Noble vs Ultima

[308tr6]

Hey, I am new to this whole british supercar thing having just stumbled on it since I started reading EVO magazine. I am very interested in the Noble but also been looking at the Ultima, so wondering if anyone cares to give me an objective comparative of the two? Thanks

Also anyone care to enlighten me on the status of the Farboud GTS project?

[DanH]

308tr6 said:

Hey, I am new to this whole british supercar thing having just stumbled on it since I started reading EVO magazine. I am very interested in the Noble but also been looking at the Ultima, so wondering if anyone cares to give me an objective comparative of the two? Thanks Also anyone care to enlighten me on the status of the Farboud GTS project?

The Ultima is a build it yourself monster with potentially otherworldly performance. It has very little cabin space or practicality but certainly seems a beast with the right engine. Theres virtually no objective analysis of its handling that I've ever seen, although for straight line drags it seems to be the winner!

The noble is pretty much an out of the box product, and sold as a fully built production car in the UK. It makes more concessions to comfort and is very quick in its own right. Its unlikely to be as quick in a straight line as a top spec ultima with an expensive race spec engine, but its still formidably quick and the handling is a known quantity, and generally considered exceptional.

The Farboud GTS seems to be floundering about unsure of its direction. Latest news is that they are copying the noble engine solution and going for the 3l Ford engine, with twin turbo in the more expensive version. Could be a very nice car, but a complete unknown quantity at the moment. Its hard to know whether they'll stay the course.

I quite fancy an ultima at some time, but its getting a tad impractical even by my terms. Cabin is a bit cramped and nowhere to put anything.

>> Edited by DanH on Monday 27th December 17:04

[domcross]

308tr6 said:

Hey, I am new to this whole british supercar thing having just stumbled on it since I started reading EVO magazine. I am very interested in the Noble but also been looking at the Ultima, so wondering if anyone cares to give me an objective comparative of the two? Thanks Also anyone care to enlighten me on the status of the Farboud GTS project?

I sold my Ultima Spyder a couple of months back and have just bought a Noble M400. Having only done 200 miles in the Noble I'm not in a great position to comment yet but initial thoughts:

- Noble handles better
- Noble is more 'usable' and comfortable
- Ultima feels more like a pure race car
- General drive (clutch, steering, seating) is more manageable in the Noble for long journeys

The Ultima Spyder has no roof so not all that practical in the UK but the latest GTR may be a better comparison.

In summary, The Ultima is fantastic fun but could never be described as 'suitable for everyday use'. The Noble could be if you wanted it to be...

Happy hunting

[jaker]

Judging from my (somewhat limited) experience of these things at trackdays, both Nobles and Ultimas are seriously quick, seriously good-looking and very desirable.

However, the Ultimas seem more 'wild' and difficult to tame, whereas the Nobles seem a little more precise and refined.

If you like big V8s then Ultima could be the way forward.

[bluesatin]

I agree with most of the comments but have a couple more to add.

You can purchase a factory built ultima.

The handling at speed is simliar but the noble may be slightly better below 60mph. However over 120 the ultima is better balanced (breaking etc)

[DanH]

bluesatin said:

The handling at speed is simliar but the noble may be slightly better below 60mph. However over 120 the ultima is better balanced (breaking etc)

Never driven an ultima, but wouldn't dream of making such comparisons even if I had. Given that you have though, what are your credentials for making such observations? Hope I don't seem arsey, but I'm always deeply suspicious of this type of off the cuff remark on forums. Its not personal, I feel the same about tyre reviews on internet forums too.

As an aside, the only time I've seen an ultima under severe breaking it wanted to swap ends (see the 0-100-0 record vid!).

www.pistonheads.tv/video.asp?id=101&nr=1



>> Edited by DanH on Monday 27th December 17:57

[V6GTO]

My car


Mates car


I had the Ult for two weeks, and have now had the Noble for three months.

All the above comments run true. I can't comment about breaking hard in either car as havn't had any real "moments" in them, however the brakes on both are superb.

I would say that for everyday use the Noble is the one , but for short stints the Ultima is ultimate! I drove from Santander in northern Spain, to Marbella on the Med in my Noble in 8 hours (160mph a few times) and didn't want to get out when I put her in the garage. In the Ultima you are glad to get out after an hour, you just want to stop shaking with a beer untill you pluck up the courage to get back in. I want one of each, they really are THAT different. (Both F*****G awsome!)

Martin.

[bluesatin]

DanH

If you speak to the Ultima factory they will tell you that they had tried to optimise the break balance to get the record times. However, that big rear wing does change the balance at 100mph to 20mph when th rears locked!

[DanH]

bluesatin said:

DanH If you speak to the Ultima factory they will tell you that they had tried to optimise the break balance to get the record times. However, that big rear wing does change the balance at 100mph to 20mph when th rears locked!

Yep I'm sure they set it right on the limit, but it was still NSR that locked first Not really holding it up as any evidence, just illustrating that your point about handling was a bit arm wavey for my liking, and hell this is the noble forum so I'm entitled to defend the marque

[V6GTO]

As a little post script...I've seen a video of someone driving an Ult on the A40, it showed 187 on the clock and it was still pulling like a Golf GTI in 2nd gear!

Martin.



>> Edited by V6GTO on Wednesday 29th December 08:42

[G Man]

IMHO they are both great cars and any one should be happy with either, I accept the Noble's daily drive theory for me it is one simple thing ....

My Ultima is my Ultima, to my specification choice of engine and gearbox, shocks etc, within a framwork of the chassis and shell it is mine and an expression of me ...

The Noble is an expression of Lee Noble and a very good one ....

PS The video of the Ultima locking up shows one of the fastest braking car of all time custosy of AP racing at 3.9 secs from 100-0 not on good tarmac but at Bruntingthorpe in 82 metres approx that is 50% faster than the car accelerates, yes it locked a rear but I have never known that to happen before ...

G MAN

[turbocup]

custosy custosy custosy custosy custosy