which appeals to some, and not to others. Removing the wing gives the car a more refined look. Think that's why the standard issue Rossion comes w/o. Rossion gave the nose a little refinement. I sort of like the bad boy look, but am tempted to pull the wing when out for drives under 100mph. Of course, there are after market wings with a more curved look that look awsome and demand respect from other drivers.

The entire package is awesome!! I'm not ready to sell mine for a long time, but may have to give into the wife someday. She doesn't like riding in it, and would like the money back in our retirement portfoloio.

[R0162]

gtdc said:

If you're driving a Noble you're never behind so who gives a **** about some inadequate journo?

Lol..i like your comment.. but it woulds urely stengthen the argument for having a good looking rear view ..

[Blu3R]

I agree with Chapppers, they're neither beautiful or ugly. I don't think they're ageing well mind you.

However, they're 100 times better than the Rossion! What on earth happened to those side pods???

[Daisy Duke]

Bill, was the guy at the filling station claiming he was involved in the design of light aircraft generally, or specifically a Noble related one? If he was referring to the ARV Super2 light aircraft, then that was Richard Noble, not Lee, who was behind that.

As for the rear of the Noble, I liked Paul Cundy's idea for a fastback design. I've seen some variations on it that seem to address the lack of rear vision and other issues, but I don't know if any design has actually managed to solve all of them and still look as integrated with the rest of the car.

[Inflict]

I have to put chastity belts on my exhaust pipes.

http://vimeo.com/34717322

[chuntington101]

I dont think the Noble is about the looks pre say. Its about the function more than the form. In similar way to the Gumpet Apollo (but not as much so).

[R0162]

Too shy to come out because people keep calling him ugly ....






Generally men would refer to their cars as female but not this one for some reason, its a him and were really good mates

[ludoZ3]

It's a noble, form follow functions, it's by no mean the best looking car either but I wouldnt say it's ugly either, I find the design purposeful and I love it

[Bill NobleUS206]

Daisy Duke said:

Bill, was the guy at the filling station claiming he was involved in the design of light aircraft generally, or specifically a Noble related one?

Daisy Duke: Sounds like you know your aircraft. I wasn't aware of the ARV or Richard Noble. A quick look in Wikipedia says Richard was/is into some pretty sophisticated cars and planes! My bro-in-law is in the aerospace biz. Will have to ask him what he knows.

The guy I talked with was a local guy, with no hint of a Scottish or British accent. Did not mention a specific aircraft make/model either. He may have developed a plane back in the days when people were designing making ultra-lights in their garages with chainsaw motors... the kind that travels about 20mph at best. By all indication, he'd ever seen or heard of a Noble before. Just liked the looks of it, and I don't blame him

[R0162]

wheres snuffy?....i have a picture of an ugly noble i want to show him