RE: New suspension kit for Noble released
Friday 17th December 2004
New suspension kit for Noble released
Upgrade from Plans Motorsport is track-honed
Plans Motorsport, well known for its upgrades for Noble, Lotus and Vauxhall VX, has just released its Ohlins road and track suspension upgrade kit for the Noble. The dampers were developed on Plans' famous circuit at Dunsfold, Surrey.
This kit is adjustable for stiffness and ride height, and are based on the Ohlins single way 16-46mm monotube dampers.
Plans says they were developed as a road/ track damper with the emphasis on control without compromising ride quality. They offer an excellent range of damping with firmer - but not too firm - springs. The British GT Noble ran on Ohlins dampers.
The kit including springs is £1,762.50, or £1,999.00 fitted, including full setup, corner weight, optimisation and track test.
Discussion
Yes, fitting this kit would void your factory warranty.
Plans Motorsport has not received technical training from the factory and we therefore will not approve any work that they carry out on our cars.
Please also be aware that fitting non-standard components to your Noble may well affect your insurance if you were involved in an accident. It effectively becomes a 'modified car' and your broker will need to be notified.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
Plans Motorsport has not received technical training from the factory and we therefore will not approve any work that they carry out on our cars.
Please also be aware that fitting non-standard components to your Noble may well affect your insurance if you were involved in an accident. It effectively becomes a 'modified car' and your broker will need to be notified.
Simon Hucknall
Press Officer
Noble Automotive Ltd.
Are you sure that would stand up in court? I've been let to believe that aftermarket components will only void parts of the warranty for parts they have been shown to affect. e.g. you fit these, you can't then void warranty on the engine etc.
In fact under new European law, you can't even void a warranty if pattern parts are used these days!
Blimey, let's keep a sense of proportion here.
Whatever car you own, you modify it at your own risk and should always inform your insurance company. Warranties etc can also be affected.
However, I think the warnings here paint an unnecessarily glum picture. Personally I think we should be applauding the introduction of some aftermarket toys and options for Noble owners.
Whatever car you own, you modify it at your own risk and should always inform your insurance company. Warranties etc can also be affected.
However, I think the warnings here paint an unnecessarily glum picture. Personally I think we should be applauding the introduction of some aftermarket toys and options for Noble owners.
put it this way - if you do bin it, how likely do you think an insurance bloke is to pull apart the car to look at the suspension and go 'sorry mate you lied to us so your not getting a penny' most of them wouldnt know an ohlins damper if it smacked them in the face, let alone the difference between one and the oe unit
m12_nathan said:
Depends how much money they'll save by pulling it apart - even a single vehicle accident could potentially cost them £50k+ so it is worth them taking their time over stuff like this.
Yep if you are spending 2k on suspension I'd hope you can afford to tell the insurer.
dizzy rebel said:
put it this way - if you do bin it, how likely do you think an insurance bloke is to pull apart the car to look at the suspension and go 'sorry mate you lied to us so your not getting a penny' most of them wouldnt know an ohlins damper if it smacked them in the face, let alone the difference between one and the oe unit
Hmmm, am not so sure - these days inspectors aren't idiots and if he/she needs to send photos to a Noble dealer or even the factory for a scond opinion, so to excuse themselves of a large payout (I wonder whether they get a bonus should their report/advice result in a non-payout to the insurance co/?!).
dizzy rebel said:Very, if you get a half decent one.
put it this way - if you do bin it, how likely do you think an insurance bloke is to pull apart the car to look at the suspension and go 'sorry mate you lied to us so your not getting a penny' most of them wouldnt know an ohlins damper if it smacked them in the face, let alone the difference between one and the oe unit
These dampers clearly "enhance" the performance of the car (otherwise why would you pay for them) and hence IMHUO you would be in breach of your statutory duty to tell them as an upgraded car will have a different risk profile.
They key is are they "fundamental modifications". If they are then you need to disclose, if they aren't then you don't. I'd counter that suspension upgrades are pretty fundamental to the car.
IOB case history here
www.theiob.org.uk/digest/m/modified_vehicles.html
FOB case history here
www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/non-disclosure-case-studies.htm
Of course you can make up your own mind, but I've always told insurance company's whenever I've added anything - interestingly I've never had it adding anything the the premium when I've rung them up and told them mid way through the insurance term.
"Non-disclose" at your own peril...
J
dizzy rebel said:
put it this way - if you do bin it, how likely do you think an insurance bloke is to pull apart the car to look at the suspension and go 'sorry mate you lied to us so your not getting a penny' most of them wouldnt know an ohlins damper if it smacked them in the face, let alone the difference between one and the oe unit
But accidents are often not limited to the car damage - what about public liability.
If you hit someone up the back then the chances are the insurers would ask for a few photo's from the repairing garage and then pay out.
Now what if you killed someone. The insurer treats this far more seriously as it could cost them a fortune, so they'll make damn sure the car is not modified. Furthermore, they wont send down the typical accident assessor, they'll probably pay an independant crash investigator - and you'll struggle to get anything past one of these people.
For the sake of a hundred quid, declare it.
dizzy rebel said:
true, but you could always argue 'it was like that when i got it' (obv only for a used car)
but upgrading the suspension is like upgrading the brakes/tyres of a car. they increase its safety as you have better control over the car
Not always true. If its too stiff (track orientated for instance) it won't be able to keep the wheels on the ground on the road, and it will compromise your control of the vehicle.
Dear All,
Yes I've got them fitted (and yes I've paid for them - they are not a freebie set) but mine are very definitely set up for the track. I have stronger springs and I'm running damping settings that shake your nuts off on the roads and the car follows the slightest ridge or white line like its on rails - not a pleasant experience driving it to Brands at 4am in the driving rain on road cut slicks with the passenger seat filled with jacks, alloy sheet and tools!
However what I am begiining to realise is that Graham Horgan is a master at suspension set up. He got my car doing exactly what I wanted (needed) on the Nitrons and I'm now moving up.
I have absolutely no doubt he could tune these to suit anyones taste. Tell him you want the car to handle and he'll make it happen.
Also remember in theory you can run them haard on the track and then turn them soft with the adjusters for the road.
Regards
Paul C
Yes I've got them fitted (and yes I've paid for them - they are not a freebie set) but mine are very definitely set up for the track. I have stronger springs and I'm running damping settings that shake your nuts off on the roads and the car follows the slightest ridge or white line like its on rails - not a pleasant experience driving it to Brands at 4am in the driving rain on road cut slicks with the passenger seat filled with jacks, alloy sheet and tools!
However what I am begiining to realise is that Graham Horgan is a master at suspension set up. He got my car doing exactly what I wanted (needed) on the Nitrons and I'm now moving up.
I have absolutely no doubt he could tune these to suit anyones taste. Tell him you want the car to handle and he'll make it happen.
Also remember in theory you can run them haard on the track and then turn them soft with the adjusters for the road.
Regards
Paul C
Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff